Page 21 of MidKnight
Willard nodded, getting up from his knees. He gave me a bow, before pulling a bright red handkerchief from his vest and mopping his sweaty face.
Quinn, are you listening?I thought.
Hmm?
I just recruited Willard into your group of spies.
Did you say Dullard?
Willard.
Dullard?
Alright. Haha. I get it. But honestly, I’d like you to assign someone invisible to shadow him. I’m going to let him stumble around and play spy in the hope it will draw attention away from your people. Or maybe even get the nobles to drop their guard, thinking I’m an idiot.
Do you really want people to think you’re an idiot?
I sighed.No. But I pretty much screwed that up today with Isla. Might as well take advantage of my stupid status until I have the chance to prove them wrong.
You can always be an idiot with me, Dove. I won’t judge you.
Shut up and send someone up here.
Will do. Just let me punch Abbas one more time.
You’re beating Abbas?
Yes.
And I wasn’t invited?
You were on your ‘date.’Quinn’s voice faded with a grunt, which I assumed meant he’d landed a hit on the imposter prince.
I looked back at Willard.
He was still mopping the back of his neck. I could see massive armpit stains. The man’s body was as slippery and slimy as an eel. I only hoped his mind wasn’t as well.
Connor pulled me aside and whispered, “Are you sure?”
I shrugged. “If I’d been in his position, with a dragon on my lands, I’d have done the same. I don’t entirely trust him. But, he’s right about the perception of him. He’s the least threatening of the nobles.”
Connor chewed his lip in a rare show of nervous contemplation. “I just don’t want this to reflect badly on you.”
I shrugged and whispered, “Quinn’s sending an invisible shadow. They’ll verify anything he does or says.”
Connor visibly relaxed at that statement.
I punched his shoulder. “Honestly, I know I’m rusty at this court business. But I’m not a complete dunce.”
He grinned.
I turned back and glared at Willard, who twisted the handkerchief nervously in his hands. “Connor will go over a few details with you. I’m needed elsewhere.”
Connor pulled Willard to one of Cerena’s work benches and sat with him. He lectured the nobleman about actions that might rouse suspicion.
I briefly wondered if Willard would even last a day as a spy. I sighed.
I turned to my mage, “Cerena, I’m sorry to have barged in when you worked so hard last night. But I have one last favor.”
