I paused to listen in.
“You won’t be able to sell it, it’s too recognizable,” Instructor Weavir warned, anger still coloring his tone, before reining himself in. “So you might as well return the horn before we find it.”
Comprehension fell on my head like a rock. I fought not to let my gaze dart to Henrik.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
He couldn’t have been stupid enough to steal the horn, could he?
I spent purposeful time looking at each trainee in the courtyard, not just Henrik. His expression was suspiciously blank when I studied him.
“I didn’t do anything!” Mikalyn yelled. She was on the verge of tears. “Why are you singling us out, out of everyone?”
“We’re innocent!” Henrik shouted.
“We don’t know where the horn is, so you might as well get your search underway.” Yeshar crossed his arms over his chest.
“We have multiple witnesses placing you three near where the horn was last seen after dinner,” Instructor Garcien explained.
“How do you know one of those witnesses didn’t do it?” Henrik asked.
“None of the witnesses saw any of the other witnesses near the horn,” she said.
“You should search my room,” Yeshar said, calm and collected. “I have nothing to hide.”
“Oh, we will,” Instructor Garcien assured him. “But first I am giving you all ample opportunity to confess. Because we don’t know if it was just one of you that stole the horn, or all three. When we find it in one of your bunks, it will be too late to pin this on each other. The individual caught with it will be exclusively punished.”
My mind raced, anxiety spiking. I’d seen how Henrik had eyed the Starshell Instructor Garcien had shown us when the lessons began around Skinscript. And I’d seen how his eyes lit up when the horn was first brought out. But that didn’t mean he was guilty.
Several others returning from the outer perimeter had stopped to listen in on the unfolding drama as well, including Zevrial. Spectators from among those who hadn’t volunteered were also loitering around the fringes.
Zevrial was concentrating fully on me. I shifted under his scrutiny. It lasted only a few moments before he turned and headed toward the barracks.
“The Ascendancy doesn’t suffer thieves,” Instructor Weavir’s tone dropped an octave. “Especially Starshell thieves. The punishment for theft is maiming.” He paused to let that sink in. “Maybe they’ll take a few of your fingers. For something as valuable as the horn, they might take your whole hand. They’ll take just enough that you will never be able to steal again, but still be able to perform a service. Although it will be significantly more difficult for you.”
“Last chance to come clean before we search your rooms,” Instructor Garcien said.
Henrik was glaring up at them, not even glancing in my direction.
The memory of when he’d tried to lift Zevrial’s coin purse that night when we’d all played Haburi rose unbidden, and all the times he’d filched food from my plate during meals. It didn’t help that I could remember a dozen times when he’d stolen from prisoners in the Reformatory without remorse.
But he’d bailed me out of trouble just as many times as he’d gotten me into it.
This was different. In the Reformatory, crime was almost expected. Unless it was egregious, petty crime didn’t carry additional penalties. Being in the Reformatory was already a heavy punishment. Maiming was far more permanent.
I tried to reassure myself that Henrik had immediately confessed when Zevrial had caught him stealing. He was an opportunist, not a fool. And he’d be the biggest idiot on Mesmoria if he’d stolen the horn.
Instructor Garcien sighed. “Alright, Nolan, please go search their rooms. I’ll watch them until you return.”
My pulse sped up. Zevrial ambled toward the Fitness center from the barracks with the barrel Instructor Weavir had used to store the Starshell knives. He dropped the two daggers at his waist back into the barrel, beckoning me over with a finger.
The line of suspects still stood stiff like a row of slimstalks in the courtyard. Instructor Weavir opened the door to Yeshar’s room. There wasn’t anything I could do for Henrik at this point, everyone would see if I tried to sneak into his room to search it before Instructor Weavir got there.
Henrik was my friend, and I wanted to help him if he’d done this, both to repay all the times he’d helped me, and to protect him from receiving the punishment. But this had gone too far.
I stood, feeling wooden as I stepped toward Zevrial. His dark eyes were sly as he tipped his chin toward the dagger at my waist.
Of course, he was collecting all the Starshell weapons. They were highly valuable after all. I’d forgotten I was wearing one.
