Alaia Skyhawk: Well I can see by the reactions that my surprise update has resulted in some very happy readers. So here's another one :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music:
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Chapter 26: Spies and Visions ~Part 2~
As the night's events unfolded in the city, in the woods beyond the walls a certain figure stirred restlessly in their slumber. Twitching fitfully in their sleep, as occasional muffled words could be heard through the canvas of the tent in which they lay.
Morgana frowned amidst her dreams, as the deluge of disjointed images flickered before her mind's eye. She sensed that someone searched, not for her specifically, but for any sorcerer tied to Aelle. The searcher, the spy, there among the images somewhere. She could see him, but not his face. She could sense danger, but not to herself. Not to Cissa, and not to Aelle either. No, the one in danger was...
She gasped and jolted awake, mind grasping and setting a firm hold on the vision's images even as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. A quick glance out of the tent revealed it was almost dawn, but still dark enough that Hordwynn could leave a signal without too much risk of being spotted.
Being unable to go into the castle, lest she be seen and recognised, she'd arranged a means of letting Cissa know she wished to speak with him. All he knew was that a pair of twigs tied together in a specific way would be left on his window-ledge when she required his presence. She'd never told him how she got them there.
A sleepy crow flew off with the twigs a few minutes later, as Morgana settled down by her freshly-lit camp-fire and began to put together a basic breakfast. The quality of food she was given was the best for its kind, but it was still limited to that which stored easily in her camp. Thus while Aelle enjoyed rich roasts and feasts, she made do with preserved dried meats, hard bread, and a modest selection of fruits and vegetables. Still, she ate far better than many of the poorest folk, despite the crudeness of her camp. And for that she remained thankful.
It was nearly a hour after the sun had risen before Cissa came into view along the narrow trail that led to the escape-tunnel. Saying nothing more than a polite greeting until he'd sat down on the log adjacent to hers and handed over the twigs he'd found upon opening his curtains and checking the ledge as he did every day. Then and only then did he smile.
"You wished to speak with me, my lady?"
She accepted the twigs before promptly throwing them on the fire, which was what he should have done in his chambers.
"You know, for Aelle's spy-master, who he as yet hasn't even noticed he has, you certainly take unnecessary chances with my messages. Even ones as ambiguous at that one."
Cissa continued to smile.
"And I'd have you know my fire was not yet lit before I left, so I had nothing to burn your message with unless I drew attention and lit the fire myself. Which given I left my chambers shortly after waking, would have unusual."
Morgana laughed once and returned the smile, amused by the banter. Was this how Merlin felt, when he bantered with Arthur?
She smirked and pointed out the obvious.
"You know, you could have just pulled the two twigs apart and thrown them away from your window. That's why I use them, because heavens know you can find twigs anywhere outdoors that a person or cart will pass by, and you happen to have a gate that leads towards the castle stables not far below your chambers."
He inclined in head in acknowledgement, still smiling.
"Point taken. Now, for what reason am I required to grace your presence this morning?"
Her expression took on a sombre tone, and she sighed.
"I had a vision last night. Nothing of danger to Aelle, you, or your brothers." Her words pre-empted his question, and she continued. "There is a spy in castle, one of several."
Cissa raised his eyebrows.
"I know full well there are spies in the castle, I'd be a fool not to expect them, which is why I've started a search so I can keep an eye on them."
Morgana regarded him solemnly.
"This one is different. This one isn't here to watch your father, or find out his plans for the realms neighbouring this one. This spy is from Escetia, and they're looking for me. Not me specifically, but for the one or more magic wielders that are helping your father. My vision showed me that they will find me unless something is done, but that they will also not get away with that information."
He frowned, puzzled.
"Then why the concern?"
"Because the reason they don't get away to reveal that information, is because they die." She stared into her camp-fire. "Escetia's spies are skilled and cunning. Masters of remaining undetected. If one should be found and killed so easily, it will raise suspicion. Better to misdirect them, and allow them to leave with false information. Rather than eliminate your opponent's tool, turn it to your own use. Their death would be a wasted life."
Cissa was now becoming familiar with Morgana's sense of mercy, and he understood the real reason behind what she was leading to.
"Basically they're no threat to my father's plans, and with some misdirection will never learn about you. So you want to save them."
Morgana flinched and gave him a long hard look.
"You have a problem with that? Your father would demand their death without question."
Cissa, after an equally long moment, shook his head.
"I'm not my father, and like you I abhor the waste of lives. Since the spy is no threat to him, I have no problem with diverting them so their life can be spared. Where are they?"
