HAWK & SABLE | TWO

  "SO CLOSE," IO said wistfully, staring out from the deck of the ship, eyes glued to the faint silhouette of Saian shore.

Ciri eyed her, looking amused. No matter what, the younger girl was humorous and brave. She was the fire to Asteria's ice and Danna's water. They may have taken parts of her away, but they hadn't broken her spirit yet. And Ciri doubted they ever would. Iolanthe Mi was a fighter, just like her mother. Admirable in one so young.

"We'll be at the docks in around an hour," Asteria confirmed. "Arrive in Hong Cheng by nightfall." It wasn't too long a journey from Arecia to Sai. A few days, usually. But on a boring, drab ship, those hours passed slowly. All of them were anxious to get off. And none of them would admit it, but they were all a little bit homesick. Ciri just wanted to taste some proper Saian food, and the feeling of her feet on solid ground. It was one of those things you didn't realise you missed until you lost it.

"Comfortable bed by midnight," Danna grinned. "Wonder if my sister is in the Palace." Danna's older sister was Megara, Baroness of Xiang Zhou. The two loved each other, that much was clear, but disagreed regarding many things, including their youngest sister, Hebe. Ciri personally hoped the Baroness would not be in residence. They had a mission to complete on this trip, and she didn't want Danna distracted. But the Baroness wasn't a regular at the Palace, so she wasn't too worried.

Asteria tilted her head. "Not that I'm aware of." She exchanged a quick glance with Ciri, clearly echoing her thoughts. They'd been arguing over where to send the youngest Pang sister since their father had died and Megara had ascended to the barony. Megara thought Hebe should be allowed a few more years of her freedom and childhood and hence stay with her. Danna thought Hebe was miserable not because the two sisters had a poor relationship but due to the fact she was a full ten years older than her youngest sister. Megara said that Hebe would be even more miserable under Lady Kuroki's care, especially right now, since the youngest sister did not have the steel her older sisters were built of. Keeping up with the disagreement gave all of them whiplash, so they had chosen to leave the three Pang sisters to their own fate regarding this topic long ago.

"Pity." Danna made a cluck-cluck sound with her tongue. The black-haired girl was generally a woman of few words, but she could be talkative when she wanted to be, around people she was comfortable with. Ciri was fortunate to count herself among those ranks. Miss Daneira Pang was someone who was usually overlooked— a wallflower at every ball, usually by choice. When she brought any attention to herself, it usually attracted scandal. Her mother had been known for her scandals and improper behaviour in her youth, and part of it had spread to her three daughters, no matter how hard they tried to be the definition of the proper, well-bred misses.

Io shrugged. "You could occupy your sister's suite by yourself if you want to. The rest of us would be stuck with Lady Kuroki's. Except maybe Ciri and that Viscount Archsham. The two of you would probably be offered guest quaterings."

"I'd most likely be placed in my father's courtyard house," Asteria pointed out. The Duke of Shui Xiang's residence in the Scarlet Palace was one of the most luxurious, known as the Haixuan Gong. The Swirling Water Palace. It had been a gift for all his service. Without him, the Yie dynasty would not have been possible, and he had been rewarded accordingly.

"Oh." Io pouted. "Well, I'm living with the lady alone. Bummer." The baroness and her students were frequent visitors of the school, and hence had been offered a small palace for their use. At this time, one or two of the older students might be in her reserved courtyard house, the Bailu Gong— the Hundred Green Palace, under the care of one of Lady Kuroki's carefully selected teachers. Most of the students made strategic marriages, and hence Lady Kuroki had them have as much exposure to any court as possible.

Asteria shook her head. "The Lai sisters are in town."

Io raised a brow. "Natasha and Natalie? Well, I suppose they're both tolerable." Over-chatty, but tolerable. An earl's daughters.

Danna asked, "Have we traced the paintings?"

A few weeks ago, Ciri's sister and a group of Arecian Secret Service agents had managed to apprehend a smuggler for a mole in Arecia, hoping to capture the mole themselves. The trap they had set didn't work, but they'd gotten enough information from the smuggler, a painter named Norman Hightower, to attempt an operation in Sai.

