"You don't remember me, do you?" Kaolin observed.

Minerva shuffled distractedly around the room with Nola's rough wool blanket trailing behind her. Where had the blasted woman put her flaming swords? "No. No, not really," she said.

Kaolin let out a puff of breath that lifted her soft, cinnamon-brown bangs from her forehead. Her foot twisted under Nola's dresser and hooked on something underneath. Minerva's swords were swept out with a clatter. "Don't let her know I showed you where they were," Kaolin said.

Minerva cautiously picked them up only when Kaolin had stepped far enough away. At least the mysterious stranger had enough sense to treat her like the wounded animal she was. Unpredictable and dangerous.

"Tell me. How does a friend of Nola's know who the Pale Viper is?" Minerva unsheathed her sword and winced at the dried blood on it. Before she could fetch them herself, Kaolin had already found and brought a dampened rag and the thin metal cleaning rod from by the fireplace.

"I'll do it for you," she offered.

Minerva slowly handed her long sword over, but kept its companion by her side.

"I see you've already forgotten that you once trusted me." Kaolin sighed.

Minerva noted with approval that Kaolin's hands were quick and efficient, swabbing the inside of the sheath in the exact manner she would have used. "My apologies," Minerva answered sincerely. She studied Kaolin's face, but still came up empty.

"It's no matter. I live to be forgotten, it comes with the trade." Kaolin switched to the outside of the scabbard. She held it up in the sunlight to inspect for flecks of bright blood. "Perhaps the Inari-Nakiryu job sparks a memory?"

Minerva exhaled a small breath. The names did more than spark. They burned and illuminated neglected pathways through the catacombs of her mind. The sudden blaze brought buried impressions to light.

"The fool's errand, the dead man's gamble," Minerva whispered, "You only took that job when you had nothing left to lose ... and we almost succeeded." More than anything, she'd wished for the guts to take a second run at that commission—even knowing it'd most likely end in the death they'd cheated the first time around.

Kaolin nodded, her fingers sliding almost lovingly over the etched metal. "We kept our lives at least, and" —she said with a laugh— "several other teams tried to follow our two-person approach and failed beyond human comprehension."

"I'm sorry I forgot about you." Minerva ducked her head. "I do remember hearing you disappeared about a year back. The Twilight Enclave was frantic searching for their top spy." Last year had been around the time that ... that the Saboteurs started hunting down Twilight spies.

"I can see the dots starting to connect in your head." Kaolin smiled. "Give me a few minutes and I'll catch you up on everything that's happened since we last worked together."

Minerva curled up on the bed, though her hand still gripped her sword hilt under the mess of sheets. "Proceed."

Kaolin finished cleaning the long sword and offered it in trade. "Doing something with my hands helps me think of what I want to say," she explained as she took the cloth to Minerva's short sword.

"The Inari-Nakiryu job gave my reputation a boost," Kaolin said. "I never lacked clients after that—though I have you to thank for keeping our hides intact."

"It was a joint eff—" Minerva began before Kaolin hushed her.

"Don't interrupt, it throws me off." Kaolin sucked in her cheeks and tapped the flat of the blade with her fingers. "Ah yes, I went into hiding when I stumbled across info that betrayed Saboteur plans to wipe us out. Went to my guild heads, but despite their so-called faith in my skill, they didn't believe me. Took a year for them to regret it."

"The Saboteurs torched their headquarters," Minerva whispered.

Kaolin nodded. Her eyes had turned gold from the last time Minerva had seen her. The chain that was barely visible at the neckline of her clothes probably held her heart stone. "I've been taking the odd job here and there for the minor guilds. Had bad blood with one nasty Saboteur in particular so I decided to disappear for some time."

Kaolin slid the short sword home into its sheath with a satisfied sigh. "All during my hiding stint there was one piece of information I held onto, even though I knew that it could set me up for life if I found the right buyer."

Minerva's mouth ran dry.

Kaolin's eyes glinted and Minerva recognized the expression reserved for when she'd hit upon the juiciest tidbit in the empire. "I found out," Kaolin said softly, "that the heir to the Pyro Empire was not only a Conclaver assassin, but the infamous Pale Viper herself."

Minerva whipped her sword out. Its sharp point quivered in the air inches from Kaolin's face. It's finally happened, I've been found out.

Kaolin slowly raised her arms up in a non-hostile gesture. "I'm not threatening you. When I considered all the buyers, I settled on selling the information to the source."

"At what price?" Minerva asked angrily. Though Kaolin was the one with a sword at her neck, Minerva felt as if she had been backed into a corner. She'd grown tired of losing control and being perceived as weak.

"You make me your maidservant. I'm Nola's great-niece so I have the necessary semi-golden bloodline." Kaolin gulped—her throat perilously flush with the sword's edge—for once appearing ill at ease.

Minerva hadn't thought of the issue of choosing a maidservant, though every noblewoman of marriageable age was expected to have one. It had always seemed like a distant event. Neither had she known Nola had a niece involved in guild machinations. "Why do you want the position?"

"I can help. Be an asset," Kaolin said in a rush. "I know secrets that you could use—"

"Those are reasons for why I would hire you, not why you want the job," Minerva argued.

