For a year, I trained under professor Gray. I not only enjoyed the training, but was rather good at it. Edward kept pestering me, till I finally befriended him again. I simply couldn't refuse; he was a natural troublemaker. Ted was a friend for everyone, though it was some time before I started calling Steve by this name. Eventually, we did become friends, but he kept a slight distance. Sometimes, I doubted whether that night had happened at all.

Mel woke up, yawning. With a start, she picked up the alarm clock which she had turned off almost an hour ago. Taking a close look at it she realized that it was already late. Dressing up in a frenzy, she almost forgot wear her old belt, as always, over the bottle green uniform.

She was used to the ritual now, though their classes were far from boring, except the theory, of course, which cause dread of the afternoons. They usually had to solve puzzles, which were real life rather than abstract. Sometimes, professor Gray would take them to an old mansion or other place and ask them to carry out a task, with a bonus for the one finishing it first. Today, however, he had specifically called her for an assignment, and she didn't wish to be scolded.

Mel hardly waved back to any of her friends as she raced up the long stairs. She had been supposed to be there at eight and it was already half an hour late. Panting, she reached professor Gray's office.

'Late again, Mel?' he said sternly, before softening again. 'Sit down, I've a very specific and important assignment for you'

Mel took a chair. Their training often involved them being hired. Mel hoped it was similar this time too. She was really hoping to get her hands on a new watch she'd seen a few days back. Professor Gray seemed to have read her mind.

'No, you won't be working for a reward for now' he said, and chuckled as Mel's face fell. From a stack of papers, he drew out a letter.

'Tell me, what do you make of this?' he said, handing it to her. Mel, who'd learned to read, though rather slowly, took it eagerly. It was written in the thin sharp slant in faint blue ink, which would have been difficult to read in dim light. The paper was thick and seemed to be costly. The letter was short and strange.

'Dear Gloria,
I've been rather busy these days. The farmer's chicken has been troubling me. Both the farmer and his wife are quiet as yet. There has been no word about the coming of tigers in the area. Business is going good. I've almost found a way to get the eggs quickly. The chicken almost got me last time. I was reading through the farmer's old books, when it entered the room and started a racket. I could have killed it then, but managed to make it quiet by the old trick. I can no longer enter through the front door, it's getting too rude, so I will keep the bird. It's getting easier with it's help.
I've the perfect opportunity to finish the books finally soon. The farmer is going to arrange a dinner for a few villagers. I could read the books then, because he seems simply obsessed with them at all other times. My attention, though, would also be on the one's of his wife.
I need help from the butchers. Send one of them here. I don't want to repeat the past mistakes. Tell him not to carry his knife around, I have a spare lying around.
Missing you,
Your loving husband.'

There was no name or signature. Mel frowned.

'It either looks like someone's having a really bad time, or its somebody gone nuts!' she said skeptically.

'That would have been the first thought' Gray said, a slight smile on his face. 'But can you explain that I personally found it a day before in the post of the elite section?'

'Was there an address?' Mel asked immediately.

'You're making progress' he said, again looking through the papers. 'I was hoping you'd ask that before me. It was in this'

It was an ordinary envelope. On it was written in the same handwriting, 'Leave this letter under the rock marked with a cross beside the big signboard outside Thais'

'Seems rather lame to me' Mel said, handing it back.

'The scheme, on the other hand, worked perfectly' Gray said grimly. 'The impossibly foolish postmaster told me he regularly kept the letters precisely there since the last few months. I had the king sign a notice to dismiss him, but I haven't executed it yet to prevent any outbreak'

'So you're sure this is the work of a spy?' Mel herself was pretty convinced already.

'Quite sure, though I've known people's crazy ways of sending letters that mean no harm. It's rather the second paragraph that got me'

Mel went through it again.

'The fact is that the king is throwing a ball tonight for all nobles and most of the elite. A couple of princes are coming from other states too. It seems suspiciously obvious that this is that party. It fits in quite well. The king's the farmer, the queen obviously his wife. I've my own suspicions who the tigers are. The butcher is likely a mercenary. I just can't make out what these eggs and the chicken are. I guess they just make up for the flow' he explained, as if he was telling her how to clean her garden. It sounded convincing.

'So the first thing I did was to ask the king if anyone had been acting odd recently. I got a thumbs down. Next, I set a man to watch the "crossed rock", but no one ever came.' He stopped for a moment.

'Then yesterday, I had a student distribute invitations to everyone invited and analyze their responses. The student reported nothing out of place. So finally, now it looks like I'm exhausted of ideas by which I can trap the one. Another explanation, of course is yours, that of a lunatic'

'So now, here's your assignment!' he sat up straight as he said it. 'You're going to attend today's ball, and find me my spy. You must do your best to not let him know that we're alerted. If necessary, talk to him and make him spit lies, it'll confirm our theory. What's with the face?'

This last question was in response to the horrified face Mel had been wearing ever since he said the first sentence of the assignment. Mel hastily tried to change it, but couldn't.

'Professor' she said slowly, extremely serious. 'I hate balls, nobles and anything to do with them'

Gray looked surprised. He chucked.

'You'll enjoy it Mel, trust me. Anyway, you don't have a choice. Have you understood everything?'

She nodded, reluctant and slow.

'That's good!' he said, getting up. 'Get a ball dress from Lisa in central Thais, and here's your invitation'

He handed it to her, which she took like something that had just died. The invitation was extremely decorated with a bright shade of purple.

'Report back to me as soon as you find our man' he said, getting up. 'You're the one of the last tricks in my pocket'

Mel grinned, feeling slightly proud.