Xian looked over the pile of missives that had found their way to his desk and closed his eyes. There should not be this many. Either someone was dying, or someone had far too much time on their hands.

  When he opened his eyes once more, he went about sorting each missive by its sender. When a majority of the missives went to the same stack, Xian couldn't help but smirk.

  A knock sounded outside his office.

  "Enter." Xian took each stack and set them to one side of the desk. He would read them after business was finished here.

  The door slid open, and a young woman stepped inside. Her boots were already in her hand as she set them by the doorway, walking to Xian's desk without a word. When Xian nodded, she knelt on the other side of the desk, sitting back on her heels.

  "You're back early, Bytzel," Xian finally said, "I was not expecting you back for another fortnight. Why the change?"

  Bytzel clenched her fists, and Xian could see the dagger forming between her pale brows. Something had happened; the assignment was aborted, she was already upset about it.

  "I had to abandon the lead on Curth di Ede," She finally admitted, bowing her head.

  Xian hummed, "Tell me what happened."

  "I tracked him down to his operation in Magevault. He is using The Tipsy Goose as a front, he was meeting with several associates at a back table." Bytzel began, her fists clenching and unclenching over the fabric of her trousers.

  He nodded, not pressing her with questions. She would speak, she always did; there was always more to hear than just her words alone.

  When Bytzel continued, Xian could hear how her volume had decreased, her words unsteady. "I went in disguised as a patron traveling to visit family, and I took a seat at a table near Curth's. But after a while, they all had several drinks, and they noticed me--"

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Xian bit his tongue, locking every muscle in his body to keep from showing any outward signs of distress. It would not help now.

  "It was just a couple of drunks, nothing I hadn't dealt with before," Bytzel admitted, and Xian nodded. It was an unfortunate fact that Bytzel, with her golden curls, rosy cheeks, and ample build, had a tendency to attract attention whenever she allowed herself to be seen. She had become quite adept at remaining unseen, but there were times when it simply couldn't be helped.

  "But then one of them grabbed me..." Bytzel trailed off, her hand vaguely moving over the vicinity of her chest as if to finish her sentence that way. "Asked me to join them for a nightcap..."

  Xian counted to ten in his mind. First in Common, then in Semetran, then in Beleza because it took him so damn long.

  Let her finish in her own time. If she needs help, she will let him know.

  Bytzel bit her lip, "I, uh... punched him in the throat, but Curth had seen me by that time. So I made my exit as soon as I could. I don't know if I was made, but I know that Curth would recognize me if he saw me again."

  "I see." Xian said softly, standing from his desk, "Outside."

  The young woman followed Xian's movement, trailing behind him as he stepped out onto the small veranda connected to his office. When both were outside, Xian slowly slid the office door shut behind them.

  "Are you alright?" He asked gently, allowing his shoulders to drop slightly. Business was business within the walls of the office, but this was not business.

  "Yeah, nothing happened," Bytzel murmured, "I didn't let him take me anywhere, and I was able to extricate myself quickly."

  "That is not what I asked." Xian had far too much experience to allow Bytzel to skirt around the question, "Were you hurt?"

  Bytzel stiffened at that, "...just some bruising, sir. It's all healed now."

  "You should have kneed him while you were at it," Xian muttered, "You made the right call."

  "But I could have gotten more information if I had gone along with it!"

  "You could have also ended up like the other trafficked girls," Xian shook his head, "I can send someone else to tail Curth. I'd much rather do that than send someone to fetch your body."

  Bytzel flinched at that, and Xian cursed whatever monsters had taught her how to flinch.

  Slowly, Xian raised both his arms, keeping them open enough to create the invitation. Almost instantly, his arms were full of the young woman, her face pressed against the side of his neck.

  "I thought I was going to be taken back," She whispered, "It was like I was back there, and the madam was negotiating prices with a client."

  "You're not back in that dreadful place," Xian said gently, resting one hand between her shoulder blades, "You are back, you are safe; that is what matters."

  They remained like that for several minutes, and if Xian felt several wet spots forming on his hanfu, he made no mention of it.