“Of course I have spies,” Xtelle said. “I’m royalty. And yes, they told me there would be an attack. I hadn’t realized it would be so soon. Apparently, my spies are getting sloppy now that I’ve been away. There will need to be a gouging.”
“Not here,” I said. “No gougings here. Did your spies come into Ordinary?”
All heads swiveled toward her.
“What? Me? Allow someone from the Underworld to sneak into Ordinary just so I can hear some juicy gossip?”
Myra groaned. “Really?”
“Xtelle,” I said. “Yes or no. Did your spies come to Ordinary?”
“No. Unlike you, I can leave town whenever I want.”
“I can leave town whenever I want too,” I said. “Are you telling me the truth?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Bathin for confirmation, and Xtelle made an offended sound.
“She’s telling the truth,” he said.
“Okay.” I walked to the counter. “Thank you for bringing us the information, Xtelle.”
“Late,” Bathin added.
Xtelle narrowed her eyes, and there was a flicker of pink fire there.
“Still, I appreciate it,” I said, hoping to avoid a demon-on-demon throwdown. “I also appreciate you coming here in human form. That was very thoughtful. Of both of you.” I nodded at Avnas.
Both he and Xtelle froze, like I’d just aimed a gun at them.
“What?” Xtelle asked.
“The…uh…shape you’re wearing so you can talk to us in a public space. I appreciate it.”
“Appreciate,” Avnas said, speaking for the first time since he’d come through the doors. “That’s…good?”
“Yes, Uncle, it’s good,” Bathin interrupted. “This was the proper way to do what you did, and she’s praising you for it.”
“Praise? Of course we should be praised,” Xtelle said, breaking from her frozen state. “We did it right. I know this rinky-dink town’s rules. Now, if you’ll excuse me, we have shopping to accomplish. The queen requires a camera.”
“Wait,” I said. “Do you have spies who can tell us what the demon king is planning?”
“My spies aren’t that close to the king,” she said.
I wanted to double check that with Bathin, but he spoke first. “What about Yiff?”
“No,” she said. “He’s relocated.”
“Chaff?”
“Dead.”
“You’ve recently spent time around the king,” he said to Avnas.
Avnas raised his eyebrows. “Of course, my Prince. I was his advisor.”
“Have you left him a plan for destroying Ordinary?”
