Ullwyn

Herding cats is easy if one knows how. Brute force is a bad opener, start with persuasion; a reasonable argument, the promise of something they want or the assurance of something they’re afraid of. If that doesn’t work then, sure, go ahead with the brute force.

Ullwyn pours himself a drink and puts the bottle back in the liqueur cabinet. It has a minimalist design, like all the furniture in Ullwyn’s large and mostly empty office, aside from himself and an ornate fireplace on the western wall. He has a guest today, but he doesn’t bother offering her a drink. She never accepts anything she didn’t pour herself, and that’s partly how dear old Kara manages to live so long.

‘No need to worry about it after tonight, I’ll make sure your little gossip is taken care of,’ Ullwyn says with a smooth smile.

‘Properly, this time.’ She leans back in her chair and scrutinizes him coldly. ‘I’m sure “diplomacy” is lovely when it actually works.’

He chuckles slightly and takes his seat opposite her, his broad desk a bridge between them. ‘I could say the same for your security routines.’

Kara scowls. Sensitive information is not supposed to be able to leave her research institute, but apparently it’s possible with the right price from the right buyer. She had been gritting her teeth the entire way through the first time she brought her nasty little spy up with Ullwyn. He knows she despises him, she has no patience for chatter or vagaries. He specialises in damage control, whereas she specialises in damage (and the associated academia, of course). The Goldstone Institute brings in most of the city’s money, but it can only do so if its research and reputation are protected. So, Kara finds herself in a deeply irritating mutualistic relationship with the city’s mayor.

Ullwyn smirks as he pulls out his right hand desk drawer and retrieves a small book. This, he places on the desk neatly and directly in front of him.

‘Never mind, I’m sure you’ll do better next time.’

Kara scoffs, ‘you are extremely patronising.’

‘Oh, I know, but you make it so easy!’

Ullwyn can see her plotting a subtle accident for him as she stands abruptly and walks with icy restraint out of his office. The door thumps behind her, not quite a slam. He sighs and downs his glass, as is tradition for one of Kara’s visits. The room is quiet for a few moments. Ullwyn opens the book on his desk; it contains a sheaf of multi coloured, circular stickers and extensive notations. The notes are coded, written in a cipher known only to himself and those closest to him. His left hand man, Fade, has written the most recent entry. Scouting details, a location for Kara’s infiltrator. Ullwyn selects a dark red circle, stands and turns to face the enormous window behind him. The view takes in the whole city from this angle, the mayoral buildings are built into the overlooking mountainside. He places the red mark on the window, amongst a sea of other dots. They are all placed specifically, according to a fixed point in Ullwyn’s office, and relative to a location within the city. Fade will be back later that night.

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Fade

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