Kaolin lowered her eyes. "A spy can't avenge their friends," she finally said, "not like an assassin can." Up until the moment she cleared her throat, Kaolin's voice held the unmistakable sound of someone fighting their hardest not to cry. "My price," she said firmly, "is vengeance. If my facts are straight—and they always are—then you're the best in the market for that commodity."

Minerva lowered her blade. "Maidservants need hand-to-hand combat experience."

"I have that. Nola enrolled me in private classes at the Imperial Academy this past year."

Minerva bit the inside of her lip. Kaolin's expertise as a spy made her an excellent candidate to be a maidservant—who would not only be required to tend to her mistress' physical needs and dress, but to her political reputation and well-being. Besides her penchant for listening in at the right keyholes, Kaolin possessed the uncanny talent for disguises, languages, and going unseen.

Minerva had worked with the woman before and knew her to be as trustworthy as guild life permitted. Kaolin didn't possess any outstanding vices, not like Charna or she herself had. Struggling to breath, Minerva pressed a hand to her side and sank to the floor. She needed time to think.

"What's your real name?" Minerva asked.

"Kaolin Hyrelle," the spy answered.

"Your Enclaver name ...?"

Kaolin shook her head, a rueful smile tugging at her mouth. "Dead to you now. I abandoned it and didn't feel like making another. They don't ask for a name when hiring minor commissioners."

Minerva nodded along, only paying half attention. "How'd you find out that I—" She sank her fingernails into her forehead, not willing to continue.

"It was harder than you might expect, if that's any comfort," Kaolin said. "You cover your tracks well. It's the random hunches that did you in. A word. A glance. A gesture. Your resemblance to Her Imperial Majesty, Kovine Pyroline, is what tipped me off in the end. With that in mind, it was easy to see your connection to the imperial line, especially since you equally take after your deceased aunt."

Minerva grimaced as if she'd bitten into a sourfruit. She could've done without hearing she looked like her mother today. She shook off the blanket and paced over to the clearest part of the floor.

"Nola said you're supposed to rest," Kaolin protested when Minerva stretched her arms above her head.

"Nola would be right, except I've got muscle mass to gain back before I'm fighting in the pit." Her wound wasn't happy, but Minerva ignored it. Without the hollow place, she'd already lost her greatest advantage. She did start with the gentlest routine though: snake form.

"Since you're going to work for me, you'd better not report to Nola at every turn," Minerva said.

"Agreed," Kaolin answered. Her eyes looked hopeful. "Does this mean I'm hired?"

Already sweating from exertion, Minerva slowed her movements even further. "If you're willing to do some spying for me, yes."

"Already done."

"Tell me if it's more than you can handle, but—" Minerva stopped her form midway, her focus couldn't be split for this. This was her chance to have suspicions confirmed or put to rest. Dare she take it? Could she bear the weight of the truth?

"There was a Terron attack on the palace last night," Minerva said quietly. "I want to know who was behind it." She checked to see if Kaolin was listening before making her next request. "There's also a former Kirukkan Dragon member, Charna. I want everything on her that you can find."

"I'm familiar with her," Kaolin said. "She's a Blood Shadow now, yes?"

"Yes," Minerva breathed. "Phoenix Kin involved too, dual membership." A pounding had begun behind her brain, maybe inside it, begging her not to pry, to let the secrets die. But if she let them lie, too great a risk existed that she'd be buried with them. "And if there's anything you can find out about the visiting Hydro embassy, do so. The high king and ... his son in particular."

The worst she'd likely find there was that Kodak sought a political alliance at his father's wishes. Leagues better than them being serial killers or treacherous backstabbers who were in bed with her mother.

At Minerva's silence, Kaolin asked, "Will that be all, my Lady?"

"That'll be all, Kaolin. You may leave me for now." Minerva leaned against the wall for support.

Still, the spy hesitated by the door. "You don't wish for any intelligence concerning your mother?"

What I wish is for you to get out before you watch me collapse to the ground.

Ignorance could indeed be bliss. "I've heard all the rumors. I doubt there's anything new."

Kaolin appeared to have her own misgivings based on the way her mouth set. "Are you aware that there is a term for an individual with pale skin and a strange ability to accompany it?"

Minerva sighed deeply. "I'm aware. But how is that related the Empress?"

"Fever Ghosts, that's what they're called," Kaolin pressed. "They're only born when their mother contracted Fire Fever during pregnancy and it's rare that they survive."

"If you're trying to pump me for details—save it," Minerva snapped. "Get to the point." Another ill-placed word and she was ready to shove Kaolin out the door and slam it in her face. That was always the nature of prescribed rest; people told you to take it easy until they wanted you to make decisions or talk to them.

"All I'm saying is that the Empress must've done something to keep you alive," Kaolin responded.

"She wouldn't waste much to keep me alive, trust me." Minerva made a sharp gesture at the door.

Kaolin sighed and stepped out. But before Minerva could close the opening, she shoved her foot in the way. "I think your mother is Phoenix Kin, Minerva Pyroline," she said through the crack of space.

Minerva's hesitation lasted for only a breath's worth of time. "If she is, then I'll kill her. It's as simple as that."

Kaolin smiled. "I chose the right person for this job. An assassin's vengeance is nothing to trifle with." She removed her foot. "I'll leave you to it then."

Minerva shut the door—not with the fire of vengeance burning in her chest, but with the chilling pulse of fear in her heart and the sense of fate gone awry.