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Gion’s eyes narrowed. He and Isaacs hated Saxon even more than they hated each other. Sax had served with them in the Air Phase army. There was no way Isaacs would ever work with the man, so it must be some kind of attack strategy. “You’re going after Saxon?”

Isaacs’ innocent expression didn’t flicker. “Nope, not me.”

Gion wasn’t buying it.

Neither was Job. “You wandered around the Agora yesterday evening, socializing with everyone you saw.” He informed Isaacs, stopping by the edge of the table. “I’ve heard about it from a dozen people, because it was so out of character.”

“So I can’t go to the Agora?”

“You never have before, unless you’re attacking it. People are worried that you’re plotting something again.”

“That hurts.” Isaacs lamented and took a huge bite of croissant. “I’ve turned over a new leaf. I’m the support staff for you Happy Sunshine Heroes, now.”

Job placed his arms behind his back, military at-rest style. “I find it strange that you suddenly decided to visit the most populous area in the Elemental realm and chat for hours. No disagreements. No bodily injuries. No deaths. Instead, you were buying rounds in the tavern and telling stories.”

“I was in a gregarious mood.”

“Which inspired you to loudly proclaim that Saxon is a ‘pussy with a dumb haircut’?”

“That’s his barber’s fault, not mine.”

“You told Nero, of the Weather House that Saxon is sleeping with his own mother.”

“That’s a hundred percent true. I’m pretty, fairly, almost sure.”

“Saxon’s mother has been dead since the Victorian Era.”

“And that just makes it worse.”

“You told Abram, of the Wood House that Saxon once lost a fight to an ottoman.”

“He did! I have video proof.”

“Which you forwarded to Alder, of the Fire House… who then shared it with the entire realm.”

Isaacs pretended to be surprised. “Did he? Why, that rascal.”

Cross grabbed for Gion’s phone. “Send the video to this screen. I want to see it.”

“It’s just a simple clip where Sax falls on his ass.” Isaacs defended, even as he took out his own phone to oblige Cross. (Ty had bought him a phone made for visually impaired users. The woman was much too sweet for this world.) “I can’t see it anymore, but I’m not one to deprive others of the fun. Ask Gion about it, if you don’t believe me. He’s the one who set the whole situation up.”

Everyone looked at Gion.

“I did not set the whole thing up.” Gion explained tightly. “Saxon tripped over a stool in the armory and toppled into a weapons display.”

“What was a stool doing in the armory and why was there a camera filming it?” Tharsis wanted to know.

“It’s a mystery.” Isaacs shrugged expansively. “I think someone deliberately put it there.” He not-so-subtly pointed Gion’s way.

“The fall drove an axe through Saxon’s shoulder and nearly took off his arm.” Gion continued, tuning out that bullshit. “The door was somehow stuck, so Sax couldn’t get out. The men with him had to sew his limb back on without anesthesia, while he thrashed and screamed. That’s what’s on the video.”

Isaacs nodded. “It’s a great bar story. Everyone laughed and laughed.”

“It is funny, Job.” Cross chuckled, happily watching it on the phone.

“How was the armory door stuck?” Tharsis asked.

“I’ve always suspected Gion rigged it.” Isaacs mused. “All the evidence sure pointed to him being the culprit.”