I closed my hand around the key.
"Then where was it supposed to be?"
Shadric remained by the door for a moment before answering.
"With me."
I stared at him.
"Give it to me," he said.
"No."
"Avalan."
"You prepared this office. You had the furniture arranged. You knew where every file would go, yet somehow, a key connected to the west gate ended up inside my drawer by mistake?"
I slid the key into my pocket.
His attention followed my movement. "Don't use it."
"You already told me the gate stays locked."
"It should."
"Should?"
That one word had him silent.
I stepped around the desk. "Who else has access to this room?"
"The staff who prepared it."
"And they just happened to hide an old key behind the drawer lining?"
"No."
"Finally. Something we agree on."
He held out his ha
