"Bail me out?"
Darkwill followed Leonard up the stone steps toward the surface, his mind a tangled mess.
He racked his brains but couldn't think of anyone who would be willing-or able-to help him at a time like this...
Could it be... the old man heard the news and rushed to Backlund from the sea?
That can't be! Even the fastest steamship takes several days to get here from the Rorsted Archipelago...
Or did another member of the School of Life help me in secret?
Wait!
Something suddenly occurred to Darkwill, and he stopped.
Could this whole "bail" business just be a pretext to make me lower my guard? Do they actually think killing me in the underground cells would be too much trouble, so they're taking me to some deserted little room to "purify" me?!
"Um... young man." Darkwill swallowed and cautiously edged closer. "Do you know who exactly posted bail for me?"
"No idea." Without even turning around or giving it any thought, Leonard shook his head.
At the exit, Leonard stopped and turned, fixing Darkwill with an intimidating stare. "Once you're out, remember not to sell any more of those dubious potions..."
"If we catch you again..." He clenched his red-gloved fist, making his knuckles crack.
"You know what'll happen."
"Yes! I understand! Don't worry, officer. Once I'm out, I'll turn over a new leaf and mend my ways!"
Leonard's "thoughtful" advice made Darkwill shudder. He hurriedly lowered his head and repeatedly promised to behave, not daring to ask another question.
Fortunately, the "purification" Darkwill feared most never happened.
Instead of taking him to a torture chamber, Leonard brought him safely back to the surface and into a spacious, brightly lit confessional.
There, Darkwill met a bishop of Saint Samuel Cathedral.
With a solemn expression, the bishop