The False Prince

Mott and Cregan return Sage to his bed, where Errol tries to tend to Sage’s wounded back, but Sage does not want him to do it. Only when Imogen appears and dresses his wounds is Sage responsive. They are alone in the room, so Imogen does not have to pretend to be a mute; she informs Sage that, though the servants looked everywhere, they are unable to find Sage’s golden rock to give back to Conner. She asks Sage where he hid it, but he will not tell her. Imogen says he is a fool for defying Conner, and she thinks he needs to escape as soon as possible.

Tobias and Roden enter the bedroom, cutting Sage and Imogen’s conversation short. Sage sarcastically asks Tobias if he thought he would ever see him again. Sage then alludes to Tobias’s secret notes detailing Conner’s overthrow if he is named Prince Jaron: “‘This is your chance with Conner, then. Be strong. Be bold. Tell him about all the notes you’ve made. Show them to him and prove just how smart you’ve become’” (150).