53 Spy Game (2/2)

In an instant, I unsheathed my falchion and sent the newly formed shadowblade at Connor's throat. In reaction, his brother screamed his brother's name, ”Connor!”

The blue edge of my blade held mere inches from Connor's throat. Not close enough that its vibration effect could do him harm.

”Don't you get it... you either do what I want or you die... right, Edo?” I glanced over to Edo

Luckily, he caught on quickly enough because he slammed the tip of his glaive down onto the grass. We all watch the shadowblade sink nearly completely into the ground.

I smirked. Just one more push.

”I know you said you were on loan to the Magesong clan from another group, right?” I emulated Edo and planted my own sword's tip on the ground. It sank rather easily. ”Earlier tonight, I encountered a drow who hid her face behind a masquerade mask. She fought pretty well with her fists.”

Both boys' eyes lit up. It was a light akin to hope which I happily shattered. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

”Don't hold your breath for a rescue. We beat her. She turned tail and ran,” I snarled. I thought it was a rather convincing snarl. I left out the part where she broke my arm though. ”And now that I know what she was, I know who you work for.”

The light in their eyes dimmed. There was no possible way I could be lying as I did describe the drow pretty well.

”You work for the Scarlet Moon... and that drow, she's a member of the Black Hand, too...” I finally revealed my trump card, the theory I'd been sitting on since I fought the masked drow. ”Probably not the Commander of the unit but someone high up. She was skilled enough.”

They didn't have to confirm it. The shock on their faces was proof enough that I had deduced it correctly thanks to the facts laid out before me. Like a great detective once said, Once you removed the impossible, whatever remained no matter how improbable, must be the truth .

”So... now that we've cleared it up. I've got no plans to return you boys to the Scarlet Moon...” I'd reeled them in. It was now time for the offer. ”Not unless you go back as my spies.”

Was it possible for shocked faces to receive a double dose of shock? Well, it certainly seemed possible given that both Connor's and Collin's eyes and mouths widened to double the size.

It was only fair that I gave them a few seconds to let my offer sink in. Eventually, after both boys gave each other meaningful looks that made me feel like they were having some kind of telepathic conversation only possible with twins, they gave me their answer.

”If we do this... how do we know we won't get caught?” Collin asked. ”Our general isn't someone you can mess with... you're just a small-time, Commander...”

”Yeah, she'd murder you right after she killed us,” Connor agreed.

”What guarantees do we have that you'll protect us and our family back on Mudgard?” Collin added.

In their panic, I didn't think they noticed that they'd already given me two vital pieces of information. The Black Hand was a general and she was female.

I glanced over at Aura and asked, ”Is it okay if I tell them?”

”I trust your decisions,” Aura answered easily.

”Aura—”

Edo tried to speak up but Aura held her hand to silence him. Edo sighed but stayed quiet.

”Varda, your uncle's a blabbermouth so you probably already know Aura's real identity, right?” I asked the dwarf who seemed like she was trying very hard to look clueless.

Varda hesitated for a few seconds before nodding slowly. ”B-but that's just because he wanted me to watch out for her... it wasn't like he was betraying your confidence or anything...”

Aura turned her smile on Varda. ”I don't mind. I trust you too.”

Her candor combined with her dazzling smile made Varda's cheeks blush crimson—and I could feel it in my bones that she would never betray Aurana to any of our enemies. Perhaps it was time to clue more of our officers in on this big secret.

I turned my focus back on both Collin and Connor. ”You guys don't have to worry over some general whose name isn't even wide-spread enough for us to know about it... not when youre in the presence of the princess of the Trickster Pavilion.”

Somehow, I knew they wouldn't doubt me despite my tall claim. In those few moments after my big reveal, Aura just exuded a royal presence that made me want to bow in respect and awe. She didn't do anything special. It was the same beautiful face with the same upright posture but there was just something in her eyes that made you believe she was a princess, and in the Fayne, royalty, even enemy royalty, trumps general in terms of importance.

I gave the Mccord twins another few seconds to consider this shocking piece of information, but when they were finally ready, they gave me the answer I expected. After all, in their minds the alternative was death. Plus, having a royal on your side guaranteed the kind of rewards they were originally sent to the Fayne for.

”Yes,” they both said together.

”We'll work for you,” Collin said.

”For the Princess,” Connor corrected.

”Sure-sure, that's fine,” I was grinning like a kid with a new toy. ”Varda, can you please call Qwipps over. We need his... expertise here.”

Then I had another thought and I stopped Varda before she could leave.

”Get Berrian too... in case things get rough,” I added quickly.

Varda rushed to follow my orders and returned in double time with both Qwipps and Berrian in tow.

”Alright, Mccords,” I pointed a hand toward Qwipps. ”Meet your new contractor.”