Just a Skyrim fanfic: Extended cut

An impostor

Malpen: You're back. I trust the mission is completed?

Miraak: Yes, it is

Malpen: Excellent. I trust you didn't run into any trouble?

Miraak: Not this time

(Maximus walks into the room)

Malpen: There you are. Lets get down to business. Wait, where's Leonidas

Maximus: I don't know

(Leonidas comes in fixing his hair)

Leonidas: What did I miss?

Maximus: I know bedhead when I see it, Leonidas

Leonidas: (Trying to change the subject) What did you call us here for?

Malpen: I can trust you both, can't I?

Leonidas: Of course

Maximus: Why do you ask?

Malpen: I have reason to believe we have a spy within our ranks. Placed by the Thalmor

Maximus: How can you be sure?

Malpen: There's no other explanation. The Thalmor always seem to be one step ahead of us. It would explain the attacks on our convoys. And 3 days ago, one of the knights highest ranking officers was assassinated at a camp in the reach. He was there on top secret business. No one should have known he was there

Miraak: Who has betrayed us?

Malpen: That's what I'm trying to figure out. But, given how much they know of our operations, it must be one of our officers

Leonidas: We just need to figure out which one. Any ideas?

Malpen: I do have one plan, if you're willing to help me

Maximus: Tell me

Malpen: I need each of you to meet with a senior officer and give them some information. You're going to tell them that I will be travelling to a small camp away from the major cities, and that I'll only have a few guards. The twist is, you're each going to give a different location

Leonidas: Even I have to admit, that's smart

Malpen: There is no way the Thalmor could resist a chance at killing me, so you can bet that they'll have their men waiting at whatever location the spy tells them. Each of you will be at one location and see if any Thalmor show up. Whichever location they do show up to, tells us who the spy is

Leonidas: Any particular way we should go about it?

Malpen: Leonidas, tell Debent I'll be in the pale. Miraak, tell Catanius I'll be in hjaalmarch.  And Maximus, tell Hodlin I'll be in Winterhold

Miraak: Sounds easy enough

Malpen: Gods be with you all

(Leonidas goes to talk to Debent)

Debent: Can I help you?

Leonidas: I have a message to you from legate Malpen

Debent: Very well. What is it?

Leonidas: He is leaving Solitude for a while

Debent: Leaving Solitude? Where is he going?

Leonidas: Our camp in the pale

Debent: Ah yes, the pale camp. I know it. I suppose we'll be coming along too, with gods know how many guards