I have a few unworthy servants.

"Since we are in the city, and its almost night time, I guess me and my crew better get out of your hair," Talia spoke quietly.

James had been waiting. "Why do you have to rush so much? Won't you guys stay for dinner? There is a chance, however slim that we might not see each other again."

"Did I ever tell you I hate that creepy smile of yours?"

"Maybe once or twice," he winked at her. "So what do you say? We could be enemies the next time we meet."

She thought about it, and James was pleased to know she was at least considering the idea. But it was unfeasible for them to stay any longer. James knew that as well. Not that he had ever planned to give them a choice.

"Hey Rob, Talon, come help me get a barrel from the basement!" he shouted. "The boss said it was okay for you guys to stay for dinner, taste some fancy ass aged wine."

"What?!"shouted the bigger man with evident shock even as he rushed to where they stood.

"That's what I'm talking about!" shouted Rob with enthusiasm, going to hug Talia who was starting to object.

"That's why your my boss. You know the right time to...rob these rich guys for all they are worth."

Whenever she was about to shout a protest, Rob would increase the enthusiasm of his pats. James was proud of the other man for quickly getting the gist and playing his part. Talia pushed him off in irritation, but James had already pushed Talon towards the bottom of the stairs.

Rob ran past her and past James without prompting, only sparing an instant to wink at his coconspirator.

James sat with the two men on the table, laughing uproariously at any and all stupid japes they made. Talia wasn't drinking, nor was Hansworth or the children. They sat in their own little cluster, looking sullen, but at least the food was good.

Mania and Aric and Jonas also drunk, but they sat well away from the other three. The full barrel was half way through in a matter of two hours. The sun was well out now, and it had probably been an hour since the moon came up.

"So do you twist it clockwise, or counter clockwise?"

"No, don't confuse it, little buddy," Rob said with a long suffering sigh. "Working with a woman is like working with a lock, but not quite. Locks have specific keys." He took a long sip. "What was I saying? Oh, yeah if you learn to open any lock, then you can even get with a married woman easy."

The three men all laughed together.

"Man, that was so not what you were saying," James laughed.

"Is true," said Talon, the perpetual growl replaced by a red faced smile. "The little virgin's got you to rights, hahaha!"

Talia pushed from the table, the sound purposely loud.

"I think thats enough drinking for tonight. We have work to do."

The other three were quicker to react, but soon Talon and Rob were on their feet too. James felt sick. At least a little bit.

He sighed. "Fine, I'll see you guys—"

He stopped when he spotted someone in the corner. Aside from the two servants he'd travelled with -whose names he still didn't know- there were about ten others who kept the mansion all year round. Yet here was one he hadn't seen among them, but one who was watching far too intently to be good news.

"Nino, get that woman for me, will you?" he said calmly.

The girl hesitated, and he turned a sharp eye to her. The maid had stepped forward, feigning confusion, but then a black cloud she hadn't expected slammed into her chest and she was toppling forward.

"Close every door, Hans! Talia, pat her down for me, won't you? Mary! I want you in here now!"

He knew she was here. She'd known the moment he'd arrived, most like. She also must have known about all this. And now this assassin or spy or whatever had seen Nino's powers. There was no saving her.

"The hell!" Rob shouted, staring at a place to James's right, where knelt a woman newly entered the sealed tight room.

"Who is she, Mary? Who sent her?"

She scanned the fallen woman. James still didn't trust her, so he hoped, though she'd heard, she hadn't seen Nino's power. Her mind wouldn't jump straight to three-tailed fox, but the powers were still impressive.

Talia had uncovered a plethora of throwing knives, dangerous pins, and what looked like viles of poison.

"I don't know, young master," came the flat voice.

A muscle ticked in James's jaw. He'd suspected this was not going to be easy. Mary had seen the spy, yet she'd done nothing, and now she didn't know?

"So then what do you know?" he asked.

"Excuse me?"

"I sent you here to gather information, didn't I?"

Like a broken record, she started to lay down the secrets of the court with the flattest voice. Once, Talia had frowned at him, as if to ask 'Do you really want people working for the revolution to know these thing?' James was angry though, so he couldn't have answered her just then. It was ten minutes later when he finally had her stop.

"I expected the report to contain all the information gathered by three people?"

"Well...yes, young master. We all three—"

"Collected court gossip. Who cares if count Salinger's son is seeing a widowed woman in secret?!"

"But—"

She was lost for words? James wasn't buying it. This was likely done out of spite. With his old weakened resolve, he would have probably given up on that plan. But now, he needed the information, he needed to stay in the loop. Not least because things were going to start getting dangerous, someone was targeting him for some reason.

"Did Gray order you to do this?" he asked her.

She didn't answer, but now there was something like disappointment in her eyes. It was like to her the conversation was over.

"Is that what you wanted me to think?"

There was the slightest flicker in her face, just before it went blank again.

"You want me to think you're loyal to Gray? No, you want Gray to think you're loyal to him, yet in reality you're just using him."

"What are you talking about?"

Yes. She'd joined the hero's party in the fifth book, and the name she'd used then was different, but now James was sure. The reason why he'd suspected her from the beginning was because of the point of view chapter the author had used one time. Her name was different, but the black hair, dead eyes, expressionless face.

"Have you heard of the guild of hearts?"

There was a sharp intake of breath, and James didn't need to turn to know who it had been from. The others looked mostly confused.

"What are you talking about?!" her voice rose in warning.

James shrugged. "Nothing. I was just thinking of those stories my wet nurse always told me. About murderers and the like."

He stared down at her, and now she was fully staring at him, still expressionless, but James saw the threat in her eyes.

"No need to get so angry, you know. Its not like I'm going to threaten to use your secrets against you or anything."

Though he had considered it. He'd considered using his knowledge of her secrets to force her compliance. That was the thing that scared him most about power. It was hard to not use it once you had it.

In the end the only reason he'd decided against trying that was because he was scared of her. Forcing tools you couldn't control could be fatal. That line of thinking terrified him. Having power terrified him.

"So you want to die?" she asked.

James shuddered. "You don't know how creepy that threat sounded in monotone. But no. I just want you to know I know a lot of things, yet I still thought we could have a somewhat mutually beneficial relationship. You tried to have me killed, though."

"I didn't —"

"Yeah, but you knew she was here. It was my mistake anyway. Perhaps we'd best pretend none of this happened."

Her expression finally shifted to a frown of confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Forget about the instructions I gave you. Its clear you have no intention of aiding me. After the convention, you and the others will return home."

"Return...home?"

"Go back to the Halden territory," he tried to explain, but then he caught her expression. "Or maybe not. I guess you might not want to be anywhere near people who know your secrets, especially those who might tell your brother about it."

She stared at him for a long time.

"You are not going to use your knowledge to try and blackmail me?"

James smiled. "Not that I haven't considered it, but why would I want to play with fire. I really did only think this could work through a mutual understanding."

She kept staring. James found it unnerving, so he decided to put his new plan in motion.

"Hans, we might have to do a little sightseeing before we go to bed tonight."

He stopped cold, stared at the fox children, then frowned back at Mary.

"Of course I will have to ask that you keep my secrets as well," he said calmly.

"On one condition," she replied insouciantly.

"Yes?"

"Give her to me," she pointed to the assassin. "I may have disappointed you, with my information, but that was only because I didn't know how dangerous the game you were playing. Perhaps I could offer you what help I could, until the time I have to return North. You will leave my little brother out of this, though."