THE SABLE SPY | THIRTY-THREE

CADIEUX ONLY LOOKED vaguely interested when they pulled up outside Borewood Street, the midnight of the next day. He had mastered that particular skill many years ago, and Cass admired it greatly. A moment later, he pulled away from the window and exited.

"We got him," Sterling grinned.

"I know. You set me a bloody message through Fitzwilliam, for god's sake." Luke had gone back first with a horse to request aid. Cadieux responded by sending out two agents with a carriage, where they had unceremoniously crammed themselves either onto the remaining horses or inside the carriage.

"Where's Luke?" Ciri asked, frowning slightly.

"Sleeping inside," Cadieux shrugged. "Come on, get the damned man inside before we attract too much attention. I taught you all better than this."

To that Ciri raised a defiant eyebrow. "You didn't train me, sir, with all due respect. Lady Kuroki did. And my aunt."

"Well, then they taught you better than this. Get inside."

The entourage made their way into the house. The lights were dimmed, and Cass could hear faint shuffling upstairs from one of the agents. Everyone else seemed to be asleep. Tyler almost immediately headed upstairs, probably to see Georgie. Cadieux ushered them all into the library.

Marcus began by telling him everything Luke wouldn't have known. For once, Cadieux listened patiently. When he was done, he gave a faint nod in response. "We'll store the man here for now. I'll send a message to the Kuroki chits first thing tomorrow morning. We can have you all packed and ready for Sai before the end of the week."

"Sounds good," Ciri said.

"Can we sleep now?" Cass asked, fighting back a yawn. "It's been a tiring few days, old man."

There was talking from the stairs. Cass strained her ear to listen, faintly making out two voices. Laurence, determined, Tyler annoyed. When they neared, Laurence was saying, "I'm not a bloody invalid, Tyler. I'm fine. It was one cut."

To which Tyler replied with a string of Lohian curses Cass dared not translate.

Ciri looked faintly amused from her chair as the two men appeared. Tyler met Cadieux's eye. "Insisted on coming down. No one can stop Dumont when he puts his fucking mind on something, apparently."

"And you're surprised by that?" Cass asked, tilting her head slightly.

"We got him, then?" Laurence asked, ignoring both of them. Marcus replied with a nod. Sterling appeared a moment later holding a tray of hot tea, which they took and sipped graciously. "Thank fucking god." Laurence wasn't one to use vulgar words easily, but Cass knew there was something personal about Hua Jueying's capture to him ever since he was held captive himself. Maybe it was bruised pride, maybe it was something else.

"We have papers," Cass said. "Evidence. He didn't burn any of it."

"Rookie mistake. I hate dealing with amateurs, makes my head spin." Cadieux played the jaded mentor today, dressed like a labourer off the docks. He'd probably been out earlier. Something important. He wouldn't have attended it himself otherwise. "If any of it is useful to us, hand it over."

We did all this for you even though we know your loyalty is not with our cause. Friendship can only pay for so much of our troubles.

"We will," Cass said, meeting his eyes, unflinching.

Ciri started, "If this is enough information for you, Mr Cadieux, can we please be allowed some rest?"

Cadieux let out a sigh. "Go. We'll discuss this tomorrow."

✴

"PATHETIC, REALLY,' Lady Kuroki was scoffing as she exited the room where Hua Jueying was being held. "Nothing more than a yapping dog. Very, very disappointing." Behind her came her three students, each with serene expressions. There was a flicker of loathing in Iolanthe's, but she hid it well, and no one commented.

"Consider this disappointment our gift to you," Cadieux replied, voice dry and sardonic, every inch the spymaster. "What will you do with him?"

"It is not what we will do to him that is the problem. It's what the Bone Court would," came the swift reply. Her cheongsam, made of dark green silk, rustled under her as she made her way down the corridor until they reached the parlour. Cass hadn't noticed this before but she did now: when it was people Cadieux considered one of his own, the meetings happened in the library. When guests were here, they were conducted in this little ugly parlour. "They will, of course, need to find out how much damage he has done. We'll be busy for a few weeks."

"Charming." Cadieux followed behind the four women. Cass was beginning to get tired of watching these two wise and experienced spymasters be subtle and cunning around each other, dancing around the point. She glanced at the three girls, but none of their expressions betrayed a single thing.

"Which agent are you sending to accompany us?"

