Undercover Work

Writers: Estelle, Paula
Date Posted: 23rd March 2019
Series: The Great Bandit Trial

Characters: Tasni, Tevalin
Description: Tasni does some investigation into the capture of the bandits
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 10 of Turn 9

~*~

Tasni didn't need to ask anyone for directions as she approached Emerald
Falls Hold; she simply followed the sounds of battle. The clashing of
metal and the thudding of wooden staffs, and the gasps, grunts and
shouts of triumph told her exactly where to find the guards at their
training.

She had already been to the prison to interview Terren, and the
suspicions she'd formed when talking to his wife had been confirmed. The
man was one of the most shameless liars she'd ever encountered, and
she'd met some in her time. He had changed his story repeatedly while
they'd talked, and blamed the bandits, the guards, his neighbours and
even the Weyr for his predicament.

Realising that she was going to have her work cut out for her on this
one, Tasni had spent the evening considering her options. Her best
strategy, she thought, was to work out the least incriminating
explanation that she could and try to persuade Terren to stick to it. To
do that, she had to know what the actual series of events had been.

Deciding it was time for a bit of undercover work, she took off her
harper knots, borrowed a light summer dress from one of the students,
and went to seek out the guards. Some of them were practising with
different weapons, while others rested in the shade and watched their
comrades. With an expression of wide-eyed admiration suited to her role
of holder girl stealing a few minutes to watch the men at their drills,
she chose a target and sauntered over to meet him.

Tevalin was taking a break and drinking water when he saw the young
woman. She was a pretty one, he thought admiringly. He was young and
unmarried. Having girls watch their practice was not unusual, more than
one guard had found their wives that way. "Hi, miss, come to enjoy the
show?" Tevalin greeted.

"Oh! Yes, sir. It's all right for me to watch, isn't it?" Her eyes
widened and she looked a little embarrassed, as if she wasn't quite sure
it was proper. "It's silly, but it makes me feel safe, knowing that the
guards are here."

"Oh, it's alright, people come to watch us all the time, so we're used
to it;" Tevalin replied, subconsciously buffing out his chest to
impress her.

Tasni dimpled and looked up at him with a shy smile. "I'm glad. I
wouldn't want to disturb you, when you have such an important job to do.
We've all been so worried about those awful bandit attacks. It's such a
relief that they got caught at last."

"Yes, we scored big time. Those holdless were getting too bold, robbing
traders and riverboats," Tevalin replied.

"Were you there, when they were taken?" she asked, her voice filled with
awe.

"Not in the operation where the main band was arrested," Tevalin
replied. He had pulled a guard shift in main Hold that day and night. "I
was there when we arrested the bandit trying to sell the stolen necklace."

Tasni's brief moment of disappointment that he hadn't witnessed the
capture of her client was more than made up for by hearing about this
earlier arrest. Terren had told her that the bandits thought they'd been
betrayed by one of their own. She wasn't sure yet if this information
would be helpful, but it was at least good to know about it so it
wouldn't be a surprise at the trial.

"There was a stolen necklace? How exciting!"

"Yes, from the trader caravan, they were just transporting it.
Apparently it was unique, custom made piece for Holder Hircine's
daughter."

"So when they tried to sell it, it would be easy to recognise?" She
gazed at the young guard with as much respect as if the trap had been
his idea. "That's so clever!"

"Yes," Tevalin grinned. "And they did try to sell it. Fortunately, the
Captain knows which traders or crafters won't hesitate to do some
shady dealing, so we were keeping eye on them."

The young woman sighed. "Isn't it awful that some people will try to
profit from crime, and in a Pass, too, when we should all be helping
each other. We have a good Lord Holder, there's no need for anyone to do
that." She thought for a moment. "Is it true that a holder got caught
with the bandits when they were arrested?"

"Yeah, we arrested him for aiding them. And for what? Little bit of
extra profit," Tevalin replied.

"That's terrible. I don't understand how anyone could stoop to such
a thing, just for a few marks." She shuddered. "But what was he doing
for them, exactly? Was he involved in the robberies as well?"

"I'm not sure," the young guard admitted, scratching his ear, "But I
don't think so. Based on chatter at the barrack, he was mostly just
hiding their stuff, helping to get rid of it. That's a crime in
itself, but a smaller one."

"I suppose he must have known what sort of people they were?" Tasni
asked. "He couldn't have thought they were traders, or anything like that?"

Tevalin snorted. "Traders don't hide stuff under barn floors or sneak
around night time giving secret signals. If he thought they were doing
honest business, he's not just dimglow, he lost all his glows."

"Well, I hope he gets what he deserves at the trial." Tasni wondered if
she could make a case for Terren's innocence on the grounds of utter
stupidity. She gave the young man an admiring look. "I'll go and watch
it, if I don't have duties. Maybe I'll see you there, keeping guard."

"Maybe," Tevalin replied with a smile.

Tasni held his gaze for a moment, then looked down, as if she was a
little embarrassed by her own daring. "Oh! I've got to get back to my
duties or the Headwoman will be angry with me. It was nice meeting
you, guardsman. And thank you, for all you do." She started to turn to
go, then hesitated and looked back. "Do you...ever go to the tavern,
in the evenings?"

"Yes, I do," Tevalin replied with a hopeful smile.

"I do, too, sometimes." She calculated on getting even more out of him
after he'd had a few drinks, and he might even introduce her to friends
who'd been present at the arrest. Taverns were wonderful places to
gather information. "Perhaps I'll be there tonight. I'd love to hear
more of your stories."

Tevalin nodded. "I do wish to see you again."

"And I you." Tasni put a hand over her mouth as if to stifle a girlish
giggle at her own daring. "Until tonight, then."

As she walked away, she paused to look back, smile and wave at the young
guardsman as he prepared to return to his practice. That had almost been
too easy. Sometimes, she thought, there were advantages to working in
the South. None of these men, brought up with the craft bans, would ever
suspect a woman of being a harper spy.

Last updated on the March 23rd 2019

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