The older guard spoke. 'Be it known that the two unnamed accused Fae have been brought before Magyster Eyn Wenathn.'
There was a clerk sitting at a tiny desk in a corner of the room who was writing swiftly on a lined piece of parchment. 'So noted,' he said.
Magyster Wenathn leaned back in his chair and licked his lips. 'Tell me your names,' he said.
Silverdun attempted to stand, but the gloved hand of the young guard held him firmly down by the shoulder. 'My name is Hy Wezel, and this is my associate En Urut. We are citizens of the Unseelie Empire, and we demand to be released this instant.'
'Yes, I've examined your papers,' said Wenathn. 'They're excellent forgeries. Eel merchants; that was a nice touch.'
'There's been a terrible mistake,' said Ironfoot. 'We've just arrived from Mag Mell in order to-'
'Be quiet,' said Wenathn. 'If you wish to keep to your story, that's fine. You may do so. As a magyster of this kollws, I have the right to examine you before turning you over to our gracious Unseelie protectors.'
A bit of resentment in the mention of the Unseelie? Silverdun believed there was.
Ironfoot licked his lips and began to speak, but Wenathn cut him off again.
'If I do so,' he said, 'you will most certainly be tried and convicted as spies of the Seelie Kingdom. I can only assume that this is not your desired outcome.'
'We are what we say we are,' said Ironfoot. 'We were attacked by those watchmen without explanation. My partner and I-'
Now it was Silverdun's turn to interrupt. 'If we were Seelie spies,' he said carefully, 'that would be extremely awkward for all parties. There could be a serious incident.' He looked Wenathn in the eyes as he spoke.
Wenathn gestured at the man in the corner. 'Strike out that last statement,' he said. Then he spoke to the guards. 'Leave us. I'd like to question these prisoners privately.'
The clerk at the desk stood, taking his papers with him. He trotted to the door of the room, waving for the guards to follow him. The younger guard, standing behind Silverdun and Ironfoot, began to speak, but the clerk stopped him. 'You've heard the magyster,' he said. 'Come.'
The door closed, and the room was empty save for Wenathn, Silverdun, and Ironfoot.
'Let us speak as men of understanding, shall we?'
Ironfoot stood. 'Listen to me,' he said, just as he'd been instructed by Paet. 'We are precisely who we say we are.' That last had a bit of Leadership in it. Wenathn, however, wasn't easily led.
'Don't worry,' said Silverdun. 'It's all right. He knows who we really are.'
Ironfoot glared at him. 'Hy Wezel!'
'No, it's true. We are, in fact, Seelie spies, and we've been sent on a mission by Titania to undermine Mab's rule here in Annwn. Killing good Annwni men was never part of our plan.'
'I don't doubt your intentions are beyond reproach,' said Wenathn, smirking. He stood, and gestured for Silverdun and Ironfoot to stand as well. 'Still, you have killed them, and that puts you in a very difficult position.'
'You could turn us over to the Unseelie,' said Silverdun. 'Why not do so?'
'Why not, indeed? I'd surely be lauded for doing it. And I most likely will, unless ...' Wenathn drew his pause out for effect, then seemed to change course.
'The situation here in Annwn is a complicated one,' he resumed. 'The Unseelie rule here as our benefactors, not as our conquerors. And in order to maintain what some very cynical boors might call the illusion of autonomy, we Annwni are permitted to conduct our affairs to a large degree without their direct involvement. So when they do become involved, one takes an interest.
'Two days ago, the Unseelie proconsul sent out a message for the guard to be watchful for a pair of Unseelie eel merchants matching your description. You were to be watched closely and detained only when you attempted to leave Blood of Arawn.'
They'd been betrayed. By whom? Aranquet, the ambassador to Mag Mell? He seemed the most likely candidate.
'Unfortunately for you, yesterday a woman reported two Unseelie men acting suspiciously in her home to the guardsmen in my district. Eager to share in the reward that I myself offered for these men, a dozen of my guardsmen descended on that home, causing an unfortunate incident that led to the death of a number of them, and the loss of the entire building to fire. In short, it was an utter debacle, and one that has taken a great deal of effort to keep quiet.'
