The Riverside Tavern occupied a narrow building wedged between a fishmonger's shop and a cordwainer's workshop. Its second floor contained several private rooms that local merchants used for sensitive business negotiations—and apparently, for recruiting false witnesses.
Raelian arrived an hour early, securing a corner table in the main tavern with clear sight lines to the staircase leading to the private rooms. He ordered ale and bread, settling in to wait while appearing to be just another customer enjoying an evening meal.
Helena had positioned herself in the building across the street, using a room she'd rented under a false name. Her surveillance enchantments would capture both audio and visual records of whatever transpired in the private meeting room.
*Perfect coordination. We're getting good at this.*
At seven forty-five, Thomas Grey entered the tavern. He matched the novel's description exactly—broad shoulders from years of smithing work, calloused hands, and the straightforward manner of someone who made his living with honest labor.
Or who had, until Cardinal Matthias offered him a better opportunity.
Brother Francis arrived precisely at eight o'clock, scanning the tavern briefly before climbing the stairs to the second floor. Thomas Grey followed a few minutes later, and soon both men had disappeared into the private room Helena was monitoring.
*Now we wait and see how Cardinal Matthias corrupts an honest craftsman.*
The wait stretched to nearly two hours. Other customers came and went, the tavern's atmosphere growing louder as ale loosened tongues and inhibitions. Raelian nursed his drink and pretended to read while keeping careful track of time.
At nine fifty-three, both men emerged from upstairs. Thomas Grey's expression had changed completely—where he'd entered looking uncertain, he now appeared determined and somewhat excited. Brother Francis maintained his usual bland composure, but there was satisfaction in his movements.
*Another successful recruitment.*
The men left separately, Thomas Grey departing first while Brother Francis lingered to speak with the tavern keeper about settling accounts. Standard procedure for maintaining the fiction that their meeting was coincidental.
Raelian waited another fifteen minutes before casually leaving and making his way to the predetermined rendezvous point—an all-night bakery three streets away where he and Helena could debrief safely.
Helena arrived ten minutes after him, carrying a small leather bag that undoubtedly contained whatever evidence her surveillance had gathered.
"Well?" Raelian asked quietly as they found a quiet corner booth.
Complete success." Helena's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Brother Francis offered Thomas Grey two hundred gold pieces to testify that Saintess Theresa purchased rare metallurgical components from his forge—specifically, silver blessed by dark rituals and iron quenched in sacrificial blood.
*Exactly as predicted. The novel's accuracy continues.*
"Did Grey accept immediately?"
"He negotiated. Asked questions about what exactly he'd have to testify, whether there was risk of contradictory evidence, and what protection the Church would provide if the Saintess's supporters challenged his testimony."
"Smart questions for a simple blacksmith."
Brother Francis had answers for all of them. This isn't their first collaboration—Grey has provided false testimony in at least two previous Church investigations over the past three years.
Ding!
╔══════════════════════════
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║ NOTIFICATION ║
╠══════════════════════════
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│ Evidence gathering successful! │
│ Network mapping progress: 30% │
│ Helena collaboration efficiency: High │
│ New skill gained: Team Coordination │
╚══════════════════════════
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*Good progress. But we need to accelerate.*
What else did they discuss?" Raelian asked.
Timeline and logistics. Grey will be contacted in two weeks to travel to the capital for the investigation. His testimony will be taken by Church Inquisitors three days before the formal charges are announced.
Which means Cardinal Matthias is planning to move faster than I anticipated.
Helena frowned. "How much faster?"
Two and a half weeks instead of three. He's accelerating the timeline, probably because someone else is pressuring him for results.
*First sign that my perfect knowledge might have limitations. Need to adapt quickly.*
Can we adapt our evidence gathering to match the new timeline?
We'll have to. Which means taking more risks and moving more aggressively.
Raelian pulled out his notebook, quickly revising dates and schedules. "We need to identify and document at least four more witnesses, locate the document forger, and find out where they plan to plant physical evidence."
That's a lot to accomplish in two and a half weeks.
It's what's necessary. Raelian looked up from his calculations. "Are you still committed to this?"
More than ever. Listening to Brother Francis tonight... the casual way he discussed destroying an innocent woman's life, the methodical planning, the complete lack of moral concern..." Helena's voice carried genuine anger. "People like that need to be stopped.
*Perfect. Moral outrage will sustain her through the dangerous phase ahead.*
In that case, we escalate. Tomorrow night, Brother Francis meets with the document forger—a man named Edwin Corvus who specializes in Church seals and official letterheads. The meeting is at Corvus's workshop in the Scribes' Quarter.
How do you know?
Because Cardinal Matthias always follows the same sequence.Recruit witnesses first, then commission supporting documents, then arrange for evidence planting. He's predictable once you understand his methods.
Helena was taking notes again, her analytical mind already working on surveillance possibilities. "The Scribes' Quarter will be more challenging than the tavern. Less foot traffic, more suspicious of strangers."
Which is why we'll need a different approach. Can your family connections get you legitimate business in that area?
Possibly. My mother sometimes commissions illuminated manuscripts for special occasions. I could pose as delivering specifications for such a commission.
Perfect cover. What about surveillance enchantments for a workshop setting?
More complex, but manageable. I'll need different spells for detecting sound through walls and capturing images in low light conditions.
As they refined their plans for the next surveillance operation, Raelian found himself impressed by Helena's quick adaptation to investigative work. Her noble background provided useful cover identities, her magical skills were perfectly suited for evidence gathering, and her intelligence made her an ideal partner for complex operations.
*She's exceeding even the novel's description of her capabilities.*
One more thing," Raelian said as they prepared to leave. "We should consider recruiting additional help.
"Who did you have in mind?"
Professor Blackthorne. She has investigative experience, and we're going to need someone with adult authority when we present our evidence.
Can we trust her with the full scope of what we're doing?
"She's the one who taught me investigation techniques in the first place. And she has personal motivations for seeing corruption exposed properly."
Helena considered this. "What would we tell her?"
"The truth. That we've uncovered a conspiracy to destroy Saintess Theresa using fabricated evidence, and we need professional guidance to document it properly."
"'When?'"
"Tomorrow, after we observe the Corvus meeting. We'll have enough evidence by then to prove the conspiracy's reality without revealing how we obtained initial information."
As they parted ways outside the bakery, Helena paused. "Raelian? This accelerated timeline—are you certain we can gather sufficient evidence before Cardinal Matthias moves against the Saintess?"
I'm certain that intelligent people with good information can accomplish remarkable things,Raelian replied. "And we're both intelligent people with very good information."
*Plus I still have two and a half weeks of future knowledge to exploit. That should be enough.*
Walking back toward the Academy through empty streets, Raelian reviewed their progress. Two successful surveillance operations, Helena fully committed, and their investigation entering its most critical phase. Everything was proceeding according to plan, despite the timeline compression.
*Phase four tomorrow: document the forger and bring in Professor Blackthorne. Then the real race against time begins.*