Before returning to the bookstore, Ean went to the castle to consult with Aldric Everstone, the Minister of Trade. If he was going to travel around the kingdom incognito by posing as a game warden, the cover should hold up under normal scrutiny.

The Ministry of Trade sprawled across the entire first floor of the castle's ministerial wing. Ean entered through a series of open-faced storage rooms, each overflowing with samples of goods from across the continent and beyond. The air was thick with the enticing aroma of exotic spices and rare wood and ores.

He then navigated through the central space, lined with towering walls of meticulously organized ledgers and scrolls. Dozens of scribes, hunched over their desks, efficiently processed bills of lading and tax calculations. The incessant scratching of their quill pens formed a continuous, rhythmic background drone. Finally, he reached the back of the hall, where sunlight streamed through the windows and fresh air circulated. Here, bathed in natural light, were the offices of the minister and his staff.

"Spymaster Fleming, how may I be of service?" the old man asked, looking up from his desk with a polite smile.

"My apologies, esteemed sir, for arriving unannounced."

The minister harumphed. "No need for formalities outside of the Council. If you'll allow me to call you Ean, you can call me Aldric."

Ean scarcely recognized the man without his elegant council robes and fine attire. In the Ministry of Trade offices, he looked like a typical elderly man puttering around to keep active.

"Thank you, Aldric. I was raised on a farm in Argonia East so I know a fair bit about wildlife. I can track, hunt, and fish most anything," he said with pride. "Officially, and out of professional caution, I can't tell people I'm a spymaster. Instead, I've been telling people I'm a game warden." He watched the old man for any sign of irritation before continuing. "I know the actual wardens report to the Trade Ministry. If you'll permit me, I'd like to continue using the cover by becoming a warden."

"You want to do two jobs? You are an ambitious young man."

"Sort of. If I'm listed as a warden and have the badge of station, my cover will hold up under normal scrutiny. I am willing to do work for the wardens."

Aldric stared at Ean, one quizzical eyebrow raised. "Sounds like you're not just asking permission to continue posing as a warden, you want me to create a new position. What kind of work could you do the wardens aren't already taking care of?"

His voice pitching up, Ean's thoughts tumbled out. "When I first used the cover, I told some soldiers I was there to do a survey of the fish and local wildlife. While I was in Argonia West, the hunters complained there were fewer deer to hunt and more wolves in the area."

Aldric's voice was gruff. "And my wardens will handle the wolves if it gets worse."

"I'm thinking about taking proactive measures. By putting my survey idea and the anecdotal evidence together." Ean held out his hands and brought them together, interweaving his fingers. "I was thinking I could conduct real surveys. We could use the data to identify trends in how much wildlife, even plant life, there is. Maybe we could do something before there are shortages."

Aldric sat back in his seat and stared into the distance so long that Ean worried he wasn't mentally present. The silence stretched on. Finally, the old man replied. "Cataloging natural resources before they are harvested? That is an excellent idea. The ministry only tracks the import and export of natural resources for tax purposes. Taxes are collected at the end of harvest and hunting seasons."

Warming up to the idea, he spoke faster, a newfound enthusiasm in his tone. "Which means we don't know there's a bad year until disease or famine have already run their course."

"Does that mean you'll allow me to act as a warden?"

"If you bring me surveys every season, I'll keep you on the payroll." Aldric looked over his shoulder. "Deputy Minister Greystone, you have a new game warden, please bring him a badge."

A sinewy middle-aged man with sun-tanned skin joined Ean and Aldric. He deputized Ean and handed him a warden badge of station.

SECONDARY CLASS UNLOCKED: Game Warden (1/3)

SKILL UNLOCKED: Fieldcraft (1/3)

Game Warden Badge of Station added to Inventory

LOG ENTRY ADDED: Class: Game Warden

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Ean admired the badge, tracing the intricate design with his fingertips, before slipping it into his satchel. "Thank you. To conduct the surveys, I'm going to need to recruit local hunters and fishermen. Can I have a small budget to pay them for completed surveys?"

Aldric unlocked a desk drawer, pulled out a coin purse, and handed it to Ean. "Wardens receive 10 gold pieces a month. For the surveys, I will allot you a 25-gold piece stipend at the start of Spring and the end of Summer. You also draw more Stable Tokens as a warden. How many do you need?"

Ean stared at Aldric with questioning eyes. "Stable Tokens? What are those for?"

Now it was Aldric's turn to stare in astonishment. "Ean, how have you been traveling around Argonia?"

Ean's faced flushed red, although he was confused about embarrassed him. "I've been walking."

Aldric became agitated. "Did no one tell you what the perks are to being on the council? You're supposed to receive four Stable Tokens every month to check out a horse from the royal stables. It's a good thing you're young and healthy." He shook his head and muttered, "Walking to Argonia East and West. As a member of the King's Council, no less!"

