Veil of Shadows

Chapter 3. Double Agent

"King Notch!"

Notch turned upon hearing his name called. He grinned as he saw who it was. "Greetings, Salia. I presume you have news on the enemy." Salia nodded and handed him a rolled up paper.

"That is a detailed map of their entire base. They were dumb enough to give me a full tour." She said, emotionless. Notch opened the paper and scanned the map from top to bottom.

"This information could be vital in wiping them out. You are dismissed...those fools have had their way long enough." Notch said, not taking his eyes off the paper.

Salia inclined her head slightly and moved to a hallway branching off from the main hall. When he was out of earshot, she chuckled softly. "You are the fool." And turned toward a wall.

It looked like a regular wall. And it was a regular wall, except for a small, almost undetectable button that lay on the floor, out of sight for all but those who looked for it.

Stepping on the button, she watched as a four-by-four passage opened in the wall. Moving into the passage, she heard a hiss as the pistons put the wall back in place.

It was dark, unbelievably dark. Glancing over at the wall, she flipped a lever. Immediately, the wall was adorned by numerous torches, lighting it up perfectly.

She took one torch for herself and began to walk through the passage. They really need to make this shorter, she thought as she finally met the end of the passage after about thirty minutes of walking.

Every second counts when war is imminent.

Quickly, she placed the torch in an iron bracket and made her way over to the table. She almost grinned as she saw all the others waiting for her. Time to be fashionably late.

Climbing up the side of the wall, she crawled across the ceiling until she was right above her seat. Letting go, she twisted in midair, landing in the seat with almost no sound.

Everyone at the table jumped a little, then relaxed as they recognized her. "Welcome, Salia. How's your job as a double agent going?" Salia grinned and replied "Better than ever. Tell Shadow that Notch took the map."

"We shall do so. But Shadow has a special request for you. You are to report to him as soon as possible and tell him all you know about the Hero Squad." The leader said, his voice firm.

Salia nodded and said "I know a few of them personally. One in particular I know Shadow would be interested in." One of the knights replied "Very well. Continue your mission as planned."

Salia grinned and said "Will do." Before jumping out of the chair and into a shadowed alcove. The knights looked around for her, confused. She had apparently disappeared into thin air.

Unable to stop smiling, Salia went back through the tunnel after grabbing the torch. Once she had made the thirty minute journey back to the entrance, she placed the torch in the original bracket and pressed a button.

The stone wall opened, and Salia stepped through, but not before flicking the lever and plunging the passage back into unforgiving darkness.