Chapter Twenty - Secret Plans

5 Seleszeni 10.076 Z.C., Evening

Lilla almost felt bad about manipulating Mav into treating her and Nadine to dinner after the ceremony. Almost.

Whatever. A celebrity like him can afford to take his friends out to dinner. She smiled across the table at him as the small-eared goblin waiter cleared their plates away, then glanced around the restaurant again. He picked a swanky establishment for Precinct Four, not far from Sunhome in fact, and she liked the atmosphere well enough. She would remember this place if she needed to recommend a place to take a date. She enjoyed the food too, better than rations or roasted rubblebelt varmint anyways.

Nadine, who quaffed a fair few drinks at the party, slowed her consumption a bit as she sipped the remnants of her first round, smiling with a content glow. Lilla again regretted their Guildpact Day deployment orders - if Nadine was assigned to Orric’s float, she could have gotten a medal too. Then again, maybe she would have taken Lilla’s place... Perhaps things were better this way.

Focused more on eating and her inner thoughts than conversation, Lilla leaned back in her seat, setting her mind to the puzzle of hooking Mav and Nadine up. Perhaps if she got Mav to take a drunken Nadine to their quarters and made herself scarce, lust would take care of the rest.

“So what are your plans later, flyboy?” she asked, feigning curious innocence. Her stomach fluttered when his amber eyes flicked up to meet hers, and she frowned at her drink. I’ve definitely had one too many if Mav is starting to look cute.

He shrugged. “Goin’ back to Sunhome, probably do some training then catch some sleep.”

“Oh perfect!” she exclaimed, setting a hand on Nadine’s shoulder and presenting her to Mav like a Tin Street bargain. “I have some errands to run tonight, you can walk Nadine back to Sunhome for me! You can make sure she gets home safe, right?” Lilla eyed his thick arms, pretending to be impressed as she sized him up. Nadine blushed, but knew better than to contradict Lilla’s contrivance.

“Can’t, have to report to the scouts,” he lied after a long swig of his ale. Lilla sensed deceit based on the timing and cadence of his reply. Hah! Does this musclebrain really think he can outwit me?

“I thought you said you were doing some training?” Lilla inquired. Mav tensed up under her scrutiny; she had him now. She took a long sip herself, savoring her handiwork.

“I’m happy to be your training partner Mav, anytime,” Nadine purred. Lilla choked on her drink and almost spat it in Mav’s face. She watched the two make eye contact across the table - Nadine leaned forward, crossing her arms under her chest and proffering her generous cleavage. The moment stretched on, and Lilla held her breath. How could any guy resist that?!

“No, thanks,” Mav replied after an awkward pause, his tone cool and firm. He looked away, ignoring Nadine’s bosom and studying some newcomers to the restaurant instead. Lilla felt paralyzed, speechless as humiliation and horror spread across Nadine’s face. She blushed deep red and her eyes filled with tears before she jumped up from the table, almost knocking it over in a mad dash to the ladies’ room. Lilla glared at Mav, furious on Nadine’s behalf.

“How dare you!” she accused, swinging her arm to slap him. He deflected her blow with practiced ease. When she tried slapping him a second time, he caught her wrist and redirected her hand to the table, pinning it down with his own. She struggled to free herself for a moment, then sneered when he wouldn’t let her go. His expression didn’t change, his face an impassive mask.

“Are you done?” he asked, his voice low and calm, controlled.

“Are you?” she fired back, trying and failing to wrest her hand away again. “Why are you such a jerk? Don’t you know how to treat a lady?” she threatened. He released her hand, recoiling like she bit him. He still just stared, but she detected a hint of sadness in his eyes now.

Good. This rotten brat was mean to Nadine, he should be sorry. Typical spoiled pretty boy - no respect at all for women.

When he didn’t respond, she went on. “What do you have against Nadine, huh? Do you think you’re too good for her, Viktorr? Give her a chance!”

She knew bringing up his family would sting, and his subtle wince confirmed it. Lilla knew Mav’s jockular nature and rugged attitude concealed and protected his unstable emotional state. He might be stronger than her, but she could break his mind in two like a twig. She glared at him, brazen, challenging him to answer.

“Nadine is a wonderful young woman, and I have the utmost respect for her,” he murmured. Lilla frowned, her anger cooling.

