Lone looks at Stillwater. “Don’t we all have a say in the choice of jobs?”

“I’m up for anything, Boss. I’m no coward.” Gunnar leaves that hanging as a not too subtle insult about Lone.

Stillwater pinches the bridge of her nose. “Enough, it’s too early for you two to start! And Solo, we have all agreed to this job.” Without allowing either to butt in, Stillwater continues. “Klaus the Lumber Merchant gave us a job based on Way’s interest in the Count’s silverware.”

The memory hits Lone and Gunnar in different ways. For Gunnar, it had been years since he’d used that much of the Green’s power. Lone remembers the five thousand reward for finding the source of the forged cutlery.

“Yeah, that Klaus guy said he would pay us five k of slips for finding out about those spoons.”

Snorting at Lone, Gunnar looks at Stillwater. “Oh yeah, Boss, I remember. So where do we start?”

Lone laughs at that. “Way was the one who noticed it by ‘tasting’ the spoon, so he needs to explain what our next step should be.”

‘You’re right, Solo.” Stillwater calls out to WayWocket, and Caw and Way jog over to the table. “Way, what do we know?”

WayWocket pulls out four spoons, placing each in front of the Rejects with a small bottle of red liquid and a black stone. “I know these were taken from the Count,” he says in a serious voice, “but I needed them for experimentation. I’m sorry, Joan.”

Stillwater waves her hand. “Don’t worry about it, Way.” She hears Lone mutter, “If it was me…” but ignores him. “Please continue.”

“Yeah, spit it out, Way!” Gunnar says.

Breaking back into his report, Way continues in a serious tone. The rest look on; WayWocket drops into Scientist WayWocket logical mode when he’s explaining shop.

“These four are examples from the Count’s cutlery drawers. The first two are Favinonian silverware, made with the standard percentage as listed in the University patent database.” He motions to the two spoons on the left. “This one is only fifty per cent silver, and the other has only a thin layer while the core has none.”

Stillwater examines the four spoons. “Sorry to interrupt but all four look the same. How do you know?”

Picking up one of the spoons on the right, WayWocket says, “Using a solution I created.”

Stillwater cocks her head. “How does it work?”

WayWocket collects each spoon and scrapes them in turn on the stone, leaving a silver line. Then he applies the red liquid to the stone with a small dropper. Two lines come up red—one a bright blood-red and the other a darker shade—the third is green while the last has a touch of red but then changes to a dark blue.

“See, see. All the shades, each revealing the truth.” He holds up the spoon that caused the dark blue reaction. “See, this one has imperfections as well.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Lone holds out his hand, and WayWocket drops the spoon into it. Picking up one of the pure spoons, he peers at both. “Ah, you are right, Way. The mould making wasn’t perfect, and there is a small imperfection.” He looks closer. “And it seems a file has been used too.”

“Of course. Took me a while with more and more learning.” Jumping up on the table to grab the spoons from Lone, he returns to his seat. “Now, this one has an alloy that I have never seen before, but there is a chance, with long-term use, that it could cause slight copper poisoning.”

Stillwater sits back, shocked. Gunnar picks up a spoon and allows Caw to smell it. As the dog crinkles his nose at it, he knows WayWocket is right. “I can see there’s something wrong. Caw knows something’s not right with this.” He brandishes the spoon. “What’s it made of?”

“The silver is just a plating on top. It is mainly copper with nickel and zinc. That is what gives off the colour: copper is a brown colour and nickel gives off a turquoise blue. Acidic food will cause chipped spoons to leach copper into people’s food, and therefore bodies.”

Stillwater breathes out a large sigh. “I’m glad you took these spoons. What can we do with this knowledge?”

Lone thinks and then says, “This isn’t silver shaving but highly skilled craftsmanship. Who would know this ‘alloy’, WayWocket?”

Pela comes over and replaces the jug in the middle of the table, silently glancing at Lone. He cocks his head for her to leave and she nods back, eyes solemn.

WayWocket is now staring off into the distance, whistling. He glances over to Pela and looks excited.

“Way? Focus!” Stillwater calls out to him.

“Ah, yes Dawn, the Light will join us soon, and we will find the Iron Coin together!” WayWocket blinks a few times and his voice drops. “Sorry about that, um, I never have heard of this alloy. It could be non-toxic if it were tweaked a bit. Only someone from the University would have the knowledge to create this, and we only have four University-trained Engineers and four apprentices in this town. None with the skill in metallurgy.”

“By the Abyssus!” Lone cries out. “Who are the four Engineers?”

Gunnar looks at the table. “There’s Sadzi Van Dutual, Peregrine Young, Cain the Steamforge and Cyric.”

Lone notes that Gunnar puts a little venom into Cyric’s name. “Joan, do you know these four?”

Glancing away, Stillwater sighs, replying, “Yes, I know Cyric and Peregrine, but the other two are unknown to me.”

Feeling the mood, Lone asks. “I know Cyric, he is a Master Pharmacist. I have to see him from time to time for, um, certain ointments, but it seems that no-one likes him.”

During the conversation, WayWocket slipped from the table and is again playing with Caw in the Duelling Pit. Some enthusiastic patrons are betting on the outcome.

Stillwater regards Solo. “I’m assuming you’ve seen Way’s scars?” Lone nods. “Way was an apprentice to Cyric and even spent some time in the Favinonian City’s University, but something happened, and I caught him running a drug lab in the state he is now. Cyric has no knowledge of what happened to Way, and we have no proof linking him to the lab, but Way has said that Cyric drugged and tortured him.”

Bashing his fist on the table, Gunnar pipes up. “If we’d not been part of the Watch, I would’ve had his gut on my blade! Then burnt him so nothing could be contaminated by his putrid flesh!”

“That’s enough, Gunnar!” Stillwater commands. “Yes, we knew that he was guilty, but he covered his tracks exceptionally well.”

Lone taps his finger to his chin. “So, out of the four, he is the most corrupt?” Gunnar and Stillwater exchange looks and both nod. “Well, I should head down there and maybe ask him a few questions, but I do not think I should go alone.”

Stillwater’s eyebrows crinkle as she ponders her answer. “Maybe we could ask Pela to go with you? Her presence could offset his instinct of paranoia.”

They all stop to look at Pela, who turns, feeling their eyes on her. She cocks her head, questioning the staring. Stillwater calls her over. “I was wondering if you have this afternoon off and could do us a favour?”

Seeing their serious faces, all she can do is agree.