In the end, Silly Cat and Little Spider were confined, with Lily serving as their warden.
Silly Cat sat in the birdcage, watching Lily pace outside. "Traitor!"
"Cat's doing this for your own good." Lily raised her tail and rubbed against the cage. "There are bad people everywhere outside. Without Annan, you'd starve out there, meow."
"I'm strong."
"Lily knows, but Lily worries."
Silly Cat couldn't stay angry with Lily. Before long, Silly Cat had forgiven her.
"I am reconsidering the necessity of working with you," said Little Spider, who had watched it all.
The Spider Queen's ability to think was already fading. She feared that the foolish god would drag her down to the same depths of stupidity.
"Once I've comforted Lily, I'll break out with you again!" Silly Cat promised.
"Break out? No... I've thought of a better idea."
An idea had come to the Spider Queen: cooperate with Annan.
In the past, she would never have considered exposing herself... Little Spider's will was beginning to influence the Spider Queen.
One floor above them, Annan was speaking with Hamis VI through the Portal in the living room.
"Those old fossils still want to invite Miss Evelyn."
"Why?"
Hamis VI spread his hands. "Your The Mage Tower's Fall is a hit. They all want a chance to get close to Miss Evelyn."
Annan looked disgusted. That was exactly the reaction Hamis VI had wanted.
The Theater had breathed a little life into the stagnant Royal Capital, and the Newspaper had finally given people something to talk about besides survival. Hamis VI wanted to seize the chance to introduce new policies, too, but the councilors still shut him down with "I object" and "I second his objection."
Fed up with having his hands tied, Hamis VI wanted Annan's help getting