Morgana sighed again.
"I was unable to see their face in the vision. I only Saw enough to know they were one of King Fyrendir's spies. The other spies in the realm, from other kingdoms, I could show you the faces of them all. But Fyrendir's spy is shielded by magic, and that has clouded things. He's only sent the one, apparently to hide if or not he's concerned by your father's ambitions, but a lot of magic has been invested in keeping them hidden. That may or may not be standard practice for his Court Sorceress and spy-master, Iunia, but we can't be sure. That spy may well have been here for a long time before Durwin fell."
Cissa nodded.
"Indeed. That or he's shrewd enough to gamble on having only one spy here, rather than let it be known he sees my father as someone to be concerned about." He glanced back towards the city. "Tell me what you can, and I'll start my search for the spy."
Morgana reached over to him, placing her hand on his head.
"I can do more than tell you, I can show you."
She spoke her spell before he could even react, pulling him into her memory of the vision. He found himself plunged into a maelstrom of images, among which were disjointed glimpses of a man dying. The same man, how he knew that he wasn't sure, reporting the conquest of Kent to 'Iunia' via a tiny mirror he wore on a cord around his neck. Then being ordered to return to Kent and seek information on the identity of Aelle's magical supporters. There were numerous other things, but he could make little sense of them other than to know that the spy was no threat to Aelle's plans.
Morgana released him, and he slumped in his seat upon the log. Forced to put a hand down to brace himself and not topple over.
He shook his head, trying to clear it of disorientation before then staring at her wide-eyed.
"Is that the sort of thing your visions are always like?"
Morgana regarded him with a small smile.
"Not always. Sometimes they're a single possible future. That one was several overlapping possibilities that all lead to the same overall end. But you now have an idea of what to look for?"
Cissa, after a moment's thought in response to her question, realised he did.
"Yes, surprisingly. I'll get started."
He returned to the castle, mulling over the images as he made the long walk through the escape tunnel and back into the castle. Formulating a plan of action, knowing he had to work alone. Because with a spy such as this one, if he involved anyone the spy would almost certainly end up dead. Aelle would stand for no risk at all for Morgana's discovery, despite the valuable chance go misdirect things there would be by keeping the spy in place. And so he decided to go on instinct.
He had become known for roaming the castle randomly in search of dissent and trouble, thanks to the little involvement he had in the meetings that took place with his father and brothers. At the same time though he'd already shown himself to be fair and somewhat approachable, meaning that his presence caused no intention among the castle staff. His father and brothers would have sent the servants scurrying, but they were not nervous when they passed by Prince Cissa. Indeed, were his loyalty to his father not so well known, he would half have expected those that feared his father most to try and enlist him in ousting the man and taking his place. A dangerous kind of popularity, but gave him the freedom to accurately gauge things.
For three days he continued this routine, until at a moment in passing he glimpsed a familiar figure at the corner of his eye. He didn't know the face, but thanks to Morgana's vision he knew it was the spy. Yet now he had the opportunity to see who he was, and he did so by casually changing direction so he would walk by the unremarkable-looking man.
His return to Morgana was made early the next morning. The witch using a bowl of water and a spell to display the face of the spy that she pulled from his memory. With that knowledge, she then used her crystal to summon up an image of the spy wherever they were at that moment, and studied him.
"Low-ranking hostler, meaning he has access to the castle horses but small enough responsibility that he has freedom as well. In the chaos after the conquest, a lot of the staff fled then returned, so his absence to report to Iunia wasn't noted. It's likely he has other sources to send word via, and that he went personally the last time only because the news was so significant. He's well-established, which means all of Fyrendir's spies will likely have the same occluding spells cast on them regardless of where he sends them. They don't make the spies invisible to scying, which would be suspicious, but they greatly reduce the possibility of them being viewed by chance."
Cissa folded his arms across his chest, musing over the problems they needed to deal with now they knew his identity.
"So how should we divert him? If he's looking for my father's magical supporters, he won't stop until he finds out who. Which means you."
Morgana's expression turned wry, calling to mind something Merlin had done which back then had utterly infuriated her.
"Simple. If we do not have any alternate sorcerers for him to find, we must 'invent' some."
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Alaia Skyhawk: I have to say, Cissa/Morgana banter is quickly becoming a favourite of mine (expect more of it). Yep Morgana, that is EXACTLY how Merlin feels when he banters with Arthur (totally loving drawing the parrallels) :D