I sighed, staring at the pages of my book, my mind wandered about. I felt bothered about something, the image of Roderick's former master popped in my head. Suddenly, I felt a surge of rage course through me at the memory of his ugly being.

“Is everything alright, My Lady?” Lenora's voice caught my attention.

“I just recalled something irritating and it enrages me that I let it roam free with a lot of money!” I replied, my voice tinct with ire.

“Oh dear!” She said. her voice was in a tad frenetic. “What do you propose to do, My Lady?”.

I thought for a while, an idea visualized in my head. A smile formed on my lips, I couldn't wait to make it a reality.

“Do you remember the Knight that escorted us to the Capital the day that we brought back Roderick with us?” I asked.

“Yes! My Lady!” She replied.

“Good, I need you to set a meeting with him. I will need his help executing my plan!” I said.

“Of course, My Lady!” She dipped into a bow and exited the room.

>>>> “You require my presence, My Lady?” He asked, kneeling on one knee with his head lowered.

“Yes, I require your help!” I said simply, standing up and approached him, “do you recall the annoying noble that we bought Roderick from?”.

“Yes, My Lady!”,

“Good! I need you to find a very good informant that will do an excellent job in revealing his dirty secrets. I have to know everything about him. A man like him must have a lot of skeletons in his closet and I can't wait to let them out!” I stated, coldly.

“I will, My Lady!” He simply replied. He stood up and turned to leave.

“Make sure this assignment doesn't reach the hearing of my Father and brothers. The last thing I want is to have them hovering about in my business!”.

He gave a light affirmative nod, with a wave of my hand I dismissed him.

* * * *

“Do you know any guild that deals with gathering information about someone?” He asked the bookkeeper.

The old man turned around, the familiarity in his voice was certain. A smile formed on his lips on seeing an old friend.

“Aah! Douglas, what brings you to this part of the town?” He asked with much cheer.

“I need to find someone, a good informant!” He spoke in a whisper.

Looking for an informant in the empire was not noted to be a good thing, people refer to an informant as a fox; they were too sly that they could not be trusted.

Information guilds were known to be the cunniest organizations. They were referred to as ‘Swords to the high society’. The best way to ruin a Nobleman was with the use of an information guild. They bore the power to ruin or make a man with whatever data they had of him.

“There are a few information guilds, Douglas!’ The old man said thoughtfully, “but the one that may help you in your situation—seeing that you didn't come all this way for a visit!” He pointed out. Douglas avoided his hurtful gaze.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“Which guild is it?” Douglas asked, he looked impatient. The sooner he was done with the task the more relaxed he will be. A part of him was glad that the terrible Nobleman would finally be ruined with whatever information the informant found but the other was anxious with the fear of being caught.

“It is called ‘The Truth’, the biggest information guild in the Empire. It has branches in every town and every city. There are probably two or three in the duchy!” He stated.

“Where can I find them?” His voice was firm at his inquiry.

>>>>Douglas stared at the shabby building in front of him. The paint was worn out and old—peeling off from the bricks whilst the roof created a creaky noise as a light breeze whistled by. Half of the windows were broken and the sign ‘Tavern’ was worn out with a few missing letters. He could hear the laughter and chatter resonating from the building. He held his sword firmly, if worse came to worst he may have to use it.

He recollected the remaining conversation he had with the old man as he approached the door.

“Why is it located there?” He asked.

“Don't you know the familiar saying, ‘the best place to get information is always in a tavern’? And it is also the last place anyone with brains will search for!” He said simply.

“How do I find the informant?” He inquired.

Douglas opened the door and walked in. The customers in the tavern abruptly became mute as they stared at him like he was a foreigner.

He walked past a couple of tables and reached for the bar. As soon as he sat down, the noise began and was a bit louder than before. It felt like they were controlled by a spell which commanded them for ridiculous things like_ ‘when to be quiet and when not to’.

As he waited, the final conversation they had replayed in his mind.

“You slip this to the bartender!” The old man replied, taking out an orange card and handing it to him.

Douglas looked it over. There was no inscription, no word and not even a letter. The entire card was blank, both front and back.

“There is nothing on it!” He pointed out his confusion.

“Oh There is, but only the bartender can see it!” The old man said in a covertly tone.

Douglas stared at him more confused than ever “How?”.

“Let's just say that it's his talent. He can read words inscribed with a strange rare element, I have forgotten what it is called, actually!” He said thoughtfully, trying to recall the name “People with that power are best for this kind of job. Just give it to him and he will do the rest!” He spoke in an assuring tone.

“How do you know all of this?” He asked the burning question.

The old man simply shrugged, “Well, when you live long enough—you will pick up a thing or two from those around you!”.

“What can I get you?” A voice asked, retrieving him back.

Douglas turned to see an average man with brawny features, wearing an apron over his clothes approach him.

“A cup of brandy and this!” Douglas looked around him. When no one was looking he slipped him the card.

The bartender gave a light nod and walked away to get his order, reading the card along the way. It read ‘I need an informant’.

From the top terrace—he watched him. The moment he entered, his eyes were fixed on him. Seeing the same Knight from that day slip a card to one of his employees meant two things. He was sent by the Duke or he came here by his own free will.

“I still wonder why you came here to the Everhart duchy instead of staying in yours!” A female voice spoke from behind him. She walked closer to him, resting her back on the terrace whilst staring at him.

“I came to see how things were doing!” He responded simply, not peeling his gaze off the Knight.

“You know I can handle things here, right?” She pointed out.

“I know!”.

“What are you staring at anyway?” She asked in a curious tone, following his gaze. It landed on the strange man wearing a black attire, seated at the bar.

“Can you tell Bob to send him up?” He asked, walking towards the room opposite them.

Shock flickered in her eyes at the question. “Do you know him?”.

He rarely requested for someone to be sent up unless he was a VIP and the man at the bar was not even close to being one.

“I have a guess about who he works for!” He said. Walking into the room he closed the door behind him.

She chuckled, his behavior never stops to amaze her. She turned around and stared at the bar. Her eyes locked with the bartender's momentarily.

Nudging her head a little to her right. He gave a light nod, understanding her signal.

The bartender returned to Douglas with the cup of brandy in his possession.

“Here is your order!” He said, setting the cup on the table.

“What about the other thing I asked for?” Douglas inquired, accepting the cup.

“Head upstairs, what you requested for is waiting for you!” He said in a whisper and left.