The Rambling Spy

by Mackenzie Morgan

  King Merdin nodded and took out his key. “Anything else before we go?”

  Kevin shook his head. “Thank you both for going with us today, and for listening to them last night. The information you gave me has really helped.”

  “No thanks necessary. We had fun. Just hang the chimes if you want us to help out again.” Dani put his paw on King Merdin’s shoulder. “Until next time,” King Merdin said as he turned the key.

  After they were gone, Chris asked, “How do you want to handle talking to Alastar?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t know whether it would be better for me to go there or for him to come here.”

  “Want me to ask Franco how they want to do this?”

  Kevin nodded. “Let him know why we need to meet and see if he thinks Alastar will go along with the deal.”

  “What deal?”

  “The one where I’ll let him take Mikos and Devron back to Landoryn if he gives me his word neither of them will ever be involved in the slave trade again.”

  “Okay.” Chris thought for a moment. “It’s midnight there now. It would probably be best if I show up around 9:00 in the morning their time. That would be one in the morning here.”

  Kevin nodded. “Looks like you’ll have a late night. Sorry about that.”

  Chris shrugged. “I’ll tell Petri we’ll be late coming in tomorrow morning. I assume you’ll wait up to find out how it went, right?”

  Kevin nodded. “But let’s set up my meeting with Alastar for evening their time, seven or so.”

  “Tomorrow? Or Friday?”

  “Let’s aim for Friday in case Gen. Crandal needs more time with Mikos.”

  ~~~~

  Chris didn’t get back from Landoryn until three the next morning. He’d gone back to his bedroom rather than Kevin’s in case Kevin had given up and gone to bed, but when he saw light shining under the door, he opened it. Kevin was sound asleep on the couch while Nikki was sprawled across the bed. Chris chuckled to himself and slipped the cover over the glowstone.

  The sudden change in light woke Kevin up. “How’d it go?” he asked as he sat up with a yawn.

  Chris uncovered the glowstone again. “Surprisingly well, which is why I’m so late getting back.”

  Kevin rubbed his eyes. “What happened?”

  “For one thing, Franco seemed pleased to see me,” Chris said as he sat down, “which was a little different from the reactions I’ve had before. Usually when I show up, the assistants are wary, wondering what’s up. But he was very welcoming, insisted on giving me the grand tour while the pages set up some refreshments. Then, after we ate, he asked me what they could do for us. Usually the question is what’s wrong.”

  “Did Alastar sit in on your meeting?”

  Chris shook his head. “When I first got there, Franco apologized that Alastar was out of the castle and wasn’t expected back until lunchtime. He seemed genuinely surprised to find out I was there to see him. When I told him we had Mikos, he said Alastar would be glad to hear that, that he’d searched everywhere for his brother and when he hadn’t been able to find him, he’d assumed his mother had killed him.” Chris paused. “If what he said is true, you’re right. Alastar’s nothing like Gwendolyn.”

  “Did you bring up the assurances I want before I release Mikos and Devron to Alastar?”

  Chris nodded. “Franco said the House of Cornet isn’t in the slave business anymore so that won’t be a problem.”

  “Seriously?”

  “According to Franco, Alastar decided that dealing in slaves was more trouble than it’s worth. They haven’t stopped using them, but he said their governor does the buying and selling now, same as in other provinces.”

  “Wonder how we missed that.”

  “Well, since we don’t buy them, we wouldn’t have any reason to know who’s selling them. Anyway, the family owns quite a few ships so they’re using them to ship ore to other provinces in exchange for food and other goods. Franco did ask if you’d have any objections to Mikos putting his shipping skills to use there.”

  “What did you say?”

  “That it was something you and Alastar could discuss when the two of you meet.”

  Kevin nodded. “When is that, by the way?”

  “Friday morning, around eleven our time.”

  “What’s your gut feeling? Is he being straight with us?”

  Chris thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. I don’t think we should take anything for granted though. There wouldn’t have been any upside to his being hostile, but that doesn’t mean we’re allies. It could be a case of catch more flies with honey.”

  Kevin laughed. “My foster father used to say that all the time. It didn’t make any sense to me when I was young. Couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to catch flies. Okay. We play nice until someone gives us a reason not to. Thanks. Now, go get some sleep. It’s been a long day.”

