Page 52 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

“It’ll be a few days,” she says when she’s finished. “It would likely be faster if you’d taken him to the infirmary.”

He’ll be alright.

“What happened?” Wendy asks.

It’s unlikely she’s soundproofed her room. “It’s not safe to talk here,” I whisper.

“Then where?”

“Past the barrier. By the coast.”

She looks at me like I’m crazy, then back to Azaire. “Fine.” As she walks to the door, I fall back ever so slightly, not wanting to leave Azaire. “He’ll be safe here.”

I suppose she felt my hesitance.

When we make it to the coast, I think through my options. I don’t want to tell her, and I know I have to. The moment I say it, there is no taking it back.

“They’re back,” I say. “The corenths are attacking again, and it coincides with recent revelations of the Arcane.”

Speaking of the Arcane is forbidden, and I’ve pulled Wendy into it.

Wendy steps back. “The corenths are attacking and you’re taking me outside the barrier?”

“There’s none in Visnatus,” I say.

“That could change at any minute!” Wendy slowly shuffles back to the mastick, as though it is a subconscious pull.

“I can take care of it if anything happens.” The way I took care of Azaire? The guilt pulls my shoulders further down, and my body closes in on itself.

“Why are you involving me in this?”

“Someone was taken by the Arcane. I tracked down the one person who might be aware of a detail I’m missing.” I pause, but I’m not finished. There is no taking this back. “Your mother was involved.”

Wendy stops moving entirely, as though her body has frozen in place. The only movement she makes is her darting eyes. “Go on.”

“Eighteen years ago, a woman faked her death. Supposedly, your mother knows why. We were told to find her.”

“Is she the someone who was taken by the Arcanes?” Wendy’s voice is tight.

“Yes.” I’m taking her too deep into this.

“What was her name?”

“Isa Althenia.”

“Next time, don’t be vague about matters regarding my mom.” She pauses. “But you were sent on a fool’s errand.”

“How so?” I ask, worry seeping into my tone.

“My mom is dead.”

Chapter 11

This Oath is a Lie

DESDEMONA

How to foster high-functioning compliance: make sure the people are physically tired. Suggestions: give them vigorous working schedules, give them taxing work, don’t give them free time. Once they are tired, tell them what they should think. Suggestions: pictures and easy-to-read words work fairly well. Make them feel special. Suggestions: tell them that the work they contribute to the universe holds it together. Adopt a strong reward system. Suggestions: give them more rations when they behave, hurt them when they don’t.

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