>>5843276 “I’m not the one whose expertise is needed, though," continued Pearce. "I’m here to make it clear that the Archmage’s OWN personal apprentice, who has ALREADY attempted to address this matter himself, IS seeking an OFFICIAL audience, on behalf of an IMPORTANT security concern.”
Reaching into his cloak, Pearce immediately drew the vigilant eyes of both men and their chimerical mount. He produced no wand nor weapon, though, but a simple scroll, sealed with wax.
“This is my documentation, attesting to my credentials and security clearances… If, you know, the hat isn’t enough.”
You held back a laugh as he parroted your words, and Pearce had to avoid looking at you to avoid losing his own composure.
“It’s for the Queen’s eyes only, but perhaps you can explain to her why you needed to break with the procedure and intercept her messages?”
You were a little taken aback by this. When had he gotten such a message, and how? You’d told your dear friend of all that you had learned, and of what had transpired, but you never expected him to go to his superiors. How much had he told THEM?W What might they leak to your master? You were surprised at his lack of discretion, and felt vaguely betrayed, though you said nothing… And neither did the Paladins, for a moment, as Ribbeck took the scroll in hand and brought it before Mitter, who scowled down at the seal with one hand on his blade as if it might uncoil like a serpent to strike at him.
Ultimately. He handed it back, unopened, seal intact.
“Go on,” he said. “Bloody kids.”
“I’m thirty-five,” you noted sourly as you passed.
The Gryphon snapped at Muffins, with a rattling squeal, and your chimera’s three heads bleated, growled, and hissed. You hurried on.
“What was all that about?” you demanded of Logan Pearce, when you were out of earshot of the two Paladin Royal Guards. “I told you this was secret! What did you say to your master?”
“See for yourself,” Pearce said casually, underhand-tossing the scroll to you.
You fumbled to catch it, and stared down at the seal of—as Pearce had said—a private message to the Queen of Hawksong. You looked at him questioningly, and he made a motion of breaking a seal with his hands—as if THAT was what was stopping you, not knowing how to open it. You rolled your eyes, stuck out your tongue at him, and did so…
And found it empty. Blank. A simple piece of paper, rolled up and stamped with a seal.
“Learned that trick from your old man,” Pearce noted.
“You’ve been hanging out together?” you asked, incredulous. “You and MY father?”
Pearce shrugged, that same smug and secretive smile on his lips, moustache twitching slightly in mirth.
“Apparently he got his way into and out of trouble a few times with that trick,” Pearce said.
“Yes, well, let’s aim for ‘out of’, shall we?” you replied.
“That’s up to you, mate,” Pearce said. “Lead on.”
