"Someone already inside."
The words hung heavy in the small room, and for a moment none of us spoke.
"Who," Lucien said, his voice tight.
"I don't know a name," Victoria said. "Only that Caleb referred to them as someone who's served the council chambers for years, trusted enough that no one would think to search them before the session begins."
"That could be anyone," Marcus said. "Clerks, scribes, the elders' personal aides. The chamber staff numbers in the dozens."
"Then we narrow it down," Lucien said. "Before dawn."
"How," I asked. "We have hours, not days, and no way to interrogate an entire staff without alerting Caleb that we already know something's wrong."
Damien crossed the room slowly, his expression thoughtful. "There's a records office attached to the council chambers.
