Chapter Twenty-Five: A Banquet. I Receive a Visitor. Inspiration Doesn’t Knock. “Who Wants to Live Forever?”
Contains spoilersOverview
Charlie receives covert aid from Pursey and Claudia via a hidden note and a red cricket, confirming Radar is safe and pointing to a secret exit. Spurred by a dream, Charlie discovers water detonates the night soldiers’ auras, executes an ambush, kills Aaron, and leads a mass escape.
They break into the Officials’ Room, reveal a concealed door, and seal themselves inside a tiled passage, vowing to signal allies when the stadium lights blaze, thwarting the second round of the Fair One.
Summary
After a gruesome first round, the captives are given a lavish feast. Hidden in Charlie’s pie is a pencil and note from Pursey. Later, a red cricket crawls through a gas-jet, bearing Claudia’s tiny message—and a tuft of Radar’s hair—confirming Radar is safe and asking how to help. Charlie replies: come only if many, when the Field of Monarchs’ lights flare.
The next day Pursey slips Charlie another note: move the tall cabinet in the Officials’ Room to reveal a door. Gully dies; tension rises as the second round nears. Inspiration strikes Charlie—like a dangerous hairdryer in a bath—suggesting the night soldiers’ auras are vulnerable to water. At breakfast, Pursey hides sulphur matches inside Charlie’s sausages.
When guards arrive to fetch the first set, Jaya and Eris drench them. The night soldiers explode, showering bone shrapnel; several prisoners are nicked, but all remain mobile. The group advances toward the Officials’ Room with buckets ready. Two more soldiers are lured close and doused; both detonate, though Bult is killed by a deadly “hug.”
Inside the Officials’ Room, Eye topples a cabinet to reveal the hidden door. As the others file into darkness, Aaron arrives. Charlie throws his remaining water; Aaron explodes, wounding Charlie with bone fragments. Charlie bolts the door from within, cutting off the pursuing soldiers.
By lantern—lit with Pursey’s matches—the survivors enter a white-tiled passage lined with gas-jets. Laughing in shock and relief, they march away from the arena, resolved to signal allies when the stadium lights blaze and to cheat Elden and Kellin of their spectacle.
Who Appears
- Charlie Reade
Leads the jailbreak; devises the water tactic; kills Aaron; coordinates escape via hidden door.
- Pursey (Percival)
Grayfolk helper; smuggles pencil, notes, and matches; reveals the hidden door; risks punishment.
- Iota (Eye)
Veteran prisoner; helps douse guards; protects Charlie; suffers bone shrapnel but presses on.
- Ammit
Powerful ally; douses night soldiers; eager to fight but follows Charlie’s escape plan.
- Jaya
Stands watch and helps ambush the first guards with water, triggering their explosions.
- Eris
Pairs with Jaya to soak guards; later grabs a fresh bucket and continues the push.
- Stooks
Scarred prisoner; follows orders during the ambush and escape.
- Aaron
Night soldier officer; taunts Charlie; is destroyed when doused with water at the doorway.
- Kellin (Lord High)
Oversees the Fair One; orders cleansing; his forces are alarmed as the escape unfolds.
- Bendo
Rearguard; helps kill two night soldiers; reports Bult’s death amid the blasts.
- Bult
Prisoner killed by a night soldier’s lethal hug during the corridor fight.
- Cammit
Rearguard fighter; wounded by bone shrapnel while helping stop pursuing soldiers.
- Double
Hungry prisoner; joins rearguard with buckets during the breakout.
- Murf
Supports wounded Freed as the group escapes through the hidden door.
- Doc Freed
Badly injured prisoner; needs assistance but escapes with the group.
- Gully
Mortally wounded from round one; dies before the second round.
- Claudia
Sends a note via red cricket; confirms Radar is safe; potential ally muster.
- Radar
Charlie’s dog; scent and hair guide and validate the message from Claudia.
- Red cricket
Messenger creature; delivers Claudia’s note and carries Charlie’s reply back.