Game On.

Wreath

"What has that got to do with anything?" Exclaimed Moira.
Julian smiled elusively. "Nothing and everything, Nothing and everything. You, Moira, need to learn to see beyond face value."

Lindsay reran the story through in her brain. And then reran the riddle through. A few lines stuck out.
'A hero's prize, her long saught rest...'
"...the Laurel is the symbol of victory, the crown of the champions."

To rest on your laurels meant to enjoy your victory. This stemmed from the ancient Roman tradition of giving Laurel crowns to their champions, to symbolize the completion of great deeds.
Swiftly, she ran through the rest. Crest, leaves, crown, it all fit!

"Laurels. Laural wreath. That's the answer."
Luke, Moira and Valerian turned towards her.
"Wha..." Luke began. Then it dawned on him. "Laurels. The answer is Laurels!"
Talitha snapped her head around to face him. "What did you say?" She hissed, her voice turning ice cold.
"Laurels. The answer to the riddle is Laurels. As in, Laurel wreath, the prize of the Roman champions."
"How... how... how did you...?" Her head whipped around to face Julian. "You did something, didn't you? Don't lie to me, you definitely did something!"
Julian looked her straight in the eye, face neutral. "I didn't directly do anything."
Talitha shrieked her head off, but it was too late.
The air around Cat shimmered slightly. The monster dog took off into the shadows, leaving Cat alone in the pit. The mask on Cat's face loosened, crashing to the floor.
Suddenly, Cat felt a soft weight atop of her head. She reached up and ran her hands over an elegant crown of Laurel leaves. 

A creaking noise behind her made her turn. The grate was open, a yawning pit of nothing, but for her, a way out of this hell.

Okay, I definitely think this book is going to be over 100 pages. But we're on the home stretch now. Thanks for sticking with me this far!