Red Queen

The midnight meeting takes place a week later. Mare is one of two new recruits, and the second is Maven. Farley puts a gun to Maven’s head and demands to hear Maven’s reason for joining the guard. Maven tells a story about his time at the front line of the war. He made a friend—a Red—who died. Maven could have saved him but wasn’t allowed to because his life wasn’t worth a Red’s. That left Maven feeling hollow. He says he would “gladly” give his life “if it means change” (187). Farley lowers her gun and accepts Maven’s words.

Farley outlines the plan to use Mare and Maven as the faces of the rebellion. As a Silver who turned against his people and a Red with powers, they can do more damage to the oppressive Silver class than any number of attacks. They develop a plan to make a statement at the parting ball—the big event before the royals return to the capital. Mare asks Farley to make sure Kilorn doesn’t join the Guard, and Kilorn steps from the shadows, revealing he’s already there. Mare is heartbroken; she doesn’t want him to die like her brother did, and she leaves the meeting at Maven’s side.

Time passes quickly as the ball approaches. At training one day, the students are pitted against each other tournament-style. Maven loses to a girl who manipulates water and then sulks as Cal gives him a lecture. Cal is assigned to fight two opponents and walks away with an easy victory. He glances toward Mare, but she looks away, forcing herself to internalize that “Cal is more dangerous than all of them put together” (200). Evangeline challenges Mare to a battle.