"He'll understand," the Chief Mage said.
The Legion Commander spoke up. "It doesn't matter if he doesn't. Since when do outsiders get to meddle in the Empire's decisions?"
"What if he guesses the plan?"
"Impossible. Only a few of us know the new plan. Even Cunning Chaos wouldn't think of it. How could he?"
Albeck said, "But all he has to do is believe Blackwatch would never betray the Empire."
The Legion Commander and the Chief Mage fell silent.
They couldn't argue. Even the Empire's own people lacked that faith. Amid all the curses and grief, very few believed Blackwatch was innocent.
"But I trust Annan not to tell anyone," Albeck added. He worried the Judgment Hall might needlessly warn Annan, making it easier for the Chaos Cult to notice something was wrong.
Tap, tap, tap—
Footsteps sounded. The three stopped talking and watched an Imperial Believer in a Judgment Hall robe halt outside the Cell.
"The Ceremonial Affairs Department has a message for you."
The Chief Mage rose and took it. He opened it, scanned the formulaic wording, then paused for a few seconds. "Annan Reeves is coming to Montreal Mountain."
Annan certainly wouldn't tell anyone. He was coming in person.
The three were startled, relieved, and a little troubled.
"Looks like he knows something. Albeck, you handle him."
"Me?"
Albeck lifted his Mage Robe, revealing a very real pair of Leg Irons.
The Legion Commander gave a low laugh. "Delatorre was right. That boy really does have the convictions of a Holy Grail Knight..."
May seventeenth. Less than two weeks remained before Blackwatch's execution for treason.
The Imperial Ceremonial Affairs Department's reply reached Francois. Its several hundred densely packed words boiled down to: Come if you must, but we'd rather you didn't.
"What does that mean?" Annan