Cadieux shrugged. "Most likely Dalton."

"Lord Farnsworth?" Lady Kuroki raised a brow as she took a seat. "Hmm. Son of a marquess. Good choice. You are coming as well, Miss Diao?"

"We both are. Can you manage that?" Ciri asked, already seated there waiting.

Lady Kuroki snorted as if she was offended. "You think so little of me, dear girl. I can easily secure a pardon for the two of you. Mr Cadieux, do get the guest list prepared before tomorrow. We're sending a message ahead of us to our associates in the Bone Court." The Duke of Shui Xiang, probably, Asteria's father. Or maybe the Duchess, since the Duke didn't deal with courtly matters much. Or maybe the royal family themselves. The Bone Court, after all, was in the Palace. It was their territory, and they'd probably be interested in Hua Jueying themselves.

"That will be done," Cadieux replied. The two spymasters in the room could not be more different. Lady Kuroki was impeccably dressed, the respected matron in her expensive robe, her hair fixed as if she was attending court. Meanwhile, Cadieux looked straight out of the workhouses, dressed in shabby, torn clothing. It was his own kind of humour. From what Cass knew, his blood was blue, though not as much as the rest of them, and he was wealthy enough to afford much better clothes. This was his own inner joke, to dress like a labourer off the streets.

"Hmm." Lady Kuroki reached for the tea Ciri had poured. "Make certain of that." Cass found a small amount of joy at the way Lady Kuroki treated Cadieux like a rebellious, arrogant son rather than a spymaster of another country. Cadieux did not seem to agree.

"Matters have been brought to a satisfying finish," Danna said with a tiny smile. She didn't seem like the sort of person who showed her emotions often. She wasn't icy Asteria, who hid everything behind a wall of disdain and arrogance. Danna just seemed... blank. As if she locked all her emotions in a tiny chest within her heart and wasn't sure what to put on herself for the world to see. That was a girl with an interesting backstory, Cass just knew it, but she didn't pry.

"And don't we love those," came Io's snarky response, a smirk on her expression as she regarded everyone and everything in the room, missing nothing. Dangerous girl. She'll keep tabs on that one. Someone worth watching.

Asteria shrugged. "The job is complete for spies. I'm afraid us diplomats still have a bit of work cut out for us." They'd have to do damage control, close up the loose threads. Hua Jueying could still do damage with what he had done.

Then they'd all move onto their next mission. God knew where it would bring them. Ciri frowned, taking a sip of tea, displeased with something. Cass wasn't sure what it was, and she didn't ask. If her sister wanted to share, she'd share it.

Marcus came in. "The room's secure." That was said for the Kuroki girls' benefits. Everyone else knew Marcus wouldn't come in before making certain of that first. Lady Kuroki studied him from head to toe, and he raised a brow at that.

"If you are to accompany us to Sai, boy, you'd need better manners," the woman started with a harrumph. "Though I suppose I could excuse your behaviour right now, considering the company we keep. Miss Diao, I trust you will ensure he's probably trained by the time we arrive?"

"Actually..." An idea had sprung into her mind, and Cass didn't have time to think it through before the words escaped her mouth. "I was wondering if I could stay in Arecia for a little while. I think Ciri would be sufficient enough for this journey."

Cadieux, Marcus and Ciri's eyes all snapped to her, ranging from shock, surprise to relief. Marcus's mouth twisted into a little smile. "If that's the case, I'll be staying as well."

Cadieux let out a grunt. "I'll get another one of the men to go, then." He shut his eyes, as if pained, muttering something under his breath. Ciri's lips turned upwards into a surreptitious little smile, eyes glimmering with knowledge. Cass shot her a glare, daring her to speak.

The other four, clearly aware that something was going on that they were not in upon, looked on in silence and speculation.

Cass remained silent, taking a drink of tea.

"I'll go," came a new voice from the doorway. Cass recognised the voice before she even turned her head— Laurence, a brow raised, expression serious. His eyes lingered on Ciri for a moment too long. "My pride's been bruised after being captured."

Asteria rolled her eyes. Io flashed a wide grin.

"Fucking wonderful," Cadieux muttered to himself. "Just goddamn great."

Cass found some sick joy in annoying Cadieux so much. Judging from the other's expressions, they did too.

✴

"SO YOU'RE STAYING."

