"Now then, Resna, let's get on with the brass tacks. Hmm?"

"Still as brazen as when I first met you, Sen."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't flirt with me, spy. It was because you had offered your service as a double agent, and because the princeling had consented to that, that you have the leisure to see eye to eye with me now. Or, are you altering that statement?"

"Now, don't be like that, dear warden. Flirting is one of the ways for spies to better cover their tracks, do you know? Besides, I was genuinely overjoyed to have my life spared, as who wouldn't?"

Senna bristled. "Call me 'dear' again and I might have second thoughts about sending you in. Will you now quietly listen when I lay down our plans?"

Her agent shrugged. "Familiarity is the first key to cooperation, and sadly you seem to be neglecting it."

The to-be handler took a deep breath and exhaled before proceeding, wondering all the while if a veteran of sixty raids ought to take this from an unproven agent.

"Recall that you said you have loyal contacts still in Arenda," she began.

"I do."

"They are dependable?"

"They would not be able to take armed soldiers head on, if that's what you meant. Disruptions, though..."

He paused and looked at her, uncertain. "We won't be going for Arenda?"

"You're that quick, huh," she teased. "Ardis. It's a town on its periphery, an ideal rallying point."

"Works both ways, dear. Fail and they'll know where to look."

"Then don't."

"Easier said than done, Sen. Spying is a chancy thing to begin with... and being rebels themselves, the current Arendan government is quite well-versed in the trade of double-dealing. Wouldn't you agree?"

"First things first, 'dear'. We will enter Ardis, take in the situation, and if it is favorable enough, commence the operation with whatever resources there are."

"If," he muttered. "There's your first misstep. The Arendans are no fool not to have the city nearest to theirs under close watch. It might as well turn out to be another loyal city... to the wrong side. Have you considered that?"

"And your contacts?"

"Arrested? Forced into hiding, might be?"

"Look here, Resna," Senna countered fiercely. "I will not wait out this siege and do nothing. It is going to be chancy, sure. How we will fare in said city, or even if we're going to make it there, I know not--but I do know I have to get there at the very least. Only then can real progress be made. Are you with me?"

"I would not have taken the pledge otherwise."

"Then stop yapping and listen. I still need to see to quite a few things here, so be ready to leave in at least three days. On the third day, be ready to hop on the saddle at a moment's notice. Alright?"

"Ah, so we'll be riding together. Didn't know you have that side."

"Two horses, darn you. How long will that take, do you think?"

"Allowing for lay-offs, skirmishes and avoiding patrols... A week. Any quicker and it'll be a feat on our part."

"A week," she repeated. "Fair."

***

"Three days before leaving for Ardis? Is that fixed?" Hnakir inquired when he ran into Senna on his way to guard duty that day, the sixty-seventh of the siege.

"Yes, and that's why I've been scouring for you yesterday!" She crossed her arms. "Where the heck were you?"

He gulped. "Calm, Sen. I was just attending Yasnar's summons. He said he wanted me to go lead a group of foragers."

"Foragers, did you say? Odd. I have it in mind to have you see to this city's defenses."

"Well, too bad. I have my orders. You'll need to consult the mayor first; after all, this is his final term and he would want to make the most of it."

That gave the female aide food for thought. "Alright, so it seems Yasnar is going to be the one who will keep things running here. I'll tell Prince Vlos that."

"Wait," Hnakir gasped. "So you've been putting forth my name without my consent, and then expect me to nod just like that?! Seriously, Senna, you're going a bit too far here!"

She blushed. "My bad. Perhaps this siege really is telling on me, indirect as it is."

Her comrade exhaled while facing away from her, one balled hand on the hip.

"No matter how highly you esteem yourself back home, we're guest officers here. Yasnar is in charge. So long as he does not detract from his duties, we're expected to look up to his directions."

"Clearly understood, Captain. I'll inform him as well. Been a while since I last saw him, anyway. And... have you news of Ukara?"

"Now that's another deal, and... a bit personal. Walk with me?"

Her curiosity prevailed, so she did. "Well?"

The captain cleared his throat. "Things did not go very well since you refused his prospective appointment to Ardis, he said. His wife's been sulking. I suggested that he see you to clear things up, but apparently he doesn't have the guts to."

"Hah! How unheard-of. I'm his former subordinate, even you know that."

Hnakir halted abruptly.

"Have you no idea how much fear and doubt you might have caused to some of us, Sen? Granted, you have charisma and all, and that works fine when blades start to clash. In Ukara's case it's not that simple. He's caught between two fires, so to speak; I'm only asking you to at least help him extinguish one."

"I'm not the type to indulge too deep into one's family, I'll have you know."

"But you have come across this particular family, and it's because of you he didn't get--"

"Enough sentimentality," she growled. "You're perfectly aware that I'm not doing this for his family's sake, right? It's for Hospodia. I--"

"For Hospodia, eh?" He nodded several times. "Well, here's how it goes. Hospodia is a House, and any house is consisted of bricks. Until the bricks are properly set, and supporting each other, we have no House to speak of. That is a point I hope you'll kindly disclose to Prince Vlos someday, but for now, take it for yourself. Before getting on with any of the outer affairs, set internal things right first; and in this case--" Hnakir pointed at her neck, almost touching it, ignoring her shocked expression, "--only you can do that. Understood?"

Her doubtful gaze was still on his pointing finger. "Sir."

"Good. There are still two days left before your supposed departure. Better make them count."

As her comrade strode away, Senna felt somehow distant. She, much like Urdin, had accustomed herself to living while paying attention to ranks and orders, and here was a situation where both mattered little. Gazing at the sky, she wondered if Urdin would not say the same thing, with a jovial slap on the back just to urge her on.