"As far as we could. Has to be an official. It's going to be someone obvious, I just know it, and when we find out who it is, I'm going to kick myself." Asteria twirled a lock of hair around her fingers. Before she went on shore, she'd have that tied up into a neat bun, but they didn't care much for propriety on this ship. "Fuqin says he's been doing his best, but he's busy cleaning up Hua Jueying's mess." Hua Jueying, in an attempt to gain revenge on the Yie dynasty for ousting him all those years ago, had been running a traitorous, long-running deal between their vassal state of Gira and its enemy, Gana. His goal was to ruin Sai's credibility and demolish its power. In truth, it probably would only have set Sai back a few decades in diplomatic progress, but that was still too much damage.

But Hua Jueying made the mistake of attracting attention. Cass and Ciri had caught a whiff of sketchy behaviour, and the former headed straight to Gira. Ciri did her own investigation and headed to Barlen. Ciri had been captured by Hua Jueying. Cass managed to get to Arecia and request help from friends there, and they managed to capture Hua Jueying together. Arecian Secret Service's involvement was why Laurence was accompanying them. It was their prisoner, in a way, and they wanted to make sure he'd be dealt with properly. Ciri suspected the Arecians had another agenda for this trip, but she wasn't sure what it was yet.

"That was nasty business. Sloppily done, with loose strings everywhere. I hate amateur work. Can they not leave it for us professionals?" Ciri sent the three of them a little smile. Every single one of them were trained to be deadly, from her, the oldest among this crowd, to thirteen-year-old Iolanthe. Everyone underestimates the blushing debutantes. They were perfect for espionage, always overlooked. Asteria, as a future duchess, could gain invitations to the most exclusive of events. Danna was a wallflower who no one noticed. Ciri was charming and slipped under everyone's guard. Io was a child.

Asteria said, "When we get to Hong Cheng, I'd like to drop by the Iron Wolves' headquarters. They can spare a Wolf or two for us on this mission. It would be very helpful."

"We'll have to be secretive about it, to not alert the mole," Io mused. "We can have them help investigate discreetly."

"We are always discreet." Danna pushed away from the wooden barriers of the ship. "We should head to our cabins, get ready. Io, can you wake Lady Kuroki?"

"Of course." Io grinned, carefree. "Willing to bet she's already awake."

"Not taking that bet," Ciri retorted. "Your cabin is next to hers. You'd have heard everything."

Io pouted. "Pity. Whatever. I'll go knock on her cabin door." She spun around, light blue hanfu rustling around her ankles. The older girls were qipaos, which were in fashion with the younger generation, but Io opted for something more traditional.

Ironic. Out of all four girls, Io was the only one not legitimately related to any aristocrats. She was the illegitimate daughter of the old emperor's brother, a renowned libertine. He was living somewhere in exile. Io's mother was a courtesan, and she of all people had the right to spit on tradition and its idea of propriety. A bastard of such a rich nobleman would be rare in Sai, especially prior to the Yie dynasty, when most richer men had an abundance of concubines and consorts. But the Prince hadn't had the decency of taking in Io's mother as a concubine.

Instead, he arranged for her mother to be killed.

Still, Io's illegitimacy wouldn't have caused too much trouble. The more snobbish would steer clear of her, but illegitimate children weren't as much a big deal in Sai than in the western countries. The trouble with Io was who her father was.

Io was the blood and kin of the old emperor. It didn't matter if she was a bastard or not. If her father recognised her, she couldn't be considered illegitimate anymore. She'd become a threat to the Yie dynasty. Even if the royal family knew she would do nothing against them, they'd have to do something in case supporters of the old regime got any ideas. Most likely, comfortable exile.

No. They weren't going to let that happen. Lady Kuroki had mused that she'd find a nobleman in need of money somewhere and pay him off to have him claim Io as his own in the future. Io was too valuable and too dear to lose over such trivial matters.

Asteria went next, excusing herself with a quick curtsy, leaving Ciri standing with Danna, who turned back to the shore. They stood there without words for a few moments, enjoying each other's companionship.

"They want to send me to Melique." The words were quiet, and to anyone else emotionless. But Ciri heard the fear in it.

Danna's mother had been Meliquean. She herself didn't look much like she was from there, but she was one of the few Saian agents who could stay there for long periods of time without much scrutiny. It was too good a chance to pass on. Ciri had to admit there was much advantage in such a decision.

"Alone?"

"They're considering sending Io along with me, as either a maid or a distant cousin. I don't like it."

"I don't either. When did you hear this?"

"Asteria warned me. Some of her father's advisors were discussing it. She overheard. Irina's a dear friend, but she's practical. If they bring this up to her, she'd agree."