“She’s not-” Mav paused, searching for what to say. “I’m not the right man for Nadine. Besides that, I’m not looking for anything casual. And after what I’ve seen growing up, I’m not interested in dating another legionnaire.”

He cleared his throat. “As for training with her, that would give Nadine the wrong idea, and be disrespectful to her. I like her. Just … not that way.”

Lilla read Mav’s face as she considered his words. He seemed honest, or believed himself at least, but now she felt bad for Nadine. What he said made sense.

“You better be nicer to her, Mav,” she growled, without putting much force behind her words. His brow raised and his lips quirked upward in the first genuine smile she’d seen from him all day.

“I’ll do my best, initiate,” he chuckled over his glass, flicking her a lazy salute.

“I better go check on her,” Lilla sighed. Mav nodded his agreement. She detected concern as he glanced the direction Nadine disappeared in, before redonning his impassive facade when he noticed Lilla studying him. He’s much more sensitive than he lets on. I can use this...

8 Seleszeni 10.076 Z.C., Morning

Lilla retrieved her fresh, clean laundry from the cart as the old goblin matron wheeled it past, hurrying back to her bunk to fold and put the items away before they wrinkled. Odd how quickly things change, she reflected as she began folding. In the Gravel Hide and even living with Vlodim, I never cared about wrinkled laundry. Never faced random inspections either though. Lost in thought as she contemplated the passing seasons of life, she frowned as a slip of paper fluttered to the ground.

“Careless goblins,” she muttered, bending down to retrieve the slip. Lilla turned it over in her hands, curious in spite of herself. Unfolding the numerous folds and creases in the paper, she revealed a note inside, turning it over to read it.

Leela,

Hope u r good, glad u join Leejun. Good progres? Better hope so, u make us prowd or not. Rite soon, tell me bout

Leejun intelly gents and lernings.

Luhv,

S.

Lilla rolled her eyes and sighed. She wished someone taught Skorik Boulder Tooth, or whoever wrote this note for him, how to spell as a child. Good thing Foot snuck it in so cleverly, she thought as she held the note in her fingertips, pooling a healthy dose of flickering red mana in her palm. Aiming carefully, she tossed the note into the empty air between two bunks and loosed a fire bolt, incinerating the note and nothing else in a precision burst. Satisfied, she wiped away the traces of soot with a clean washrag.

Doesn’t think I’ll make the clan proud, huh? I’ll show that stinky old goblin what I can do. The exam to rank up to soldier would take place in a few days. She excelled in the classes, of course, and breezed through most of the physical training exercises, but it never hurt to be sure she would pass with flying colors.

And if I break a few records in the process, all the better. But I won’t fail, I’ll make damn sure of that.

9 Seleszeni 10.076 Z.C., Mid-Morning

The vedalken agent strolled through the yellow granite corridors of Sunhome. Lucky for Lilla, her commanding officer granted her request to get part of the day off. She had some more ... errands to run, to make sure she graduated with honors.

Sergeant Dizzazz’ reputation as a strict exam proctor, with a penchant for wily and unpredictable tasks, preceded him. The only way to be sure of passing one of his exams was to see the plans ahead of time. A little asking around in the right places yielded a wealth of information, including - among other things - the location of the exam proctor’s office. Rumors spoke of others who tried, and the examples Dizzazz made of them. But they all had one big failing in common: they weren’t Lilla.

Pausing in a deserted hallway, she summoned her illusory disguise, picturing a pretty young human woman with sable skin and dark curls. Next she changed the insignia on her uniform to match those of the mess hall attendants. Pursing her lips, she focused on changing this image’s height and shape from her own. As a spy, she couldn’t afford being recognized; every precaution must be taken.

Risky business, altering body shape with illusion magic. If anyone bumped into her, the illusion wouldn’t hold up. Still, she judged the chances as slim. Few humans stood as tall as her, which made her stick out; keeping her height could be a disastrous giveaway if Dizzazz saw her and got suspicious.

Smoothing out a few wrinkles and waiting for the shimmer to fade, Lilla finished her disguise and smiled. She was made for this.

No, I can’t get overconfident again. Now, the next step of the plan.

