The past few months had not been kind to Atbin Siyal. His once-delicate features were now gaunt, eyes hollowed and ringed with dark shadows. His floppy hair was matted and clung unattractively to his forehead.

The visiting chamber of the Central Ragah Detention Center was a stark, claustrophobic room with walls painted a dull, institutional gray. A single fluorescent light flickered overhead, casting harsh shadows on the metal table and uncomfortable chairs bolted to the floor. Making Atbin appear even more haggard than he likely was.

Ruban sat still, his gaze fixed unrelentingly on the younger man sitting across from them, while Simani spoke.

He wasn’t entirely sure why he was here. Simani was more than capable of conducting this interview on her own.

Except, Ruban desperately needed something to occupy himself. A distraction from his swirling thoughts. And his partner seemed to understand that. Idleness threatened to pull him under, a gateway to reckless thoughts he couldn't risk indulging. Tempting him to actions he knew he’d live to regret.

“Tej Enterprises is hemorrhaging money. They’re losing contracts left and right. And investors are fleeing faster than you can say 'jackrabbit'.” Simani’s voice held the weight of a warning. “Nearly half their wealth has evaporated overnight. And the management team’s reputation is in the gutter. Most of them would be lucky to find another job in the next decade.”

“I don’t know what you think any of that has to do with me,” Atbin said, his voice brittle. “I haven’t set foot outside this building in months, except for court.”

Simani smiled thinly. “Don’t play dumb with me, Siyal. Or should I call you Atbin? You tried to murder me. Few things in the world more personal than that. So I daresay we’re close enough for first names, wouldn’t you agree?”

The young man flinched, looking away. But he didn’t try to deny the allegation, Ruban noticed.

“The defense minister has publicly condemned the brutality of the feather mafia. Has taken personal charge of the investigation into Tej Enterprises, following the latest video leak.” Simani leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she spoke. “And we both know Rifaq Nazir doesn’t do anything by halves. His antipathy to Vaan is the stuff of legends. So, if even he feels compelled to intervene on behalf of the prince of Vaan... You better believe the public is seething with righteous fury. Eagerly seeking a target on whom to unleash all that pent-up outrage.”

“Do you want to be that target, Atbin?” Ruban's voice was a low rumble. “The scapegoat that takes the fall for this whole mess? Because that’s exactly where you’re headed, if you don't cooperate.”

“W-why?” Atbin demanded shakily. “Why me? I-I haven’t done anything—”

“Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think?” As she spoke, Simani’s smile remained intact. “You have done some things. Tried to get me killed, for instance. Frame Prince Shwaan for the murder. Very enterprising of you. If you orchestrated all that single-handedly.”

“I didn’t—”

“I know.” She heaved a longsuffering sigh. “You didn’t do any of it single-handedly. Most of it probably wasn’t even your idea. You were just an unwitting pawn; in a game far too complicated for that pea-sized brain of yours to comprehend.”

Atbin blinked, caught off guard by the insult.

“The reason I’m telling you all this,” Simani continued, unconcerned. “Is to help you understand your current situation. Tej Enterprises will soon be on the brink of bankruptcy, if it isn’t already. Dhriti Pathak’s power is crumbling as we speak. Her position at the defence ministry is precarious at best.

“Ergo, neither she nor her stepfather can protect you any longer. Nor can they punish you for a perceived betrayal. In fact, they're powerless to do anything to you, Atbin.” Her voice turned gentler, almost sympathetic. “They can’t hurt you, and they can't help you. Their teeth are gone. You’ve no reason to put yourself at risk keeping their secrets any more. Neither out of fear, nor loyalty or self-preservation.”

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Atbin stared at her for a few moments, as if hypnotized by her words. “I-it’s not as simple as you think,” he stammered. “They have– they have—”

“Whatever leverage they have on you,” Simani cut him off. “Whatever it is they’re holding over your head…can it really be worse than the wrath of the Aeriel queen?” She leaned slightly forward. “Think very carefully before you answer that question.”

“I don’t-I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.” By this point, Atbin was drenched in sweat. “Why would the A-Aeriel queen—”

“Have you watched those videos, Atbin?” Simani interrupted him once again. “The ones featuring Prince Shwaan in the clutches of the Qawirsin? The ones Dhriti Pathak is suspected of leaking?”

Silently, Atbin shook his head.

