Afanasy found me in my study the next morning. I was still fully clothed from last night by the looks of it, and the bent shot glass had sliced a thin ring into my hand, which had bled slightly onto my shirt. Ib was asleep by my side, but stretched out and prowled around when my brother nudged her off.

Fana helped me up and poured me a glass of water, sitting down on the small coffee table as I drank it. I was thankful for him. Truly I was.

"Better now?" He asked quietly. I wiped my mouth and nodded, brushing sleep out of my eyes and stifling a yawn.

"What've you got to tell me?" I asked quietly, my eyes on my knees.

"Some good news," Fana sighed, resting back on the palms of his hands. "Some bad news. Some questions."

I scrunched my face up, trying to decide. "Questions first. Before I get in a mood."

Nodding gently, Fana sat forward. "Have you said anything about the war to any of the girls?"

I put my hand to my forehead, wiping my face down and leaning back. "Angel and Evie know I was in 47th. Evie and I talked about how the bombing was guerrilla. Otherwise no, not at all."

"That'll settle it then. OK." Fana nodded gently. "OK. Good news?"

I nodded offhandedly, my eyes on the tree in the window.

"Good news is that we know it's a Baracosian spy, so that was why they lost at Gringle Field, your plan itself was faultless." My brother sat forward carefully. "Bad news is that I can't see it being anyone other than Bence."

I shook my head firmly. "You won't take her until it's proved. You won't."

Fana moved around to sit with me. "I won't." He murmured, laying a hand on my shoulder. "But I will have her room searched tomorrow night. Mama's persuaded father for a ball then, so I'll have it done whilst you're all down there. Provided we find the blueprints she'll be gone by Thursday afternoon. We'll try her in the morning and have the carriage ready to take her down to the prison."

I shook my head, visions of Evie shivering up on the dias in front of everyone, accused of treason. Visions of her hair being plastered on her face, trapped in the loop of a noose. Visions of bare feet dropping below the platform, writhing as the snap echoes all around the courtyard. I shook my head again.

"Not another bloody ball." I murmured, trying to focus my attention on that instead of the snap. "You won't try her in front of everyone. And it'll be a firing squad, not a-" My voice cut out completely. A spot on my thumb burned as a tear fell onto it. More tears spilled out of my eyes, each more scalding than the next. It took me a good minute to compose myself enough to notice that Fana was clearly waiting to disagree with me.

"Papa said we had to have an official treason trial." Fana spoke gently.

I shook my head again, more firmly. "No we don't. She doesn't like crowds. I won't have her exposed to -"

"I can't go against what Father-"

"Spy or no, I love her, Fana!" I exclaimed, exasperated. "I don't care what father said if -"

"You're being treasonous yourself if you say that, Rili." Fana murmured.

I scowled at him and then groaned. "I'm the bloody crown Prince. I'm the king next. I can't commit treason! You won't put her on trial." I had swapped my tone to a more measured one. I would get nowhere by shouting at him.

My brother stood up quietly, going over to the fireplace. "I'm going to have to, Ril, but you don't have to come. No one expects you to be there."

I turned the bent metal shot glass over in my hand and shook my head. "If it'll be the last time then I have to cherish it." Fana made to leave, when an idea struck me. "Can I defend her?" I jumped up suddenly, refreshed with new zeal that I'd thought of that.

My brother turned to me, his eyebrows creased.

"Can I defend her? Not in the actual trial, I know that wouldn't be allowed, but can I help her build up her evidence and ready her for it? She deserves to know if she's going to die." I took him by the shoulders, leaning forward slightly so our eyes were parallel.

Fana rolled his eyes and sighed. "Rili I'm almost certain that she's a spy intending to kill you, or father, or all of us."

I dug my fingers into his shoulders as he tried to leave. "We'll keep her in the Ambassadors' wives room. There's no windows, nothing which could be used as weapons. We'll lock all doors, she'd just have to stay in there until Thursday morning. She's not violent, it'd be fine." I didn't try to dull the begging in my voice - I even enhanced it.

Fana's eyes looked sad. What did he have to be sad about? "Gavrila I think..." He trailed off and I shoved him away.

"Can I do it or not?" My tone was sharp now, but I was impatient for an answer. I watched as Fana blew his cheeks out, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah." He said finally and my heart soared. "Yeah whatever. I'll go tell father if you take her to the Ambassadors' wives room. Go on now."

I nodded enthusiastically and went to go and fetch my jacket again, replacing the shot glass on the desk. There were smashed objects on the desk, I ought to get someone to clean that up. Passing back by the mirror, I caught a glance of my reflection.

"Fan?" I caught his attention quickly again as he was about to leave. "I need to take Ib back to my room. I'm gonna go get changed quickly too, that OK?"

Fana stared at me for a moment, then shrugged and walked off.

The dog on my heels, I bounded back to my room. Still not happy, there was no way I could be happy in this situation. But I was hopeful. And hopeful was enough. There was a chance to save her and I would not let it slip through my fingers.