Dinner turned out to be more like a holiday feast. Pleneth really wanted to send of us in style. It was nearly up to the standard set by the Platinum Egg. Our host sat at the head of the table, of course, with Thilos to his right and Imprid next to him, both looking ridiculously happy with themselves. Padral sat on Pleneth’s left and I got the seat right next to my favorite person in the entire world. An elvish mage sat next to Imprid and two other elves, military types, I thought, were the last two people at the table. The older one sat at the foot of the table and the other was next to me. Pleneth introduced everyone, starting with Thilos and moving around the table until he reached Padral. The elvish mage was named Finril and was the leader of the mages accompanying us to Ansdron. The old elf at the foot of the table was Murock, a retired general that Pleneth had convinced to come out of retirement to lead Ansdron’s forces during the drant war. The elf next to him turned out to be named Venzik. He was the head of my elvish guards.

“I suggest we eat while the food is hot.” Pleneth said as he reached for the first platter. “Afterwards, there will be drinks in the sitting room.”

I was fine with that. Everyone else at the table seemed good with Pleneth’s plan, too. We all loaded our plates up with food and began to eat. It was as good as it smelled. I started with some sort of glazed chicken dish that was sweet and tangy. It apparently required all of my concentration because it took me a while to notice Venzik had been talking to me while I ate. “Sorry?”

He smiled. “I can tell you like the food and I apologize for interrupting, but I was curious as to your plans when we arrive in Ansdron.”

“That’s easy. I don’t have any yet. How about you, do you have experience as a spymaster? Because that would be incredibly helpful.”

His smile grew. “Hardly. My background is in the army, as are all of your other guards.”

“Oh? How many did we get?”

“There are five others. We all come from the same squad. I was the squad leader. I guess I still am, in a way.”

I nodded. Were you guards in the “Elvandran army?”

“We are. Or were. Until today we had been part of the company that serves at the Elvandran embassy. They are pretty much emptying out the embassy right now. A lot of us will be going on the journey to Ansdron but some few will be staying here in Aandarvi to work with the High Mages’ Council, the King’s Warders and the Knights of Anathar.”

I helped myself to some cheesy potatoes that were being passed around. “Could you pass the bread?”

Venzik handed me the breadbasket. “So, you have no plans at all?”

I shook my head. “Not really. Just contact everyone I know and see if they know anything. Maybe put out the word I am curious about new people coming to the city. That won’t help us a great deal because I imagine a lot of people will be heading for the city when they find out there is another drant war coming.”

“That is true. Do you know where we will be staying?”

“I have a place in Ansdron and Pleneth says I will also get quarters at Lord Tarin’s place.”

“The palace?”

I laughed. It isn’t much of a palace. I guess you’ve never been to Ansdron.” When Venzik shook his head, I continued. “They do call it the palace, but it is really just a large manor surrounded by office buildings. A lot of people call it the palace compound. Between my rooms there and my own place there should be more than enough room for all of us.”

“You do not wish to reside at… the palace?”

“Not most of the time. My contacts wouldn’t be very comfortable with the idea of going there and I can’t say I want to be there all that much, either. I really like my place. I’m pretty fond of all my stuff, too. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll like it. It’s pretty nice.”

“Of course. Do you mind if I ask you some more questions?”

I shrugged as I reached for a bean and cheese dish. I wanted to try a little of everything because I figured the food while we were returning to Ansdron wasn’t going to be very good in comparison.

“How do you wish me, and the other guards, to refer to you?”

“What?” I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Shall we call you Spymaster S’Vig? Or Lord S’Vig?”

I had a good laugh at that. “Don’t call me Lord S’Vig or I could get arrested. I am no lord, thank the gods. You can all just call me Dirk.”

“Truly? What if it is a formal occasion? Or you are with Lord Tarin? We cannot just call you Dirk. It would be inappropriate.”

“This is why I am glad I’m not some sort of lord. You can just call me sir, if you must.”

He nodded. “I understand that you want elvish or dwarven guards so you can feel sure that we are not Kathaldi, but will it not interfere with your position as spymaster? How will you explain it to your contacts?”

“That’s a great question, Venzik. I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. Maybe we can figure something out aboard ship. I don’t know what else we’ll have to do.”