Why did the writer use "would"?
The curator spoke his next words carefully. The lie he told was one he had rehearsed many times... each time praying he "would" never have to use it.

Why did the writer use "would"?

Question

Why did the writer use "would"?
The curator spoke his next words carefully. The lie he told was one he had rehearsed many times... each time praying he "would" never have to use it.

Why did the writer use "would"?

Answer

each time praying he "would" never have to use it.
Would is the past tense of will. So he's praying he doesn't have to say the lie he rehearsed many times. Except this isn't happening in the present it's happening in the past.