Itching with questions, Emma somehow managed to make it through the rest of the day without screaming. She worked as steadily as her brain could manage. At last the tables were scrubbed and the last rowdy rogues, staying painfully long, finally left. Ellen dismissed her, handing her some leftover bread to take home. She practically leaped for the door, but stopped herself to keep her dignity intact.

Her head buzzing, she haphazardly wondered home, bumping into a few people walking by. The way things were going, she knew she would never last another day. Sighing, she pushed open the door to the milliner's. Like always, Conall, sleeves rolled up his arm, was cleaning up. He closed shop for his mother and father, while they went home to prepare dinner. When he greeted her, she smiled up at him. He stopped with his work, propping up on a nearby table. She sat next to him, enjoying the smell of his clean clothes. The rumbling nervousness in her stomach was forgotten as they chatted about the day. Finally, Emma had to head upstairs to give her father the bread and eat her supper.

The next day was as painfully slow, more so if that was possible, as the day before. The same nervous energy she had displayed the day before appeared today. She badly wanted to know why nobles needed her at the palace. Emma wasn't the sort to let things that are going to be, just be. Ellen and Samara gave her quizzical looks all day, commenting on her distant looks. Sleep came slowly, as thoughts raced across her mind that had no solutions. At last, dawn broke across the sky, waking Emma. With hands shaking with nervous excitement, she dressed into her best dress and blouse. Over these, she wore a cloak to break the chill coming on.

She had already told her father and Ellen where she was going today, getting the day off and her father's approval. Pulling the cloak's hood over her face, she trekked down the streets, heading towards the Temple District the bordered the palace. The temples of the gods, looming above her, were peacefully empty. No one visited these to honor the gods in the middle of the week, except the priests and priestesses, who were inside. Gazing around, she realized she had never really admired the ancient buildings, but they were quite beautiful.

The palace gates finally sprung ahead of her, complete with guards and beggars. Slowing down, she blended with the crowd and kept her cloak over her head. She didn't want anyone to see her, for some reason she couldn't explain. Scanning the compact area around the gates, she saw a tall tan man with brown hair and a joking grin. Smiling to herself, she recognized Sir Robert, standing there lazily and folding his arms. Caution forgotten, she strode toward the knight ahead of her. When she cast back her hood, he recognized her. Taking her by the arm, he led her past the burly guards, who gazing at them with suspicion.

"How are today? I hope you've had a good morning." Robert said pleasantly, smiling down at her as they entered the castle. She laughed a little, then replied. "My morning was fine. Right nice mess you made me, leaving me questioning what I was supposed to do here. Actually, what am I doing here?" She asked, hoping he would answer. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at her but only shook his head. Emma sighed and scowled up at him.

Stopping in front of a wooden door labeled only with 'Eris Mitty', he opened the door for her and gestured inside. Peering in a bit, she saw a middle-aged man sitting at a wide desk, littered with papers. The man had black hair speckled with gray and keen eyes that seemed to see right through Emma. Chills climbed up her spine, but she boldly stepped through the opening despite her misgivings. A chair was set in front of the man's desk, and he gestured for her to sit down there. She obliged him, nodding a greeting of sorts.

He smiled a friendly crooked smile at the young girl before him. "Why Emma of Corus, I meet you at last." His drawl was one familiar to her, one she had heard mainly at the Dancing Dove. "Sir, I must say, are you still a rogue?" She ginned at him, praying he would take her comment for the joke it was. He did. "I see you are the right woman for the job." He winked at her, acknowledging Sir Robert and Arnell that had come up to sit on his desk.

"Now. Can we get to the point of this meeting? I would dearly like to know." Emma asked, turning to all three of them in turn. Exchanging glances, the man she took to be Eris Mitty spoke up, "As you know, the country is turning on itself. Nobles are taking sides, scheming against the crown or defending King Martin. This has happened before, but His Highness is new at being a king. He doesn't have, shall we say, the tactics needed to govern a kingdom ready to overthrow him. Few people do." Emma smiled at this attempt to lighten the weight of what he was saying. "Rumors have been flying everywhere that the rogues are planning to join with the treasoning nobles. The results would be horrendous. We usually don't listen to rumors, but my men report the same thing." She still didn't understand who he was. I hope they aren't recruiting me as a soldier. I'd be no use, she thought. "Sir, your men?" She raised her eyebrows at him when she asked this. "Please, call me Eris. And I am the spymaster. I assume Arnell and Robert told you none of this?" She nodded while the two knights in question shrugged sheepishly. "I thought you wanted secrecy."

"Anyway," he continued, brushing past this mishap as if it was nothing. "I would like you to report to me the doings of the rogue court. You are perfect for the job, as a serving maid working there. Robert and Arnell tell me you have good memory skills that are essential to spying." Emma gulped at this, as he concluded his speech. They wanted her to spy for them. "Goddess…" She whispered. Her spy for the king and crown? She frowned slightly, thinking it over. She had no attachment to the rogues there, even if she did work for them. The benefits she couldn't yet imagine. "I-," she started out as a croak. "I'll do it. I will spy for you Master Mitty." She cracked a grin, peering up at him through her lashes. "Good. Your training starts today."

Hmmm, yes now we get down to it.

My plot is starting to shine through.

I hope you review it wholeheartedly. -grins wickedly-

MertleYuts// Thank you again for your kind review. It truly touches my heart. P

Doms// I tried to cut up the paragraphs better this time. Thank you!

Lady Zarobiti// Ohh, wow. Amazing? That is quite the compliment. So is adding Emma to your community!

And so we go...

[[Don't get me started on Pendragon.

DJ MacHale is a genius!