When Istaìnn arrived in the kitchen, Veea was putting some food in front of Diago, a stew. He knew she had persuaded the Governor to give the cooks a few days off and had taken the cooking task on her shoulders. She did not trust anyone else but her to cook for Diago while he was convalescent. The stew looked very appetizing and smelled even better, so he looked at the meat with big eyes, mentioned it smelled so good! and sighed. That was enough. Veea got the picture and offered him a plate as well.

“Did you took your bandages off?” he asked his friend, seeing he was eating on his own.

“Yes. I feel all right now, so I thought it’s better to give them the boot.”

“Well, it’s a relief you are in good shape. We might have to take a trip quite soon. Like tonight.”

“What? That’s out of the question!” said Veea, vehemently. “We just got married!”

“You can come with us,” proposed the spy. “We have been summoned by the king of the elves. Surely such an impressive feat as visiting the king of the elves would be like a holiday!”

“What are you babbling about elves?” asked Diago.

Istaìnn told them about the visit, including all the details, even the bad humor.

“Oh, my!” exclaimed the duelist. “If the king of the elves bothers to summon us, that’s serious! You know how the stories go.”

“Yes, I do,” admitted the spy in a gloomy tone. “They warn somebody about some danger, or curse, or peril, or monster, or something they should not do before they are adults. Then that person doesn’t follow the advice and bad things happen. Like that princess who falls asleep and she’s kissed by a werewolf or one of the seven dwarves instead of the charming prince, something like this. I don’t remember that story very well.”

“Actually the werewolf that kisses and wakes up the princess is a prince of his own, but she has to see his inner beauty first. But nevermind the stories; it’s clear we have to go. This warning means the princesses might be in danger. “

The spy nodded.

“I’d go to the end of the world to keep them safe.”

“We have noticed, mate,” said Diago, giggling.

The spy blushed and changed the topic.

“At least, we can look at the bright part, we’ll find more about the plot, and we’ll visit the deepest part of the Forest, the elven lands. No human has been there for… well, a long time. No one knows how long, but humans are not supposed to go there.”

“Hmpf!” smirked Veea. “ For a good reason, I suppose. You better return very quickly, Diago. Or else I’ll ask for a divorce!”

“Sweet pie, you have to come with us! How can I leave without you?”

“Easy. Like you left me ten years ago, pretending you are dead!” replied the woman. “I have no intention of visiting some forest. What can they have, save trees? I have a business to run.”

“But honey…”

“Diago, let’s go and tell the others too!” proposed the spy, just to break the fight. “We have only a few hours to prepare and talk, and you know girls, they can spend a whole day in a shop.”

They went to the lobby and then hit a problem. The Parliament and the fast-couture were in opposite directions, and the distance to both was not short.

“Let’s sent some servants with a note,” proposed Diago. After all, they have to earn their salary, don’t they?”

“You speak like a typical exploiter of the working class, Diago. The working class appreciates when you don’t send them on errands just because you are lazy, and if you send them, they’ll take a lot of time just to sabotage you. Let’s split, you’ll go to the Parliament, I’ll go to the shop.”

But their worries were cut short; both the Governor and the girls returned simultaneously, the girls together with Lau, who was now dressed very elegantly. The Governor had with him a plethora of ministers.

“Oh, thank goodness you are here,” said the spy. “I’ve…”

“…received a letter from the elven king?” said Heyra, Feyra, and the Governor at the same time.

“Yes… but… How do you know?”

“Here!” said Feyra, giving him a piece of paper. “Both us and his Excellency we received a note at the speed-couture shop and the Parliament. It had been delivered by fast-courier, and both couriers were adamant that the one who paid them was an elf. So here we are.”

Istaìnn read the note with anger and fury.

“I’ve left a letter of warning from our King with your spy. Please get back home and read it as fast as possible. He looked a little shocked by our meeting, and I’m worried he’ll destroy the letter inadvertently. You cannot be too careful when dealing with humans. Rheldoriel, an elf.”

“The letter is perfectly safe!” he stated emphatically.