  ~~~~

  When Alastar got back to the castle, Franco followed him into his office and shut the door. “If what I heard this morning is true, Mikos is alive and I know where he is.”

  Alastar raised his eyebrows as they sat down and waited for Franco to continue.

  “Myron has him.”

  “Myron? Why? How do you know?”

  “Chris came to see me this morning.” After he told Alastar about Chris’s visit and the deal Myron was offering, he asked, “What do you think?”

  “I can go along with that.”

  Franco frowned. “How long has it been since you’ve seen Mikos? As in, will you be able to tell if it’s really him?”

  “Why?”

  “I was just wondering.”

  “I haven’t seen him in six or seven years, but I should know whether or not it’s him. Why? What are you thinking?”

  “That it would be a good way to plant a spy in your castle.”

  Alastar considered the idea for a moment and then nodded. “It would, and if Rolan was the one who claimed to have Mikos, I’d be suspicious. But Camden makes sense. Mother found out who had her key somehow. It would have been just like her to take him there, tell him to find out who had it, and then leave him there once he had. But if I’m not sure it’s Mikos, I’ll put him someplace out of the way, maybe back down in that mine. Even if he’s a spy, he can’t do us any harm there. But if it is Mikos, he’d be a lot more valuable to us here. He’s had a lot of experience with shipping. Wonder if Myron would have any objections to Mikos helping with the shipping business.”

  “I asked Chris about that. He said you should discuss it with Myron.”

  “And when’s that going to happen?”

  “Tomorrow evening.”

  Alastar nodded. “Should make for an interesting evening.”

  ~~~~

  Gen. Crandal spent Thursday morning with Mikos going back over the information Mikos had given him Wednesday afternoon and filling in any new details Mikos could remember. Once Gen. Crandal felt sure he had everything, he asked Kevin if he could borrow a key for the afternoon so Mikos could take him to the different taverns where he’d recruited the slavers as well as the hideouts the slavers had used when meeting him.

  Kevin was reluctant to let them go alone since the taverns were in other provinces, but when he suggested going with them, Gen. Crandal balked, so Kevin sent Darwyn with them instead.

  Kevin was still in his office when they got back shortly before nine that evening. “Get all the information you need?”

  Gen. Crandal nodded as he returned Kevin’s key. Then he turned to Mikos. “If I ever find out you’re connected to any slavers working in Camden again, Terah won’t be big enough for you to hide in. I will find you, and you won’t have to worry about jail. I buried too many people who were killed by men working for you to have any problem burying you, too. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, sir,” Mikos said. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

  Gen. Crandal turned back to Kevin. “Do you want me to take him back to the jai
l?”

  Kevin shook his head. “I want to talk to him for a minute. I’ll take him down. Do you know where Devron is?”

  “He should be at the jail. Cpt. Lawrence took him down after Mikos and I left this afternoon. Do you want me to have him sent up here?”

  Kevin hesitated a moment. “No, if I need to talk to him, I’ll do it when I take Mikos down. Thank you.”

  After Gen. Crandal left, Kevin motioned to the chair. “Have a seat. We have a few things to discuss.” After Mikos sat down, Kevin said, “Chris spoke with Alastar’s assistant this morning. Apparently your brother tried to find you, but he had no idea you were in Camden. In fact, after he couldn’t find you, he assumed your mother had killed you.”

  “Reasonable assumption,” Mikos said softly.

  Kevin nodded. “I’m meeting with Alastar tomorrow morning, and if it goes well, you and Devron will leave with him.”

  Mikos didn’t look particularly pleased, but he didn’t say anything.

  Then Kevin explained the stipulations Alastar would have to agree to if he wanted to take them back home.

  Mikos nodded. “Thanks for that.”

  “If he gives me his word, I’m going to trust that he’ll keep it, but I don’t know him. I see him for maybe half an hour once a month, and we’ve never said more than a dozen words to each other. I can’t say whether he’ll keep his word or not, and from what you said, you don’t know him much better than I do. So I’m telling you that no matter what I say to him, you are ultimately responsible for your own actions. If I find out you’re involved in slavery again, I’m coming for you, and I’m bringing Gen. Crandal with me. It’ll be a coin toss as to which one of us deals with you, but I can guarantee you won’t like it.”

  Mikos shook his head. Deep frown lines drew his eyebrows together. “Then don’t send me back to Landoryn. If he orders me to do it and I don’t, I’m dead. If I do, I’m dead.”

  “From what I’ve heard, the House of Cornet isn’t in the slave business anymore.”

  Mikos bit his lips. “And if he decides to go back into that business?”

  “He can’t order you to deal with slaves without breaking his word to me. You’ll have to find a way to let me know if he does. Then I’ll pick you up, take you somewhere else, and deal with him later. You have my word, and even though you don’t have any reason to trust it, you can.”

