The table and couches were pushed to opposite ends of the large room. In the middle of the empty space, Reed swung her long, spiked club in repeated, downward motions. She was out of the black, double-breasted jacket of her uniform, showing off the sleeveless white tunic underneath.

The compact muscles of her arms rippled with each repetition, and after a moment, I caught myself staring. I turned away to look at Isla, who stared at Reed in the same trance.

At least it wasn't just me.

After two more repetitions, Reed stopped and smiled at us.

"If it isn't my favourite agent. I'm glad you're in one piece. Those beggars looked ferocious."

"We had it under control."

"Did you? Then, I don’t want to see what out of control looks like. Is there a reason for your visit?"

I paused for a moment and sighed.

I’d come this far. May as well spill.

"I have a lead on the assignment."

She quirked an eyebrow, glancing at Isla.

"Which one?"

"The Lagos one."

"Oh, you work fast."

Reed put the club down, leaning its pommel against her well-defined shoulder. She clapped twice, rattling the golden bracer around her right forearm.

I was so focused on her biceps that I almost missed that accessory. The piece of armour clashed with the Sanctifier’s sombre dress code.

Strange. Why a golden bracer instead of silver or steel?

Two servants waiting against the walls stepped forward to move the couches and low table back into place. They wore the same black uniforms as the servant who let us in. The style of the uniform and the way they made the wearer blend into the background gave away their tailor.

Shay.

Reed sat down on the nearest white cushioned couch, placing her club beside her like another guest. The servant who dragged over the couch returned a moment later with a goblet of wine and a clean rag to pat herself down. Dew stood near the door, fidgeting with his lands beneath his black robes.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The Inquisitor gestured to the couch opposite of her.

"You may sit."

Isla and I sat on the opposite sofa.

"Wine?"

Reed gestured at a servant holding a glass decanter. The man's stoic face was familiar. He was one of the guards who let us into the Guildhall the day before.

"I like what you’ve done with the place, Reed."

Her lips curled in a tight-lipped smile.

"This Guildhall wasn't operating to my standards. Some personnel changes where required."

She glanced at Dew Able, who dabbed his face with the sleeve of his black robe.

"I suspect most will enjoy their new… subordinate positions."

She looked back at me, her smile turning mischievous.

Isla elbowed me in the ribs.

Oh, right!

I coughed, clearing my throat.

"Ahem! Van Lagos thinks Arwen is behind the poisoning.”

Reed grinned, leaning back into the sofa and resting her arms over the top.

"Now that’s interesting.”

“Van is using the right of retribution to go after him. We don’t have hard evidence yet but if I bring Arwen to you, can you get a confession?”

“A real confession,” Isla said.

Reed glanced at the long, spiked club beside her.

“I can. Do you need anything else?”

“I need to him.”

“Of course. High Sanctifier?"

Dew Able stiffened at the mention of his title.

"Yes, Special Inquisitor!"

“Bring me your file on Arwen and your latest map.”

"Yes! Right away."

He disappeared through the door, the hurried slapping of his feet echoing on the stone. A few minutes later, he returned with a bundle of paper and a large sheet rolled up under his arm. He placed the stack of paper next to Reed on the sofa and unrolled the map of Steeltown over the low table.

Reed leafed through the papers in silence until she stopped and raised her hand. One of the servants approached and handed her a container of small sewing pins.

Sewing pins? Had Shay come here in person?

Reed stuck the red-tipped pins into different locations on the map, looking back at the notes beside her. After another few minutes, she stopped to appreciate her work.

"Arwen lives here."

She pointed at a pin in the poorer Residential Quarter.

"In the mornings, he goes to the Industrial Quarter to inspect foundries and plants controlled by Tom’s cartel."

Reed waved at a collection of pins in the Industrial Quarter.

"His route is random, but he usually starts here."

She pointed to a pin closer to the edge of the Residential Quarter.

"It's an old copper smelting operation that shut down years ago.”

"Where does he go after his inspections?" Isla asked.

Reed gave Isla a curious look before tapping her finger beside a pin in a Service Quarter.

"He's a regular at this bar. It's a popular hangout for the mining crews that work under Tiny Tom."

Amazing.

If the Sanctifiers knew this much about Arwen, what information did they have on me? And how had Isla kept her identity hidden from them for so long?

Reed leaned back into the couch, taking a refill of wine for her goblet.

'So, how do you plan to capture him?"

I looked over the map. There were three ambush points: Arwen's home, the copper smelting plant, and the bar. Each location had its own strengths and weaknesses.

"I'm not doing anything until I do some scouting. We'll start by staking out the bar. It's already mid-morning, and I'll stick out less."

I fidgeted with my embroidered red-gold coat.

Reed smiled.

"An excellent plan. Do you need extra hands?"

She made a sweeping gesture at the servants in the room.

“They are well trained AND experienced.”

I grit my teeth in a forced smile.

"No, but thank you for your help."

Reed leaned forward, savouring the grimace on my face.

"Anything for my favourite agent."