A very light snow was falling. Arno knew it was not going to stick. It might be the last snow until next winter. It was almost a year since they started chasing Mirabeau. Some glimmer of hope always kept them on the trail. In the in term, he had been appointed President of the Assembly. Arno did not know exactly what that meant, but it obviously it was bad for the Assassins. Maybe that was proof Bellec had picked the right target, but it made it all the more shameful they had not put a knife in his neck yet.

But a much more solid opportunity manifested now.

A week ago they had received a letter, left at their cottage, telling them to meet some kind of informant in the sewers, with precious information about the man they sought. It was unsettling an outside party even knew of their quest, much less where to find them, but perhaps this was the finally boost they needed.

Of course, they were not naive to the possibility of an ambush. That is why Paul accompanied Arno. Bellec and Joseph stayed back to guard the cottage.

Arno descended the stairs down to the river bank. The entrance to the sewers, the one he was supposed to use, was nearby. His boots squished mud. It was a very humble path towards (hopefully) very precious information.

He approached the entrance, and smelled it too. Arno had been in basements, catacombs, and dungeons before, but he had never been in a sewer. He gave one quick glance around to see if anyone was looking on, then entered.

It was an ovular brick tunnel, dark and ominous looking, with a lantern crudely attached to the wall, from which a small stream of smelly water flowed through. As he proceeded, Arno kept his boots on either side of the stream, both to minimize sound, and minimize the stink on his boots. He unsheathed his pistol and kept his mind on his hidden blades as well. He heard his younger partner do the same behind them. According to his instructions, they would be just after the rightward turn. He saw the curve ahead.

Boot against brick, he mentally prepared for combat. If this place was half as threatening as it looked, they were in for a real fight.

As he got close to the turn, he heard voices. He motioned Paul to stop. "I'm telling you, they're not going to come." The accent was foreign: German? Swiss? "Their kind are far too cautious."

"Patience is a virtue, Johann," a Frenchman responded. "These Assassins are experts at their craft. Using them to our ends is eminently wise."

They knew of the Assassin Order. That was disquieting. But at least it sounded like their intentions were sincere. He proceeded around the turn.

Three men were standing on one of two slightly elevated platforms flanking path of the stream.

"Ah! You see, mon aime? There they are!"

The Frenchman wore a funny striped coat, white cravat, and powdered wig. This was a funny place to meet someone in such high-class attire. He had his right hand in his coat-pocket. Two others stood armed, pistols in hand.

Arno elevated himself upon the platform.

"Sorry I wasn't hastier. You said you had something for us?"

"Yes. I know your kind would like to see the end of Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau. My associates share this desire."

The Assassin knew there was no point in asking who those were.

"How can you help us?"

"We have some...inside information."

The Frenchman turned his head. "Cosimo! La mappa!" Another foreigner? An Italian?

And the Frenchman's hand had still not left his coat. This was so opportune, but also unnervingly strange.

Cosimo handed Arno a role of paper. Arno unrolled it. It looked like a detailed map of a building's interior, some notes on the bottom right corner of the page.

"And this is...?"

"Your chance to strike Mirabeau. The man has a shipment of wine and New World spices, arriving from Spain, coming to his home on the second of April. This detailed map should tell you all you need to know to navigate the manor."

Whoever this was, he must have been close to Gabriel to know so much about him.

"You expect me to...stow away on board the carriage?"

"You Assassins are crafty. I leave details up to you."