“I can't believe I still have to say it nowadays. Stop wearing conspicuous clothing. Spies haven't been wearing black cloaks and mysterious hoods since forever. That's an assassin thing, don't get these jobs mixed up. It's meant to make you look scary, but in your case it'll just make you look damn obvious. And seriously, stop doing things like hiding in corners, walking on rooftops and breaking into people's homes. You're not a thief. And since you're an idiot, you'll get caught. Ah, yes, there's that too. Please, oh please, forget about funny devices and clever tools, customized carriages and beautiful, dangerous young ladies. There won't be any of that. You read too much books. At best, you'll be courting some old lady and reluctantly indulging in the 'pleasures' of the flesh with her because that's the only way you'll get any information from her. Yes, congratulation, you understand now that being a spy is akin to being a whore. Do you still want to do it ?

-Spying for beginners : how to get started in spying in five lessons, bestseller by the ex-imperial spymaster”

* * *

Azcheron

They kept a rather slow pace as to make sure the spy would not lose them. He did a more or less okay job at prowling around in the reception, but there was no guarantee he'd be able to tail someone in the capital.

While they walked, they started to discuss nonchalantly to avoid raising suspicions. Azcheron felt it was a good time to review the evening and to put some order in his gains. He used sound magic to stop the spy from eavesdropping. If the spy couldn't use magic, he wouldn't know it. If he did, all the better, he'd find it even more fishy and would definitely follow them.

“I think it was fairly successful. Out of the three major power present, I'd say I have at least two on my side.”

“Talir and Ravilna, huh... Can you really trust them ?”

“Well, as long as I give them what they want. The headmaster's expectations are pretty much the simplest. Not necessarily the easiest, but at least he's very clear on what he wants.”

“Right, he looks like a pragmatic man that regards highly his interests.”

“Mh. He's not like Anton, that's for sure. I wonder if there is bad blood between them ? Still, for now I can count on him. The man thinks I can benefit the Academy and the mage community, so I won't have any trouble having him aid me for the expedition.”

Hector Talir was, indeed, the kind of man that would support Azcheron as long as it was good for the Academy's reputation and power. And what could benefit more to such a man, than an expedition in the Desolate Lands, a place of mystery and death where mana did not exist in the air ? It was basically the greatest challenge for every mage.

He carried on. “I've done well to mention dragons, too. Everything related to dragons is supposedly interesting for mages, scholars, historians and whatnot. He should probably give me enough researchers and archeologists.”

Azcheron could obviously not manage an expedition on his own. He didn't particularly know what to look for in the Desolate Lands, so specialists and experts would be more than welcome. They'd be able to properly identify the things that would unmistakeably bring him glory and fame.

When Talir voiced his concerns about the necessary manpower to protect the scholars, and the means to, in a more general manner, survive in what was little more than a death pit, Anton and Roharl came to his rescue. Both vouched for his ability as a mage, and even if he wouldn't be able to use magic freely in the desert, they insisted that he could manage to keep everyone alive with his wits. Without these two intervening, the headmaster would have probably discarded Azcheron's request.

Azcheron also pointed that Erin would be a considerable asset, seeing as she was skilled, battle-hardened, and also smart. Showing by the same occasion that the lady Verald was Azcheron's comrade and would take part in the journey. Moreover, he was planning to ask the countess Ravilna for some reliables soldiers who wouldn't mind going for a trip in the most famous graveyard of the continent.

“Then, what about the countess ? I wasn't here when you talked with her.”

“Well... She has quite a character, that's the least I can say.” He scratched his chin. “I clearly can't trust her, ever. If anything I think she's the least trustworthy person I've ever met. She'll be an ally as long as she finds me fun and entertaining. But she'll forget about me and leave me to the wolves without batting an eye, the second she thinks I'm boring or no longer capable of doing something interesting.”

“Sounds like a great ally to have !” Erin said mockingly.

“Heh. Plus, she might be the less powerful of the three, seeing as she's only the daughter of the Ravilna's head. Still, she has a great deal of influence, can rely on her name, impact her father's decisions, and more importantly, she has money and she's free to use it as she likes. Ultimately, she'll agree to support and finance anything that manages to catch her curiosity. As long as I can do that and provide her with antics and stunts such as going west to meet dragons and explore a desert, we'll be fine.”

I'll have to make them look bigger and more daring each time, though. I did promise her that I'd throw the Empire into chaos... Damn.

Maybe I should just do it. For fun. Shouldn't be too hard. Maybe I'll even manage to overtake the Empire ? Then I could become a tyrant or an evil overlord. Hmm, so many career paths...

“That leaves the Farril house. I'm actually surprised they didn't try to befriend you more, with you knowing Roharl and Darius. Maybe they didn't enjoy that you made their door explode ?”

“Haha, I think they are just treading carefully. Lord Farril didn't seem hostile when we spoke, even if it was for a short time. What's his name anyway ? Anton told me but I forgot. Or I wasn't listening.”

