Page 9 of The Elven Spymaster's Thief

I considered the costs and benefits of expelling her from my favorite chair and concluded that leaving her alone would probably bring me the most peace. I sat on the other side of the table from my usual position and accessed my magical filing system. I had just arranged my notes when my first spy arrived. With a soundless puff, he appeared next to my favorite chair.

The shadow elf blinked down at my new companion.

“She is my new pet. Ignore her.”

Avril looked up from her book and smiled up at the elf before returning to reading.

My spy made his report and left. So, it followed for three hours. Then the last spy arrived, his entrance just as innocuous as all the others.

Unlike every other one of my men, Lynan glared at my new companion. When I called her my pet, his lips twisted.

For her part, she didn’t respond. A quick glance at the elf’s face, and she resumed reading.

However, when Lynan began his report, she became fidgety. She dropped her book at one point bringing his words to a complete halt as we both watched her practically dive out of the chair to pick it up from the floor.

“Sorry, I slipped,” she apologized.

“Anyway,” Lynan concluded. “There is little to report on the northern border beyond the usual skirmishes between the most restless warlords and the woodwose.”

I nodded curtly and finished my last note.

“That is all.”

He bowed his head to me and then disappeared as silently as he came.

“He lies.” Avril hissed into the displaced air.

I frowned over at her. “Best wait until he leaves my property before voicing such accusations.”

“Fine.” She set the book on the edge of the table. “Is he gone now?”

I traced his path from my presence until it reached the edge of my domain. Then, I nodded.

She leaned forward, intently serious. “Batair and Cathral have been itching for a fight with the woodwose for three months. However, they haven’t managed to stock up enough provisions between them to risk all-out war. When they have their provisions, their joint forces will unsettle the balance in the region and possibly lead to the complete subjugation of the woodwose.”

Intrigued by her sudden animation, I considered the possibility. It might be worth investigating. Fortunately, I had already sent Tyron to gather intel near the disputed border.

“Why mention it?” I began clearing away my work, sorting, stacking, and then filing the notes.

“I detest liars and your elf spy is clearly lying to you.” She watched the process with intent focus. “Aren’t you going to do anything?”

I tilted my head to one side. “Why should I believe the word of a woman not willing to trust me with her name?”

“I don’t lie.”

“Neither do I, yet you clearly don’t trust me.”

“I have heard stories about what elves do to humans when they acquire the knowledge of their true name.” She shivered.

“Worse than binding them to companionship?”

Fear flickered in the depths of her brown eyes. She shivered again. “Much worse.”

My curiosity was piqued. Which of the horror tales spread about my species over the years had caused that revulsion?

“You clearly have good reason to abstain from speaking your name to me.” I rose to my feet. “But it is too late.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

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