He gave her a look that contained a mixture of caution and amusement. “And who in this wretched old world can actually say what that is, dear girl?”

She nodded, conceding the point. “As much truth as you know,” she said, then looked significantly around the room. “As much as you can tell.”

He sighed. “I am truly sorry you were caught up in this. I have tried to tell them that you had nothing to do with it.”

“Don’t worry about me. I am less innocent than you think, Finn. Just tell me one thing—were you working for Hendon Tolly?”

He stared at her, clearly calculating. “Tolly?”

“I may be able to protect you, but you must tell me the truth about that. I must know.”

“You, protect me? Girl, you are not Zoria in truth, you merely aped her on the boards!” He smiled, but it was little more than a fearful twitch. He swallowed, leaned close to her. “I…I do not know,” he said in a voice that was scarcely even a whisper. “I was given a…a task…by someone else. Someone high in the government of Southmarch.”

She hazarded a guess. “Was it Lord Brone? Avin Brone?”

His eyebrows rose. “How would you know of such things?”

“If I can save us, I will, and then you will learn more. Were you to meet with Dawet dan-Faar on Brone’s behalf? Drakava’s man?”

This time Finn Teodoros could say nothing, but in his surprise could only nod.

Briony stood up, walked to the door. “I wish to talk to the guard captain, please,” she called, “or anyone in authority. I have something to say that the king himself will want to know.”

This time there was a much longer wait before the door opened. Several guards came through, followed a moment later by a well-dressed man in the high collar of a court grandee. He had gray in his pointed beard, but did not otherwise seem very old, and he moved with the grace of a young man. He reminded her a little bit of Hendon Tolly, an unpleasant association. “Do not rise,” the noble said with perfectly pitched courtesy. “I am the Marquis of Athnia, the king’s secretary. I understand you believe you have something to say that is worth my listening. I’m sure it goes without saying that there is a very unpleasant penalty for wasting my time.”

Briony sat up straighter. She had heard of Athnia—he was a member of the old and wealthy Jino family and one of the most important men in Syan. Apparently the guards had taken what she said seriously. On the bench Finn Teodoros swayed, almost fainting with apprehension at the appearance of such a powerful figure.

“I do.” She stood up. “I can do no good to anyone by proceeding with this counterfeit. I am not an actor. I am not a spy. I do not believe this man here or any of the other actors are spies, either—at least they meant no harm to Syan or King Enander.”