THE WHITE FOX | FIVE

  GOING TO THE library meant splitting up halfway there, Io to search the building, Danna to act as alibi. With a quick nod, the two turned in opposite directions. Io's heart thumped as she turned down a few corridors until she was in areas of the house only frequented by the servants. She'd changed for dinner into a darker dress. It was paying off now. The lack of jewellery further aided her disguise. She stuck to the shadows, invisible as a wraith.

They didn't have any suspects yet, so there was no point in searching the guests' rooms. Not until they pinned someone down. For now, she'd go around, looking for hiding spots that she or anyone else might use. Make a floor plan in her head. She'll draw it out or verbally describe it to the others later.

The Carlston manor was massive. Sprawling wings and room upon room. If the kids she'd known in Asayama were here today, they'd be drooling. It didn't matter how much luxury she'd been treated to in the past years. She'd never lost the girl who had starved on the streets, deprived of her mother with a vengeful monster as a father. Never lost the girl who hid and watched and sobbed soundlessly in the dead of the night.

It was what made her such a good spy.

Her steps were light, soundless. Asteria liked to joke that she walked like she was floating, feet barely skimming the floor. That was the result of the legion of dance lessons Lady Kuroki had imposed upon her. Io liked to think that the baroness felt guilty for not having prepared her mother enough when she was let into the world, so she tried to make up for every imperfection with Io.

She saw the daughter and thought of the mother. It wasn't a comfortable life. But Lady Kuroki meant well, so she never complained. After all, she wouldn't be half the operative today otherwise.

She wasn't the same girl she was at three. Or twelve. That girl had been playful. She liked exuberant and loud missions, ones that shouted her credit. She was quieter now. Less emotional. So she kept on walking, mapping out the corridors as she went. There was a servant's passageway here. She stopped, fingers skimming the part where the door met the wall. Where would this lead? No one was around, she was sure about that. She pushed the door open, softly, quietly.

The passageway was faintly lit by some torches. This was a passageway that was frequently used, she thought to herself. That meant she had to be careful. If she was found, though, she carried a few coins in her pocket. Nothing a little bribery couldn't solve.

When she reached a crossroad, she took the left turn. That would bring her to somewhere in the north wing, near where she had started the journey. Far away enough from the drawing rooms that no guest would be lurking around.

The sound of a door opening interrupted her thoughts. Io instinctively darted into a dark-lit spot. Not that it would have done her any good, the passageway was far too narrow. But no one came, so she continued her journey.

There. The exit. She pressed her ear against the door for a moment, not leaning her body weight on it. Nothing. Quiet as death. She pushed the door open and walked out, steps soundless. Shut the door behind her. Turned to go—

"I always wondered what ladies did when they retired after dinner."

Her blood turned to chill ice. Only years of training kept her from jolting. She raised her head and said, not looking in his direction, "Do you make a habit of following young ladies through dark manors?"

"No, not really. I consider you a special case. Not that you should really be considered a lady, I suppose. When did you know?"

He didn't talk like the boy she'd met two years ago. That one was joyous, naive. He smiled a lot more and was amused by the simplest of things. This boy had hard eyes that seemed to pierce through her soul. He was handsome, but it did nothing to hide the toughness. He could dress like a pimpering peacock and it wouldn't make him seem like another pampered lordling. She was much the same.

She let the silence strew for a moment, then said, "You kept quiet when I was walking in the corridor. And when I was opening the door. But you made a sound when I shut it. I didn't think you'd follow me, though." He already knew what the house was like. Diksha Sahni had said that his companion, Lieutenant Harlande, was a friend of the Carlstons'. He must have gotten insider knowledge. So unfair.

"I didn't realise." She didn't have to look at him to know he tilted his head and regarded her with a curious expression. "I thought the door would have muffled that sound, probably. Thank you for the lesson, Miss Mi. You refused to tell me your name last time. I finally know now."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about," she said with perfect politeness. A bit too late for that, probably. He wouldn't fall for it. But it was still worth a try. And no one could blame her if she strangled him to death in this cool, dim corridor.

"I'm sure you don't. It's been two years."

"I truly have no idea what you're speaking of."

"Hiding in the trees. Spying on me and my family. Being exceedingly rude about it when I discovered you." There was the first hint of that boy. The humour. That had been the first thing to strike her back then. This boy found an intruder hiding amongst the trees, and his first reaction wasn't to panic or to call for an adult. It was to laugh. It had disconcerted the hell out of her then. But she was ready for it this time.

