The man kneeling in front of Jor-Barnk kept his eyes fixed on a spot on the floor a foot in front of where the spymaster sat drinking his tea. For a long moment the only sound was the spoon lightly touching the sides of the cup as Jor-Barnk stirred. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of waiting, the spymaster spoke.
"So. Bar-Melath is dead, the spies are in one of our warships headed back to wherever they came from and that fool, your Lord Sor-Arhan is chasing them with his remaining ships? Meanwhile, three Spires warships are also in pursuit, travelling through our sovereign waters without leave? Is there any other bad news your Lord told you to convey?" Jor-Barnk spoke calmly but inside he was livid. Failure after failure!
"No, my Lord Spymaster. The message he gave me to deliver to you he determined was worth the diversion of one of his ships. He blames Bar-Melath, Milord. One of Bar-Melath's ships was out of position and Lord Sor-Arhan believed it was on Bar-Melath's orders."
Of course it was. He was following my orders but he failed. He has been punished for his failure but what now? Jor-Barnk considered the man carefully. No sense punishing this man for his master's failure. Besides, he hasn't failed yet. He may yet capture them, although I don't hold out much hope for that! "You may go." Jor-Barnk said simply.
The palpable relief that washed over the man's face almost made Jor-Barnk change his mind. The spymaster could not stand weakness in any form but he had too much else to concern himself with. As soon as the man had left, Jor-Barnk stood and rapped on a nearby wooden panel. The panel opened to reveal a man dressed much as Jor-Barnk was.
"You heard?" Jor-Barnk looked at the man. He was a thin, pock faced man with dark, greasy hair and a cruel mouth. His preferred role was assassin and Jor-Barnk had used his talents on many occasions to rid himself of enemies to the crown. He did not carry a sword but two small blades that more than one noble had discovered were as deadly as any sword could be.
Talin was his name but no one alive besides Jor-Barnk knew it. His first task when he had been recruited by the spymaster had been to rid himself of his past. Talin had been quite literal in his obedience to Jor-Barnk. He had killed his parents, his sister and her husband and even a lone cousin that had met him when he was a child. He was ruthless and without conscience. Perfect for the kind of work Jor-Barnk employed him for. Few met him and lived.
"Yes, Milord. I heard." Talin looked at Jor-Barnk without feeling. Jor-Barnk wasn't sure the man could feel. "What is it you wish me to do?"
"Not this time, my friend. No killing if it can be avoided. I need you to carry a message." Jor-Barnk considered Talin carefully. No one else could be trusted to complete this task. "What that fool didn't say is that the Examiners had captured a fugitive and she was being held at the Spires. I am certain it was she the spies came for. What I don't know is why and if she is a threat to us. I have a source inside the Examiners themselves. You must go the Western Kingdom, contact my source and find out what you can about this woman. If she is a threat, find her and kill her. If not, return to me and report."
"Yes, Lord Sor-Arhan. Are you sure this source will have access to that information? If not, should I avail myself of another to obtain it?"
Sor-Arhan smiled grimly. Then he told Talin who his source was and how to find him.