Ciri frowned. "Not for a few more years, though. The war hasn't yet started."

Danna hissed. "It's Melique, Ciri."

She offered a half-heart shrug. "It comes with our job. If it helps, I don't think they'd force you to if you complain enough. You're still the sister of a baroness. Lady Megara is involving herself in politics. In a few years, she might have enough influence to keep you out of too dangerous work."

Danna's eyes flashed with rage, as Ciri had expected those words to make her. "I'm not a coward."

"Then stop worrying. Live in the present. Between you and Io, you'll be perfectly fine in Melique." No she wouldn't be. Melique was the enemy, and Danna was half-Meliquean here in Sai, and half-Sai there in Melique. She wouldn't be accepted in either places, but she looked and acted Saian enough to be safe here. In Melique, her sister's title and power meant nothing. In fact, it'd place her in even more danger.

"I'm fucking terrified."

"You should be. In your own words, it's Melique."

Danna threw up her hands in frustration. "You're my friend. Shouldn't you give a bit more of a care for my safety?"

Ciri paused for a moment, trying to come up with an answer. "We're both spies, Danna. We know what our job is like. We know what we signed up for. And I don't think it's care you need right now."

Danna shot her a dirty look. "You don't know what I need."

Ciri picked at her sleeve. "I'm wiser than you think, and almost three years older." Sometimes it startled her how young Danna was. So reserved, so cynical, so jaded. A girl who had gone through too much. Most of them were like that, but it still took her by surprise every time.

"Yes," Danna said flatly, "but you're not me. Let's not talk about what's good for me, then. Do you really think wartorn Melique, behind enemy lines is a good place for Io to spend her formative years?"

Not sure how to respond, Ciri chose sarcasm. "It would be excellent character building."

Danna sucked in a breath, exasperated. "Sometimes, you're so bull-headed, did you know that?"

A coy tilt of her head was Ciri's response. "Io can handle it. We both know that. Do not underestimate her. Even now, she could probably handle anything we can and perhaps even better." When Iolanthe put her mind on something, she was unstoppable. Undoubtedly one of the best of their generation. Danna was letting her sisterly instincts stand in her way. That was annoying in their field. She fixed her stern gaze on Danna, silently chastising her fellow student.

Danna's nose flared. Perhaps this was her way of showing all the emotions she kept hidden up inside of her. In a few days, they'd pretend this episode had never happened. Danna needed to cool off and let out some steam once in a while. This time, Ciri was unfortunate enough to be the audience. Better her than anyone less tactful, she supposed.

Finally, the girl seemed to remember herself. "I'm going downstairs."

Ciri nodded in acknowledgement. Danna, wordlessly, turned and vanished below deck. Ciri stayed there for a few more moments to avoid an awkward meeting before following as well. Instead of heading to her own cabin directly, Ciri turned the other direction and found herself facing Laurence's door. She rapped her knuckles against the door.

It swung open a moment later. She hadn't heard a sound. Sometimes, it was easy to slip one's mind that Laurence Dumont was a trained spy.

He raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry. She shrugged, meeting his grey gaze. "Thought you'd welcome the reminder that we arrive in Sai within an hour, according to Asteria's estimations." She gestured to his dishevelled state. "You might want to... make yourself look more presentable." She didn't blush, didn't glance lower than his neck, because underneath that was a half-buttoned shirt that showed more than enough skin that she did not particularly wish to see.

(Well, that was a lie. Laurence Dumont was famous for being handsome the way she was known for being charming. But she didn't want to see it now, and she certainly didn't want him to see her seeing it.)

He glanced out of his window. "I'll do that."

She gave a graceful, small curtsy. "Wonderful. I'm taking my leave now." She didn't give him time to say anything else. They used to be a lot more conversational than this. She wasn't sure what changed.

Back in her own cabin, a small, cramped little place, Ciri smoothed out her best robe, a silky dark green one. It complimented her complexion, she liked to think. She changed quickly before setting herself down in front of the makeshift vanity, taking out a mirror and gathering the things she needed to fix her hair.

In a few minutes, her dark brown hair was set in a fashionable bun, an emerald ji— a hairpin— securing it in place. Ciri inspected her appearance, and once she was satisfied, moved about the room to clean everything up. Lady Kuroki's girls didn't usually have maids cleaning after them. The staff back in the castle was few and sparse to discourage any gossip and to keep the secret, and the few they had were too busy maintaining the household to help with the girls' individual whims.

