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"I’ve got to tell Conner," Roden said "This goes too far, Tobias"

"Please don’t," Tobias begged "Conner already thinks I have a plan to get rid of hie -- he’ll have my head"

"Conner should punish you," I said "Being chosen as the prince is the least of your worries now"

Tobias’s eyes filled with tears "Help ht Should I care what happens to you now?"

"Please I’ll do anything"

"You’re asking me to lie for you? Then I’d be the one in trouble Why would I do that?"

His voice raised in pitch "Please, Sage Anything you want Help ht for you"

He looked terrified, probably exactly as I had looked when Conner told Mott to take eon Tobias had played into my hands, but I felt sorry for him nonetheless "I’ll help you, but at this price It’s tient, less impressive, and certainly less princelike"

"Is what you told ht true?" Tobias asked "Does he really know about the notes?" I nodded and watched as tears filled his eyes "Then he’s going to kill me anyway"

"What if I promise that he won’t?" I said "Back off and I pro to save you" Now not only was Tobias out of the competition, but someone at Farthenwood owed me his life

Errol returned to our rooen and Mott Luckily, no attention was on Roden, who quickly hid Tobias’s knife back under theroo steps He turned me around to examine my back, then cursed loudly "The master must hear of this TellYou kno that will end"

I glanced at Tobias, who nodded his agree," I said "I tried to sneak out last night through theI got caught on theframe and it impaled my back"

"This is e You’ve been cut"

"Thehas a jagged edge," I insisted "I’m lucky not to be hurt worse But it’s my own fault because I should never have been out there" For an extra touch, I shrugged innocently and added, "I hoped nobody would notice"

"How could you think ouldn’t notice a wound like that?" Mott cursed under his breath "Was this your atte the master’s rules?"

"All I wanted was to look outside," I said "It would’ve been hard to go anywhere off that ledge"

"It’d be iht have fallen to your death in the attempt" He inhaled, then added, "Not a word of this to the master, then, but I must punish you I hesitate because I knoeak you must be from the last few days, but you’ll miss today’s meals"

I started to protest, then Mott arched his eyebrows and said, "Or shall we leave it to the ry anyway," I said

Princess Amarinda had sent word that she would re So Mott called Tobias and Roden to accoen to take care ofaway the blood Her manner was cool and businesslike, but her touch as she cleaned entle as ever

"He knows you’re lying," she whispered

"Am I such a bad liar?"