"You seem to be confused. Mistaking me for someone else. We have never met before." The words came out matter-of-factly, almost as if she was trying to hypnotise him.

"Are you certain? Because I've noticed you murmuring about me to your friends. Don't worry, I'm not going to burst your cover."

"Then I won't burst yours."

"And so you admit it." A smile. She turned to look, eyes flickering to his face, making care to show nothing but deceitful boredom.

"What am I admitting to, Mr Sanchez?"

"That you were the girl spying on me those years ago. Why were you there?"

"I truly have no clue what you're talking about. If you only have nothing but baseless accusations, I'm leaving." She turned to leave, but an arm wrapped around her wrist and yanked her back. She hadn't heard him move. He'd been far away a moment ago. Another sign that this boy was not a normal person.

It was beginning to make sense in her head, slowly. She was piecing the puzzle together, the way she had been taught to.

"Let go of me," she snarled, and he did. She rubbed her wrist. It didn't hurt, precisely, but it seemed like the proper thing to do. She didn't bother hiding her hostility under the thin veneer of politeness now. "What on earth do you want?"

"Who are you?"

"Iolanthe Mi," she spat. "You already know that."

"What are you doing here?"

"Am I not allowed to be here?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from her words. "I'm a student of Lady Kuroki's. She decided to bring three of us here, and I was fortunately chosen. Are you done with your interrogation?"

He continued on as if she hadn't spoken, glaring into her eyes. "Notice how you don't say you're Lady Asteria's cousin."

"It's not something we advertise. Lets us see a person's true face easily."

"Only works once. You planned that show with Miss Wushire."

She shrugged at that. This was something she could freely reveal. "Noticed her staring the moment I walked in the house. It was only a matter of time before she got stupid. We were right, weren't we? Asteria decided to take the chance and lai ge xia ma wei." Show off their power. She knew he spoke Saian. They'd spoken that language the last time they'd met.

"You wanted to be left alone. For this? Sneaking around?"

"I was curious." She switched roles quietly. She'd played the offended, virtuous lady. Now she played the disgruntled child. "You're sneaking around too."

He let out a soft laugh. "Following you, Miss Mi. If that's your real name at all. I'll ask again. What is your purpose here? Why are you at this house party?"

"Do you know, I've been asked that question at least twice today, and don't feel like answering it again."

"I want the truth, Miss Mi. Why are you here?" Wouldn't he like to know. What kind of spy would she be if she gave up that easily? A shitty one, that's what.

She fixed him with her deadest stare, but he was not dissuaded. "I am here, Mr Sanchez, because I was invited. If you have any qualms about my presence, bring it up to Mr Carlston."

"I just might, if you don't answer me."

"We'll see what Asteria has to say about that." Their eyes clashed. His were unreadable. Hers would show nothing but pure irritation. Neither of them would back down. They'd leave this conversation at an impasse, probably, in silent agreement that neither would say anything until they had more evidence against each other. When they did, it would be free game.

Both of them refused to relent. And they stood there for a while, not saying a word.

"Last chance." His voice was quiet, nary above a whisper. She wasn't intimidated. Io raised her chin.

"Nice try. Not working."

"I've been asking the wrong questions, haven't I? You're not in Sai anymore, Miss Mi."

"You're not in Vayante either. Caershire's hospitality only extends so far."

"You don't need to remind me of that. What are you?"

"What are you?" she shot back, expression defiant. He was a bit taller than her, but Io had years of training to stand up for herself against people twice her size. Her lips twisted into a snarl, she inched forward.

"I think you know."

"Then I think you know what I am too. What are you going to do about it?"

They both held their breaths. The answer came down to this. This one answer could throw both of their assignments into jeopardy. Was it the same assignment? Io wasn't sure. But he was working with Lieutenant Harlande, so he had to be affiliated to the Caershireen government. The Novokulugan gentleman, Aleksandr Volkov couldn't be explained yet, but it had to be associated with the Caershireen Intelligence Bureau.

How many damn conspiracies were going on under the Carlston roof? Far too many, she thought to herself. It was surprising no one had died yet. Maybe she'd commit the first murder. It wouldn't surprise her. She didn't enjoy killing, but she had before.

"I'm going to keep quiet. For now."

Io let out a quiet huff of air. "Intelligent choice, Mr Sanchez."

His eyes glimmered like hot coals as he studied her. "Don't make me regret this, Miss Mi."

"Oh, you will. But you risk your own assignment if you expose mine."

