Duncan added a small teaspoon of Efir into his coffee and stirred. “By the Mother, I don’t know if I could survive an entire day without this stuff.” Hal did not know if he was referring to the coffee or the Efir.

They were both lounging on dusty leather chairs in Duncan’s office, warming themselves against the early morning cold. They were not expected at the palace for a few more hours, but sleep was fruitless for both of them.

Hal sipped his steaming tea slowly before asking, “Do you think I should try Efir?”

“Well, there are upsides and downsides. The main downside is the price, of course, but we have a discounted source from the palace as you well know. It pays to be a worker bee for old Harold. The second downside is that it’s quite addictive, which is indicative of its benefits, I would say. Although, I’ve heard that if one is not able to sate his desires there are quite grisly side effects.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, insanity, loss of humanity, a proclivity for violence. I’m sure the fellow that you encountered during your arrival a few weeks ago was a good example.”

“It seems to me that the risk is greater than the reward.”

“But my friend, you do not know the reward!”

“I know that it makes you more efficient. But so does a good night’s rest.”

“Pah! You know nothing. Efir makes you…” Duncan paused to message his chin in thought. “It makes your mind expand. You can do things, remember things, understand things, that you never could have without it. Think of a problem you might have because of the frailty of your body or mind, and Efir can help you solve that problem.”

“Still. What if you are travelling and bandits steal your supply? Or if someone imprisons you and refuses access?”

“Hal, life is a risk. Why go outside if I might trip and fall to my death? Why take a bath if I might fall asleep and drown in it? Life is a finite adventure, why not enjoy it?”

“I’m sure that was many a fool’s last words.”

“Perhaps.” Duncan finished his drink and jumped out of his seat. “Let us be off. I’m raring to go!”

They both put on their coats and strapped their belt bags to themselves before leaving.

“What is the agenda for today?” Hal followed Duncan out the door and down the side entrance into the street.

“We are to attend a briefing on the current state of our political relationship with Boran, where we will most likely stand still and contribute nothing, as is expected.”

“Who will be there?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, Hal.”

With that, they walked in silence for several minutes before entering the palace complex. They walked briskly up stairs and slipped past servants. The halls were as busy in the morning as any time of the day.

“This is us, Hal.” Duncan led him into a small room, made even smaller by its contents. Four men surrounded a large table covered in maps and what were evidently field reports. Numbers and descriptions written in nigh illegible script piled next to age-stained leather sheets.

Hal recognised three of the four men and quickly reassessed the importance of the briefing. There was gnarled Commander Strickland, speaking urgently. Next to him was Admiral Bell, a red-haired and robust man taller than everyone by a head. They, however, were outshone by Harold Daymoore, king of Moradania and head of the Coalition. He was thin and held the weary expression of a man with the world on his shoulders. Despite that, he carried himself tall and as proud as any king.

They all wore the official green and white uniform of the Moradania military, each with slight variations that specified their rank and positions. Except for the fourth man, who wore a set of Efir steel armour with a cape of white and silver. He held his helmet under one arm and caressed the hilt of his sword absently with the other. A bob of short white hair framed a deathly pale face. Hal was taken aback by the fourth man. His pale blue eyes and strong jaw could almost have been considered beautiful.

Hal’s eyes widened. That’s a woman.

“Who are they?” she said coldly.

“They are Duncan Oakhart and Hal Landoran. Old friends.” Harold said, smiling briefly.

Admiral Bell spoke, his deep baritone reminded Hal of when he used to imitate his father as a child. “What reason do they have to be here? Do they have Boranian connections?”

“Duncan, you can explain,” Harold said.

“Of course.” Duncan bowed and gave a quick – and rather mischievous – look to Hal before beginning. “I am the head of a new, independent division of the Moradanian government. My division enforces the rule of law within Moradania and has the honourable responsibility of scouring corruption from within the government itself.”

“And how much power do you wield exactly,” asked Commander Strickland. His eyes were narrowed but he appeared to be calm.

“That is for you to ponder and me to know, good man.” Duncan smiled and readdressed the room. “The division is named, ‘the Council of Inquiries’, and Hal Landoran here is my second in command.”

“Good to meet you, Hal and Duncan. I believe that you were both part of the unification of the Coalition back in the day, and close friends of Harold?” Admiral Bell asked, a smile plastered across his face.

