The Beginning
Tamoe rested against the tavern's wall, watching folks coming in and out. She was not easily noticed with her plain brown dress and tangled brown hair. If the shadows didn't hide her, then her young age of 7 certainly did. No one in the evenings took notice of children when they were just trying to relax after a long day at work. Those there bolstered each other with tall tales and laughter easily given after sweating and toiling for a living during daylight hours.
With dusk upon the town, the evening breeze of spring filtering in, Tamoe also gave the appearance of relaxing. In reality she was not. Part of a spy ring, and disguised as a common poor child, she was listening intentionally and watching closely to all that happened around her. Specifically the two near the fireplace. They were hushed tones but careless and she could lip read every word.
Barefeet comfortable on the worn wooden floor, she leaned back and through her tangled hair paid close attention to their conversation. The first of the two she was spying on was an assistant cook in a nearby manor. Hands calloused and lines on his face were a testament to his daily work. Pity he was betraying the family for whom he worked.
It wasn't a stretch that he could get away with betrayal. The wealthier families tended to have so many staff that they didn't always notice or have supervisors notice the faces of those who worked beneath them. To slip in and work your way up as if you were interviewed and hired was easy in some cases. Then after a month, pretend like you are supposed to get paid and it is assumed someone forgot to put you on the books and added you. It was something that could happen easily if a family didn't invest into both the well-being and relationships of their staff.
The man this particular assistant cook was talking to was a wealthy man from another family. A rival family. He had been suspiciously quiet lately in his dealings among those at court and the Crown assumed he was plotting something. It wasn't like either of the two families to not be stirring up trouble so when one behaved for no apparent reason, the Crown took notice.
Or rather the King's Own took notice. The King's Own was the King's friend and counselor. Right hand man whom the king didn't have to be guarded with. Politics, diplomacy, internal and foreign affairs all could be discussed without fear. And this particular King's Own had a spy network which had been tasked with locating any information on this particular situation.
So Tamoe watched. Learned. And as the evening brought stillness, she slipped past the slowly leaving customers to the kitchens. Going through them, one of the Leurna fell into step beside her. A species that walked upright like humans and had hands such as humans do despite their lizard appearance, they were born with an inbred personality trait to want to work hard and help others. This particular Leurna was also a part of the spy network and together they went out back.
There was a cellar door that led not just to storage but also the caverns that made an apartment for any Leurna living at the inn. Another inbred trait. She cautiously headed that way, while Tamoe went to the stables. Inside was the scent of hay, and the warmth of resting horses. Tamoe passed their wooden stalls quietly and came to a room at the back with an extra wide door. Knocking softly, she slipped in.
Inside was a gryphon, not just any gryphon such as were mounts used to travel on, but an intelligent gryphon known as a Companion. Beside him stood his Herald. Both wore white. One of feathers and one of clothes. He already had pulled out her next attire so she could transform and leave as a palace servant. The two of them together would not be suspicious and what she learned would be shared with him who would then via the Companions have their news travel ahead to the castle where the King's Own waited.
What she had learned required action that careful planning through the night would generate. And the plans for a family's ruin on the morrow would end in defeat and banishment from Gryphon Heights.
With dusk upon the town, the evening breeze of spring filtering in, Tamoe also gave the appearance of relaxing. In reality she was not. Part of a spy ring, and disguised as a common poor child, she was listening intentionally and watching closely to all that happened around her. Specifically the two near the fireplace. They were hushed tones but careless and she could lip read every word.
Barefeet comfortable on the worn wooden floor, she leaned back and through her tangled hair paid close attention to their conversation. The first of the two she was spying on was an assistant cook in a nearby manor. Hands calloused and lines on his face were a testament to his daily work. Pity he was betraying the family for whom he worked.
It wasn't a stretch that he could get away with betrayal. The wealthier families tended to have so many staff that they didn't always notice or have supervisors notice the faces of those who worked beneath them. To slip in and work your way up as if you were interviewed and hired was easy in some cases. Then after a month, pretend like you are supposed to get paid and it is assumed someone forgot to put you on the books and added you. It was something that could happen easily if a family didn't invest into both the well-being and relationships of their staff.
The man this particular assistant cook was talking to was a wealthy man from another family. A rival family. He had been suspiciously quiet lately in his dealings among those at court and the Crown assumed he was plotting something. It wasn't like either of the two families to not be stirring up trouble so when one behaved for no apparent reason, the Crown took notice.
Or rather the King's Own took notice. The King's Own was the King's friend and counselor. Right hand man whom the king didn't have to be guarded with. Politics, diplomacy, internal and foreign affairs all could be discussed without fear. And this particular King's Own had a spy network which had been tasked with locating any information on this particular situation.
So Tamoe watched. Learned. And as the evening brought stillness, she slipped past the slowly leaving customers to the kitchens. Going through them, one of the Leurna fell into step beside her. A species that walked upright like humans and had hands such as humans do despite their lizard appearance, they were born with an inbred personality trait to want to work hard and help others. This particular Leurna was also a part of the spy network and together they went out back.
There was a cellar door that led not just to storage but also the caverns that made an apartment for any Leurna living at the inn. Another inbred trait. She cautiously headed that way, while Tamoe went to the stables. Inside was the scent of hay, and the warmth of resting horses. Tamoe passed their wooden stalls quietly and came to a room at the back with an extra wide door. Knocking softly, she slipped in.
Inside was a gryphon, not just any gryphon such as were mounts used to travel on, but an intelligent gryphon known as a Companion. Beside him stood his Herald. Both wore white. One of feathers and one of clothes. He already had pulled out her next attire so she could transform and leave as a palace servant. The two of them together would not be suspicious and what she learned would be shared with him who would then via the Companions have their news travel ahead to the castle where the King's Own waited.
What she had learned required action that careful planning through the night would generate. And the plans for a family's ruin on the morrow would end in defeat and banishment from Gryphon Heights.
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