*Master* I called for the hunters that were in the southern borders. As Merna had informed me, the female serf did indeed have a blade in her chest. On looking at this serf, I knew that she had been with me for well over one hundred Earth years. Five hundred and sixty-two did as told and pleased the hunters when the action was requested of her. I glanced over at Merna as I spoke to the hunters. Merna had knelt near the body as she had the dagger in her hands. Her green eyes were fixated on the blade as her mind started to wander away from the task at hand. Several times she would tap the blade on the palm of her other hand. At one point I caught her gliding the sharpened part of the blade along the surface of her skin. ‘Does being here still bring the thoughts of suicide to your mind?’ ‘How did you know?’ I watched Merna lift her head and direct her attention towards me, ‘Pierre is not here to stop me!’ Anger boiled in my veins at the mention of his name. Then her words snapped in my mind. Connecting the dots I added up what Pirapancam mentioned and Merna’s reply. ‘You are not the first one to look at a blade like that, there is not much that I haven’t seen. You are not that special!’ ‘I never said I was special!’ Merna started to chuckle in my mind. ‘Old habit!’ Merna’s head was lowered as she spoke to me using her mind. ‘I could break you!’ I snarled. ‘You can not break something that is already shattered!’ She replied to me. Rumbling erupted from my chest which brought everyone's attention to me. “Clean up the mess. Gather everyone into the throne room.” I told the hunters, “you will tell me who the spy is?” My eyes were on Merna. “I think that is a bad idea!” Merna dared to challenge me. Merna inhaled and exhaled, “if you start to collect everyone and bring them to the throne room. And the spy should see what is going on … she could try to slip away. I will not be able to out her. I believe the correct course of action is to allow me to wander the halls. Once I spot the spy, one of your hunters intervenes. You could make it that you have two hunters with me, that way I can signal them to more and capture the female. Besides, I have her energy signature!” Merna tapped the side of her head. “I will be able to find her a lot faster than gathering everyone to the throne room.” “You dare to question me?” I had never had anyone of lower rank do this. In front of those who hold higher rankings than her.“I thought I was your concort … in training! Does a consort not advise you on all matters of importance? Or would I have gotten the wrong impression of the job title?” Again she questioned me. I snorted out smoke from my nose, ‘this is why I never chose to have a consultant in the past!’ Game score, three for the Master, three for me!’ Merna had a victory smile on her face. “A concort advises when I ask for their input!” I told Merna coldly. Merna placed her hand over the location of her heart, ‘Ouch! If I had any feelings to offend I would be broken by your words!’ ‘I can not break something that is already shattered!’ I shot her words back at her. ‘Game score, four for the Master, three for me!’ Merna still had a cocky grin on her face. I have picked up on Merna’s little game of keeping count of who wins in these disagreements of ours. Inwardly I was smiling, ‘challenge accepted!’ I motioned towards two hunters, “Follow Merna in the halls as she wanders we will see if she can spot the spy first. I have no idea how many spies my siblings have sent.” I told my hunters. “Master?” Merna was trying to gain my attention. Snarling, “Yes!” “May I have your permission to wander without footwear? I will be able to pick up on the female spy faster. On top of that, if there should be others, I can sense them as well. Since you have mentioned you are unsure of how many … would it not be wise to look for more than one while I am gallivant around your home?” Her tone was sweet, disgustingly sweet. “I thought you told me that you can only talk to the land when you are outside?” I gritted my teeth, “I was also under the impression that you gathered information when someone touches you? Or was that a lie as well?” “I did not lie! I can gather information from touch as well as peering into others' eyes.” Merna took a step towards me, “it is difficult for me to look others in the eye, when their heads are lowered! Plus the stone picks up imprints of those that walk the halls. Touch! When I do not have condoms on my feet I can feel everything.” Merna kept eye contact with me as she spoke. “Plus I can only speak to the land entities when I am outside of your home. I can not talk to the land entities when I am inside your house!” I studied Merna, there was no hint of a lie or deceit. Everything she said was her truth. I nodded my head once, ‘Do it!’ “take Merna back to the holding and follow her! Do not question her actions. She knows what she is to do.” I caught Merna glaring at the hunters in the eye, ‘they are loyal!’*Merna* My feet hit the cold floor with a thud. I was wasting no time in the search for this female spy. I did not feel, I allowed my instinct to take over. I was like a bloodhound that had found the scent of their prey. My feet took me to the hunter's quarters. Slowly I moved, fully aware that the hunters that were out of their rooms had their eyes on me. A few even dared to give me a toothy grin letting me know they would use me at their will if given the chance. Holding my head high I strolled past them as if nothing bothered me. This feeling was nothing new to me. Males! “She is in there!” I stopped at a door where I was ninety-nine percent sure she was located. Behind the cloth door, everyone could hear the fake moans of a female along with the slapping of skin on skin. “Oh … please … harder!” The female screamed. Shaking my head I stopped the two hunters from barging in, “let him finish … that is the least we could do!” Both hunters gave me a toothy grin as their eyes hazed over. What started as fake screams of pleasure turned into screams of pain. I tilted my head to the side, “I am going to take a lucky guess and say … you informed the male of what is going on?” The tallest hunter replied, “It did ask for the act to be harder!” I had to cover my mouth with my hands and lower my head to suppress the laughter that threatened to be released. By nature I am passive. It is the darkness that creeps up from time to time that breaks everything I have worked for. I backed away from the hunter's room and headed towards the other side of the location. Leaning up against the wall a hunter strolled over towards me, “Dundragon!” His eyes glided up and down my body. “If at any time you have issues and need company, remember my name!” My eyes went straight to his teeth. They were pointed and silvery white. I could not help but stare into his eyes. “You're a red dragon!” “Problem!” I focused on giving Dundragon a flat expression, “Only stating a fact!” This short conversation was concluded once the female was dragged out by the hunter. She seemed confused and unaware of why she was being manhandled until our eyes met, “that is her!” I announced out loud. The second I uttered those words the hunter that had been fucking her started to drag her away. “One second!” I wanted the hunter to stop moving. Moving my feet with speed, I stopped in front of the female, placing my hands on her head. I started to gather information. “Do not allow her to go outside! Once she leaves the walls of the Master castle, Scota is able to speak with her master! Plus he-she is a changeling!” All other information I kept to myself. By looks alone, Scota appeared human. But as I had learned long ago, looks are deceiving. She was a changeling with mage capabilities. I could not determine her birth form, I could only see the faces that she once had been. I have to say, if there was one skill to possess, being able to change one's appearance would have been handy. My head was starting to spin as blood dripped from my nose. I could feel gravity pulling me to the ground as darkness took over my vision. I waited for the thud of my body hitting the floor, yet it did not come. “Take her to her chambers! I will tell the Master that the spy has been apprehended!” I heard a male voice say as my body floated with the subtle motion of swaying back and forth. “Shit!” I whispered. I had not realized how much energy I had used. My mind was thumping as a migraine was in the beginning.