Shady

(So he didn’t get arrested right away?) “Alas.”

Ky nodded sullenly.

Aleth shook his head, glancing back at him. “… I take it you were a victim of the purge as well?” (Are you scaling Lyra back age-wise?)

Aleth lifted his eyebrows. That must be why the name seemed familiar. “You’ve been in here a very long time indeed.”

“…I’m tired of pretending to be something I’m not.” Which is exactly what this would be: an act. If she agreed with him. If she tried his strategy.

Aleth glanced at him. “And what did you do?”

He was going gloves-off at her conscience. She glanced away.

“Mm…” Aleth glanced around. “I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

No. “Yeah… I guess.”

“Mm… here’s hoping he has a change of heart… or at the very least tell me what my supposed crime is. It feels reasonable to want to know what you’re ...

“No reason,” Aleth confirmed. “I escaped a slave caravan and came here for help… was told he’d help… but here I am.”

Ky grimaced. And then she’d promptly been an asshole.

“Al.”

Her gaze softened as she glanced back at him. “…that doesn’t make everything fine.”

Ky snorted and looked away.