Chapter LXIV

Summary

• The protagonist, Vis, wakes up with a throbbing headache, inked against something coarse, and bound at the wrists and stomach. His allies that have tied him up are Belli, Iro, and Felix. They themselves are also tied up.
• Belli victoriously declares that Vis has been eliminated half a day into the Iudicium (a competition), a claim that Vis counters by pointing out his medallion is still intact. The medallion indicates his standing in the competition.
• Belli then kicks Vis square in the face causing immense pain, but nothing is broken.
• Vis figures that since his opponents haven’t destroyed his medallion yet, there must be something they want from him. He offers himself as an ally in exchange for his safety.
• They refuse his proposition, but do agree that they need more allies. It’s revealed that this is all part of a so-called game called the Iudicium. Vis suggests alliances are more valuable than being out for their own survival.
• Aequa offers herself as an ally to the others. She rids herself of her medallion, claiming she can't afford to lose. Vis is hurt, believing Aequa betrayed him.
• The group decides not to destroy Vis’s medallion yet, but instead decide to take it with them. This would keep the others guessing, leaving them to think that they might have teamed up.
• After they depart, Callidus (another ally of Vis) and Vis are left alone. They speculate on what Vis and Aequa might have been offered in order to betray them. Callidus reveals that Veridius had offered him a high-ranking position if he won the Iudicium, which he turned down out of loyalty to Vis.
• Vis appreciates Callidus's unwavering loyalty and they continue waiting in hopes that Aequa will return. Despite the increasing cold and the potential danger from alupis (presumably dangerous creatures), the two maintain a jovial camaraderie.
• When they least expect it, Aequa returns to free them. She tells them that she slipped one of Vis’s trackers into Iro’s food and plans to take the second one to act as a decoy. She tells them that once the tracker in Iro’s stomach activates, the safety team will be alerted and they’ll all be eliminated.