"Not for long, mind you," Cass said, picking at her sleeves, the portrait of polite boredom. "I have business in Sai. I must speak to the royal family face-to-face eventually to negotiate the lifting of the exile for my entire family, not just me and my sister."

"But you're staying for now."

"Yes." Her voice was cool. She was not in the mood to listen to him gloat, which he would do, however unknowingly. But he must have a reason to gloat first, which he did— he had won. She was right where he wanted her. The thought made her a bit uncomfortable, but not as much as she had expected it to.

Perhaps because a small part of her was rather secretly pleased with where they were now.

He must have sensed the discomfort in her bones, because he swiftly changed the subject. "Laurence and Ciri. That's a pair I never expected."

"You see it too?"

"Laurence had no intention of travelling to Sai. And the way his eyes have been following her? Yes, I'm aware. Note how protective she's been of him as well, commanding him around, usually to rest. It could be a strange friendship they've struck up while in captivity, but..."

"Ciri is a beautiful girl, and Laurence plays the handsome rake to a fault. One can easily see the attraction. Courtiers, charmers to the bone, playing up a facade for the world to see but hiding equally brilliant minds underneath."

"I always thought he saw her as a sister," Marcus frowned, leaning back against the chair.

Cass shook her head. "A friend, perhaps, but never a sister. That was me. But don't worry. I know you are. They're both professionals, and my sister has always been far too precocious and aware of human nature for her own good. This diplomatic mission would succeed very well."

"They're both masters at their games. I'm not worried. Ciri becoming a viscountess would be very useful to her line of work as well. They're unstoppable together. They could charm the Meliqueans into surrendering single-handedly."

She raised a brow. "You think very much ahead, Dalton."

He flashed her a quick grin. "I'm a spy, Cass. A bloody good one too. It's part of my job."

"I would not make assumptions and hope for such an ending if I were you. It sets one up for embarrassment and disappointment. A terrible concoction."

"I don't make assumptions blindly. When Laurence falls for women he's had prior platonic attachment to, he falls hard."

They were both silent at this. Laurence nursed his own heartbreak once upon a time. They were already apart by then, but they both knew the story. From what she'd seen, he'd all but forgotten about it. But Laurence had always been good at hiding his feelings, so she wasn't sure.

"They'll be good for each other. Like us," Marcus continued, voice barely above a hum. The library was quiet, the only sound the faint flickering of flames in the fireplace and their soft conversation.

"I thought we both agreed that what we have between us is foolish to a fault. We left all our wisdom at the door, it seems."

Marcus smiled. "Never stopped anyone."

"We are not just anyone. Kingdoms can rise and fall at a snap of our fingers."

"You overstate our influence."

"Do I?" Cass's voice was unimpressed. "We have a lot of important information stuffed in our heads. Even now, off the top of our heads, we have enough power to set Sai back for years."

"How fortunate for you all of us are friends with you here, and the Service is more than aware that it requires Sai's aid for what comes ahead, then?"

"I have the faint suspicion that the Kuroki girls would have killed you all otherwise."

"Very lethal, all of them. And they're only three. Her best three, but only three nonetheless. How many does she have in total?"

"Two to three dozen. Her girls are littered everywhere, from what I've managed to glean from Ciri, which isn't a lot."

"Your sister is very tight-lipped." Ciri was pure professional. She'd never reveal anything she didn't want to, not even to family.

"Of course she is," Cass shrugged, "we're spies. I think I'll stay here for a few weeks first, before following them to Sai. I'm a bit tired and require a vacation."

Marcus was quiet for a moment. "I own a cottage in Horkfield."

"Are you inviting me to stay as a guest?" Cass asked, raising a brow. "That doesn't seem very proper. The ton will have a seizure."

"Fuck the ton," came his reply. "They don't have eyes all the way in Horkfield, Cass. You can do whatever the hell you want there. I don't mind."

"Will you come with me?"

"If you want me to."

And he desperately wanted her to. She could see it in her eyes. She contemplated saying no just to watch him panic, but decided against it. They've both caused too much hurt for each other in the past few years, and she didn't want to add to it anymore.

"Yes. I would."

He let out a breath of relief, then grinned. "Thank god."

"Thank god indeed," Cass murmured, and then kissed him square on the lips, still smiling. They stayed like that for a very long time.

THE END.