Shifting Tides - Part 7

Her urgency was obvious from a distance, but as soon as she saw Oliver poised so languidly, the tenseness about her face faded, and her pacing slowed ever so slightly, replaced by a more tender look.

"Nila," Oliver said, turning his head without raising it, to acknowledge her with a smile. "So you've brought the message. And what about you, Judas? Has Greeves not given you anything to do?"

"He asked me to hear what it said, Boss," Judas said awkwardly. "'Cos Nila wouldn't let us open it without you. It's got Blackwell's seal on, and apparently it's rude to open it."

"It's not only rude, it's dangerous," Nila said crossly. "You ought to know that by now, Judas. You can't go around opening messages that aren't meant for you. What if they end up in the wrong hands, and a spy gets hold of the information? You could cost us the war."

"I mean… Isn't that bound to happen eventually?" Judas said. "If that's all it takes, maybes we're done for."