Proactive
“Mattox’s attention has been compromised,” Atty commented in a soft voice.
Yulen turned around from where he’d been facing the cold fireplace to look at his wife. “How compromised? In what way?”
She shrugged. “If I knew, I’d tell you. I can’t read his mind, but I can sense what he’s feeling. You know that. What Icantell you is that he’s been…preoccupied.”
“Maybe because of the conference?”
“No.” She shook her head. “He’s attended these conferences many times, and he’s not had this kind of reaction to them. Not until now. This is more recent.”
“Is it something we should be worried about? Do we need to speak to him about it?”
Atty gave her husband a loving smile. “No. Not yet. Give him time. He may bring it up on his own.”
“What do you think is causing it?”
The battle lord glanced up at the front door just as their oldest son opened it. Mattox stepped aside to let Keelor enter first.
“Thanks for coming, Kee. I hope I didn’t drag you away from anything important,” Yulen said.
“Not a problem. Jerrod went to get in some night hunting practice with Warren, and Surisam is with her friends. I was doing some darning and being bored out of my skull when Matt came by. What’s up?” She took a seat in one of the empty chairs.
“I have a plan, but I need someone I can trust to help.”
“What kind of plan?”
“Espionage.”
Keelor glanced over at her sister. “I’m game. What is it?”
“It involves insinuating yourself amid the Normals’ campsites,” Atty informed her. “You won’t be in any danger, I promise.”
The Mutah woman brushed it off. “I never thought for one second that I’d be in any danger. Even if something doesn’t work out, I know you’ll be there.” She raised an eyebrow at her brother-in-law. “I take it you’re going to need me to appear Normal? Am I going to need to bind up my ears?”
Yulen chuckled. “The need to appear Normal is important, yes. Once the conference starts, you know the soldiers will flood the marketplace, and Cavender is sure to get a lot of new business and sales.”
“Oh, he’s counting on it!” Keelor laughed. “He and Utah’s been stockpiling new blades for the past seven months.”
“I figured as much,” the battle lord admitted. “And some of those soldiers are going to want special hilts or handles to whatever swords or knives they buy. That’s where you come in.”
“So I’m to bind my ears the whole time they’re here for the conference?”
“Please,” Atty broke in. “This little deception won’t work if you’re seen inside those campsites by those who’ve been to the shop and noticed them.”
Keelor reached up to touch one of her large, translucent ears that resembled butterfly wings. “Okay. So where do I fit in?”
“First off, let Cavender and his son know what’s going on, and if he has a problem with it, come to me. On those special orders, I want you to offer to deliver them to the soldiers’ encampments, rather than have them return to the shop to pick them up,” Yulen explained. “While you’re there outside the walls, I want you to be attentive to everything that’s being discussed.”
“Especially when it’s discussed in secret,” Atty emphasized.
“Like what?”
“Anything that sounds like it might be a plan to pull a shady one on us,” Mattox remarked.
Keelor made a quick intake of breath, her eyes widening in alarm. “Are you talking about a possible coup?”
“We don’t know,” Yulen assured her. “But it never hurts to keep that in the back of your mind if you overhear something.” He tapped his own ear. “With your unique ability, you can catch things the rest of us can’t, even through the tents. If anything sounds remotely suspicious, or even if it appears innocuous, let us know as soon as you can.”
