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Narrator: Wa Fenya

I roused Gun Nong from his bed and pounded on the door of Hoo Long’s room before one of the staff told me he was already downstairs in the common room. Trusting Gun Nong to make his way there as best his injuries allowed, I also hurried there.

A Mwarri is not a catgirl, not as civilized people expect them. The Lady Kismet was not a woman with the ears and tail of a cat. Rather, start with the cat, stretch the shoulders out while compressing the chest inward. Extend the paws into full fingered appendages, with claws like bone nekote between each finger.

Her face was difficult to read, not just from the lack of eyebrows, but that none of the facial features were where one would expect them. I had some experience from watching the little monitor, that suggested she might be amused.

“Ah, excellent.” Lord Xho said. “Since Gun Nong shall be remaining here to maintain a central place of communication, we are ready to begin. Lady Kismet, if you would, please.”

The lady Kismet remained seated, but spoke loud enough to be heard clearly. “What we know from your patrols are that each of the Nine have managed to adopt identities within our own territory. These identities allow them to move around freely, talk to people from different castes and professions, and to move with packages.

“Merchant caste?” Hoo Long asked.

“We initially believed that as well.” Lord Xho said. “However, we have credible reports that at least two are soldiers, which has led us to revise our position. We now believe that they are spread across the castes almost equally, with the extra member of the nine filling a merchant caste position.”

.....

“We do not have an accurate counting of males or females among them.” Lady Kismet said, “But we do have credible reports that one of the females has a pet owl.”

Lord Xho scoffed. “I hesitate to call them credible reports, but so far it is our best lead. There are many unemployed urchins about, and it is relatively low cost to have them scour the tents looking for an owl.”

Before you protest that children ought not to be employed in such activities, please allow me to counter. Even children know their duties, and they do have such energy and enthusiasm. Those who can be trusted to keep focus are as capable as any adult. Please understand that at this time I did not understand the sheer NUMBER of children that he was employing.

“When can we expect these urchins to produce results?” a man asked.

“Beg pardon, but who or whom is this man? Would someone please make introductions.”

Lord Xho looked like I’d slapped him across the face with a fish. Then he blinked, and was again the masterful organizer. “Of course, I did promise Lady Kismet as well. This man is Hwa Song of the Hwa Farming family. He is an expert of herbs and medicines, and will be tending to any specialty needs we have, such as anti-toxins.”

Hwa Song nodded. “I understand now is not the time, but I will want to go over the contents of my medical bag with all of you soldiers. Just in case I myself am poisoned, you understand. You may trust me to perform such ministrations, even under battle conditions.”

“I trust this is adequate?” Lord Xho asked.

“Thank you, Lord Xho.” I said. “It is an honor to meet you, Pharmacist Hwa.”

We exchanged the proper nods and continued.

“In truth, we already have two potentials for our number nine.” Lord Xho said. “I wish for us to contact both before the sun sets. I would like for Hoo Long, the archer, to come with us to Red Apple Market, where the open spaces will favor his weapon more. Specialist Wa, I would like for you to accompany Lady Kismet to visit the merchant Fan Tai, and check to see if there has been any suspicious activity at the inner gate.”

It did not pass my scrutiny that all the men were on one team, and we the women on the other. But until I had evidence, it was best not to shame both our faces by saying anything.

Gun Nong had no problems taking a seat on a wide bench by the fire, and near the doors leading to the water closet. (His stomach had not been in harmony since his latest injury, from which he still suffered.)

We wished him well and set off for the Second Support Company, where Fan Tai was employed as a day messenger. We were in luck, and she had just returned from telling Fourth Company that Second would gladly share supplies with them, and the requested list of what they needed.

“The hair is different,” I said, “but THAT is the woman who warned us of the Dusk Gate having fallen.”

Lady Kismet adjusted her feet slightly. “How certain of that are you?”

I didn’t have to answer that, as she also recognized me. Mystery writers are dolts, to think that just a wig and a change of makeup would confuse a fellow woman for more than an instant. Men? I can’t speak to the whole of their gender, but those I knew...

Well, okay, it would fool SOME of them. But not all.

She reached under her wig, and pulled forth a small bamboo cylinder with a pull ring on one endcap. Upon this, she tugged strongly, resulting in a loud bang and a spew of smoke, the smell of black powder.

“Stop that woman!” Kismet shouted, bounding through the smoke with the speed and agility of a jungle cat.

I was comforted that the smoke seemed to have no ill effect on her, but I still held my breath and closed my eyes, thus tripping over an extended bench.

The hands of

[Gender: Male, Emotional State: Valor and Lust]

helped me to my feet.

Of course, Lust. Because male.

A quick blink of my eyes confirmed that I outranked him. “Not me, sergeant. Go after the spy.”

Insolent as he was, he dragged me clear of the smoke, to a bench where other soldiers were also coughing, and thrust a tin cup of water into my hands, before striding back into the smoke for another young lad.

I downed half a cup of the water, and set off after Lady Kismet. She was already beyond my senses. Her Agility must have been four, perhaps five, to cross such a crowded space so quickly. “Who is in charge of the messengers?” I asked. “Who would know where she was quartered?”

She had shared a tent with three other women, one a fellow messenger, the other two nurses, one of whom was too sick to work. She was most informative, telling me that the owl, Huise Yumao (Gray Feathers) was quite intelligent.

“She releases him every night, yet every morning he is back, ready to be let back into his cage. He sometimes offers us mice, and allows us to preen his feathers for him. Please, do not harm him for anything his owner may have done.”

Fortunately, my family still has strong ties with our family branches to the east, so I had heard tales of awakened animals. “Oh, you need not fear, Nurse Lei,” I said, reading the name-tag on the foot of her bed, “I will take particular care to see that Gray Feather is well cared for.”

I had time to request that all of her belongings be taken to the Blue Boar; I knew that inspectors such as Lady Kismet and Lord Xho would want to go over every copper war-coin, looking for those hidden clues that the rest of us could see only after having one of them point out to us what was obvious to them at a glance.

I was supervising the loading, bird cage in hand, when a very muddy, very angry Lady Kismet returned. “Where were you?”

“I failed to get past the obstacles.” I said, “but I have secured the bird.”

Gray Feather hooted from beneath the cloth covering his cage.

“Well, keep him with us, I know someone who can speak with him.”

Yes, I had a second cousin who had been dropped on her head during birth. She also thought she could speak to animals. But my eyes had been opened to wonders other than those offered by chi cultivation, maybe her friend actually had those abilities.

There was no new news at the gate, and they agreed to send message to the Blue Boar Inn, day or night, should anything suspicious happen.

“I am sorry.” The floor level sergeant said, “I can allow Wa Fenya access, but as we are in the middle of a siege...”

She struck with alacrity and purpose, into the chainmail covering his belly. Rather than strike for impact, she grabbed and pushed upward, into his diaphragm, as she carried him into the entry chamber.

“So sorry.” She said, “But we don’t have time to play nice.”

She DID have time to take off her outdoor shoes, though, which I certainly appreciated.

We passed upward, through the engineering room into the barracks. “Where’s the lizard?” she shouted.

“Little monitor keeps to that bunk, over there.”

“Rhishi!” she rebuked him, “Wake up! We need....” She stopped slapping him across the face.

“Head trauma?” she asked.

“Before you began striking him, and certainly worse now.” Sister Yoshi said.