(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

e a fickle lad, but surely he couldn't go so far as to betray the Faction he
grew up with... and his sister possessed a powerful, frightening perception,
"Why should I believe that?"
A pious look crept onto his face. "'Cos I say it's so. 'Cos I'm about to say
something that'll make a criminal of me, but I'll say it to see justice done."
He paused. "I know he's an Anarchist because he tried to recruit me. Him
and that engineer Bedai-Lihn. I told 'em I'd do it so's I could trap 'em, but
then I realized I didn't have the stomach to harm poor Saros. I turned 'em
down, and now they're trying to cover their tracks. That's why they want me
gone. They're the killers. Not me."
"Assuming I believe this, why shouldn't I have you imprisoned too?"
"What? You're accusing ME? But I didn't do anything! Berk, you've got the
wrong man! Please! I didn't do it!"
~~~~~
Sarod sat, one leg twitching, his eyes owlish and wide. The boy was so
twitchy I was impressed that he hadn't wet himself by now. "Well?"
"Thildon tells me that you and Bedai-Lihn are Anarchists, and that you're
trying to frame him because he turned down an offer to join you."
Saros paled, and his lips parted in surprise. I was grateful there wasn't a
warm trickle on the floor by now... fetching someone to mop it up would've
been another trip in this as-of-yet fruitless exchange, "She has nothing to do
with this. I did it on my own. But the truth is, Thildon shoved Avildon into
the gears. I put the awl there to make sure everyone would know he was
there, because I'm just a kid and no one would believe what I was saying. All
right? I admit that I planted the awl. But I only did it to make sure he got
punished for his crime."
"Why? Why should I not think that you're doing this to get back at him for
some other crime?"
"Because... because... I don't know why you'd think that. But I promise... go
talk to him and tell him what I said, and then you can decide for yourself,"
the poor boy was on the edge of tears.
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