“Then hurry and read it to us!” asked the Governor. “I’ve brought all the ministers with me. An elven letter is of the utmost importance. You know the legends, I suppose. The elves give someone a warning, they do not follow it, and then… Paff! disaster strikes.”

“Yes, I know…” he sighed. “The letter is in my room; I’ll go get it.”

“Here, take this up, will you,” asked Feyra while offering him two bags. “I remembered you wear a suit from his Excellency, which means you have the same measurements. The speed-couture store has them too, so I’ve asked them to make you two travel suits. It’s a gift,” she smiled.

“Thank you!” said the spy, bowing, ashamed.

She’s such a good friend, how could I think so dirty of her…. Goodness, she has such thin and sensational ankles!… I’d love to caress and kiss them! Oh no! Here we go again! STOP!

“Hurry, young man,” impelled him the host. “Meanwhile, let’s make ourselves comfortable. I hope my tea salon will be big enough to accommodate us. Diago, do you mind to ask Veea to send us some cookies?”

In the next thirty minutes, all those presents had managed to sit somewhere. Some of them were painfully sitting on the armchairs' arms because there were too many to fit in the salon. While they had some cookies and tea, they passed around the letter, examining it and finding it very strange. Finally, the spy took it and put it on a table, saying the words. They might have expected the letter to open somehow, but instead, the wax seal melted and covered the paper, turning into words.

“It’s the common tongue,” said the spy, “Here we go.

This is an Official Elven Warning. Hear and listen…

Your highnesses the Princesses of Ohst. The enemies are near. Soon, an army of evil wizards a thousand strong will arrive and join the Nobles Army. Each one is as powerful as the one your wizard, Mister Quevedo, had fought in the Old City. Follows an Official Elven Summon. Come to me. Together we can fight those wizards and turn the tide. Signed, Faredhiel, King of the Elves…. It’s quite impressive, isn’t it? Only they don’t know that now most of the nobles' army is on our side.”

“All of it,” said the Governor. “That young…”

“Handsome knight, Roybert…” completed Missy.

“Indeed,” sighed his father. “He sent a message. They didn’t manage to capture any of the other plotters, they’ve been all killed before he got back, but at least we have all that army on our side. Let those wizards come; we’ll show them how we fight, in d’Ornia.”

“Huzzah!” cheered the audience.

“Absolutely not!”

The spy had hit the table with his fist.

“We cannot fight one thousand of those. I fought only a single one, and he could have defeated a regiment just by looking at it. I got lucky back then, but we might not be so lucky now. The only way forward is to follow the elven summon. But I have a plan to save d’ Ornia as well…”

All were quiet and listening, and by their looks, he knew the news of his magic abilities had spread, and all the people there trusted him enough to listen to what he had to say.

“It’s simple. Those wizards might not care that the army changed chiefs and d’Ornia changed the system. Generals and kings, well… come and go. Realmpolitics, however, stay. They will very much care to go through with their plans, whatever those are. Pretend you’re on their side. Let the nobles army inside the city, tell them the plan, and if the wizards arrive, pretend you want to be their allies. Do anything they ask. In time, we’ll find more about them, we’ll join the information we’ll find from the elves and you from the wizards, and we’ll strike them down when they less expect it. What do you say?”

“For me, sounds like a sound plan!” said one woman minister from the group. “We could accommodate that army and send out of the city, discreetly, the women and the children. That will compensate for the need for food.”

“So, ladies? Do you agree with our friend?” asked the Governor. “For my part, I do.”

“We do too,” said Heyra, after chatting for a moment with Feyra.

“So, elves it is, then!” said the spy. “Let’s pack. Diago, please prepare Pumpkin for the voyage.”

“Err… are you sure?” asked the duelist. “You’ve mentioned they asked not to bring horses. I suppose they have their elven breed. Not that I mind taking him, Pumpkin is the best horse on the Realm!”

Among those who drink blood, yes, among those who ran, not so much!

“Yes, Diago, I’m sure. Prepare Pumpkin. I insist.”