  ~~~~

  First thing Friday morning, Chris told Petri they’d be having company around 11:00. “This will be a private meeting, but there are quite a few people involved, so we’ll need to use the reception area.”

  “I’ll make sure it’s ready. Refreshments?” Petri asked.

  Chris nodded. “But our guests are from Landoryn, so it’ll be evening for them.”

  “Scog? A platter of fruit and cheese?”

  “Pastries and coffee, too.”

  “For how many?”

  Chris thought for a moment. “Only two from Landoryn. From here? At least four, maybe more. Gen. Crandal may want to join us, and possibly Cpt. Lawrence. Set up enough of everything for eight. That should handle it.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Ask Cpt. Kort to let the guards at the front door know we’re expecting the Sorcerer of Landoryn and his assistant around 11:00. They should be escorted to our office when they get here. And find someplace else for the pages to be, you included, from 10:30 until after lunch.”

  Petri nodded. “I’ll be in Joan’s office if you need me.”

  “Thank you.”

  ~~~~

  The reception area was spotless and the pages were gone by 10:30. By 11:00, Mikos and Devron were in Gen. Crandal’s office with Cpt. Lawrence, Gen. Crandal was in the sorcerer’s office having coffee with Chris, and Kevin was at his desk, wondering if he was making a mistake by letting Mikos go back to Landoryn.

  Before he could make up his mind, he heard a knock on the outer door. A few moments later, he heard Chris greet Alastar and Franco and introduce Gen. Crandal. Kevin took a deep breath, stood up, straightened his tunic, and walked into the reception area.

  After he shook hands with their guests, he motioned towards the conference table. “Please, have a seat. I think our pages set out some refreshments.”

  For the next half hour, they sat around the table, eating, drinking, and making small talk. Finally, Kevin looked at Alastar. “Shall we talk in my office?”

  After they were seated, Alastar said, “Thank you for arranging for us to come here instead of the other way around. Our staff would have been frantic trying to have everything perfect for your visit.”

  Kevin smiled. “I hear that a lot, which is why Chris usually sets things up here. My staff gets frustrated with me for not making a bigger deal out of it, but I’ve found that usually our guests prefer that we not.”

  “Casual is easier, especially when there’s business to be discussed.”

  “And speaking of that, I trust Franco told you about his conversation with Chris.”

  Alastar nodded. “He did, and thank you for letting me know where my brother is. I’d given up on finding him alive.”

  Kevin leaned back. “Did you really think your mother might have killed him?”

  Alastar nodded again. “It would have been just like her.”

  “I can’t let Mikos or Devron stay here, not after everything that happened as a result of those raids. I’ve chosen to believe they weren’t willing participants in the raids or in targeting Camden, but I cannot abide the thought that either of them might get involved in slavery again. They were quite successful, too much so, but I abhor the practice of slavery.” Alastar opened his mouth to say something, but Kevin leaned forward and cut him off. “I’m not asking anyone to agree with me. I know my view isn’t the popular one, but that’s how I feel, so the only way I’ll let Mikos and Devron return to Landoryn is if you give me your word you’ll see to it that neither of them is ever involved in slavery again in any way. Can you do that?”

  “That I can do. You have my word.” After a moment, he added, “I know my family was in the slavery business for generations, but we’re not anymore. My mother used slaves as rewards, bribes, and gifts. I don’t, so I don’t need an endless supply of slaves to pull from. I can’t say we got out of that business because we’re moving away from using slaves like you’re trying to do, although personally I’ve found things go smoother with workers who choose to work as opposed to those who are forced to, but frankly, the slavery business was more trouble than it was worth.”

