Albeck sighed. "I'm just worried that if we keep this from him, Annan will be disappointed in us when he learns the truth."
"There's no helping it, Albeck. You know how important the plan is." The Legion Commander thought highly of Annan too, but this was no time to put personal feelings first. "Infiltrating them is at stake... We'll just have to make it up to him later."
"All right. Where is he now?" Albeck looked at the Deputy Warden, who had yet to offer an opinion.
"Your house."
"Madam, like you, I firmly believe Albeck has been wronged..."
Albeck's wife was his age, and traces of her youthful beauty remained. His predicament had left her looking haggard. "What if he really did something to betray the Empire..." she murmured sadly.
"How can you think that? You're his wife. You should believe in him."
Mrs. Albeck wept silently. "I've tried, but it's the Judgment Hall..."
"Even gods make mistakes, let alone people. Don't worry. I'll prove Blackwatch is innocent."
"Thank you for everything you've done for my husband..."
"It's only right. I know they're loyal to the Empire."
"But if... they really are..."
"Then the Empire has no reason to exist anymore..."
Annan wasn't sure whether Albeck's house had any Informants, but it didn't matter. He had a whole arsenal of inflammatory lines ready, from "You love the Empire, but does the Empire love you?" to "Oh, Empire, slow down and wait for your people." Those Judgment Hall Believers, loyal to the Empire to a fault, would never be able to stomach them.
After offering Mrs. Albeck a few more words of comfort, Annan heard a sudden commotion outside the door.
He and Mrs. Albeck stood. She looked uneasy; he was more surprised than anything.
*They couldn't sit still