Six of Ruin (Heirs of Irenwell #1) ✔

Chapter 27: Rumour Has It

The feeling of someone watching me woke me up from my peaceful slumber. When I opened my eyes, I found Ace staring down at me with impatience.

"Goddess!" I shouted, moving away from him. "Can you be creepier?"

"Get up, we have work to do." The mage said.

I yawned, "It's barely dawn."

My head pounded and sleep almost immediately pulled me back in.

"Yes, we have to get to the post before they send out the birds." Ace gestured to get up.

"Can't someone else come with you?" I grunted. "I thought Nickeltinker was your little helper."

"Hmm, yes, yes." Ace walked up and down the room. "But the thief doesn't have what I need right now."

"Which is?" I kicked off the rough covers, hating the sudden cold.

"The ability to distract men." Ace said. "Hurry up!"

The town was asleep as we exited the Inn. Dawn barely broke and people were still sleeping off the last night's celebration. Early birds chirped. The only people awake were the fishermen in the marina. I glanced at the three large ships, still eerily waiting for their passengers.

And I had a feeling we were the passengers. Or at least that was what the world was supposed to believe.

Ace led me to a stone-dressed house in the middle of the town. It loomed slightly over the other buildings and it gaped empty.

"What's this place?" I asked, glancing around, wary of people seeing us.

"This is the post." Ace entered the building. "It's where people come to send letters and receive news. But not just individuals, the officials, too. This is where the propaganda gets created."

The room was full of scrolls and quills, scattered all over wooden tables. It looked like a chaotic library. The only sound inside were the birds, walking and chirping, as if sharing information in their own secret language.

"And what exactly are we doing here?" I narrowed my eyes as Ace closed the door behind us.

"Controlling the narrative." Ace said. "Wait here. If someone comes in, use your witchy powers to send them away."

"What?" My eyes snapped at the mage. "I can't use magic! I only managed yesterday because my life was in jeopardy!"

Ace arched his eyebrow, "Would it help knowing we'll both hang if someone catches us here?"

"No!"

"Ha! Too bad. Because we will."

"And what do I do if my magic fails?" I asked, suddenly feeling nervous all over.

"Show them your boobs, that ought to do the trick." Ace disappeared around the corner.

"Can't argue with that." I murmured and leaned against a wall. "So, what exactly is that you do?"

A sound of rustling paper reached my ears as Ace went through the scrolls, "You mean, in general? I run a bar, and a brothel, and a couple of other things here and there."

"Why would you even need to do all that? Can't you conjure up money out of thin air?"

The mage peeked behind the wall, "And where's the fun in that?"

He carried a bunch of scrolls to the table and spread them around. I stood by and glanced at the letters, trying to read them. The most I caught were the titles.

Cultists on a Rise – New Threat From the North.

The Highest Demand for Weapons in the Last Ten Years.