Passing through more corridors, careful not to bump into the legionnaires and civilians walking the halls of Sunhome, she arrived at her first destination. Lilla waltzed into the officer’s mess hall like she belonged there, her forged insignia helping her blend in. She forced herself to keep her paces slow and even as her heart raced. Around her, the Boros brass dined and buzzed.

Resisting the acquired reflex to check their rank as she passed, she glanced up at the high arched ceilings instead. As two angels stood vigil over the hall, a third swooped in through a niche in the windows, glowing with a brilliant, supposedly-divine light. Lilla doubted they could see through her illusion, but avoided praying for success in case they could hear her. Not that she needed to.

Looking around the mess, she spotted her quarry coming through a swinging door. A kitchen worker brought a cart filled with covered plates into the hall, then carried several plates off to a table, leaving the cart unattended. Filling herself with purpose, Lilla marched over to the cart while the man’s back was turned and wheeled it out the door.

Relying on her internal sense of direction as she sped away from the hall, Lilla pushed away the dread of being caught in one of Sunhome’s many dead ends. She hurried away until she found a familiar courtyard to regain her bearings, and proceeded to her next destination.

The cart and uniform worked even better than she hoped - no one dared question her as she passed through one secure checkpoint after the next. Do they even know how many secrets I’ll be able to steal? Lilla wondered, a little surprised at the ease of her mission so far. Or is this a clever trap? Eyes narrowing, she slowed her pace, alert for anything unusual. But she saw nothing out of place.

Reading the signs and directional markers, she took a deep breath. This is it, his office is in this wing. Just one more checkpoint to go.

She turned around, pushing the heavy door open with her backside and pulling the cart through, wishing she’d thought of a less-cumbersome prop. The door swung closed onto the cart before she could get it through, metal screeching on the granite threshold as a couple dishes clattered to the floor. Lilla struggled to free the cart, but couldn’t yank on the handle and open the door at the same time.

Out of breath, she turned to face the solitary guard and offered them a sheepish smile. She realized now, from the old watchman’s glazed look and gaping jaw, he’d been examining her ‘assets’ as she came through the door from behind and struggled with the cart. His eyes lifted to meet hers, glimmering with unapologetic glee.

Blushing and self-conscious at the awkward entry, Lilla reminded herself this wasn’t even her real body. She searched for something smooth to say, but came up empty.

“Oh my, what have you got there honey?” the old human asked, giving his gray eyebrows a suggestive wiggle. Lilla felt heat redoubling in her cheeks, angered further by his impertinence. But she needed to maintain her disguise. What would a kitchen girl do? What would Nadine do?

Emboldened, she fluttered her lashes. “Just some dinner for Sergeant Boja,” Lilla started after a coy giggle, naming another instructor with an office in this wing. She liked Boja because they saw her true potential - just yesterday she recognized Lilla’s superiority by asking her to lead the class discussion on formation tactics and crisis response.

“Is that so?” he replied before coughing into a closed fist. “Well, I’m feeling a bit peckish myself. Why don’t you bring that on over here so I can check it out, missy,” he requested, motioning for her to bring one of the plates over.

In no position to argue, even though she knew he wanted to check out more than the food, Lilla did as the old man asked.

“Heh heh heh, looks mighty fine to me,” he commented, lifting the lid off the plate and giving the food a whiff. She leaned back as his nose came uncomfortably close to touching her real face, and she realized he just tried to smell her illusion’s hair.

“Thank you sir,” she demurred, wondering if a fire bolt to the face or the crotch hurt more.

“Say, I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before,” the old man asked, squinting at her as he lowered the lid back onto the plate. “Always nice to see new faces, sweetheart. Next time you come by this way, bring me something too. I like a little sugar every now and then, you know.” He winked at her, then cackled at some perverse fantasy, stepping past her to hold the door open while she freed the cart. She felt his eyes creeping up her legs as she retrieved and loaded up the fallen plates, thankful again for her disguise.

Breathing a sigh of relief when he waved her by the checkpoint, she pushed the cart on, grateful when she turned a corner. She could still feel his slimy gaze on her every step of the way. Once out of sight, she shuddered.

