The Mage in the Iron Mask - Brian Thomsen [72]
Mischa looked around the room for another moment, and softly said aloud to herself, "Now, where would a great master of deceit like that worm dispose of confidential papers."
Laughing one more time, she crumpled the reconstituted and altered note, and threw it into the wastepaper basket, then, after peeking through the peephole of the door to make sure that the coast was clear, she picked up the trash basket and left the apartment, setting the container with its crumpled evidence in its appointed place for pickup.
A fast look in both directions assured her that she was alone, and once again licking her lips in anticipation of the rewards for a job well done, she hastened back to her own apartment.
12
An Evening's Just Rewards
At the Villa of Sir Honor Fullstaff, Swordmaster, retired:
"Hey, Volo," Passepout called after his friend, "wait for us."
"Damn!" the master traveler cursed under his breath, thinking, just inches from a clean getaway!
"Your friend seems eager to talk to you," Chesslyn said, unentangling her arm from that of the master traveler.
The roly-poly thespian caught up to them, quite out of breath, and was followed closely by the iron-masked man named Rassendyll.
"We were just on our way to bed," Volo said, trying to give his former companion of the road a subtle wink.
"How did you know the way to the bedrooms?" asked the very dense Passepout.
"Oh," Chesslyn explained, "I've been here before, and I was showing Volo the way."
"Oh," answered Passepout, the stars of infatuation beginning to twinkle in his eyes.
Rassendyll put his arm around the thespian. "I'm sure that Poins and Hal will be along shortly. We can wait for them to show us the way."
"Here they are, now!" Passepout exclaimed, "just in the nick of time."
Poins approached Chesslyn, saying officiously, "Miss Chesslyn, the master has instructed that you should enjoy the comforts of your usual room. Mister Geddarm and the others will share the students' quarters."
"But…" Volo began to protest, but was cut off by the secret Harper agent.
"It's all right," she said softly. "It's late, and Honor was quite specific that we should all get a good night's rest, because tomorrow will be quite busy. It's for the best."
"I guess," Volo said, unsure.
" 'Til morning," Chesslyn replied, giving Volo a light peck on the cheek.
"What about me?" the thespian asked moonily.
"Of course," Chesslyn said, giving him a quick peck as well, and offering the masked man a quick handshake in lieu of a kiss against the metal barrier that obscured his cheek. With a quick wave, she disappeared down the hall.
"This way gentlemen," Poins said, starting down the hall in the opposite direction in which the young lady had gone.
The threesome followed the servant of Honor Fullstaff, eager to get started on a well-earned rest.
The room they arrived at resembled the typical barracks quarters of a young students' hall. The three quickly found suitable accommodations on beds that were only slightly smaller than their adult-sized bulks. Passepout accomplished this by putting two of the cots together.
Poins gave each the promised sleeping draught, and turned the light off as he left.
Volo was just about to pass into slumber when he heard his friend whisper his name.
"What?" the master traveler answered, trying not to be too terse.
"You know that Chesslyn?"
"Yes," Volo answered, not really wishing to be reminded of the company that he would have preferred to be sharing at this very moment.
"I think she likes me," the clueless thespian said.
Volo just rolled his eyes, and replied, "How could she not?"
After less than a moment's pause, and in the middle of a yawn, the thespian concurred, "I guess you're right."
Passepout didn't see Volo shaking his head in disbelief, as he turned over and embraced a deep slumber.
* * * * *
In the Office of the Captain of