“That was too close,” Hear said as they returned back inside the Castle. “Did you hear what Aelyph said? If we’re not careful, he might figure out who we are!”
Even if See could have said something, he didn’t need to. If Aelyph wasn’t onto them already, it was only a matter of time before he was. There was no way were they going to let that turncloak in the Castle, not after he betrayed the Dark Consul and their master. See hadn’t seen Aelyph in a hundred years, but he still remembered how much he’d hated the Riftling, even when they were on the same side.
In the Glauerdoom Moor, their master paced back and forth across her stronghold, a large gothic Tower covered in spiderwebs and reeking of dark magic. The room they were in was lavish, or would have been if not for the veils of dust on every surface and the clogs of cobwebs that clung to the wide table and ornate chairs. All three of them were there in front of their master as she paced, looming over them with unseen eyes, studying them: See, Hear, and Speak.
But there was one other present, a Riftling who had kept twisting up his nose at their smell. For years, they had tried to cover it with the strongest perfumes known to man. But before long the scents would always wear off, and they would be left with a noticeable fishy aroma.
“Do you fish in your spare time?” Aelyph asked.
“Ttt-tt-tt,” their master had tittered as though it were a joke.
However, as See had turned his sour expression the Riftling’s way, he saw there was no mirth on his face. He was solemn, his eyes wide, as though he truly had a problem with the stench.
Then their master spoke.
“I’ve gathered you here to talk about an undercover job I wish for you to work together on,” she said. “I would like you to rely on one another. One will gather information and the other . . .” she eyed the Riftling, “. . . will supply the muscle.”
“I have to refuse,” Aelyph said immediately.
She bared her teeth at him. “Need I remind you of my power?”
“I’m not saying it out of disrespect to you, Lady of Deceit.” Aelyph sneered at Hear and See. “But I cannot work with people who put so much effort into their voice and appearance, yet who are blind to how badly they smell. They will give away any hope I might have to use more forces wisely.”
“Yes, they aren’t the most polished in that regard. Even so, you must cooperate.”
Aelyph shook his head. “All of us follow the same master. I serve his purposes, and these incompetent spies will only hinder my service.”
He made to say more, but Speak had raised her fingers, rendering him silent.
Their master sneered. “Fine then. You are no use to me. Leave now, and give him my respects.”
See watched in outrage as she had let him go. He was sure it was only due to his abiding loyalty to the Dark Consul that Aelyph had been allowed to leave that meeting alive.
Now Aelyph had smelled their distinctive aroma again, and there was a chance he could have recognized them and revealed their identities as well. They could only hope that Aelyph thought it was just the smell of the place down in the Underbelly.
Feeling self-conscious, See kept his distance as he followed the Paladin down the long hall coming off the Castle entrance. Otto had come so close to discovering the truth down in the Underbelly. If his next move was to get a group of Paladins together and raid their cove, then the jig would be up. They would have to shift the real seneschal from the Underbelly to the Castle before that happened. By then he should have full reign of the Castle.
Within the Castle, he continued watching Otto from afar, stalking him from the shadows. Surely, the man had some weakness. From his stride, the Paladin didn’t appear all too happy about him not allowing Aelyph into the Castle. Were the two of them friends—a Riftling and a Paladin? What nonsense. Riftlings and Paladins had always been mortal enemies; Riftlings were created by the forces of evil after all.
They followed Otto out into the wide foyer, but instead of following him farther, See directed their steps up the wide stairs toward their quarters where he could apply his perfume again. He was not going to be caught out in the open so unaware next time.
“Something needs to be done,” Hear said, echoing his thoughts.
“Mm?” See grunted.
“Ah, things are getting out of control. My plan relies on our disguises, on the status they provide and the doors they unlock for us. If we are found out to not be the seneschal, we have to have another person we can become that will be of benefit,” Hear sneered in thought. “Someone who is close with the Paladins.”
While Hear was talking, See looked over the banister of the stairs they were climbing to see someone coming to meet with the Paladin. It was the same woman who they had seen rushing into the Tower of Light after they had delivered the king’s vote to the Council Chamber.
“We need another pawn. Someone who we can use to spy on the Paladins without being found out.”
See grunted and pointed down into the foyer. “Mm.”
“Not now, See. I’m trying to think!”
See grabbed hold of Hear and pulled his long-nosed face out of his illusion, pointing him down in the direction of the Paladin and the woman.
“Otto, are you all right?” The woman was clasping her hands in concern and walked beside the Paladin as he made his way through to the cloister. “You look like you were injured.”
“I was hit in the head, and I’m really tired.”
“I should look at it,” she continued, “and then you must get some rest. Head trauma can be very bad if not treated right.”
Otto sighed. “I was going to go see the princess, but if you insist.”
“I do! Besides, the king and princesses aren’t seeing anyone at this late hour.”
Otto and the woman turned the corner out of sight.
“Ah, I see!” Hear whispered. “She might work, but I’ll have to mimic her voice exactly. Haha! Good thing I spotted her.”
See rolled his eyes and let go of Hear.
“You’ll have to get a good look at her too.”
See nodded, and without another word, Hear slithered down his form and, like a snake, skittered into the shadows of the Castle.
See sighed, glad for some peace and quiet for once. He trudged up the stairs to his room to reapply his perfume. Despite what everyone else seemed to think, he preferred the way he smelled over those pungent flowery odors he was forced to use.