“I don't know either. I think it's Garret ? Garrias ? Wait, we don't care about that. Carry on.”

Azcheron nodded. “I'm confident I'll have him in my pocket in the future. We didn't even agree or talk about anything concrete and definite, but I'm fairly sure I'm in favour of the Farril house as a whole. Even though Roharl gave up his name, it looks like he still has a good amount of influence on his family. That's a renowned hero for you I guess. Good thing he seems to like me.”

“Indeed. Ah, there's Darius too. In fact he might be even more important in the future, right ?”

“If he inherits the house, yes. I don't know if he has siblings or something, however. My mistake for not asking... Well, I'm not that friendly with him. You, however...” He stared at Erin, grinning.

She frowned and turned to the other side. “Why, I wonder, are you looking at me like that.”

“Come on, I'm just joking. Seriously though, he seems to fancy you. I don't feel proud to ask that of you, but I'd like it if you remained on good terms with him. I don't think he is a bad person, and he might turn into a real ally.”

Erin tried to pout or something of the sort, but it didn't suit her. She made a scary face instead.

“Well it's not like I was planning to go and smack my knee on his face, and while spitting in his eyes, insulting him and telling him not to approach me ever again unless he wants to have his elbows bent in the other way.”

“That... sounds like an awfully detailed scenario. Did I just save him unknowingly ?”

“NO ! I was joking ! Why do you always take what I say at face value when you're the one who's casually plotting the most ignoble things most of the time !”

Azcheron laughed and shrugged. “Back on the matter at hand, I actually think the Farril could prove to be the most trustworthy allies we could find in the aristocracy. If we manage to really befriend Roharl and Darius, it'll become a safe collaboration based on mutual respect and friendship ! Friendship, my dear Erin !”

“You look like you're mocking the word 'friendship'. No, I guess you indeed are. But you do know you are right even though you're being sarcastic ? It wouldn't be a bad thing to get closer to these two.”

“I know, I know. Since the support of the countess and the headmaster is more of a conditional thing. That's why I said that, even mockingly. Ah, I guess we also managed to do two others things tonight.”

“Eh ? And that would be ?”

“First, I made my immediate goals known. Not only to these three people, but to the whole reception. Soon the word should spread that, I, Azcheron, whose reputation has already started to grow, will depart for the Desolate Lands by winter's end.”

“Even if most of them don't believe you'll come back alive ? I'm actually certain that some are secretly laughing about it, even perhaps hoping you'll fail.”

“It's fine if they don't expect anything. What matters is that they know, and that they talk about it. So this way when I come back alive and successful to everyone's surprise, it'll be in a shocking and thunderous fashion. I'll be famous instantaneously.”

“You know, I'm starting to wonder whether glory and fame are just tools for your goals, or if your quest for truth is just an opportunity or a pretext to have songs and books written about you...”

“Heh. Why not both ?”

Although you have a point. I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about the glory ! I'm the Saint, after all, it is my duty to make my might known.

He kept on. “As for tonight's last success...”

“It's my name, right ?” Azcheron nodded. “You made our association known, and people will start to speculate about the Verald's involvement. It's a risky move.”

“I know. But this way we'll know for sure what they think about all that. Either they'll keep a low profile to avoid rumours spreading, or they'll finally act more decisively. We'll have to be on our guard from now on.”

Erin tugged on Azcheron's sleeve as to slow his pace. “About that. Shouldn't we take care of the snake ? He has been dedicatedly following us for some time, now. I don't think he's a professional or anything like that though, and I wouldn’t want him deciding to stop tailing us because he got tired.”

He slightly turned his head as to look behind him, without being too obvious. “Indeed, he's an amateur of some sort. Let's find a street were we can greet him then.”

“How do you want to do that ? If we interrogate him and let him go he'll run to his boss and spill everything he has learned, including the fact that we caught him. And if we kill him it'll raise suspicion and might give away the fact that we're wary.”

“I've got the perfect idea. There's a spell I've been wanting to try ever since I read about it,” Azcheron replied merrily. “We won't interrogate him but at least we'll be able to check his face and his belongings without him knowing.”

Erin looked at him, slightly confused, but nodded. She pointed to a long narrow street where they could ambush the man. They entered, walked to the other end, and Azcheron started to gather mana in the alley.

An almost invisible gas formed in the narrow passage, and only the attentive eye could notice it by spotting the faint blurring in the air. The darkness made it fairly impossible to see, in fact. The alley was at least fifty meters long, which should be enough for the spell to work if the man didn't cross it too quickly. The ideal thing would be to have him stand here and wait, until the magic took effect, but it'd be hard to set up without it being suspicious.

So, Azcheron and Erin stood at the opposite side of the alley, waiting for the man to enter it. As he did, they began to walk away slowly again, so that the man would follow them at the same pace. After a short time, Azcheron heard a faint thud. He turned back to witness the unconscious body of the spy. If the man had smelled anything that could have warned him, he didn't seem like he managed to react in time.

