“Socius Esmond!” Rían’s voice broke into a million pieces. He cleared his throat, cleared his head, cleared the tears from his face with a quick drag of his hands. Sweet Goddess, please tell me the Socius is still good. “Can you get us out of here?”
“Get you out of there?” His bushy brows bunched, nearly making a straight line across his forehead, adding another row to the long scowling creases. “Tell me why in the name of Wa’ake are you even in there!” The priest’s long robes brushed against the stone floor as he moved to his cell door. Rían followed him, bracing the bars with his bloody hands. Socius Esmond’s keen eye was no doubt taking in his shredded knuckles, swollen eyes and sad state. “And why are the gallows set up in the courtyard?” His thin lips pursed, “Just tell me you didn’t
