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“What was the cause of this so-called invisibility flu?” the General asked me when I’d finished.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, I do.” He rose from his chair like an eagle rising into the sky. “The Rebels.”

I shook my head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“You yourself saw them in the Magic Emporium today.”

“Yeah, when they helped save innocent people from a band of bandits. They fought the bad guys. They wouldn’t target a bunch of kids!”

“The Rebels are behind this.” The General slammed his fist into his open palm. “I am sure of it.”

“Maybe it was the bandits in the mall. Maybetheycreated the invisibility flu,” I suggested.

But the General’s mind was clearly made up. He’d probably made it up long before I’d arrived in his office.

“It was the Rebels.” He locked me in his sights, his eyes narrowing. “The question is why you’re helping them.”

“I’m not. I don’t know any Rebels!”

He leaned over, so close that his heavy cologne singed my nostrils. “I know how to get to the truth, Miss Winters. No matter what it takes.”

“Oh, everyone is well aware of that, General,” Governor Meyer declared as she stepped into his office. “Sorry I’m late. I wasn’t informed an inquisition was in session.”

“This isn’t your concern,” the General told her. But he backed away from me anyway.

“Savannah Winters is not a Knight yet, General. She’s an Apprentice, and she’s living in my city. That makes her safety my responsibility. You know that.” The Governor’s brows peaked. “Which leaves me wondering why you didn’t call me before you decided to interrogate her.”

“There wasn’t time to call you,” the General told her gruffly.

She folded her arms across her chest. “There’s never time to call someone you know will overrule you, is there?”

I hadn’t realized how cool Governor Meyer was. It must have been the suit. I’d come to distrust anyone who wore a suit. Maybe it was time to rethink that.

“I think we’re done here, don’t you?”

The General did not return her smile.

“Send a copy of the proceedings to my office,” she told the note-taking Watcher before holding out her hand to me. “Ready to get out of here, Savannah?”

I nodded, stunned to silence. Seriously, Governor Meyer was so much cooler than any Government employee I’d ever met.

“Oh, just one more thing, General,” the Governor said with a polished smile. “We should award Ms. Winters bonus points for going above and beyond today to improve Gaia’s relations with our supernatural guests from the Many Realms. Don’t you think?”

“Absolutely not. She abandoned her team,” he bit out.

“Because she was abducted by bandits.” Her brows drew together. “What are bandits doing roaming freely in my city anyway, General? I putyouin charge of the Fortress’s security. In retrospect, perhaps that was a mistake.”

His jaw clenched up. “I will send Watchers to deal with the bandits at once.”

“See that you do,” she snapped. “And also allocate Savannah her extra Merit points. Fifty points should be about right, wouldn’t you say?”

“Fifty!” he growled.

“You’re right, of course, General,” Governor Meyer said, nodding. “Better make it sixty points, just to be safe. Shedidsave six Dreamweaver children today. Sixty points sends a message to the Many Realms Court that we consider the safety and prosperity of their citizens to be a top priority.”

Before the General could growl or glower some more, she strode out of his office, her fashionable high heels clicking loudly against the hard floor. I rushed out after her.