Glad that’s over. She pushed the cart along the row of office doors, examining the small number and name plaques on the doorframes. Pausing outside Sergeant Boja’s office and checking for onlookers, she abandoned the heavy, squeaking cart there and continued on unencumbered.

She kept moving with a sense of purpose until she arrived at Sergeant Dizzazz’ office. She looked up and down the hallway, and peered under the door for a light. All clear. She slipped her lockpicks out of her pocket.

Lilla crouched in front of the door, ears open for footfalls or doors as she tested the tumblers in the lock. Evening out her breathing to steady her hands, Lilla set the pins in place one after another.

Behind her, footsteps. By the End Raze, I’m only halfway done! If the officers are coming back from dinner already, I might not have time to do this all again. The vedalken weighed her options, and chose the simplest. She stiffened one hand, holding the lock in place and hoping not to lose her progress. Drawing on the wellspring of magic inside of her, she shaped mana into a cloudy arcane sigil with her other hand and then spoke the command word, turning her body and tools invisible.

A few seconds later, a tall minotaur officer turned into the hallway, his hooves clattering on the stone floor. As he passed her, the large legionnaire paused, sniffing the air with a frown. His fists tightened in time with his flaring nostrils. Lilla held her breath as the minotaur looked around. Her lungs and legs began to burn, crouched in front of the door to Dizzazz’ office. She never thought she would be grateful for all those squats, until now. She struggled to maintain her spell concentration without breathing, pushing the possibility of failure out of her mind.

After a few painstaking moments the minotaur moved on, but glanced back over his shoulder at the eerie presence several times. He continued to the far end of the corridor before opening a door and going inside. Lilla drew in a soft breath, but stayed as motionless as possible until she knew the minotaur wouldn’t double-back to catch her unaware.

Suspecting he’d given up, she turned her full attention back to the lock. She tested the pins - none slipped while she waited for the minotaur to pass, and she resumed her work. Soon, the lock turned. Allowing herself a triumphant smile, she slipped into the office and closed the door behind her without a sound.

She dropped her invisibility, reticent to deplete all her magical energy. She kept her disguise up for now though, she would still need to get out of here unnoticed. Dizzazz kept a clean and orderly office, the large wooden desk sparkling, free of dust, debris, and detritus. No loose papers cluttered the desk or floor. Frowning, Lilla searched the drawers with patient care, keeping everything as she found it. Damn goblin better have notes on the exam, she thought, fighting back a rush of panic.

Finding nothing of interest in the desk drawers, she turned to the locked filing cabinet behind the desk. Listening for any sounds outside the office and hearing none, she again applied her lockpicks to the mechanism. More delicate and challenging than the door, the cabinet took several minutes to open. When the pins finally gave way, she swung open the cabinet, patience wearing thinner. Every passing moment increased her risk of detection; she could not blow her cover now.

The opened cabinet revealed stacks and stacks of files. Lilla stared with trepidation at the volume of paperwork for a heartbeat before setting to work, scanning for tabs or file markers which could give her any clue. Three stressful minutes later, she located the file she needed.

Working fast, she moved the folio to the desk, pouring over the pages, examining the diagrams and plans for the test, reading the notes in margins, and committing as much information as possible to memory. Outside the office, she heard footsteps nearing. Grabbing the folder and its contents from the immaculate desk, she dropped to the floor with a silent fall.

The footfalls continued closer, then faded away as the person outside the door passed down the hallway.

Breathing a sigh of relief, too aware Dizzazz could return from the mess at any moment now, she put the file back in the cabinet. Closing and locking it again, she looked around the small office to make sure everything stood just as she found it.

Am I good or what? she assured herself. Then she crept to the door and listened for any hint of movement or breathing outside. Nothing. Afraid she would wait too long and be trapped by Dizzazz’ return, she readied herself to run for freedom and opened the door. The empty hallway filled her with relief, and she locked the door behind her before fleeing the way she came.

She almost forgot the guard until she rounded the corner. He leered at her when she came into view.

“Back so soon? Must’ve really missed me, heh heh,” he chuckled.

“Yes, but I’m sorry, I really have to get back to work,” Lilla stated, doing her best impression of Mav as she strode toward the exit.

“Sure thing sweetie,” the old man crooned, and pinched her ass as she ducked past him.

She yelped, and retreated out the door without a backward glance.