  Kevin nodded.

  “But since we own quite a few boats, we’ve started a shipping business. We do occasionally transport humans, but only those who pay us for passage. How would you feel about Mikos helping us with that? He has a lot of experience that could come in useful, but if you’re opposed, we’ll find something else for him to do.”

  Kevin hesitated and then shrugged. “I’ll leave that to the two of you to work out, but if I hear he’s involved with slavers, raids, buying, selling, or even transporting slaves again, I’m coming for him and locking him up for the rest of his life.”

  Alastar nodded. “Understood.”

  Kevin stood up. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll send for your brother and Devron and you can be on your way. I imagine you and he have a lot to discuss.”

  Alastar stood up. “We do.”

  Kevin opened the door for Alastar and looked towards Chris, who raised his eyebrows. Kevin nodded, so Chris left to go get Mikos and Devron. Then Kevin motioned towards the refreshment table. “Would you like some more scog while we wait? Or maybe some coffee?”

  “Maybe some coffee. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night.”

  Franco poured a cup of coffee and handed it to him. While Alastar was drinking it, Chris opened the door and ushered Mikos and Devron in.

  When Alastar saw Mikos, his eyes lit up, and a slow grin spread across his face.

  Franco, who was watching Alastar, exhaled the breath he hadn’t re
alized he’d been holding. Alastar recognized his brother. It wasn’t a trick.

  Mikos hadn’t been sure what to expect from his brother and was a bit surprised when Alastar looked pleased to see him.

  Devron, on the other hand, had never met either Alastar or Franco, but he recognized the tunics. He immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

  Alastar had started towards his brother, but stopped in his tracks and blushed when Devron knelt.

  Franco rushed to Devron’s side, put his hand under Devron’s arm, and tugged him to his feet. “We don’t do that anymore.”

  Devron looked back and forth between Alastar and Franco, eyes wary. He didn’t speak or move. He barely breathed.

  Alastar held his hand out to Mikos. “We’d given up hope on finding you.”

  Mikos hesitantly stuck out his hand, and when Alastar shook it, he smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”

  Alastar nodded. Then he turned towards Devron and smiled as he held his hand out. “You must be Devron.”

  Devron looked at Alastar’s hand like it was a snake. Then he squared his shoulders and held out his own. When Alastar shook hands with him and said, “It’s nice to meet you,” Devron managed a tight smile as he stammered, “Nice…nice to meet you, sir.”

  “Now, if you two are ready, we’ll get out of here and let Myron get back to work.” As Franco, Mikos, and Devron surrounded him, he took out his key, nodded to Kevin, and said, “Thank you. I won’t forget this,” as he turned the key.

  Chris let out a long breath. “Okay. That’s done.”

  Kevin nodded. “For now.” Then he brushed his hands together. “What’s next?”

  ~~~~

  Monday morning, Rigel was waiting when Kevin and Chris got back from breakfast. Kevin nodded and said, ”Good morning. You’re out early today.”

  “I wasn’t sure where we might be headed or what we might be doing so I wanted to get an early start.”

  “Come on in.” Kevin opened the door to his office. “Chris? Would you get Cryslyn?”

  While they were waiting for Chris and Cryslyn, Kevin told Rigel most of what Mikos had told them and that he and Devron were back in Landoryn.

  “What do you want us to do with their stuff?”