In the morning, they landed on the western edge of Drop River Forest. After everybody had taken care of certain pressing necessities, and before breakfast, Cameron took a look at Ginger's cut. It seemed to be healing nicely, thanks in part to the acceleration spell he had cast upon it last evening. He redressed the wound and told her there should be no trace of it by the time they reached Shipsister.
Over provisions, Cameron told the others about his brief conversations with the police at the Apple-Spruce. Emma said he should've taken a little time between translocations to discuss such things. After all, there was no rush, and the rest would've done him some good. He just shrugged and mumbled something about not wanting to give InterGang spies time to stake out the rooms.
"There's a good chance they were already under enemy surveillance," said Underground. At this point Tiejo, who had been squirming, keeping unusually quiet, and not eating a thing, gave a meek little yip, and started crying.
"What's wrong?" asked Emma, moving to sit beside the street rat and putting her arm around him.
"No sleeping last night had I," he got out between sobs. "Worries confirmed by detective's maid's words. Must have watched me, nasty little dealer or spy. Learned my friends' places from poor, unwitting Tiejo! Thinking have I always been I was a good sneak. I see others, others not see I. But see last night, I did not! Now gone is monies and beautiful music-maker! Tiejo's fault, all!"
"Oh, don't worry! Nobody was hurt, and little was lost. The money's nothing, and I'll get another duré. I'm sure you're a very good sneak. Just because someone else is better- or got lucky- doesn't mean you're not still very good. You're still very helpful to us. Why, without you, we wouldn't have any breakfast this morning!"
Actually, Underground thought to himself, there were already provisions in the wagon. Plus, we'll probably be looking soon in the woods for more.... But he didn't say anything.
"Angry no one is, or sad?" asked Tiejo.
"It's okay," said Darius. "We all make mistakes sometimes, and it's often impossible to recognize them until later."
Tom clamped a firm hand on Tiejo's shoulder and said, "As mistakes go, in fact, this is damned mild. Probably you did more good than harm."
Tiejo looked up at him, wiped away his tears, and smiled. "Grumbly Tom likes Tiejo? Nice, kind words, yes..."
Stepping away and sitting back down, Tom mumbled, "Yes, well... credit where no shame's due, and all..." and decided to concentrate on his coffee.
While Tiejo picked up a piece of toast and started spreading on some threenut butter, Underground turned to Cameron. "Any idea who's got the wagon?"
"Um... I hadn't given it too much thought. I could divine for it, though." He could see Emma was about to object. "Don't worry, the night's rest and this little meal have been greatly restorative. Besides, it's a relatively simple trick." He closed his eyes and concentrated on the wagon. "Hmmm... doesn't seem to be with the police... Backtracking... InterGang escaped in it, last night... before the police could catch them. Just a few enforcers; they took it back to their headquarters."
"Good," said Underground. "If the police had it, they would have definitely caught you in a lie. From what you told me, it almost sounded like they were baiting you. In fact, they still may have figured out you were less than entirely truthful, somehow. I know those two detectives, and they can be tricky. Tonad is a place where people on all sides of the law tend to say less than they're thinking. Certainly your answers won't have much allayed their suspicions. But at least they probably can't prove anything."
"This is just what we need," sighed Darius. "Police scrutiny. What bloody marvelous conditions for building up a rebellion."
"A rebellion, you say? Is that what you're up to? How interesting! I'm sure my superiors will be very interested in speaking with you," said the spy with a grin.
"Joy," said Darius, rubbing his face. "On the bright side, it's time for another cup of coffee. Emma, have you anything I might put in it?"
"Sorry," she said with a wry grin, "left it in my other wagon."
"Ah well." He poured his second cup, anyway.
In fact, they all took some time to try to organize their thoughts as they sipped their coffee. After a few centhours of silence, Cameron sighed and said, "This is all starting to seem more serious than it did at first. I mean, of course rebellion is a serious matter, but... until now I didn't really have a sense that it was going to amount to much, at least not for awhile yet. But now that it's clear the authorities are going to be taking an interest in us, I think it's important that I... well, first of all, I should cast an anti-scrying spell over the wagon and everyone in the group. If they want to find us, they'll have to use their own eyes, not magic. Secondly, we should make plans for what to do if we're ever captured by our enemies."
Everyone felt the need to contribute to the ensuing discussion, though no one had quite as much to say as Cameron. Darius greatly appreciated his input, though he was deeply troubled by the thought that he might lead his allies into such danger. Still, he supposed it would be foolish of him to think he could start a rebellion without putting people in danger, so he did his best to hide his concern.
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