But Moss, a Level 11 apprentice who worked part-time in Warrior Meeting Hall like Broomstick did, set down the files in his hand. “It’s not just two hours. I haven’t seen you at all in the dormitory. Suspicious, don’t you think? That you’ve been missing ever since Spirit and Wolf disappeared?”

Broomstick’s heart seized for a second. But then he let loose an easy smile and shrugged. “You caught me. I ran off with my traitor ex-friends but then decided the smartest thing to do was walk right back into the Citadel and return to my job helping you losers sort through paperwork.”

Crossbow and the others laughed.

Moss kept his eye on Broomstick a moment longer. But a reluctant laugh escaped his lips. “Sorry. It sounded better in my head, but once I said it out loud . . . I guess it’s pretty ridiculous.”

Broomstick’s heart resumed beating. “I really do apologize for being late. The Council has been questioning me since the battle to see if I knew anything of Spirit’s plans.” He scowled for good measure, as if he was disgusted that he’d once considered her a friend. “Between that and practicing this new magic, I haven’t even been back to my room. So if I don’t totally make sense, it’s because I’m severely sleep deprived.”

“This ryuu magic is incredible,” Crossbow said. “I’m dying to finish sorting through all these reports so I can get back to the sparring arena again.”

Everyone nodded. Thank the gods they’d swallowed Broomstick’s excuses. It was something Fairy had taught him—if you’re caught in an untruth (for her it was usually gossip), either get angry while you defend it as truth or confess to it as if the deception was the most obvious mistake in the world. Either way, people ended up believing your initial lie. Psychology was a strange beast but a helpful one.

Broomstick picked up a pile of loose papers. “So what are these, and what are we doing with them?”

“Initial responses to the emperor’s decrees,” Moss said. “We have to organize them by subject and geographical location for Virtuoso to review.”

Holy heavens. Virtuoso was Spirit’s sister, who Broomstick knew as Hana. She was also the Dragon Prince’s right-hand ryuu. Sadness for Spirit prickled at Broomstick, along with a sharp stab of fear—Hana wasn’t someone to trifle with.

“The red folders are for tax reports,” Moss said, continuing on from before. “Orange for confiscation of tiger pearls, yellow for updates on weapons manufacturing, and green for the collection of all fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, and grains for the army.”