Chapter 18 · The Witness Who Believes the Lie

The witness believed every word coming out of her own mouth. That was the problem.

Wantang watched the woman's hands. Steady. No tremor. The ash flames wrapped around the testimony stand like curious cats, and the witness didn't even flinch. She was a palace attendant, mid-thirties maybe, with the kind of posture that came from years of balancing trays and keeping secrets. Her voice carried across the stone chamber, clear and certain.

"I saw Lady Eveline's seal on the parcel myself," the woman said. "Red wax. The Vey serpent. I delivered it to the apothecary's counter personally."

The flames didn't spike. Didn't flicker. The woman believed it.

Sephra stood near the envoy's bench, arms crossed, looking satisfied. Rowan sat in the accused chair, jaw tight. His eyes found Wantang's across the chamber. She could read the question there. Can you break this?

Maybe. If she was right about what she'd heard.

Wantang raised her hand. The gesture felt strange in Eveline's body, too formal, but it got Sephra's attention.

"The observer wishes to speak?" Sephra's tone was cool. Amused, almost.

"I'd like to ask the witness a few questions," Wantang said. She kept her voice level. Neutral.