Theron sat behind the desk in the ground floor of the tower, organizing reports into neat stacks.

  Tap, tap, tap.

  The woman with the black dog...

  A pair matching the description of the woman and dog seen in Myr near the hyena who attacked Eldmere's monarch had been spotted near the courtyard before the spectre arrived—the night all the dogs were to be executed. Guards had given chase.

  More interesting: witnesses reported a hyena in that same fleeing group.

  And a chicken.

  Theron's pen stopped.

  Why would a chicken run with a hyena? Predators didn't befriend prey.

  This was oddly coincidental.

  But if that hyena was here, in Eldmere, traveling with a bird...

  Chickens didn't have death wishes.

  Had the hyena not killed the cockatrice at all? And the woman and dog were with them?

  Tap, tap, tap.

  He needed to inform his Excellence and see what he suggested.

  ***

  When Theron arrived in Valgarr’s cellar he was disappointed to find Jorvan there. He was hoping to inform Valgarr and to leave Jorvan’s tantrums to him to deal with.

  He could feel a sharp pain in his temple. He wondered if others felt the same when they saw Jorvan.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “Aah, Theron, Just the man I wanted to see. How’s those documents coming along?” Jorvan asked.

  “I have had some pressing concerns brought to my attention.” Theron replied.

  “I don’t understand, what could be more important than my documents?”

  “I shall have the first on your desk for review by the end of this week, Your Highness.” Theron replied, “Would that suffice?”

  “If it must.” Jorvan said impatiently.

  Theron stood there, and didn’t say a word.

  Jorvan became impatient, “Well, why are you here?”

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness, I need to discuss church matters with his Excellence.” Theron replied as politely as he could muster. “And I thought it may be an inconvenience on your precious time. I can wait outside for you to finish your meeting if you need me to?”

  “That won’t be necessary. I was about to leave.” Jorvan said and he left.

  Valgarr waited until Jorvan’s footsteps were faint.

  “Now, what have you found out about the spectre?”

  “Not the spectre, your Excellence.” Theron said, clearing this throat, “Eustace has set sail after Merren’s ship and I’ve had reports of the woman and dog we have been following from Myr. However I may also have some further developments.”

  “Go on.” Valgarr said.

  ***

  In the drain below Valgarr's cellar, three eels hung motionless in the dark water.

  Sleech's voice was barely a whisper. "The sharp-man huntsss the woman-with-dog."

  "And the bird-king," Ripple added. "He thinkth the bird-king liveth."

  Keen’s tail flicked once. "We must let our friends know."

  They slipped away through the pipes, carrying word to those who would listen.

  Above them, Valgarr sat alone in his cellar, touching the line between his brows.

  The scrying could wait another day. He had enough information to plan around.

  And if King Cocky truly was alive... well. That was a problem that could be solved.

  Everything could be solved, given time and the right application of pressure.

  He pulled out a clean sheet of parchment and began drafting his plan for taking over the Cydweli Order in Eldmere so he could benefit from the tithes. They would smile. They would bend.

  And if a dead king walked the streets below, Theron would find him.

  Valgarr had no doubt of that.