“That’s my fault, my lord. Jade, the Kathaldi spy I was engaged to, confessed everything to me before her comrades killed her in my office, including where their headquarters is.”

He didn’t look very convinced. “And where is that?”

I could hear her voice in my head as I spoke. “She said it is inside a mountain about two thirds of the way to Magrin that is called Mount Avalanche because of all the mysterious avalanches that kill anyone who gets to near it. The Kathaldi apparently call it Mount Kathaldi. There’s supposedly also a village near the base of the mountain that’s also all Kathaldi, but the real base is inside the mountain.”

“Do you think she was telling the truth?” He was staring deep into my eyes. I wondered if that helped him discern the truth.

“I can’t be positive, of course, but I think so. The other Kathaldi did kill her for telling me, and I’m sure they were going to kill me, too. I have no way to verify it without going there to see, preferably with a large army and a whole lot of mages.”

Lord Tarin looked at me for a moment before nodding. “We will be sure to do that, but I cannot leave the city undermanned with the drants out there. We need to finish them off before we dare leave. Unhappily, there is little chance of us doing so before winter arrives so I think we should start planning on a campaign starting in the spring. The drants will keep attacking even when it starts to snow. It does not hamper them as much as it does us. We will need to present the appearance that we are in worse shape than we really are to draw them in so we can crush them.” He was looking at the map as he spoke, and I’m not sure he even remembered I was there.

He did, because he turned to me then. “You have done well, Dirk. You saved my children, you captured all those Kathaldi and then the rest left. You learned where their base is and you saved the Waterfront district. I am quite glad that the mages forced me to make you my spymaster. They were right that you were the perfect man for the job.”

“Thank you, my lord.” I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going. People only tend to praise the job you’ve done when there about to add more tasks to your plate.

I was right to worry. “You will be in charge of coming up with the plan to defeat the Kathaldi in the spring.”

I gulped. “Me, my lord?”

“Has anyone else been successful against the Kathaldi?”

“Not that I’m aware of, sir, but it will take an army and a lot of mages!” I was starting to panic.

It must have showed because Lord Tarin smiled and moved closer to me, holding up his hands. “Relax, Dirk. You don’t have to personally kill each Kathaldi, you just need to work with the mages and General Murock’s staff to design the plan to defeat them.” He grabbed me by the shoulders and a menacing grin seemed to light up his face. “Then we will go there together, and both have our revenge.”

“Yes, sir. Sounds great, sir.”

He released me and laughed. “You have time, spymaster. With the Kathaldi gone, or mostly gone, what else will you have to do? You do not wish to grab a bow and man the walls, do you?”

I shook my head slowly. “No, sir, I do not. Especially during the winter.”

“Then you should be pleased.” He looked at me expectantly.

“Yes, sir. I am.” Even I didn’t believe me.

“Go on, go home and get some rest. Send everyone back in on your way out.”

I left.

On the way back I told Delik Slin and Vone about my new job. Our new job, really, since Delik Slin works for me, and Vone offered to help. “Really?” I said. “That would be great! I don’t have any idea where to start.”

Neither of them did, either, and I hoped it was because we were so tired. At least me and Vone. I don’t know what Delik’s problem was, he didn’t fight any drants today and get healed twice. It didn’t matter, though, because I needed to get some sleep. The new bed wasn’t as nice as Lord Kevad’s old one but it was still better than the one at my house so I was asleep not long after I got in it.