League of Liars by Astrid Scholte

Author:Astrid Scholte [Scholte, Astrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2022-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Cayder

I found it difficult to sit still while Graymond annihilated the prosecution. I wanted to leap from my seat and pump my fist, but I forced myself to sit quietly. Leta was surprisingly calm. She twitched every now and then; otherwise, she looked composed, but not callous.

Mr. Rolund called one of Leta’s classmates to the witness stand next, but I didn’t recognize him.

Leta bristled beside me.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

Her large dark eyes found mine, but she didn’t say anything.

“State your name for the court and your relationship to Ms. Broduck,” Mr. Rolund ordered.

The boy looked younger than Leta, with greased-back black hair and a pinkish complexion. “Rener Wessex,” he replied. “I’m in Leta’s history class at Kardelle Academy.”

“Mr. Wessex,” Mr. Rolund said, walking the length of the witness podium. “Can you please describe for the court your interactions with Ms. Broduck.”

“She’s a horrid shrew,” Rener said.

“Objection, Your Honor.” Graymond stood with a sigh. “This is opinion, not fact. This does not relate to the case at hand.”

“Agreed,” Judge Dancy said with a frown. “If you have a point, Mr. Rolund”—her eyes were narrowed—“I suggest you make it.”

Mr. Rolund bowed his head toward the judge, but from my vantage point, I could see the sneer on his face. “Mr. Wessex,” he started again, “can you please tell me what you overheard Ms. Broduck say in your history class?”

Rener glanced to Leta, then quickly away again, as though he was afraid of her. He should be afraid of me. If I’m ever to see him outside this courtroom . . .

“She said the Regency is a bunch of fools,” Rener said with a scoff. “She said that she would do everything she could to uncover what they were hiding.”

Mr. Rolund preened his mustache. “And what, Mr. Wessex, did Leta think the Regency was hiding?”

I shot Graymond a sidelong glance. Why would the prosecutor open this line of questioning? This played into our hands, not theirs.

“That there was an entire world on the other side of the veil,” Rener said. “Where duplicates of ourselves carried out the opposite lives of the ones we’ve chosen. Our lives unlived.”

Mr. Rolund raised an eyebrow toward the court. “She believes there are two of everyone?”

“Yes,” Rener said, leaning forward eagerly. “She also said that the Regency is covering up a world where time runs in reverse and everyone walks backward.”

Laughter erupted from the jury above.

Edem be damned.

Had she really told these absurd theories to anyone who would listen?

Mr. Rolund knew exactly what he was doing. He was discrediting Leta before we even uttered the hullen.

Graymond gave me a solemn, knowing look. Patience, it said.

But Leta flew to her feet. “I didn’t say that!” she exclaimed. “I mean, I did, but that was a long time ago!”

I pulled on the sleeve of her gray jumpsuit to get her to sit.

“Enough, Ms. Broduck,” Judge Dancy said, slamming her gavel onto the podium. “The defendant is not permitted to speak while a witness is on the stand, and you cannot address the jury directly.

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