“Perhaps,” said someone in the crowd.
Sylvie looked up. There was the man with the star-spangled face. He moved through the audience.
People began to gasp and whisper. “It’s Guy Fabre!”
Even with the paint, Sylvie could see they were right.It has to be… and yet, something about him seemeddifferent.Her eyes locked on the ring he was wearing,a grape leaf with a pinpricked circle in the center.He pulled out a vial and chugged it down.
Sylvie stood there, riveted, as August Strange shed off his disguise.A veiled lady spell … of course!The final piece of the puzzle fell into place.That’s why Guy needed the skullcap.
“Sorry about the theatrics,” said August. “But I’m afraid the CCS didn’t make it easy for me to sneak in today.”
Bass wheeled around. His face now looked like a bowl of half-set jelly, red and wobbly. “Get this thief!”
August pulled out the gleaming Apple of Discord. Sylvie could see it, glowing on the scroll, as big and bright as the moon.
Several CCS agents charged forward, then froze.
Inky words splashed across the rice paper, permanent as a knife wound to the chest.
PROOF! THE CCS HAS BEEN LYING TO YOU!
Sylvie could hear the sharp draws of breath.
“The problem isn’t Sylvie’s story,” said August, lifting the Apple so that it hovered above the words on the scroll. Her name sparked inside it, like a moth to a flame. “It’s the fact that Jack Bass doesn’t want you tobelieveanything that might contradict his narrative. That’s why he tried to keep this hidden. But we all have a right to know the truth.”
“This is all a misunderstanding.” Bass pulled off his hat and fumbled with it.
“In that case, there’s an easy way to clear it up,” said August, turning to his old partner. “If Fernand has nothing to hide, have him turn over his Blade. Let us see his spells. After all, it’s justice you’ve been after … right?”
The auditorium grew so still, you could’ve heard one of Bass’s ranking pins drop.
“Well, I suppose.” Bass glanced from the audience to the Apple and back again, as he contemplated his next move.
“Surely, you agree with August,” prodded Godard. “After all, the backbone of your policies is to quell cheating and preserve families with an unblemished past. We wouldn’t want Fernand to be wrongfully accused.”
All eyes were fixed on Bass.
“That is true,” said Bass, holding out his hand. “Maybe we could take a quick look at Fernand’s Blade. What do you say, old friend?”
“I … ah …” Fernand’s eyes darted around the room. “Never!” He charged toward the door.
The arena erupted.“GET HIM!”
Fernand had almost made it to the exit when someone pushed through.
Guy tackled him to the ground, pinning Fernand in a dark slick of chocolate.
August rushed over. “I was starting to worry about you.”
“Sorry,” said Guy, brushing chocolate off his collar. “There was an incident in the train.” He lowered his voice. “Then, I had to get the rice paper scrolls running… . I couldn’t let the world miss out on our best headline yet.”
Sylvie smiled as Guy threw her a crooked wink with his good eye.
Josephine slowly turned to Fernand, studying his face, as if she were seeing it for the first time. “It was … you? All these years of suffering and wondering, you just let me believe …” Her voice trailed off, as if the sentence were too painful to finish.
Sylvie waited for Fernand to say something, but he didn’t even look up.
“I’m sorry you were cheated out of the truth, and the win, Josephine.” Sylvie picked at words like a loose string. “My mom was a victim … but so were you.”
