Hex saw the female spy crouching behind a short wall behind the Soaking Twig. The tall growth on the main branch was akin to a small bush, providing plenty of cover for people needing to hide. Or to spy.
During the tour he received from Sterling, Hex had taken note of this place. At that time he had done so just in case he would ever need such a place, not knowing it he would be using it this very night.
The plenty of places to take cover was the main reason he had chosen this spot to meet her. It provided enough shadow to hide any inconsistency his appearance might show. The partial transformation was relatively new to him. He preferred to take precaution in case he missed a spot.
But it wasn’t only for himself that he had chosen this spot. The other spies needed something too, didn’t they?
Hex had already sensed two more people hidden inside the bush not far from him. One stood closer to the female spy. The way she glanced now and then toward that spot told Hex they were partners. Or colleagues.
The other stood closer to him. Although he couldn’t see who it was, the fact that the other spy had taken a spot from where the female spy was visible and the guy leaning against the Soaking Twig could be seen caused Hex to suspect those two to be in one team.
’It doesn’t seem like anyone else is coming. And it’s time,’ Hex mused as he moved toward the female spy. The Veil of Death remained activated, providing him enough cover to escape all the senses of the others present.
"I am happy to see you are on time," he said, causing the woman to scream in shock. The slight ristling of grass landed on his ears. The scream had shocked her partner. A muffled groan from the other side of the bar revealed the others experienced a similar shock.
"Relax. It’s me." Hex said. He had expected a cry or a scream. Who wouldn’t react like that when someone appeared suddenly behind them. That too at midnight.
"You! Where did you come from?" She snapped, still trying to get her breath under control. A small drop of tear trickled down her cheek. It almost made Hex feel bad about the stunt he pulled. Almost.
"I was here all along," he replied cryptically. "That’s not the point."
"I agree. Who are you?" She said with a frown on her face. Clearly she didn’t recognize him.
"It’s that the most important question right now?" Hex countered with a smirk on his face. "I would think poor Trid would be a higher on the list of priorities. Or are your employers rooting for his death?"
"D-Don’t spout nonsense," she cried out in shock. Her eyes darted to the sides, as if she wished to ascertain no one had else heard his accusation. Her employers were a foul bunch but even with ten balls dangling between their legs, they wouldn’t dare to lay their hands on a ruler from outside.
Hex had already checked with Sterling in a subtle way. Wrixia prided itself as a neutral ground. Wrixians believed that everything and everyone had originated as part of Wrixia. They considered the tournament as a visit to the roots, both literally and figuratively, for the people around the world. If any Wrixian caused any harm to them, just for profit sake, they would be executed.
"Let’s not waste time. Time is precious. More so for the Seachurn family right now, isn’t it?" Hex deepened his smirk. Seeing her eyes twitch looking at him, he smiled. He hoped his face looked like something one wished to bash in. That would be the most accurate impression of a merchant or spy in his mind. Her reaction was just an affirmation of his skills in acting.
"What happened to him? To Trid?" She asked, after having taken a deep breath. She was returning to being herself.
"Poisoned." Hex replied.
She stiffened at the reply. Hex nearly chuckled at her reaction as well to the sudden fluctuation he received from the others. None had expected him to answer in one try.
But the woman frowned after a bit. "Impossible. The Dryads have taken a look. They haven’t detected any traces of poison or other foreign substance inside him."
"Oh? And did they discover what the cause actually is? No, right?" Hex sneered. "The poison test only reveals known poisons and that to a limited number of those. Poison can only be traced if you know what you are searching for."
Hex wasn’t sure about it. But he took his chance. Luckily, the woman before him fell silent, appearing to give it a serious thought. She was inclined to believe him.
"And what do you wish for in exchange for the information?" She asked after some pondering of her own. She didn’t need to be a genius to know she wouldn’t get the answer for free.
"A million Wrixian coins. Non negotiable."
"Fuck off," the woman blurted. She grasped her mouth in shock as soon as she said it. "My apologies. Let me rephrase. No fucking way they will pay that much. Heck, I don’t think they even have that much."
"Oh ok. Let me rephrase too then," Hex said. "Non fucking negotiable."
He didn’t miss her clenching her fist and the slight stiffening of her jaws. He believed he had done enough for now.
"I need to check with my superiors," she said slowly. But just as she wanted to turn to leave, she was stopped by Hex.
"Stay with me. It can be lonely at night. Send your partner, the one sitting there." He turned toward the bar. "You two also go back to your superiors. If you return with a better offer, I don’t mind giving you two the information regarding the cure."
Silence hung in the air. The woman watched him with wide eyes.
"Well? Is someone leaving? Or should I?"
A thud and a shuffle reached his ears. In less than a minute he didn’t sense any of the three nearby. He turned toward the woman.
"Shall we talk about life and the struggles of it while we wait?"