35

"Letha," you say, meeting her poisonous gaze head-on. "I swear, by the Book and the Crown, I didn't do this."

Letha holds her glare for a moment longer, but she breaks before you do. "I've never seen a reason not to trust you before," she admits. She pulls out a ring of keys. "I can let you explain yourself, at least."

Next

Letha unlocks your cell door. "So if you didn't do it, who's making it look like the prophecy's come back?" she asked. "Who else could?"

"I don't know," you say, stepping outside. "I didn't even realize what had happened until after you had me arrested."

Letha winces. "Sorry," she said, leading you toward the dungeon door. "It's a complicated time around here, and…well, you're the world's only illusionist. I couldn't think of anything else that could be happening. Unless you've heard something from Alvis or Verity?"

"No, nothing," you say. "We need some way to get more information."

It's a moment before Letha responds, and she looks somehow apprehensive when she does. "Despina has more resources for that than we do," she says, and leads you out of the dungeon.

Next

While you think back, the silence around you is growing increasingly uncomfortable. Despite Letha's obvious distraction, one of you might as well say something.