Cassian's POV
He sits bound, ropes biting his flesh. Pain bulges behind his eyes as blood darkens the chair and drips to the floor.
"Who is he?"
Magnus sits. Phineas and Stellan stand like judges—unmoved, practiced. It isn't the first time I'm meeting a scene like this, and I never thought I wouldn't be in this position. I knew a time like this would come as the actions of the past couldn't confine themselves in the past.
"Name's irrelevant." Phineas' voice is small, flat.
"I wasn't asking for his name. Why is he here? Where is he from?"
They exchange glances with one another. I don't care what that means. All I need is to know about this boy, dragged to the council hall without my notice, already undergoing torture. Torture for what?
"Would anyone say something?"
My patience thins. I taste the anger; it's close to a growl. Lyra's words already triggered me.
"Spy." Stellan's word lands like a stone.
"Spy?"
"Yes." Magnus confirms.