The flustered minister pulled another pouch from his drawer. "I rarely leave the city. Here's my last three months allotment of tokens. Get a horse. Save your knees, and your back. You'll appreciate it when you're older."

Ean pocketed the tokens, thanked Aldric, and departed for the bookstore.

* * *

"Did you know I could have been riding a horse all this time," Ean asked as he walked through the door of Argonian Bookshelf.

Samuel scowled. "Only nobility and wealthy merchants ride horses," he chided, wagging a finger. "Walking helps you blend in with the common folk. Remember what I said about being unseen in plain sight."

"About that," Ean replied, puffing out his chest. "It will be hard to look like a commoner when I'm riding around the countryside as Game Warden Fleming." He flashed his new badge of station.

Samuel's gaze hardened, a faint note of disapproval in his voice. "Congratulations. Spymaster apprentice Fleming can stay here free. Game Warden Fleming, however, has to pay 2 gold pieces a week for room and board." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "No pets allowed, including horses."

Ean's chest deflated, and he looked away. "I've been taking your hospitality for granted. From now on, I'll pay my share of expenses. At least until I can find a place of my own." He fished a couple of coins from his coin purse.

Sounding exasperated, Samuel replied, "You've been a tenant all of two minutes and you're already planning to move out?"

Realizing Samuel had been joking, Ean grinned. "Well, if I'm going to be bringing girls around. Shouldn't I have a place of my own."

Samuel snorted. "Girls? Are ladies these days so attracted to game wardens that you'll be courting them in groups?"

"No. Hopefully, it's just one girl." Ean tried and failed to hide his ear-splitting grin. "I haven't told you about my trip to Argonia North yet."

"I thought you said the spy was married. Did the marriage not work out?"

"Huh? Oh. Lily is still married. When I told her she needed to find a replacement she introduced me to the lovely Aria Winterbourne."

"Tread carefully when mixing business and pleasure," Samuel warned. "I hope you didn't recruit her just because you're attracted."

"It's more than that," Ean admitted, heat creeping up his neck. "She's intelligent, brave, everything I could want in a romantic partner."

"She would be one of your spies," Samuel stated, his tone even. "Risking her life for the kingdom."

Ean nodded, shoulders slumping. "Exactly. How can I put someone I care about in that kind of danger? But at the same time, she's perfect for the role."

"Being a spymaster means making difficult choices," Samuel replied, leaning back in his chair. "You cannot allow your personal feelings to cloud your judgment when the stakes are so high."

"I know, I know." Ean dragged a hand through his hair. "It's just... the pressure to fill this position quickly is immense. And Aria checks every box. She's already been training under Lila. She has the perfect cover as an herbalist and merchant to travel freely. Brilliant, resourceful, everything we need."

Samuel nodded slowly. "Those are worthwhile traits. But you must be prepared to set aside your feelings for the greater good, if needed. Do you want a girlfriend, or do you want a spy?"

"Isn't there some way to have both?" Ean asked, desperation creeping into his voice. "To be with her and still utilize her skills for the kingdom?"

"Perhaps, but you must accept that one day, you may be forced to choose between your heart and your duty." Samuel continued solemnly. "The decisions you make impact far more than just yourself. The loss of even one spy weakens our defenses. Losing our only spymaster..." He shook his head. "Well, that would eliminate an entire defensive layer for the kingdom."

"It may be a moot point on both accounts. We've only been on one date and she hasn't accepted the role yet. I have to complete a side quest for her first. Which is what led to me becoming a game warden.

Lily and Aria run an herbalist supply shop. Aria asked me to gather some Argonian plants. I realized if I created a network of locals doing surveys of natural resources, I could use them as a secondary source of Intelligence and information about herbalist plants."

"Clever. Soon you'll be giving me lessons on spycraft. Be careful not to lose sight of your primary duties to—."

Ean had emptied his inventory pouch onto the table while Samuel spoke. He was separating items he wanted to take on his journey and items to leave behind. When he pushed the two-headed medallion into the take pile, Samuel's face went ghostly pale.

Samuel pointed a shaky arthritic finger at the medallion. "Where'd you get that?"

"Lily gave it to me. Said the assassin was carrying it. She thought it might bring me luck. Do you know what it is?"

"It's a relic from the last war. Keep it on you but don't go showing it off. It could bring up painful memories at a time we're trying to prevent the next war. If you'll excuse me, I was searching for a book for a customer. Enjoy your trip by horseback."

Sensing an uneasy change in Samuel, he gave an awkward goodbye. "OK. See you in a day or two."

Ean slung his satchel over his shoulder and returned to the castle to pick up and pay for his survey forms copied by the scribes. Then he used a stable token to check out a horse. He checked the list of plants from Aria, unsure if it still held her scent or if he was imagining it. He placed the list back in his satchel and slapped the horse's reins.

First stop, Wildwood's Edge in Argonia West.