"That's good news. Now, you can control the flow of information," Metill was right. This meant I could report back what we wanted them to hear.
"Let's go to the tavern and see what's happening," said Lylly. She left the house without confirming it with anybody.
"Thank you, dear Vistellia. I'm already feeling brand new," I stood up, finishing my tea.
"Well, stay new, son. I'm going back to bed." She tapped Metill's shoulder and left.
"Let's go. Who knows what's happening already?" Seline pulled me away. Indeed. Zephyr can turn things upside down in under a few minutes. Same with the new residents, the Monroes. They were all enchanted by a handsome father and daughter duo with matching hair. Their nervousness slowly dissolved with just a few simple interactions, and now they decided to stay.
Inside the tavern, most of my people were drinking something or other. Zephyr was sitting at the bar in his pajamas, being smothered by his wife in a large blue robe wrapped around them both.
"Hello there. No, don't worry," he put up his hand before I could say anything. "Headley already told me the highlights."
We took a seat next to them and reached over for a bottle of whiskey. It was early, but why not? The kitchen was just getting ready, and Stuart and Lucian were serving since the others were all asleep.
"Here..." I handed him a cup and a letter. "...It's from that cockroach, also some coin... on top of your ten other chests filled with gold."
He smiled as Lylly took the cup and filled it to the brim with tea before handing it back to him, who received a grateful smile in return.
"How nice. The cockroach thinks he is clever." He winced, drinking it, even with the tea.
"It's a good thing, although..." he looked at the soldiers enjoying a drink, and some even slept. "We might need to get clever with the housing, running out of space inside the wall."
I had ideas. "With this many joining in, we might just finish the big houses in a few days. They can take the extra rooms. Wait... what about the Monroes?"
Lylly answered. "They will soon choose lands and start laying down the foundation when it's done. They want to do it themselves."
In that case, the space should be enough. The work went well. Metill was a very good foreman—effective and careful. The two giant barns now had over half the small but homey little apartments ready. Over a hundred were being built in case needed, and now it would be.
"Most of them have family left back in Dharma, so they'll probably leave with the twenty or so escort who will come with the others to get them."
"It's fine," he was sleepy and rested on Lylly. "...They can stay as long as they want."
"Alright, that's it. We're going back home. You lot can handle this." Lylly watched him all this time, his feet especially. "Don't bother us until it's dark. He needs to rest. You're sick," she said to him, matter-of-factly.
He looked fine to me.
"I was tired, not sick last night. Plus, I told you... okay? I'm not comfortable sleeping with the insane... Alright, byebye..."
Lylly had enough and pulled him out of the tavern by his hair.
"Is he sick?" I asked Seline. She was behind the bar, cleaning up the leftover whiskey, showing her inhuman tolerance.
"He's playing with her. She saw his shadows moving, now he is convinced she lost her mind. The way she told us yesterday night was partly responsible for me almost killing you," she said with a big smile.
Seeing her red cheeks, cleaning, and smiling in her large morning jacket was adorable. Thank God for this mission.
I touched my jacket pocket and felt the letter... well, word. I'll talk to him after they are done having make-up sex.
The Assassin's Warning
Cooking for well over a hundred was a different experience, but something I came to enjoy. Seline is never happier than when others eat her cooking.
"Taste this, my love." she offered.
Is there a more beautiful sight than the love of your life offering you a spoonful of delicious food?
"Hmm... delicious as always."
"You think they like it? Your people?" she asked a little nervous.
They will, or else... "Of course they will," I assured her.
The giant pot of soup should be enough to feed an army. Speaking of which, that's something that truly held back Karta last year. Feeding tens of thousands in the winter was impossible. Can't carry enough, can't hunt enough.
By the time those still up and not snoring in the back got some soup and fresh bread, Lylly Wold Astoria came in looking very happy.
"He is on his way. Ceron and his people found lands and wanted to speak with him. Soup smells delicious, Mom," she said, smelling the air.
"Thanks, sweetheart. Have some."
While she had her soup, I went outside and waited for him.
[SWOOSH]
He appeared out of nowhere as the wind picked up. "Why are you outside?" he asked.
I walked closer and took his shoulder. "Come, we need to talk."
He nodded and came, if somewhat confused.
We arrived at the Revels' new house and walked all the way to the tree line.
"Alright, what is it? Would you like us to walk up the mountain, maybe?"
I gave over the letter and, without context, let him read it.
His eyebrows raised, his smile spread. "Servian Elex," he whispered. "I see. He made his decision."
He tore the paper into bits as he walked slowly back. "Come, I'll tell you on the way," he said over his shoulder.
We walked slowly, and he threw the unrecognizable letter pieces into the snow.
"Memphis Lane is a smart one. He understood my intentions after just meeting a few times," he started.
"You told him something?"
"Course not, but he knew why I didn't kneel. He warned me, much like you. We spent some time together, and he promised to send word if Mai plans something against me."
"So that's why the letter... and what does it mean?" I asked.
"Servian Elex was a famous ancestor of his," he smiled as he recalled the memory. "...He was a hero of capturing the heart of the rebellion in Tetra almost fifty years ago, except he did it from the inside by betraying his own people."
He stopped and waited with a smile... but I had nothing.
Zephyr sighed in disappointment. "He warned me that you're a damn spy! Wanted to tell me in a secret way, in case you opened it, which you did."
Ohh... Well, that was clever. I had nothing, just like anyone else who would have read it, but it told everything to Zephyr with a single word.
"He is smart and has different loyalties. You sure made an impression," I said.
There was a thin line between confidence and arrogance, but he walked that line with ease.
"I always do... W-why the look? Is there more? Tell me, Em..."
I took a deep breath...
The Missing Scouts
"I took a deep breath... and told him everything else, including Mai's ridiculous number of missing scouts."
"The cockroach is a liar, Em. He said sixty-nine?" Zephyr looked at me intently. "I've had my man patrol the whole area since the wall went up. We found no scouts. Not a single trace of them."
He looked toward the north wall in silence for a moment, his brow furrowed. "Someone is killing his men and keeping it a secret from both of us. Either they're incredibly good, or they want Mai to think I'm responsible."
He turned back to me, his focus intense. "This changes things. You have your cover now. Report back exactly what Mai wants to hear—that Emet is thriving but small and disorganized. That I'm focused on trade, not war. And you will be my eyes on him. But listen closely, Carlos: If you find anything about those missing scouts, you report it to me immediately. No one else."
"Understood," I confirmed. "I'm heading back tonight, taking my people with me to settle, and I'll send my first report back within the week."
Zephyr clapped me on the shoulder. "Good. Now let's go find Ceron. I need to make sure our newest residents are settling in right."