An Untitled Novel

He walked through the door silently, checking corners as he passed. Everything was quiet, just as he planned, and he was now standing behind her while she sat at a table oblivious. “Impressive place you got here. Durable walls, your own crops, a defensible property line, and you’re far enough from the Redcaps that they won’t bother you while not being far enough they won’t keep the overt criminals in check.” Spiro said, surprising Lamb, who spun and turned to face him. He watched as her face turned from surprise to anger, but no fear. No fear was a bad sign; there should have been at least a second or so when she realized somebody was present but didn’t realize who it was or why they were there.

“How did you get in here?” Spiro just laughed. “You’re seriously asking someone from the Ministry how they got in?” Lamb rephrased her reply, growing angrier. “The gall of you Amigosians. What do you want?”

“I know a couple of things. I know that you were run out of Loquail, and know why you want to be in the middle of nowhere.” Lamb’s face turned to rage, but her hand never went near the knife on her belt, which meant no violence today. “But there are things I don’t know, and I believe you may be able to find them out.” Lamb laughed, but it was a bitter, mocking laugh. “You and your people are irredeemably arrogant; in what world would you think breaking into somebody’s house and blackmailing them would get you what you want? Congrats on your investigation, it just cost you your life.”

Spiro laughed mockingly. “Did you just threaten an Amigosian Ministry of Information agent with that little knife on your belt?” His mind started racing, however. Her face had gone from angry to calm and she began to get out of her seat. She had to know that he could gun her down in a second, but people suddenly getting calm after stating they intended to do violence was a very, very bad sign. He had already scoped the place out; there was nobody else and no better weapons within reach, and he had his revolver and larger stature. But she seemed to think she had the upper hand here, and the reasons were unknown. Unknowns get mini boys killed, as his trainer had always said.

Spiro kept his composure and lied. “Alright, let’s pretend you’ve got a magic wand up your ass. The Elthrice knows I’m here. What do you think his kind does to people who hurt their friends?” Lamb seemed to mull something over, which was not a good sign. “What do you want?” Lamb finally asked, spitting bile with her words. Internal relief washed over him and he attempted to regain his air of authority. “I need your help.”

“You have a shitty way of asking for help.” Spiro shrugged, internally glad to be re-directing the conversation in the direction he rehearsed. “Well, you are uniquely positioned to give me a hand. I happen to suspect some shady stuff is going on in the Amigoso docks, and-” Lamb cut Spiro off. “You suspect!?” Lamb asked in mocking sarcasm. Spiro continued, ignoring the comment.

“I need you to pose as a smuggler and reach out to this contact” Spiro said while handing her a piece of paper. “I’ve already got a ship loaned to me from the Redcaps for this, I just need a believable informant to get this rolling. That guy will pay you real money for your fake smuggling, and I’ll throw in a bonus beyond that, enough to keep you afloat for a long time.” Lamb seemed curious, but hesitant and still angry. “If you already know who to go after then why not send your own people after them? The assholes at the ministry can break anyone, it’d be some karmic justice to see them break one of their own.” Spiro shook his head and, for just a moment, accidentally telegraphed he was unsure of how to navigate the issue he was facing.

“Somebody is moving weapons, a lot of them, and from the looks of it they’re ministry. I’m already on the ministry’s shit list, and if I go through official channels I’ll tip my hand.” Lamb smirked. “You know what, helping a high ranking Amigosian commit treason has piqued my interest. But don’t expect me to lose sleep when you roast in a ministry crematory.” Spiro shook his head, successfully hiding his internal strife. “No, I’m recruiting you to help me route out traitors; I’m not betraying Amigoso.” Lamb smirked, looking like she didn’t believe a word of what he said. “Alright, and what else is in it for me?”

“You mean aside from keeping your secret quiet, the money, and me pulling you off that island?” Lamb responded with incredulity in her voice. “No, the two Elthrice pulled me off that island, and any goodwill I had with you was gone the second you broke into my home and tried to blackmail me. So, again, what else is in it for me?” Spiro thought momentarily, but with nothing coming to mind, Lamb spoke again.

“Alright, how about an audience with the smaller Elthrice? I would be stupid to accept any promises from the ministry, but from what I heard, even your mini boys are terrified of the Elthrice. And, if he really does know you’re here, I want his protection. He might be stupid and unstable, but he doesn’t strike me as somebody who’ll stab me in the back; unlike you.”

Spiro was surprised at the request. She could have just traveled to Arkepello, unless maybe they knew who she was? Or perhaps she just thought that saying hi to an Elthrice on your own was a bad idea? Oh well, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. “Deal.”