"Why do I have a distinct feeling we're working towards the same purpose here?" he asked with slight amusement. "Yet here we are, so close to being enemies."

"We can't be enemies if I don't even know you at all," she snarled, indignant. "And if our goal is the same, why don't you just let me go through with this in peace."

He stopped for a moment, thinking. "You say me. Not we. As if suggesting Lady Asteria and Miss Pang aren't involved."

Io didn't say anything. Just fixed a confused expression on her face. "Now you're being confusing again."

"That makes me think," he continued as if she hadn't spoken, "that they are involved. Lady Asteria's father is the Duke of Shui Xiang, after all. The Saian Emperor's trusted spymaster. Miss Pang... Sister to the Baroness of Xiang Zhou. Lady Megara travels frequently on the Emperor's behalf."

"You're being ridiculous. What are you—"

"And you're all being paraded around by Lady Kuroki. A girls' school. The perfect cover." He laughed in disbelief. "Tell me I'm wrong."

"I have no idea what you're saying, but you probably are." She smiled, though it obviously wasn't happy. It vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Can I go now?"

"You could have left at any time. If you're what I think you are, anyways. But you're curious, aren't you?" A smirk slowly etched itself on his face. "Funny. You work for the duke? We're both quite young for this line of work."

"You're clearly demented. Do you need a doctor?"

"No thank you. I'm sane, don't you worry. Is Iolanthe Mi your real name?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"No fake names for a mission? Not worried about failing and exposing your identity?"

"I'm a nobody, Mr Sanchez." Which was the truth. "Nobody cares about Iolanthe Mi. And I don't fail."

"I heard about a girl when I was in Vayante three months ago. Who helped smuggle out three families."

Suddenly, she knew who this boy was. He wouldn't have been in Vayante unless the Caershireens saw a purpose in it. They were desperate, not idiots. That Vayantean assignment was a preparation for the real deal. For when they shipped her and Danna into the heart of Meliquean territory.

It should have terrified her, but it didn't.

"I don't see what this girl has to do with me, Mr Sanchez."

"A young spy. No older than eighteen, they said. From Sai. Or perhaps Asayama. Maybe even Cheonuang. The accounts are blurry. All they agreed upon was that she was as beautiful as dawn and twice as brave as any warrior."

"Sounds more story than truth."

"I agree," he admitted. "It fits you, though, the parts that aren't exaggerated. Do you know what they call you now?"

He knew who she was now. Down to the very core. The very truth of her. She was in deep, deep trouble if he decided not to play nice.

She stayed quiet. He took that as a yes. "They call you the Swan."

"Very melodramatic." Another long string of nom de guerre to add to the Saian collection. She hadn't used her real name in Vayante. She used Cygnet around the Arecian speakers and Cisnes with the locals. The last character of her Saian name meant swan, so it had seemed fitting.

"I missed you by a few days, I think. How old are you?"

"I'm sure you want to know."

He let out a rough laugh. "Fine. I'll estimate. Sixteen?"

"More or less." Fifteen, actually. Her birthday was a month ago.

"Fifteen, then. They send you into Vayante. Alone. You somehow escape unscathed."

"You did too. It's not a miracle, you know," she said with much annoyance. "Are you going to keep me here forever? Not all of us are buddy-buddies with the host and get access to some confidential floor plans. I have work to do."

"Floor plans are useless compared to actually exploring the area," he pointed out. "It was why I was here, actually."

"I thought you were stalking me, if I'm being quite honest with you."

"That was an additional perk. Following Miss Iolanthe Mi through servant passageways and unlit corridors. Very exciting, wouldn't you agree?"

"As I've never done that before, I can't say."

He let out a startled huff of laughter. "You're funny."

"Coming from you, it doesn't sound like a compliment." She crossed her arms. It was her turn. "Lieutenant Harlande is in the Caershireen army. So you're working for the Caershireen Intelligence Bureau. Mr Volkov is obviously involved, but why is a Novokulugan citizen, an official for the Kozlov government working with you?"

He shrugged. "Question I've been asking myself, honestly, but I don't challenge my superiors."

"A noble, but idiotic path of action." Her responding smile was tense. "But that doesn't answer anything."

"I can't answer if I don't know how to answer." He raised his hands apologetically. "What assignment are you on?"

"Not something I can share."

"Pity," he mused. "That would have made my job easier. Do your friends know I know you?"

