“Memorize this,” I tell her, knowing she has the best ability amongst the three of us to remember random facts and figures. I keep flipping through the folders, finding nothing else useful. In the last folder, I find a single sheet of parchment. It’s a letter from an ally in Velmara, providing information to the rebels about the thayar flower. I take in the words quickly, excitement that I might’ve found something that could truly help Laurel.

The sons and daughters of our great kingdom deserve a better life, and I am determined to find the information needed to remove any complications in achieving our vision for the realm.

My heart stops when I read the signature at the bottom.

Your friend and ally,

Nemesia

I read the letter a second time, my eyes stopping on the harsh lines that make the signature at the end. This can’t be true.

“What is it?” Fionn asks, taking the letter from my hand. “Nemesia… isn’t that…” I nod. Silene looks up from where she is still scanning over the thayar supply notes.

“Nemesia, Laurel’s friend?” she asks.

“I believe so, based on the contents of the letter. But it could be a forgery. Laurel could probably confirm the handwriting. We need to take it back with us.”

“We can’t. What if it’s found missing? We would be the first suspects.” Silene’s eyes widen in fear.

“I don’t give a fuck,” I spit out. “If they confront us, we own up to it and make an excuse, and if they don’t believe us, we fight our way out and be done with them. At this point, we’ve found their leader, we’ve found their headquarters, and this letter tells us who their informant has been. That’s good enough. Laurel needs to know if this is true.”

Silene weighs my words. “This might not even be a real letter. Your feelings for Laurel might—”

I cut her off. “I don’t have feelings for Laurel.” Liar. “But even if I did, this would still be important to show to her. I’m not negotiating.” My voice comes out harsher than I mean for it to, but I don’t back down.

Silene only raises her hands in submission. “Fine, take it. But you have to be the one to tell her.”

Fuck, this is bad. This will devastate Laurel. She’s spoken little of the friend turned advisor, but I can sense the closeness of their bond. I fold the letter up carefully, then tuck it into the inside pocket of my cloak. Silene returns the thayar ledgers, and Fionn locks the drawer again. We sit in silence until Krantz arrives. When he opens the door, he gives us a threatening smile, something about his facial expressions off from the last time we saw him, like his skin is stretched tighter across his face.