47. Lyra

The tension in our room was increasing. It should have been more relaxed, fewer jobs to do, more time to simply hang out in our room. It did the opposite. Without menial tasks oto occupy our thoughts everyone soon starts thinking of everything else.

Mainly about how hungry we are. Wondering how Declan is doing. It’s been two weeks since I sprinted away from him in the corridor. We heard Willa gained a black eye after a bust up with her roommate. Male servants were getting into scrappy fist fights. The half-dozen rogues trusted to patrol were being called into action fairly frequently now.

It’s because a few days ago rations dropped down to one meal. Some mashed up vegetables, whatever scraps of meat are still about, and a huge pile of rice. It fills the plate, but it's just not enough calories. My stomach growls constantly, as does Mara’s.

Elvie is starting to slim down, too. It is inevitable. Her long silvery hair hangs lanker, all of our faces paler, more sickly. The three of us la