She forces herself to take slow steps, to avoid making any sound that could alert anyone to her presence. She doubts that anyone is roaming the ruins in the dark, but it is best to be careful. Having visited these ruins quite often she knows her way like the back of her hand, and soon she arrives at what is left of the old tower. Though the tower has long since collapsed its base still towers over the rest of the ruins. This makes it a perfect vantage point to oversee the rest of the ruins. It is also the place she was told to meet her contact.
At the tower everything is quiet, and she climbs the wall that has collapsed, till she comes to the top. She does not stand, but instead huddles against the wall, otherwise she would make a clear silhouette against the sky. She makes herself comfortable and settles in for a wait.
But she doesn't have to wait long. After a few minutes she hears a small cough from behind her. She starts, and slowly rises, turning towards the sound. Against the other wall she sees a dark figure, entirely covered in a black cloak. She didn't hear him arrive, but then again she never did the other meetings. Because he outranks her she waits for him to start the conversation.
"So... You have finished your assignment?"
"Yes sir. I have passed all information to the authorities, anonymously, and they acted as predicted. I heard that he escaped their initial chase, but I guess that they will catch him in the end."
"That is a shame. Well, at least he is not in a position to do any more damage, that counts for something."
"I am sorry for that, sir. I was not informed they would make an entrance at that particularly moment, and I was away doing ... another errand."
"Another errand?"
"Something ... personal. Private"
"Ah, that. Well, you might be wrong about him being caught easily. It seems he escaped the city and made his way to Kataras, where he is hiding with some of his more ... unsophisticated partners. They are hiding him in their own smuggling chambers, which are unknown by the Watch."
"Damn, in Kataras! Is there nothing we can do about that?"
"No. It is becoming too dangerous, we risk exposing ourselves. It is that he had to be exposed as a fraud first, otherwise he would just have ... disappeared."
"Right. In that case I will have to lie low for a while, or go somewhere else. I think I will go to back to the monastery, no one will find me there. Though I might have to make a public appearance soon, otherwise people in Kataras might begin to ask questions."
"There is a garden party tomorrow evening at Miss Morton's house, where several of your acquaintances are invited. And it is very unlikely that he will be anywhere near there. I will make sure you will receive an invitation at the monastery."
"Thank you."
It is silent for a moment. Lyxia waits patiently, knowing her contact has more on his mind. After a moment he continues.
"About your brother ..."
"Yes?"
"Keep an eye on him, will you? I have a feeling about him. He is too persistent for his own good. I think that he is going to attract some trouble in the near future..."
"Why? I told the others that he will not cause problems, just because he has seen me on a errand, a job."
"No, no, that is not what I mean. It is about his research. I have a feeling that there is more in Dr. Biene's disappearance than meets the eye, hence his research. But the question is what he will uncover, and what effects it will have on everything..."
"Nillian won't cause problems, that I know for sure. But I will keep an eye on him, when he is back in Kataras."
"He is not in Kataras anymore?"
"No, he said something about Stokes... Why?"
"Already? He is better at this than I thought... Well, in any case we will just have to see and wait what will happen."
With those words the meeting is finished, as Lyxia's contact melts away in the shadows. Lyxia has never been able to figure out how he did it. She had some suspicions, but nothing more. With a sigh she also leaves the tower, and returns to the place where she left her possessions earlier that evening, just outside the ruin.
It seems that she will have to hitch a ride with a train, to get back to Kataras. Hopefully she will be able to catch the morning freight train, that one has more than enough opportunities for a stow-away...
She quickly sets out, striding off as the first sunlight creeps over the horizon.
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