"What could you be doing right now, General, sir..?"

***

Not wishing to waste more time, Senna immediately made for Ukara's residence, having solved what she thought she was going to say along the way.

"Hey, it's you again... Come on in, lady officer."

"Hold on a second..." Senna countered, squinting as she scrutinized her host this time. "Is it just me or are you shrinking, kid? You look taller when I first came here."

The child in front of her giggled. "That was my big brother Azu, lady. I'm Savis. If it's my dad you're looking for, too bad, you'll have to wait."

"Not him," she muttered. "Is your mom around?"

"Why, yes. She's been wanting to speak to you, truth be told. Just yesterday she had asked Big Brother Azu if he could find a way to sneak into the army's quarters. 'That's nearly impossible,' Big Bro had replied, and since then she seemed to have little appetite for anything. Now you've come, she'd be delighted! Come, lady!"

"Sav?" a female voice inquired from the back, "are you talking to someone there?"

"Mom, it's that lady officer again! She wants to--"

Eara's slim figure unhurriedly made its way out of the house's living room and on to the visitor, prompting Savis to pause. Senna blinked, studying her pearly eyes, round smiling face and graceful steps.

'Little appetite for anything', was it?

Upon perceiving Senna, she inclined her head before speaking in a casual tone.

"Welcome, lady, to our humble abode. This must be the first time we actually met, as in the previous instance my husband had sent me off. Please follow me."

Senna did, going through a short corridor and into the simple living room, carpeted, with cushions facing a low round mahogany table. Azumi and his middle sister Iruha occupied two of those, and looked up at the sound of fresh steps. Eara came in first, followed by their visitor, then finally and rather shyly, Savis. Two steaming mugs of tea had also been prepared, with the wooden tray close to where Iru was sitting.

The hostess beckoned her visitor to an empty cushion facing one of the steaming mugs before taking her own seat on the other side.

"Now then," Eara said formally, "to what, Officer, do we owe the honor of this visit?"

"I... believe some apology is due, my Lady Velandis," Senna began, noting that the hostess did not bother to send her own children off this time

"Our mom isn't a lady," Iruha joined. "If she were, then I would have been a princess."

"Mind your manners, Iru," her elder brother scolded. "What kind of princess would eat for three? You'd lick the palace kitchens dry if you can help it, I imagine."

The mother threw a sideways glare.

"Azu, enough. I did not allow you to stay for this."

Her elder boy nodded, unabashed. "A thousand apologies, Mom."

"What was that again, please?" Eara now asked her visitor. "You said something about apologies. Kindly elaborate?"

"I was told some of my decision had caused you discomfort," Senna admitted, unsure of any other way to put it.

"My, oh my..." Eara chuckled, her mouth covered. "If you are apologizing for every one of your liege's decisions to people of this city, I fear we shall never hear the end of this."

"No, my lady. Our young liege makes decisions, yes, and he shall be held accountable for them... but I am referring to that rescind of the decision to put your husband to a new post. I was told it caused some discomfort here."

"Since when does an officer concern herself with such matters?" Azu joined in again. Eara nodded in assent, waiting for the answer.

Since when does a boy dare to ask this of me? she inwardly growled; but what she said aloud was, "I think it's not out of place to show concern to a fellow officer. Ukara's canceled appointment to that city to act as a handler had upset you, I'm told, and for that I am sorry."

"This is past," Eara returned calmly. "Then I was being obstinate, but such is the nature of his work. I've come to realize that whether or not he is appointed to said city, wherever that is, Ukara would still care for us--one way or another. For this I have apologized to him as well. If there's nothing else?"

After a prayer, Senna reached out to her mug of tea and sipped it. The warmth soothed her mind somewhat. "Nothing else, my lady. I'm glad it didn't turn out too badly for you all, and I'm sorry that this siege does not seem like it'll be over soon..."

"In that case, Officer," Iru put in, "I have a question."

"What is it?"

"How do you think this siege will end? Will you capture the mastermind? Get rid of him? Battle your way in? Destroy the ships? Or..."

During this barrage of questions, Iru's brothers and even her mother were listening with blank expressions. These coming from a girl whose usual thoughts were the next menu?

"Well... to be really honest, I haven't a clue yet. I am not even in my target city, and even then things could turn for better or worse..."

"So you see, Big Sis," Savis added, "what the officer is doing is risky, and to have done it alongside Dad..."

"Alright, Sav, point taken. We'll just have to wait it out, right?"

"Well... pretty much."

"At least the raids are less frequent than before, as Senna said," Azu put in. "Seems like they are weakening."

Which is why I'm taking this risk, Senna mentally added. Let's pray the raids don't resume before we hit the trail, as there's always the possibility that the enemy will discover what we're up to during the intervening days, nay, maybe even hours...

"Very well, children," Eara stood up, "it is out of place to detain our guests, unless they have the intention of staying, once their affairs are concluded. Again, Officer, we kindly thank you for this visit as well as for clearing things up. Whatever rift you think I'm having with my husband, I can assure you, it is no longer there. We are simply one of those families wanting to live in security and prosperity under a united Hospodia. Kindly pass that to whomever shall rule."

"I'll keep that in mind, Lady Eara, I appreciate your cooperation... and the refreshingly warm tea."

"I brewed them," Iru piped in, and was acknowledged by the visitor's friendly smile.

"Then, all, I'll be taking my leave. Kindly pass my regards to Ukara when he's back."

"Sure thing, Officer," Savis grinned. "Who shall we say is calling?"

The visitor laughed, cheerful. That stunned Eara, but she decided to play along. How often would you see one of Urdin's direct subordinates like this?

"Call me Senna, children."