Closing the door behind me, I stepped up as I said, “What do you mean by Jericho Donovan?”

She poked my chest while leaning forward as she said, “No need in denying it. I’ve already verified your identity. The Donovan family found the wreckage of your carriage after sending a relative to search for you. After seeing you in person, I can see how you survived.”

I rolled my eyes before glancing at Joan as I said, “Who is this anyway?”

Joan already propped on a hip, her patience thin as water, “She’s apparently Saint Ara, though I never imagined she’d be so short.”

Ara pursed her lips before saying, “All of your are just tall. Besides-” She turned to Solomon as she said, “Not all saints come out of the process as clean and dainty as I did. Isn’t that right, Saint Solomon?”

Before he could reply, I said, “You’ve got quite the bit of venom in your words. I think I’ll call you Miss Viper.”

Miss Viper squinted her eyes as she said, “You’re not even a saint yet. You can’t just call me whatever you want. I assure you of that.”

I nodded before turning to Joan and saying, “So how did Miss Viper learn who I am?”

Joan frowned, “Krakowah got drunk before telling her. Apparently, it’s a big deal.”

I shrugged before saying, “Well they only sent her, it musn’t have been too big a crisis.”

Ara snapped, “It’s a far larger concern than you'd believe, and stop talking like I’m not here. It’s unbecoming of nobility.”

I flashed a beastial grin as I leaned towards her, “Not a drop of my blood is noble nor normal. I assure you of that.”

She stood her ground before saying, “Not according to who you're lineage. You’re not just nobility. You’re royalty.”

I sighed before crossing my arms, “My family died a while back. The Donovan’s offered making me a member of their family, but I learned a little of the subject. After reading in the archives of the palisade, I found a Donovan biography. I was curious, so I poured through the pages. I found that only direct blood relatives could be selected, so it wasn’t a problem.”

Ara nodded before lifting a finger to the air, “Yes, it wasn’t a problem. It is now. We know your a direct descendant. The king has ordered your immediate imprisonment by the palisade. They are more than just suspicious of you at this point.”

Ara’s eyes turned to steel as she hissed, “Trust me when I say they have interesting methods for interrogation. We’ll figure out what you’re doing in Nelastra.”

A bead of sweat poured off Joan’s forehead before I walked over towards Solomon while saying, “While I’m away, would you keep Joan safe? It shouldn’t take long.”

Solomon’s shoulders hung as he said, “Bah. Of course I will. I tried telling them that you are no spy, but they wouldn’t listen to me. The church can’t even trust saints anymore. What has this world come to?”

With a sly smile, I said, “It’s full of change and never lacking in surprises. Keep your mind young.”

A sardonic laugh bellowed from Solomon’s chest before he said, “You should try the same.”

I nodded before dashing into a hug with Joan, lifting her from the ground as she giggled before I said, “Try not to break anything while I’m gone, troublemaker.”

Joan pulled my head close as she said, “You’re the one to talk.”

As I set her down, Ara said, “The most monstrous things often have the most convincing disguises. Let’s go, Jericho. Ser Regis awaits.”

Solomon shouted, “What? He’ll be tortured? I will not stand idle as he faces torments that no man should endure.”

Joan tapped her fingers on her side as she said, “Aren’t you guys scared you’ll stop Jericho from becoming a Saint? He could just leave after-”

Ara’s eyes opened wide, manic and laughing as she poked my side and said, “Solomon knows better than anyone. You aren’t given the title of saint. It is forced onto you.”

The gritty sound of grinding teeth filled the room before Ara jumped beside Solomon and said, “Did I touch a nerve? It must be ever so painful to be under the Empire’s heel, but you’ve got a strong back. You’ll be fine.”

Solomon’s hands shook before I said, “Can we start with the torture already Miss Viper? I can’t handle anymore petty, thinly veiled jabs aimed at Bastion’s greatest champion.”

Harsher than breathing in broken glass, Solomon said, “Champion is another word for slave.”

The depth of his despair shook the room, yet Ara’s grin grew at the sight. Deluge said in my mind, “We don’t have to experience all this.”

I thought back, “We do. If they learn who I am, then they’ll hide the remnants here. We’ll never find them afterwards.”

Deluge laughed as I said aloud, “Then let’s get this over with.”

Ara turned towards me, frenzy growing in her eyes before she said, “Alright then. I’ll enjoy breaking you.”

My words stayed steady with a witty snap as I said them, “Haven’t you heard Miss Viper? I can drink poison. That includes your own.”