Page 73 of The Thief's Mark

“And apparently wants you dead,” Cal chimed in.

He flinched when the High Commander turned his hard gaze upon him. “Yes, I got that much myself.” He glanced pointedly about his ruined office. “What Idon’tunderstand is how they managed to plant the relic here without me or my attendant noticing.”

Once again, it was Griff who stepped in. “I’m sorry, sir, but we have reason to believe Sasha was collaborating with them. I have him detained outside.”

“Lieutenant Thrack!” The High Commander’s eyes narrowed. “Very well. Then let us get to the bottom of this.”

Cal and Griff followed him as he stalked to his office door and threw it open. Cal felt a surge of satisfaction when he saw Sashalying on the floor, tangled up in one of Griff’s magical nets. Served the Void-eater right for trying to electrocute Cal earlier.

It looked like he’d been trying to free himself, extricating one of his arms and legs before they arrived. He fell still when he saw them standing there. Fixing his gaze on the High Commander, he stretched out his arm.

“Please, sir, there’s been a huge mistake! I have no idea what Griff is talking about. You have to believe me!”

When the High Commander didn’t immediately answer, Griff approached and knelt beside the captured protector. “It’s over, Sasha,” he said, his voice pained. “I have proof that you’re involved with the Brotherhood, and you’re the only one who could’ve placed that void relic in High Commander Pern’s office tonight without being seen. Tell me what you know, and I promise I’ll ask the magisters for leniency during your trial.”

Sasha’s panicked gaze flicked from Griff to the High Commander. “Trial? But I haven’t done anything wrong! Sir, please, I—”

“I suggest you cooperate, Lieutenant,” the High Commander said. Sasha flinched at his harsh, unforgiving tone. “This may be your last chance to save yourself from the gallows. Use it wisely.”

Cal almost felt bad for the man as his face paled, his breathing growing erratic. He cast another frantic glance about the hall at each of their unyielding faces. Then, the fight seemed to go out of him. He slumped in the net.

“I had no idea anyone would get hurt,” he said softly. “Honest! T-they told me that I’d be helping to prevent war with Nalax. That what I did would save countless lives. After what I saw in Urtoq Jungle, what I’ve seen here in Derimay…I thought I was doing the right thing.”

Cal could definitely relate to that. Judging by Griff’s forlorn grimace, so could he. “What did you have to do?” Griff asked.

“Nothing that seemed too crazy. Every couple weeks, they’d leave orders for me: a new delivery to pick up from the Brotherhood and bring somewhere. I didn’t like having to deal with those brutes, but my orders assured me that it was for the greater good.”

“Orders from who?” the High Commander demanded. “Who hired you?”

“I don’t know,” Sasha whimpered. “I never saw a face or met them in person. I just received a letter one day with the offer.” He licked his lips. “Maybe I should’ve asked more questions. But you know how things are with Lucile. We could use the extra money. Please, sir, you have to believe me! I never thought anyone would get hurt!”

High Commander Pern’s face was as hard and merciless as stone. “Save your excuses for the magisters. I have no interest in the word of traitors.”

While Sasha began to sniffle and weep, curling in on himself, Cal hesitantly stepped forward. He crouched down beside Griff. Shooting him a glance, he awkwardly patted Sasha’s back.

“There, now. As long as you cooperate, everything will be okay. I promise. Now, what about the void orb? Where were you taking it when you picked it up from Bald Locke a little over a week ago?”

Sniffling, Sasha glanced up at him with a questioning look. “Who the Void areyou?”

“Just answer his question,” Griff said.

Sasha licked his lips, his gaze flicking from Griff back to Cal. “T-the usual drop-off point: Tabitha’s Fineries. There was a bin out back they told me to use.”

Cal knew the place. One of the more reputable tapestry makers in the city. It was also located at a busy intersection. Countless people walked past that bin every day. He doubted they’d be able to glean much from it.

High Commander Pern loomed over Sasha. “Then how did it end up in my office?”

Sasha trembled. Cal couldn’t help feeling sorry for the guy, and a sudden thought struck him—this could’ve beenhim, on any one of dozens of situations. Had he been a little slower or a little more careless during a job, he might’ve found himself in exactly this sort of predicament. It was only by the grace of the Goddess—and Griff—that he was standing here a free man instead.

“T-his man s-showed up here earlier tonight,” Sasha said, his voice shaky. “I-I’d never seen him before, but he knew all about my arrangement and the void orb. He gave it to me, along with orders to place it in your office. I…I slipped it in while you were preoccupied with your work.”

“And you didn’t think to question what a relic laced with voidflame was intended todo?”Cal demanded incredulously.

Sash’s bowed head was answer enough. Maybe at first he really had believed his actions were for the greater good and that no one would be hurt. But by the end, some part of him must’ve realized what he was doing by placing that void orb in his superior’s office. And he’d done it anyway.

The High Commander’s expression darkened with fury. He took a step closer, raising his crackling baton. Caked in blood as he was, it was a truly ominous sight.

“Traitor!” the High Commander bellowed. “You don’t deserve any mercy! You’ve betrayed everything your office ever stood for, and for what? Empty promises and a sack of gallants!”