The Curse (Belador #3)(27)

Possibly damning or not, depending on what worried him.

Where was Storm with his lie-detecting ability when she needed him?

She wanted to rail at Sam, but he’d tossed down the challenge that she wasn’t objective. She could act detached. “Let’s say there’s a remote possibility that Quinn met with a Medb witch. For what reason?”

“That is a question Quinn has to answer, but I think I know why he would have helped Conlan.”

“Why?”

“Did anyone tell you what Quinn found when he performed the probe?”

“No,” she lied, but telling this guy anything Tzader had shared with her in confidence was out of the question. Quinn had found potentially damning evidence of Conlan being the traitor, but even Tzader called it inconclusive because the images Quinn had accessed were of the future.

And the future could always change.

“Quinn saw images in Conlan’s mind of Conlan joining the Medb, then aiding them to breach Brina’s castle and kill her.”

Sam’s information matched what Tzader had shared with her and VIPER. That gave credibility to Sam’s claim of having people in Atlanta, even inside VIPER.

Or had he gotten his information from the traitor?

She pointed out, “What Quinn saw would explain why Conlan was put in temporary lockup, but he still shouldn’t have run. Conlan hadn’t even faced a Tribunal yet.”

“I agree.” Sam wheezed another breath. “Except for the last part. Conlan’s father was convicted as a traitor years before. Conlan knew he’d never leave that cell until another person was found guilty of being the traitor, which could take years … and might never happen.”

Just as no one would ever forget that Evalle was an Alterant. She understood carrying an invisible ball and chain.

But she faced her battle every day.

Conlan had run.

Tristan continued to watch the conversation volley between her and Sam, but he glanced over at her with an obvious question written across his face.

She lifted her shoulder in a silent shrug, letting Tristan know she hadn’t decided yet, and asked, “Why would Quinn go against VIPER, and the Beladors, to free Conlan?”

“I’ve thought on that a long time. One reason I wouldn’t let Tristan contact you until now.”

Swinging his head to face her, Tristan chided, “Feel better about why I haven’t been answering your telepathic calls?”

“Not a bit. I’ve been stuck trying to save all the Alterants instead of just my closest buddies.” She hoped that would remind Tristan that he still had to make good on his part of this deal. He’d better not teleport away before she got what she needed from him, too. “Finish what you were saying, Sam.”

“I’ve come down to one of two reasons Quinn would have helped Conlan escape—”

“If he did,” she interjected.

“Understood. Either Quinn also believed Conlan would not get a fair trial and didn’t want to be the reason the young man ended up in prison for the rest of his life …”

She could see that, but would Quinn have taken it upon himself to release Conlan without at least clueing in Tzader?

“Or,” Sam continued, “Quinn is working with Kizira and released Conlan to draw attention away from the real traitor, who is still among the Beladors.” Sam’s frail chest lifted and dropped with his sigh. “I can see you don’t want to believe me and are ready to go to Tzader, but I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Did this guy read minds? Of course, she had to tell Tzader. “Why not?”

“Because Quinn might or might not have had control over what he did … if he did help Conlan.”

She made a derogatory noise. “I’ve never been one to accept the ‘I didn’t know what I was doing’ defense.”

“Even if someone is compelled, Evalle? Kizira might have been able to do that when she went to see Quinn in his hotel.”

If that happened.

If Quinn did break out Conlan.

If, if, if.

Evalle rubbed the back of her neck. Quinn had one of the most powerful minds among the Beladors. Evalle had seen him overpower Kizira’s mind two years ago, so she doubted Kizira had compelled Quinn. “So why would I not tell Tzader?”

“You would destroy your friends.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you say anything to Tzader”—Sam paused, panting as if just living took an effort—“he’ll have no choice but to have Quinn’s mind probed to prove Quinn’s innocence or confirm his guilt. If Quinn did help Conlan, even for a noble reason, a druid will find that memory. What do you think Macha would do?”

Horrible images flashed through Evalle’s mind, all ending with Quinn dying in excruciating pain.

And Quinn would accept a death sentence before giving up Conlan if he truly believed Conlan to be innocent.

What other possible reason could there be for Quinn to break trust with the Beladors? But he had no reason to deceive her or Tzader. Did he?

Sam’s assessment of the situation had merit.

Tzader’s first duty might be to protect Brina, but Evalle had picked up on something more going on between Brina and Tzader beyond the Belador-Maistir-to-Warrior-Queen relationship.

He would never jeopardize Brina’s safety, and he’d hate himself for putting Quinn’s neck on the chopping block.