“Well, you should give them a watch,” Simani said. “Or maybe not, depending on how strong of a stomach you’ve got. They make for interesting viewing. At least for us mere mortals. As you might imagine, the inhabitants of Vaan are less than amused.”

“Might be more accurate to say they’re violently enraged,” Ruban drawled, his eyes never leaving Atbin. “The Aeriel queen is beside herself with fury, over what the mafia did to her beloved little brother. And with video evidence, there’s no downplaying the true, horrific extent of it, is there?”

“The Aeriels of Vaan are chomping at the bit to kill anyone remotely related to this mess,” Simani chimed in. “The feather mafia, obviously. But the Qawirsin’s already been destroyed, most of its members long dead. There’s not much they can do on that front. So what’s left? Anyone who had a hand in creating, storing, or leaking those videos? I daresay they’ll all be targets.”

“But I-I didn’t!” Atbin wailed, his chest heaving with rapid breaths. “I never even knew those videos existed. I had no-nothing to do with any of this.”

“You smuggled reinforced sifblades to HAVA and other anti-Vaan cults.” Ruban held up a finger. “You tried to kill a Hunter in the line of duty.” He held up another. “And you tried to frame the prince of Vaan for a crime he did not commit.” He held up a third. “You’re in too deep, Atbin. Don’t you see that? Even if it’s true that you didn’t know anything about the videos, who’s going to believe you? Apart from Dhriti and Kushal themselves, you’re the most conspicuous figure in this whole scandal—”

“With your role being the most well-publicized,” Simani interjected. “The evidence against you is impossible to ignore.”

“But the difference is,” Ruban said. “Dhriti is the senior secretary of defence. Her stepfather, Kushal Mayiti, is one of the most powerful industrialists in Vandram. Even diminished, the two of them wield power and influence beyond your wildest aspirations.”

Simani picked up Ruban's train of thought. “The Aeriel queen might eventually get her hands on them. But it won’t be easy. Even now, they have the financial strength and political connections to buy temporary amnesty. If not in Vandram, then in Kanbar or Zaini.”

“They can afford to go off the grid indefinitely,” Ruban said. “Hire a small army for their own protection. Even with all the resources of the queen of Vaan, taking them down won’t be easy.”

“You know who does present an easy target, though?” Simani sneered, eyes predatory as they bored into Atbin. “A young, unproven Hunter. Accused of attempted murder. Penniless and ostracized. At this point, you’re nothing but a liability even for your family and former colleagues. Few people would bat an eye if you disappeared off the face of the planet, tomorrow. Fewer still would care enough to go up against Vaan to try and save you.”

“So, if you don’t step up and tell the world who ordered you to kill Simani and smuggle reinforced sifblades to HAVA,” Ruban spoke with exaggerated patience. “You’ll take the fall for this whole mess. You’ll be the first – and perhaps the only one – to pay the price.”

“The queen of Vaan is out for blood,” Simani added. “She wants revenge for what happened to her brother, and she’ll stop at nothing to get it. And if you’re the only culprit she can get her hands on… Let’s just say that’ll mean an extremely painful death for you, Atbin.”

By this point, Atbin was visibly trembling, involuntary tears streaming down his face. His frayed shirt was soaked with sweat, his hair a tangled mess, strands clinging to his tear-streaked cheeks. “I-I don’t want—” he choked back a sob. “What can I do?”

“Tell the truth.” Simani's demeanor softened, voice gentling. “That’s all you have to do. Tell the truth. Confess to what you did, and why. Who told you to do it? Under whose directions were you operating? If you cooperate with the investigation, help bring the major perpetrators to justice, you’ll receive leniency during sentencing. And the Aeriel Queen will have her pound of flesh, so she won’t try to carve it out of you.”

“Throw Dhriti Pathak under the bus, before it crushes you.” Ruban’s words were laced with urgency. “Why should you have to sacrifice your life to protect her interests? What’s she ever done to deserve that kind of loyalty from you?”

“With all the investigations into Tej Enterprises and its dealings with the mafia,” Simani continued. “Dhriti and Kushal Mayiti will be apprehended sooner or later. That is, if some vengeful Aeriel doesn’t get to them first. You couldn’t stop it, even if you wanted to. All you’d do is delay the inevitable by a few weeks, maybe a few months. Is that really worth your life? Your family’s safety?” She rose slowly to her feet. “Before you make a decision, think very carefully about the answer to that question, Atbin.”