“Was that sleep magic ?”

“Yes, sort of. I used gas. We should check if he's still alive, just in case. I'm afraid I made the magic very potent,” Azcheron said flatly as he walked toward the body.

Erin grimaced. “Great.”

“Well, I couldn't risk the gas not working. It's the first time I try such a spell, so...” He took the man's pulse, and gave the verdict in a slightly dissatisfied tone. “He's alright. ...Eeh, except for the thing he fell into. Is that puke ?”

“Why do you sound disappointed ! Did you actually try to kill him ?”

“No, but, you know. If it turned out I could use it to kill someone so stealthily, that would have made me the best assassin of the Empire, or something like that.”

“Haaah. Of course. Well, let's not assassinate him now that he's asleep, and search him instead.”

They crouched and took a moment to observe the guy and go through his belongings.

“He looks like some random noble... He really is unremarkable. Does his face ring a bell to you ?” Erin shook her head. “Hmm. Well we should assume he was invited by Anton and the Farril, seeing how his clothes follow the reception's dress-code. Was he coerced by someone else who learned he would be coming to my party ?”

“That'd be my guess...” She stood up and scratched her cheek. “No papers, letter or seal, no handkerchief, pen or jewellery... This guy's not even worth robbing. For a noble he's pretty devoid of... things. I don't know.”

“Someone posing as a noble then ? No, the others would have noticed if there was a guest nobody knew. I hope ? So, maybe he was careful enough to avoid wearing and taking on him anything that could reveal his identity or affiliation...”

“Should we get back and ask Anton or someone trustworthy ?”

“I don't know. We'd have to either carry him or get Anton here before he wakes up. And we're pretty far away. I don't even know how long he'll be asleep and I don't want to be seen carrying a body. One of us could go look for Anton while the other keeps the man unconscious, though. Or in the end perhaps we should interrogate him.”

“Hmm... Ah, maybe check the clothing itself ? See if there's not the signature of an artisan or some tell. Maybe a secret pocket if we're lucky...” she said without sounding too hopeful.

Azcheron complied. “Is that a thing ? Well I guess if you're a skilled tailor you'd want your name on your creations... Oh.” He suddenly smiled and waved for Erin to come closer. “We almost missed that because of the darkness.”

It was an embroidery. Some coat of arms was stitched on the outfit's lapel. Seeing it, Erin's face darkened.

“...Huh. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. I envisaged it, in fact.”

“So who is our little snake ?”

“Some nobody, like we thought. There's only one reason I'd recognize his crest.” Azcheron understood what she meant. “He's basically a retainer of the Verald.”

“I guess we know their stance now ? Clearly they are wary of me.”

“Why was he even here anyway ? And how come a spy would wear his crest on his clothes ? What if we're being tricked ?”

“It's nothing to be taken aback by. I don't think he even expected to be caught. You know, hide the tree in the forest. It'd have been even fore fishy if there was an unidentifiable guest at the reception. Though it turned out to be convenient for us, that's for sure. But just in case, we can still keep in mind the possibility that the Verald are being framed, if you want. As for why he was present... Anton knows almost nothing of your situation, and I didn't ask him to sort out the houses we'd want to meet with. Actually we should be glad he didn't invite someone from your family. That... would have been awkward.”

“I bet he did, but they must have refused. They're the kind of people that would never come to a reception hosted in the honour of someone like you. You know they don't fancy you, right ? Even without this whole spy thing...”

“Of course. I'm sure they didn't wait to learn that I was a commoner to dislike me. Being seen with you was sufficient,” he mocked.

“Right, so what do we do now ? If the guy realize we were onto him, he'll report everything and next time we'll have to deal with more professional snakes. That could be annoying.”

“Usually, I'd answer to such a behaviour with an well-deserved beheading, but...” Seeing Erin's disapproving look, he groaned. “Hah, I know, I know. Wrong choice.”

“Yes, I don't know how 'appropriate' that would be. Please find something else than head removal, and more generally, execution.”

Azcheron laid his back onto the wall and thought for a while. “Well, I used sleep magic because it allows for more flexibility regarding our cover-up.” He fixedly looked at the puke splattered on the man. “Mmh, I guess it could work... are there inns somewhere close ? Or places where we can buy alcohol ? Any location with drunk people will do, in fact.”

Erin raised an eyebrow. “Yes ? I think... a few streets away, there should be a lively neighbourhood with everything you want. Why ?”

“Here, help me lift the guy. We'll make it look as if he almost drank himself to death. When he wakes up surrounded by vomit, empty bottles, and other unconscious people, even if he has doubts about what happened, he'll be so embarrassed that he'll never report the full story to your family. No spy would dare telling their employer that they woke up in the middle of drunkards and barrels of beer, not remembering half the evening when they were supposed to tail someone.”

“What's with this plan ? It's very lame. I hope it'll work, at least.”

Azcheron shrugged. “That's the best I could think of right now.”

Truly a great way to end the evening, he thought.