Intermission 2: the spy

The spy watched the proceedings in the courtyard with barely concealed rage. All the hard word, years and years of prep time and planning, just for the masters prize to be plucked early by the guild council. The boy was to be kidnapped the night before he left for school, three and a half weeks from now, when all of a sudden councilman Derillio just shows up almost a month early and snatches him away, right out of the spy's clutches.

The spy knew they would probably be punished for this, even though they hadn't really failed. But there were backup plans. If there was anything the spy had in spades, it was patience, and backup plans. Sooner or later, the boy would be delivered to the Shadow Lord. And then it was only a matter of time until his power would sweep the pathetic guild from the world and rule as he always should have, and the spy would serve from a place of honor at his side.

'You might have won this round,' the spy thought as they watched the justicars leave with his prize.'but we aren't nearly done yet, and Crawford isn't half as safe as you think.'