And in the rare cases her girls were sent out for field work, and not as ladies of society, they had to take care of themselves. It was excellent practise, and beat some modesty into the more arrogant and pompous of them.

Among the few of them, it was mature, capable Asteria who had the most problem with this. Funny. Asteria's father was a duke, and she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, people looking after her every step. Danna's family had been neglectful, her step-mother abusive. She'd learnt to take care of herself and her sisters. Io had lived for years on the streets of Asayama. Ciri had done much the same in Arecia, though for a lesser period of time.

When everything she had was tidied up into a nice little trunk, Ciri called for one of the sailors to help her move it to the deck. Lady Kuroki was already there. A small woman, yet she moved with all the fierceness of a general in battle. Ciri admired her greatly.

"Diao xiaojie. How excellent of you to join me." The words were Saian, with the accent of the capital. The baroness tilted her head, dressed in dark blue. Ciri dropped into a low curtsy, slowly raising her head.

"Lady Kuroki. I thought I might come up earlier."

"Excellent choice." Lady Kuroki smiled, showing teeth. "Come, dear girl. Stand by me." She patted the wooden rail of the ship, and Ciri glided forward, head still slightly lowered. They were very close to shore now.

Lady Kuroki was a stern teacher, a doting mother, and a rock for everyone to lean on. She was indomitable, a stone fortress for young, troubled girls with no one else in the world. With nothing but pure will she gave each of them a family, something to live for. Ciri often thought she owed her entire life to the lady. Hence, despite her eccentricities, Ciri did all she could to make the baroness comfortable.

"Now," the woman began, staring out at sea, "I assume Lord Archsham is capable of greeting royalty without causing an international scandal."

"He is as courteous, gracious and educated as any of us, my lady. You need not worry."

Lady Kuroki harrumphed. "I assume so. Phillippe Cadieux doesn't train fools. We are lucky to have Arecia on our side."

"Of course, my lady." When the baroness was in a mood like this, meekly agreeing was the best thing to do. She'd snap out of her mood sooner or later. They were an odd bunch, Kuroki and her girls.

"I look forward to seeing my sister. I have matters to discuss with her."

"I'm sure the Duchess has many things to consult with you as well." Lady Kuroki's younger sister was Alina Wan Xin, Duchess of Shui Xiang, Asteria's mother. People tended to overlook her for her spymaster husband, failing to realise that the Duchess was just as capable and aided her husband greatly. The Duchess was as much a kai guo gong cheng— a founder hero— as the Duke.

"Simpering doesn't suit you, my dear," the baroness huffed with laughter. Ciri allowed herself a smile.

"I believe simpering is one of my most important skill sets, Lady Kuroki."

She waved her hand in dismissal. "Only around fools, my dear. Anyone with a brain could see you have much more to say than to blindly agree with what someone else says."

"How fortunate for me then, that the world is full of fools."

"Ha! There we go!" Lady Kuroki grinned, giddy. "There's the devastating wit. I've missed that in the past few weeks."

Emboldened, she replied, "I was rather hoping you'd miss me instead of my humour, my lady."

"Excellent, excellent!" And then, all of a sudden, the lady sobered. "Now, I need not remind you why we're here, yes, Diao xiaojie?"

"Of course not."

"It is important we find this mole quickly. War is coming soon. It is inevitable. When it comes, I do not want the Meliqueans to have a line into our most inner bureaus."

"You believe the traitor is deep within our ranks, then?"

"No doubt." The baroness looked troubled. "Someone with access to our intelligence operations. We keep getting routed. We lost three agents a few weeks ago, right after you left. It's very worrying."

"Our operation must remain under wraps. The mole must not suspect that we are looking for them, and with evidence."

"No use. They'd know Hightower had been taken and piece it together. They'd be alert, especially with the visit of the son of a legendary spy. Even if they have not realised that Lord Archsham is a Service agent, they'd be wary of him anyway."

"Still."

"We will be careful, but it will likely be futile effort. We do not need to capture the spy. We must simply chase them away and ensure they do not return."

"A noble effort."

"We are spies. Our work is not noble." Lady Kuroki's voice was firm, her head slightly dipped. That was a personal statement, an accidental reveal of what laid beneath that facade she wore all day. Ciri chose to be tactful and ignored it.

"Of course not. We are liars."

"Beautiful ones at that."