The Sultan's Spy

Chapter 37: The Web

Eliska had to concentrate on her hands to keep herself from fidgeting. It was hard, sitting in her usual spot in the garden, waiting for Tariq again. Last time... She shook her head. It wasn't good to dwell on it, they'd dealt with everything and were moving on. Even if that had put both of them in more danger. Though he by far had the worst of it. If Lizina found out, he'd die and she'd likely be stuck in shadow school for the next two decades if she wasn't thrown out entirely.

Seeing him approach, she stood quickly, almost stumbling a bit. Eliska hoped the darkness had hidden that. Tariq didn't appear to notice as he came to a stop in front of her, arms stiff at his sides. He nodded at her.

She hid a frown at his carefully neutral tone. The usual humour and wicked smile were gone. Eliska ignored the faint pang at their absence and reminded herself that this was business, that she should be glad he was acting serious and was still helping her. She gestured towards the bench as she resumed her own seat. "You slipped away safely?"

Tariq snorted, dropping down beside her, a flicker of his usual self crossing his face. "I have the perfect excuse now."

Eyebrows up, Eliska didn't prod him when didn't elaborate. Not when it was obvious that's what he wanted her to do. He'd tell her if he wanted to or he thought she should know. "I have some news for you."

"Oh? And what's happened that you think I should know? Has the Sultan been ignoring his people again?"

Eliska glared. "Don't talk like you know Kasimer," she snapped, one hand clenching into a fist. Tariq met her eyes for a moment before looking away, back towards the path he'd come down. Eliska did her best to swallow her anger. Tariq was always like this, she shouldn't be surprised or lash out at him like that.

"What is it then?" he asked after the silence had stretched between them for several seconds.

Arms crossed over her chest, she did her best to keep her voice even. "We've found that some of the city guards are involved in taking bribes, soliciting money for 'protection', and other schemes. From what we've found out already, they're likely working with one or more people here in the palace. We want you to keep your eyes and ears open and pass anything you find out about this along."

Tariq stared at her for a moment before he shook his head. "Your people didn't know who the crooked guards were? Honestly? I can name half a dozen right now if you want."

Eliska grimaced. "We were aware of some people who would occasionally, look the other way, as it were, but what we've found is a whole group working together. That's what the problem is."

"Huh. Can't say I've heard much about demanding money for protection, but I can look into it. For that kind of thing would be better if I was back in the city though. I have more contacts there, the kind of people who might have used the guards' services and can give more specifics."

"Do you want to head back into the city?" Eliska hoped he did. It would be easier to keep Lizina from thinking about killing him if he was further away, and it might even get Tariq to decide that poking further into her and her family's business was a bad idea.

"Don't think you're getting rid of me that easily." The smile he wore was crooked and forced her lips to rise themselves. This was the Tariq she'd gotten to know.

But just as quickly as it was there it disappeared again. Eliska ignored her twofold disappointment, smoothing out her skirts unnecessarily. "Have you found out anything you think I should know?"

"I did discover something that was quite...interesting." Watching her lean forward, Tariq continued. "I met with Fahim late last night and it appears that our little scribe leader has been up to some rather unusual activities."

His pause and look at her told Eliska was he expected her to say. And after their last meeting, she gave in and let him have his way. "What kind of activities?"

Tariq straightened, gaze steady on her. "He's been spying. He says that Sirhan asked him to and also said that he's apparently a member of a network of spies who work for the Sultan. Now he's recruited me to help. So, my question for you is whether or not Sirhan is a member of your group or not."

Eliska frowned, thinking quickly about whether or not she'd ever heard of anyone mentioning Sirhan working with the shadows. "I don't know," she said, tapping finger against her leg. "I haven't heard anything. I'll have to check into it. There's only two people who know who all the members of our web are. I'll ask and find out, but because if he isn't and he's telling people he is..."

"Then you'll want to see what he's up to."

"Everyone of a certain height of position spies of everyone else in the palace, but no one is stupid enough to lie about working for the family. That's a good way to get yourself demoted or exiled. Or dead, if you do something really egregious."

Tariq's eyebrows rose. "Everyone spies? You're not serious."

Eliska chuckled. "I am. It's one way people use to move up, information is power, and one anyone can use. Of course, not everyone uses it as effectively as they could, but if they did, our work would be a lot harder."

"Well, then I look forward to what you find out."

Smiling faintly while the implications of what would happen if Sirhan of all people was misrepresenting himself slowly dawned on her, Eliska hoped that next time they met, things would be better. For both of them.