“This is a transparent and immature power play Admiral, please compose yourself,” the woman said matter-of-factly. “Let’s move on, Commander Strickland was discussing our need to sabotage trade routes.”

Strickland coughed awkwardly and continued his speech, still eyeing Hal and Duncan closely.

Hal whispered in Duncan’s ear, “Who’s the woman?”

Duncan whispered back, “That’s Chieftess Olga Rakardottir of Northern Skogur. She’s as bold as she is shrewd, evidently.”

“Also,” Hal moved closer to Duncan’s ear, “why did you not tell me about this Council of Inquiries business? You’ve put me at a disadvantage.”

“I’ll tell you later Hal, I have a good reason. Now get ready, they're coming back for blood.”

Strickland finished his speech and there was a momentary silence.

Bell turned to Harold and grasped his hands together. “Your Grace, I implore you to elaborate on your reasoning for this new council. I feel that it is unnecessary and will hinder the bureaucratic processes of this government.”

“Your reservations are heard, Admiral, and I will explain my reasoning to you.” Harold stepped towards Bell and put his bony hand on the man’s wide shoulder. “I intend to cleanse this nation of corruption and treason. I wish to do this for the common good, and for the good of the realm, which I consider to be the same thing.” Harold smiled sympathetically and took his hand off Bell’s shoulder. “If, in this process, it is necessary to execute high standing men and woman who are a part of the disease that is plaguing my realm.” Harold’s mouth continued to smile, but his eyes did not. “I will consider that an acceptable cost.”

Bell’s eyes widened slightly, and he took a step back. “Your Grace, this is profoundly inappropriate behaviour, I know not what ails you enough to speak in this way.”

“What ails me, Admiral, is the nobility of this nation, and their willingness to forego morality for their own gain.” Harold turned to Duncan and Hal who stood across the table from him. “That is why I have given these two fine men the power to regulate them!”

Strickland interrupted gently, “Your Grace, I see the wisdom of this. But, if I may ask, what exactly has the Council of Inquiries been granted so that they may fulfill your goal?” Strickland quickly realised his mistake. "I apologise. Our goal."

Harold nodded at Strickland. “Thank you for your support Commander. I have always said that you are cut from a finer cloth than many.”

Bell made an affronted noise but was ignored.

“Duncan, I believe you can give the best answer to the Commander's question.”

“Of course, Harold.” Duncan nodded respectfully. “The main tool of the Council of Inquiries is an elite unit of men and woman who are trained in espionage centred skills. They are proficient in the art of disguise, physical as well as emotional manipulation, bladed, blunt, ranged, and chemical weaponry, intelligence gathering, and evasion.”

Bell scoffed. “This is ridiculous. I am sure they can cook, clean, and repair my bookshelf as well. I refuse to listen to these utterly facetious claims.”

“I think we were done here anyway. Have a pleasant morning gentlemen, and lady.” Duncan winked at Olga and strutted out of the room. Hal nodded at no one in particular and followed.

Once they were fully out of sight to anyone leaving the room, Hal ran up beside Duncan and cleared his throat. Duncan looked at him and sighed before saying, “Ask away Hal.”

“So, what actually is the Council of Inquiries. Does it have any power, influence? What does the leadership hierarchy look like? Where do I fit into the equation?”

“You know Hal, if you were a shape you would be a square.”

Hal paused to absorb the statement then scoffed incredulously, “What?”

“Joke. I’m sure you’ve heard one before, no?”

“Duncan, please answer me.”

Duncan led Hal into a bright garden with several chairs and tables neatly arranged in the centre. There was no one there except for them and the insects that flittered around the manicured flowers.

“Sit with me. Ask a question and I will answer.” Duncan lounged on a cushioned chair and placed his feet on the table in front of him.

Hal sat and asked, “What does the Council look like as of right now?”

“In all honesty, it barely exists. Oh, we do have a few operatives – four – but they are mainly veterans who are loyal to Harold and were willing to come out of retirement for coin.”

“So they’re all drunks and gamblers.”

“Only two, the third is missing an eye and the fourth is half mad. All of them can handle a blade though, and train more to do the same.”

“Exponential.”

“Hm?”

