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"If you know someone’s fear, you know them" She blinks at me like I’m some stupid creature "And I had to knohat it is we’re dealing with"
"I am not an it"
"What you are rehtning girl," she sneers, putting her face against the bars SuddenlyLike I’m paralyzed Panic rises in le my toes This et tome toward the bars On the other side, the queen watches me Her blinkswith rabs my face in her hands I cry out as the pain in ive now for the simple doom of conscription
"You did that in front of hundreds of Silvers, people ill ask questions, people with power," she hisses inover my face "That is the only reason you are still alive"
My hands clench and I wish for the lightning again, but it doesn’t cohs openly Stars explode behind o in a swirl of rustling silk My sight returns just in ti me well and truly alone in the cell I barely e to throw up
Exhaustion co into my bones I am only human, and humans are not supposed to deal with days like today With a jolt, I realize one, taken away What could thatto fall, but I will not cry I have that ht the tears, but not the questions Not the doubt growing into me?
What a at me from the other side of the bars His silver buttons shine in the low light, but they’re nothing co off his bald head
"You have to tell ht up At least I said I loved the back to our lastbut take you upstairs," he replies, but without e your clothes"
Suddenly, I realize I still have a half-burned unifor off me The officer points at a neat pile of clothes near the bars He turns his back, allowing me some semblance of privacy
The clothes are plain but fine, softer than anything I’ve ever worn before A long-sleeved white shirt and black pants, both of thele silver stripe down each side There are shoes as well, black oiled boots that rise to my knees To my surprise, there isn’t a stitch of red on the clothes But why, I do not know My ignorance is beco the last boot upAs it slides into place, the officer turns around I don’t hear the jingle of keys, but then, I don’t see a lock How he plans to let e, I’ate, his hand twitches, and the metal bars bow open Of course The jailor would be a--