The Silver Card - Part 5

It was Penelope that told him when the message finally arrived. The crows seemed to be fond of finding her, as if they were set to steal a strand of her silver hair. They would fly down from the sky, whenever they saw her about, and they would perch on her shoulder and caw, just as they did then.

She would always spare them a tickle under their chin before she took the tiny message from the bracelet around their ankle. Then she would toss the birds into the air again.

"They've gathered them, Vol, all forty," Penelope said, speaking quickly in her excitement. "We are to collect them at noon today."

"Good," Vol said slowly. "Good."

With the mercenaries being affiliated with the magistrates, their loyalty was not a matter of intense question. At the very least, they could not be blatant in the disloyal acts that they committed, not if they weren't willing to sacrifice their entire careers.