Victor paced around the air ship. "News?" He asked a guard. He shook his head.

Victor groaned. His search for Lyra hadn't become simply an assignment. It had become an obsession. The king sent him a letter everyday, expecting a report. Victor had gone to the point of trying to make things up to report.

The king's threats made Victor more on edge, and his recent threat to strip him of his War Playing status scared him most. Not only would it mean being thrown out in shame, but all his payments would be retracted. No home, not way to live. He might as well be killed.

Victor took out the paper for the report. He heard the air ships' soft hum as he put ink to paper.

Then, someone suddenly burst in. Victor looked up. A guard was holding a disgruntled woman by the arm. She had long copper hair with streaks of white. "Let go of me, you stupid oaf!" The woman yelled to the guard.

She turned to Victor. "You must be the idiot who the king sent to find the vixen." Victor stood. "Ma'am, you can't just barge in here, and disrespect-" the woman waved him off.

"When I want to speak to you, you should tell your guards to let me in! I know where the girl is." Victor suddenly perked up.

"Where is she? Tell me where she is, woman!" The woman growled. "I want something in return. When you catch her, you have to kill her." Victor shook his head. "The king plans for her to serve in his army." The woman turned. "No deal. I want the girl dead." The woman grabbed Victor's shirt, shaking him. "The little vixen killed my husband! She killed him! My Clyde!And just left! She deserves death!"

Victor pried her hands off his shirt. "I cannot go against the king's wishes." The woman looked bitterly at him. "Say it was an accident. Either you accept my help, or I'll kill her myself. Your choice."

Victor stared at the woman. He knew the king would kill him if he brought Lyra back dead. And he was desperate. Victor realized he could only do one thing to get around this woman. He would have to lie. "What's your name?" The woman narrowed her eyes. "Lidya." Victor looked hard at her. "I accept your deal. Now get out. We meet again tomorrow."

Lidya didn't say anything. She only nodded, and then turned and stormed out the door. Victor watched her leave, and then turned to a guard. "Follow her. Give me some news on where she goes. She has valuable information."

The guard nodded, and then went out the door.

Victor turned, and saw the blank report still on his desk.

He'd have some good news tonight after all.

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Sorry, I made Victor slightly evil XD

-Clo