Slippery Circumstances

Silver snatched the paper and removed the seal. Either because of the cloak or his inhuman senses, the low light did not bother him as he read feverishly.

The personal part made Silver smile; he was glad the men could not see the blood rushing to his ears. Sage knew how to turn his head, and he wished she had been right there so he could respond to her forward questions. He would have to settle for answering her in a future message.

'Why does she always tease me like that?' He wondered with a light chuckle. He knew why. It helped her feel closer.

The second part of the letter was not so lighthearted. The Guardian's heart moved from beating in his chest to his throat. He had known that a spy had been planted in the palace of Lakyle, but Sage had left him in the dark about who this person was to protect them.

Whoever it was had succeeded in passing along news about the palace innerworkings and royal dynamics. From Sage's words, it seemed like something big was going to happen soon.

"Do you know what this says?" Silver asked Crispin.

"You are assuming I can read," the spy said in a pitiful tone.

"I know you can, you fool!" The Guardian inhaled deeply through his nose. 'Who does he think I am?' "Did you read it," he repeated.

"It was sealed! I would never..." the spy saw the other's eyes flash and stopped. Crispin hung his head. "While I do read most of the stuff that passes through my fingers, I don't read your messages. Sage warned me that she would skin me alive after the Fates rendered me mute if I ever did that without permission...and I believe her."

The young man's face was serious as he made an odd symbol in the air to ward off evil. Silver sighed and folded the page so Crispin could read the report. The man found a pinprick of light through the cloth barrier overhead and read the words that the Guardian allowed. He handed back the paper with a grim expression.

"Well? Do you have anything to add?" Silver felt his foot tapping in the dirt.

"What Sage said is true. I have met the palace spy and know her story. She has no reason to lie." Crispin's face was grim. "Years of hard work will be realized very soon...or not."

"What are you talking about?" Ethyn tried not to interrupt, but his curiosity was too much.

Silver passed over the paper, not even bothering to fold it. "Skip to here," he said brusquely while pointing.

"He cannot read that!" Crispin cried indignantly. "It contains Lakylian intelligence, and he is..."

"An ally," the Guardian answered with a warning in his voice. "I trust him more than you, and I know Sage does as well." If there was anyone Sage trusted to take care of Silver, it was Ethyn.

Crispin puffed his cheeks but clamped his mouth shut while the knight got up to speed. After squinting to read in the low light, Ethyn's eyes grew wide. He glanced up at Crispin. "You said your informant is a woman?"

"I've already said too much, but she is more girl than woman." The short man pursed his lips. He was riding a fine line.

"If the rumors in Birle are to be believed, then the palace of Lakyle is the most dangerous place for a woman to be." Ethyn was suddenly worried about the unknown lady.

"Who's bright idea was that?" Silver wanted to know.

Crispin cut his eyes at the exit. It was suddenly getting very stuffy. Sage may trust these men, but he was not willing to give up anything that might hurt the cause. He was a mischief-maker...not a traitor.

"If you must know, it was Besford's, but the decision to take the job was entirely the girl's. Sage was not for the idea, but was overruled. Now I really must be going." Crispin edged toward the exit, but the two larger men blocked his path. His gaze narrowed. "Is it to be like this? I thought we were allies."

"I do not know what you mean. Do you think I mean to pressure you for answers? You are free not to answer whenever you please," Silver didn't like being painted as a bully. He merely knew their business was not finished.

"Really?" Crispin relaxed slightly. "How unusual..."

Ethyn wondered what the man had been through for that to be his response, but Silver was too worried about other things to pursue it. "I have a message for Sage."

Pulling out some papers, the Guardian also retrieved a pen and scribbled a few extra notes based on what he had just read. He added it to the coded page and the rest of his notes. Then he pulled out a leather strip, folded the pages and tied it a very specific way.

"Sage will know if you messed with the knot." Silver warned him.

"I know. I know. You may not pump me for information, but she will if she thinks anything is amiss. As I said, she scares me." Crispin shivered. A moment later, his more jovial character shined through once more. "Well, gentlemen, if we have no more business, I am sure I will be on my way."

He got close to Ethyn and leaned up to his ear. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm serious about wanting to hear the stories of our illustrious Sage. I promise I will keep mum. Surely you have just one little tidbit for me." The spy waited patiently.

"You want to get on her good side? Sage loves practical jokes. You'll make her laugh and you will be best friends forever." Ethyn tried to keep a straight face.

"Really?" Crispin was skeptical.

"Of course not. She will maim you and then get you back far worse than you can ever get her. Trust me." Ethyn shook his head. "Sage is a master of covert pranks. She never manages to get caught, but you always know it is her."

"Thank you for the warning." Crispin dipped his head. He had come out of the interaction not with information, but with more fear for the woman than when he had arrived. What a strange Guardian he worked with! "Anything more...useful I might want to know?'

"You know I can hear you," Silver shook his head. "He won't give you anything worthwhile or I will deal with him myself."

The spy pulled nervously at his collar and saluted. "Until we meet again then."

"Whenever that may be..." Ethyn agreed, he liked the man but felt he was just a tad too slippery. Perhaps that is how all spies had to be to survive. The knight remembered back to his thieving days. He had made sure no one had ever pinned him down and was storing any useful information he could all the time. However, his situation had changed and so had he. Crispin would likely act differently under other circumstances.

Silver and Crispin shook hands and the Guardian moved aside to let the spy exit.

"I do have one favor to ask," the spy asked as he scratched his head.

"Favor?" Silver was confused. The short man had never asked anything of him before.

"Yes, could you lay down some cover for me to slip away unnoticed?" Crispin tried to sound casual, but there was an edge in his voice.

"Lay down cover? Why?" The Guardian quickly became suspicious. His instincts earlier had told him that something was amiss, but he had ignored it because of the deer.

Crispin fumbled with his words, "Well, I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but there is no need to panic. However, I'm pretty sure...you see."

Silver grunted, "Out with it!"

"I was followed."