“Crown Scion Matthews.” Aldrich appears at my shoulder with his Seneschal Tacitus close beside him. “I must apologize for the shock my pronouncement delivered at today’s services. I assure you, my words were merely—”

“A strategy,” I interrupt, smiling tightly. “To take public attention away from the investigation into Lord Davis, the individual who really opened the Gates. I am aware.”

Aldrich’s eyes widen slightly. “I’m impressed with your quick insight. With your emotional response, I assumed that you were taken aback, even pained by the ruse.”

My lie is ready. “Not at all. I think, as Scion Davis’s Squire-select, I needed to have a very public response of disbelief that my Scion’s own Kingsmage could betray the Order.”

“She is clever,” Tacitus says, nodding approvingly. “There are many ways to feed a lie, but they are most sustained by elements of truth. Brava, Crown Scion.” It is the first time I have heard him speak. His Italian accent is there, but so light I might not hear it if I hadn’t known his background from Erebus. I wonder how long he has lived in the States.

I keep my face as even as possible. “I see the benefit of skilled subterfuge, especially as we plan our rescue of Nick.”

“And when we bring Martin Davis to justice,” Cestra adds. Her voice has lost the formality of the morning ceremony, her mask lowered. “He must pay for his crimes, privately of course, along with Isaac Sorenson.”

Gabriel shakes his head. “It is still hard to believe that Martin would do such things.”

Cestra’s gaze darkens. “The Mageguard found a secured fridge in Davis’s home full of cambion blood and vials belonging to both Selwyn and Natasia Kane that were presumably used to open the Gates. We have the evidence we need.” The tone in her voice almost gives me hope, that at least in this way the Regents are pursuing truth and justice. Even if it’s not out in the open yet.

“But his Oaths?” Gabriel says, spreading his arms wide. “That degree of betrayal for one so bound is unheard of.”

“Not true,” Cestra says with an elegant shrug. “We have heard of betrayal before. But the traitors’ Oaths took their lives before we could get to them.”

Aldrich clears his throat, cutting some tension in the air. He turns to me. “I hope you aren’t insulted by our wish to perform the Rite before we discuss other matters and begin the transition.”

I shrug. “I get it. The Rite is about mutual trust. And the first time the Scion of Arthur takes up the blade, it’s usually a much more public affair. The Scion is Called, and then everyone gathers to watch him pull Excalibur to be fully Awakened.”