Small planning

Zebril finally let go of Anna’s hand and gestured tiredly at the room.

“This is my room, The barracks are at full capacity with the refugees, and I wouldn’t even dare make a dog sleep on the spare cots in the infirmary, let alone our most valuable new asset.” She turned to leave, already focused on her next thousand tasks. 

“You take the bed. I’ll sleep on the cot in my office. Don’t break anything.”

Anna stood in the doorway, taken aback by the gruff, unexpected kindness.

“Is this really okay? What's the catch?”

Zebril paused.

“You’re probably the same age as my daughter... Just… take the bed, okay?”

“But! I’m a…”

“Look,” she said again, “it doesn’t matter to me if you’re a vampire, a human, or the Demon King Morvane himself returned from the sea. That is not my problem. My problem is that my superiors have designated you a high-value asset, and this is the only suitable accommodation available. Therefore, this is your room.”

“Ok then…”

With a final nod, she turned and walked back down the corridor.

Alone in the quiet room, Anna looked around. She noted the time. It was barely three in the morning. She still had hours before her eternal enemy would rise. She could still work and spy.

She smiled.

This was going to be easier than I thought.

The knights, in their debt and their fear, had already given her the ultimate key. They trusted her. They had invited the fox directly into the henhouse and given her the most comfortable room.

Anna take out the Pietta stone, holding it in her palm. 

Testing a theory, she tapped it twice with her fingernail. “Pietta?” She calls.

A faint whisper echoed in the room. “What is up, Anna?”

Anna let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. “My worst fear is right,” she muttered to the stone. “This thing can also transmit sound also… Not just my location.”

A soft, childish chuckle came from the crystal. “Of course! I wouldn’t tell you all the features, that wouldn’t be fun. It’s cool that you figured it out, though.”

Anna dismissed the pleasantries, “I would like to report. I’ve successfully infiltrated the knights’ barracks. They’ve given me a room.”

“This quickly?! Nyaa! Already?!”

“Be quiet, Ue,” Pietta’s voice hissed, before returning to Anna. “That’s… impressive. Far faster than Lord Yarte anticipated.”

“And I already have a plan to accelerate our mission,” Anna continued, her voice a low murmur. “It will require your direct assistance.”

She then explained her whole idea.

A beat of silence hung in the air, the stone glowing faintly in Anna’s palm, then, Pietta’s voice returned filled with a thrill of excitement.

“What a reckless idea.” Another pause. “I’m in. But make sure you do this right. Failing now would be highly suspicious.”

“Oh, I won’t fail,” Anna smirked. “But I need you to do more than just cause a ruckus. I want a spectacle. Make it as explosive and grand as you possibly can. And be prepared for a bit of acting.”

“Acting?” Uetum’s curious voice cut in.

“Yes,” Anna confirmed. “I will have to play my part as their protector convincingly. It will be the perfect way to gain their absolute trust.”

There was a shared, excited giggle from the other side. “We understand,” Pietta said, her voice brimming with anticipation. “A grand performance it is. We won’t let you down, Anna.”

“We agree!” Uetum continued.

The connection faded, and Anna was left in the silence of the room, the small stone now inert in her hand. The pieces were moving on the board exactly as she intended.

.

.

.

Three hundred arrows… or was it three thousand? 

Ugh, You have to be awake, Zebril....

You just need to stand up,

Get some water. 

Splash it on my face. 

Then I can finish the inventory.

She pushed her chair back, placed her hands on the desk to steady herself, but the moment she put weight on her legs...

I can't...

She’s falling slowly.

Yet the impact never came. Someone held her up. The world slowly swam back into focus. She saw Anna’s calm, orange eyes looking down at her,

“Just leave it to me, okay?” Anna’s voice cut through the fog in her head.

Worried faces hovered at the edge of her vision. Apu, his young face etched with panic. Jarce, who must have followed them, looking on with grave concern.

“No… the work…” Zebril mumbled, her words slurring. “Still need to… work…”

She was being guided to her own room. The feeling of her own soft bed against her back felt too good and too tempting. Anna gently helped her lie down.

“Rest is also part of the job, Captain,” Anna said, her voice leaving no room for argument. “Let us handle it for now.”

The fight went out of Zebril. The headache won. She nodded weakly, her eyes already fluttering shut.

“Now, do you trust us enough to do your job?” Anna asked.

Zebril grits her teeth before finally answering, “The daily checklist… it’s pinned to the board in the office…” she murmured. Her hand fumbled at her belt, unclipping a heavy, ornate iron key. “This… for the main armory. The quartermaster’s stores… Don’t lose it…”

“We’ll do our best.”