She stayed quiet. Saying yes would immediately confirm his suspicions of Asteria and Danna's involvements. Caershire was friend, yes, but she wasn't about to start ranting out state secrets to them any time soon. Lady Kuroki already despaired daily over the fact that her school's true purpose was known to the Arecians. Io didn't need to deal with any more of that.

"That's a yes, then."

She said, "Do your companions know who I am?"

"I told them what I knew," he admitted with a nod, taking a surreptitious step backwards, turning slightly. Bad mistake. She had two knives hidden within her gown, and the ji she had in her hair could be used as a blade as well. Not to mention the scone lighting up the corridor, right within grabbing distance. But he knew she couldn't risk a fight.

"Let's make a deal."

"I thought we already had."

"A concrete deal." She kept her expression blank. "A proper promise. That neither of us would interfere in the other's mission."

"Unless we have to?"

"No interference whatsoever."

"If your mission gets in my way? Or mine yours?" he asked, raising a brow. "I see some flaws in your logic."

She let out an exasperated huff of air. "In the case of that, we'll reconsider. I think we can manage a conflict or two. If not, you probably shouldn't be handling something like this anyways."

"And what will your companions say about this?"

"It's my mission, not theirs." The truth was that Asteria would probably kill her, very, very slowly. Which was why Io wasn't about to tell her.

He made a sound of disbelief, pacing forward and backwards. She sneered, "You're going to attract attention. Let's just get this over with."

"So desperate. Is my company that poor?"

"It's abysmal. You're unnecessarily rude and nosy, an absolute nuisance, a complete and utter wang ba dan and ni nao zi jing shui le—"

His hands flew up. "Spare me the barrage of Saian insults, please. I've heard plenty of those in my lifetime."

"Clearly not enough, though," she riposted, hands on her hips, resisting the urge to clench her fists around the dark purple fabric. If she bunched this dress up, Lady Kuroki might just try to throttle her, which was never pleasant.

"We could work together, you know." He inched forward again, studying her with a curious glint in his eyes. "All of us. It's quite clear Lady Asteria and Miss Pang are at least aware of your mission. And I doubt they send little girls like you to clean up the messes of whole countries."

"You're literally barely older than me."

"And hence why I'm here with two partners. How do you know my age?"

She tilted her head, a challenging look in her eyes. "How do you think I know your age?"

He gave it a thought. "You work for Sai. There's an easy reason for the Saians to have been suspicious of me and my family when we arrived there. We could have been Meliquean spies. So they sent you to make sure we weren't. They didn't expect me to catch you in the act though, did they?"

Her brow raised. "I don't know. What do you think?"

"Stop." But he was grinning. "I haven't met anyone like you in a long time."

"I'm one of a kind, I like to think."

"I suppose you are. Most fifteen year olds don't go around sweeping up the messes empires leave in their wake."

"Neither do most sixteen year olds, yet here we are. Stop marvelling over it. Are we done here?"

"Not for a while, I believe," he leaned against the wall, casting long shadows on the floor. She sucked in a breath, suppressing the urge to reach between the (admittedly tiny) space between them and end it all now. In fair hand-to-hand, she probably couldn't win without hurting him badly. But with the element of surprise...

"Your muscles are tensing. That means I've somehow managed to annoy you more, which is fairly plausible, or you're planning on attacking me, which I assure you is a bad idea." He wasn't even slightly concerned.

"Don't underestimate me."

His responding smile showed teeth. "I wouldn't dare, Miss Mi. But I have a secret weapon up my sleeves." His clothing was loose. Perfect for hiding weapons. She wouldn't be able to notice. But she noted that one side of his jacket weighed heavier. That probably held a gun. They were close enough that if he fired, she'd have no chance of escaping. She mentally cursed her decision to leave her own behind.

His grin spread. "I see you agree."

"You're bloody annoying."

"So you've told me multiple times. But I don't think we have anything else to discuss, do we?"

"We ran out of topics approximately ten minutes ago."

"Have we even been talking for ten minutes?"

"That's partially my point." She shook her head and looked away. "This was a waste of time and breath."

"On your part, maybe," he shrugged, "it has been very useful for me. Lots of new information gained."

"Then I congratulate you."

He turned to leave. Then stopped. "The other two turns lead to the kitchen and the servant quarters, by the way. I'd suggest you stay away from those. There's usually people bustling around. And the servants are loyal, so those coins of yours might not work."

"How did you—" She opened her mouth, then shut it. Begrudgingly, she admitted, "You're good."

"I like to think so." Then he walked away.