River's Devastating D's

Watched By the Observers

He shrugged casually. "You'll be staying here until then—unless you pay bail."

There was a twisted smile on his face that made River's skin crawl.

"How much is it?" River asked.

"One million snails."

River's eyes widened. The guard chuckled at his stunned expression, then turned away with a smirk. "Sorry, what can I say? We need the money. See you in six weeks."

He walked off, laughing, leaving River alone in silence.

River sank onto the cot, releasing a heavy sigh.

There was no way he could pay that bail. His family couldn't either.

After Bellos was defeated, interest in his family's faith had surged. Some were returning to the old ways after being driven off under Bellos's rule; others were curious newcomers. With most of their kids grown and gone, River's parents had poured their resources into restoring the temples renovating, expanding, and making them more welcoming to new followers.

They didn't have the snails for this.

Still, maybe that was for the best.

He wasn't sure what was going on, but perhaps it was safer to stay in the cell. Six weeks wasn't forever. And it wasn't like anyone was going to pay his bail.

But then, just a few minutes later, the same guard returned. His earlier smugness was gone, replaced with an annoyed expression as he unlocked the cell.

"Your bail's been paid," he muttered.

River sat up, staring at the guard in disbelief. "What?"

The guard rolled his eyes and gestured for him to follow. "Come on. You do not want to keep her waiting."

"Her?" River echoed, standing slowly and trailing behind. Who would pay that absurd amount of bail money—and why?

As they entered the waiting room, River scanned the space, expecting someone imposing or familiar. Instead, he saw only a skinny kid, young, small, with black hair and a bold yellow stripe running down the middle. Oddly, even the burliest guards seemed on edge around him.

The kid turned and grinned. A purple pendant hung around his neck, glowing faintly. River recognized it immediately as an oracle communicator he'd seen similar ones with Fay, Aster, and Amber.

The pendant pulsed with light as the kid tilted his head and looked directly at River. "River Simmons?" he asked, voice smooth and eyes unsettlingly intense.

River nodded cautiously.

"Wonderful. I'm Fern. I'm Viviane Sterling's assistant, and she'd like a word with you,technically speaking."

River blinked. Viviane Sterling? He didn't know much about her, only that she'd risen to power seemingly overnight. He vaguely remembered Cerise mentioning she'd quit her job at the Coffee Café to work for her.

"Why does she want to talk to me?" River asked, more wary than ever.

Fern shrugged casually. "No clue. I'm just the messenger. Miss Sterling has her reasons for bailing you out, whatever they are. So, are you ready to go?"

River's mind buzzed with questions, but he didn't have time to think further. A sudden, sharp trumpet-like cry cut through the room, and his heart clenched.

He turned and saw his palisman, his partner locked inside a box marked EVIDENCE. Alongside her were his scroll and what he guessed were the alleged photographs used against him.