˙

My hands and legs seem frozen. I glanced to my left, and Azira had her head bowed too. God!

“I hope you both know it's prohibited for slaves to be outside by this time? And coming from the woods, I hope it's not what I think it is. Slaves shifting without permission.”

The silence after his word stretched. I could have lied because not saying anything means we're admitting to the second claim.

“No... Beta B—”

“We're so sorry, Beta Blaise.” Azira beat me to it and my eyes ...