Page 120 of The Tribes of Magic
“Jareth brought you to Killjoy, who healed your injuries, then called me. I brought you home.”
“Thanks.” I smiled at Kato.
He returned the smile. “No problem.”
Conner sat down next to me on the sofa. “You really should take more care when training with Metamorphs, Red.”
“They’re not Metamorphs yet.”
“Which means they can only get stronger.”
I sighed and let him tell me how to deal with aggressive opponents, particularly groups of aggressive opponents who tried to gang up on me.
“Well, this is fun, but we really should be getting down to business,” Conner said.
“Business?”
“The reason Kato and I are here.”
“Which is?”
“The General.”
I looked at Kato. “Did you find anything in your search of the Castle’s Records Room?”
“Nothing to link any specific Knight to the missing Apprentices. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything to find. No Knight would do such a heinous thing.”
“But maybe one of the Apprentices did.” Conner looked at me. “The spy saw you with the Paragons’ spellbook. Both Knights and Apprentices had breakfast at the Castle that day.”
“Yes.”
“It has to be someone close to you.”
I didn’t like where this was going. “You think one of my friends is spying on me for the General?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
“Which is?”
“Ask them. In my capacity as Scary Rebel Leader, I volunteer to kidnap all of your friends and frighten the truth out of them.”
Kato humphed. “She was looking for serious suggestions, Conner.”
“Iwasbeing serious.”
“I don’t want to frighten my friends,” I said. “What if they’re innocent?”
“Then they have nothing to fear.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Conner, but the Rebels don’t exactly have the gentlest touch when it comes to interrogating suspects. Just last week, your buddies kidnapped me and tried to set me on fire.”
“They were acting like idiots. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Act like an idiot?” Kato asked, amused.
“Hurt anyone. I’ll be careful, Red. I promise.”
“I believe that you don’t want to hurt anyone, but what if during the questioning, they get scared, try to escape, and get hurt?”
