Demos avoided speaking personally with Archella’s people, leaving that to his bodyguards. They’d long since been trusted aides as well, though he was about to break with tradition. The problem he was working on took complete mutual understanding and strict security.

Back in the familiar gloom of his office, the treasurer was able to take a good look at the person standing with his back to the wall. He was a well-built, broad-shouldered man of average height with dark-brown hair trimmed short, and he was dressed unpretentiously and practically. A soldier’s sword served as his weapon. Hearing Demos and Lahel, their guest turned. Devaton caught a sliver of a smile on the nondescript face covered in stubble.

“Is that him?” Demos asked Ihraz as the latter disappeared into the darkness.

“Yes. Master Archella sends his regards and put this man at your service.”

Demos glanced at the spy.

“Master Sauli used to work with us. Why you this time?”

His guest shrugged.

“Sauli—how do I say this?—no longer meets the requirements of the guild. I took his place.”

In other words, Master Sauli disappointed you.

“Your name?”

“Yun,” the guest replied with a short bow. “Master Yun.”

“Are you a soldier?” Demos looked down at the spy’s sword. “That looks like an Osvendian blade, the kind they equip soldiers with up north.”

“Your knowledge of weapons flatters you, Your Grace. I was a scout near Belfur.”

“Why did you leave the service?”

“My contract ended. Galloping around woods and forests is important, but I found it boring. I wanted to work with my head and earn some extra coin. My introduction to Master Archella happened at the perfect time.”

“I’d imagine you’re very familiar with the eastern part of the continent,” Devaton more stated than asked.

“I know every hole in Osvendis, and Belter is pretty close. I’m less familiar with Rikenaar, but that can be remedied.”

“What about Targos?”

“Doesn’t matter if it’s Rundkar,” Yun said with a gruff chuckle. “The guild has eyes and ears everywhere.”

“That’s good.” Demos leaned on his cane, giving his leg a break. “The job I need you to handle is a delicate one.”

“I wouldn’t take it if it weren’t.”

“Sauli was the same way, though he clearly made a mistake.”

“I’m not Sauli,” came the quiet reply. “I’m much better than he was.”

And you have a closet full of skeletons, I imagine.

“We shall see. I couldn’t care less who in your guild thinks they’re the best—all I care about is the result.” The treasurer continued looking over the new spy. “As far as the job goes, I need more than just your silence. I need you to not be seen in the first place. Disappear, move around imperceptibly, never leave any traces. Call that what you will, Master Yun, but I think we understand each other.”

The response was a ready nod.

“That won’t be a problem.”

“All the better.” Demos sat down on a couch, took a drink of wine, and grimaced. The sweet Targosian wine exploded in his mouth and all over his teeth like a bomb made of honeycomb. “This time, it’s all about your ability to get information and find people. If everything goes as planned, you won’t have to kill anyone.”

“Sounds a bit boring,” Yun replied. “But you’re the client. What’s your price for the guild’s work?”

Devaton tapped wordlessly on the edge of the table with an overgrown fingernail. Ihraz, understanding the signal, showed the guest a box the size of two fists filled with gold aure from the imperial mint. The spy glanced over and whistled.

“I take back what I said. It’s a very interesting offer indeed.”

“That’s the only kind I know,” Demos replied, running a finger over the scar near his ear the way he always did when he was thinking. “Okay, you need to find a woman by the name of Sister Tanal.”

“She’s a nun?”

“She may not look the part.” Devaton reached over to the table and pulled a medallion out of a drawer. It was adorned with a miniature portrait of a black-haired woman with a high forehead and a predatory look on her face. “This picture is about five years old, though she’s barely changed since then. She left the capital in secret to become a sister in the church. Also, she says she took the name Tanal and now belongs to the cloister in Ulfiss.”

“East of Osvendis…brutal,” Yun sighed as he looked over the portrait. “A noble lady, I imagine.”

“You have no idea how noble. Well, you can probably guess. She’s missing. Sauli went looking for her and reported back that she never showed up in Ulfiss, so now I’m wondering which of them was lying.”

The spy carefully placed the medallion in his pocket. Devaton slouched back on the cushions, unable to hold back a blissful smile.”

“There’s a chance the woman set off secretly for Targos. I’d like you to look for her there, too.”

“Targos… I have friends there.”

Demos took a small scroll off the table and handed it to Yun.

“Here are the names, positions, and addresses of people who might have helped her plan her escape. To start with, work them over, just do it secretly. Then, look for tracks in Targos. Report back to me personally.”

The hireling studied the list before sticking it in his pocket, a satisfied look on his face.

“That’s even better. We have somewhere to start.”

“You need to get information without drawing attention to yourself. Nothing else is important.”

“Will we be getting a deposit to cover our expenses?”

Devaton pointed at the casket with the gold.

“There’s your deposit right there,” he said with a laugh. “I highly value the services of your guild.”

“All the gods, dead and alive! I’ll tell you this right now: working with you is a joy and a pleasure.”

“In that case, I’ll count on your complete dedication to the job.”

“We’ve never given you reason to doubt us,” Yun grinned. “Would you mind if I asked you one more question before I left?”

“Go ahead, Master Yun.”

“It’ll be easier for me if I know the woman’s worldly name.”

“Empress Izara Targosian.”

Not a single muscle on the hireling’s face twitched.

This guy has balls of steel.

Yun carefully poured the gold out of the casket and into his pouch with a broad smile.

“Well, that explains everything. Turns out, I was right.”

At least one of us can see this thing clearly. A luxury in times like this.

“Is that all?” Demos rubbed his eyes, fighting a sudden weakness that had come over him.

By the dead gods, could you get out of here? I can barely hold myself upright.

“You won’t be disappointed, Your Grace. Goodbye.”

Master Yon bowed shortly and left the room via the open window.