“Well, the force can grow exponentially. That is to say, they grow faster the larger they get. The more that are trained the more that can train others, who can then do the same to others, and so on.”

“Interesting point… but we’re not quite at that stage Hal.”

Hal nodded dismissively, “Who are these people loyal to?”

“Well,” Duncan rested his hands gently on his stomach and laced his fingers together, “of course they are loyal to Harold, there is no question of that.” Duncan grinned. “However, they receive orders exclusively from me.”

Hal shook his head. “How could Harold be so stupid?”

“Firstly, he trusts me completely. And secondly, he is rather distracted by the situation with his wife.”

“With Ailith? What’s happened?”

“You haven’t heard? She’s come down with quite the illness. An ailment of sorts.”

“Oh, shut up. Tell me!”

“From the awfully little that I have heard, she is practically constrained to her personal rooms and is only seen with an escort of maidens and physicians. When she is seen, reports say that she is as thin as a waif and can barely keep her eyes open. Sad really.”

“Interesting. How is Harold reacting?”

“He is devasted, of course. And, most importantly, he has left rather a lot of responsibility around my end of the table.”

“And you are being so kind as to share your scraps with me.”

“I am great aren’t I?” Duncan chuckled with Hal for a few moments before saying, “You can handle the direct communication with them, and the logistics. I will sort out the overarching goal of what they will be doing.”

He does not see he is falling into the same trap as Harold, perhaps he is not as astute as I thought.

“That sounds good Duncan. I’ll be glad to have something real to do for once.”

“Don’t get too comfortable, once the war starts we’ll both be off commanding men in the desert somewhere.”

“Reminds me of that old proverb. ‘If a madman yells with no one around to hear, did he ever really yell?’ We do all this manoeuvering just for us to go off and die somewhere in six months.”

“Makes you think.”

Duncan and Hal sat in silence for some time before it started to rain. They both went inside and Duncan promised to introduce Hal to the ‘staff of the Council’, the next day. They went their opposite ways soon after.

Hal, with little to do except wander, went in search of Carwyn. He had set up Carwyn with a new swordsmanship instructor with who he was supposed to be training. However, when Hal walked past a small alcove he saw Carwyn chatting animatedly with a young woman. He paused and walked briskly out of sight, but just close enough to hear them. He did not think they had seen him.

Bloody boy, he complains loud enough until I pay for a teacher, and then he abandons them! I’ll be sure to spring any revelations I hear tonight at dinner.

“Oh, Carwyn, you are too kind.” The woman’s voice. It was light and decidedly put on in Hal’s opinion.

“You needn’t worry about me princess; I am just doing my duty as a servant of the realm.”

Hal’s eyes widened at the title. Carwyn was a devious young lout indeed to snag a girl of such high blood, and so soon!

Listen closely, man. There is an advantage to be gained here.

Hal strained to hear every word.

“Carwyn. It is just that I have been having some doubts recently about who I can trust. I know not who I can impart my secrets to. But I know that I must impart them.”

“Princess, I would not dare say a word to anyone. By the Mother, I swear it.”

“Thank you, Carwyn, but I do not think I am ready. I will think about this deeply. Your kindness has touched my heart, truly.”

Hal heard cloth rustling against cloth. He jogged swiftly around a corner and counted to ten before walking back around. He passed the young woman and stopped her with a greeting hand and a smile. “Hello princess Myra, I have not had the pleasure of greeting you yet. My name is Hal Landoran”

Myra smiled absently and nodded before attempting to walk on.

Hal, speaking quickly, said, “I would love you to meet with my son, Carwyn. He is a bright young lad and surely has a bright future ahead of him. I’m sure you two would be good friends.”

Myra’s eyebrows raised slightly, and she looked Hal up and down for the first time. “I don’t believe I have met your son yet. I would be glad to get to know him. From what I have heard he has quite the reputation of honesty and gallantry.”

“I am not surprised in the least, princess.” Hal beamed at her and gave a polite bow before saying his goodbyes and walking on.

He checked the alcove, but Carwyn was gone. He would be talking with him privately tonight,

Hal walked on to a small, railed overview of the city below the palace. He could just see the roof of his lodgings from there. Hal clasped his hands together enthusiastically.

So much to be done. And so little time!