Checkmate

Queenside

As usual, things did not go according to plan.

To start with, over the subsequent weeks and months, I spent an inordinate amount of time shuttling between my Clan, Lichor and Clenlevin, with barely a few days' rest in between. This was largely due to the close eye I was keeping on Lichor - and while this was in part sanctioned by my Clan, I was also using the excuse to conduct my own reconnaissance, getting to know the border, familiarising myself with the faces of their Border Guard and the locations of their watchtowers, and getting to know the settlement of Ochor, which was closest to the border. 

While none of my explorations had been authorised by my Clan and would get me into serious trouble if they found out, the last was particularly dangerous, a clear violation of both my orders and Clan Law. 

But I couldn't leave Jax in there without back up. 

Jax had managed to settle into Lichoria, establishing a cover as a trader, which both explained his presence and his frequent comings and goings. Knowing him, I was sure he'd managed to become a non-threatening, familiar, yet forgettable face in the crowd. If my skill was tracking, Jax's was blending in, and I had no doubt that he'd done exactly that. He'd been in for months now and so far, so good. He'd made it to and from our regular rendezvous without a problem - I'd even surreptitiously tracked him back to Lichoria, without his knowledge, to make sure of it. 

I liked to be prepared, however.

Especially since I was the reason he was in there. 

If things went pear shaped, we needed to be ready. 

I hadn't told the Clan leadership about what I was doing - for one thing, I knew they'd disapprove of my methods and for another, it was best they stay in the dark, on the off chance I got caught. They could legitimately deny all knowledge of my activities that way. 

As far as they knew, I was spending my time keeping my rendezvous with Jax, monitoring the Lichorian border and checking in on Ri in Clenlevin. 

Following my conversation with Damien, I'd reached out to Diora Bee. I'd known the minute he'd requested help that she was the right person - she'd lived in Clenlevin so long that she knew every inch of the forest, was accepted and respected by the forest tribes and so had access to all their resources and assistance, and she was the one person I knew I could trust. She would monitor Ri without intruding on her, while also keeping on the lookout for any Clanfolk who got near. 

She'd agreed readily, having already befriended Ri as a fellow Healer before I'd reached out to her, and had been keeping me informed about her, her new life - and her new friends.

"You're late." I stepped back to allow Diora into the tree dwelling we used as a meeting place.

"And you're grumpy." She grinned at me as she entered, going straight to her usual spot and folding her legs easily as she sat. 

"I'm grumpy because you're late." I said, sitting on the floor opposite her and tossing her the small flask I'd brought.

She snapped open the lid and drank from it, wiping her mouth before answering me.

"You're grumpier than you used to be. And thinner." She said, her yellow eyes fixed on me. "What have you been doing to yourself, aftara?"

I ignored the question and got straight to the point.

"What news of Ri?"

She smiled knowingly, leaning her head back.

"She has settled in well. The tribesfolk like her, they've accepted her much faster than they usually do. In part, that is because of her skill - she is a gifted Healer, that one. I've never met anyone with such herb and plant knowledge. She's barely been here a few months and she's already learned more about the forest herbs than I know after years."