"You haven't touched your sandwich," Valiant said, gesturing with a small paw toward the untouched plate. "It's quite good, you know."

The young man across the table—Rennik—glanced nervously at the enormous freeman looming in the corner, then back at the sandwich.

"I'm... not hungry," he mumbled.

"Not hungry?" Valiant's whiskers twitched indignantly. "It's been six hours since we brought you here. Everyone gets hungry after six hours."

"Maybe he thinks it's poisoned," Thormund rumbled, arms crossed over his massive chest. "Smart. I would have poisoned it."

Valiant spun around. "Thormund! We did not poison the sandwich! We talked about this!"

"Did not say we did, little boss. Said I would have."

"It's a really good sandwich," Valiant insisted, turning back to Rennik. "I made it myself. With a special cheese I've been working on for weeks. It's got these wonderful herbs from the southern valleys mixed right in."

Adom sat quietly, watching the exchange with detached interest.

"Look," Valiant continued, pushing the plate a little closer to Rennik, "we're not savages here." He paused. "Well, I mean none of us are savages, obviously, but we're also not trying to hurt you. That's what I meant."

This made no sense at all. Adom wanted to say.

"What the little boss is trying to say," Thormund clarified, "is that we just want information. Nothing complicated."

Why didn't he just say that from the start?

Rennik swallowed hard. "I told you already. I'm just a courier. I deliver messages, small packages. That's it."

"And yet," Adom finally spoke, "you were the one who threw the explosive at our warehouse. The one that nearly killed me and my friend."

"I didn't—I wasn't trying to—" Rennik stuttered.

Thormund pushed off from the wall. "You weren't trying to what? Kill them? Just maim them a little?"

"I didn't know anyone would be inside!" Rennik protested, his voice rising. "They told me the warehouse would be empty!"

"And that makes it better?" Valiant asked, whiskers quivering indignantly. "Destroying someone's property is fine as long as they're not home?" He nudged the plate again. "The sandwich really is good by the way. Just a small bite?"

"I—I just—" Rennik looked down at his hands, ignoring the sandwich. "I was just following orders."

Adom leaned forward slightly. "Whose orders? Who told you to bomb our warehouse?"

"Deroq. He's the operations manager." Rennik still wouldn't meet their eyes. "He handles all the... competitive adjustments."

"Competitive adjustments," Valiant repeated, trying to sound menacing but coming across more like a confused schoolteacher. "Is that what you call attempted murder these days?"

"It wasn't supposed to be like that!" Rennik insisted. "It was just supposed to be a warning!"

"A warning," Thormund said flatly. "With explosives."

"No, I-" Rennik said quickly. " "Warning jobs are... they're meant to scare competitors. Usually it's just property damage. Breaking windows, damaging merchandise. Things that can be fixed but cost money and time." He glanced nervously at Adom. "Never when people are around. That's the rule. No one gets hurt. That's all it was supposed to be. Scare you off. Make you reconsider your business plans."

"What business plans specifically?" Adom asked, eyes narrowing. "What about our guild concerns the Crimson Scale so much?"

Rennik hesitated.

Thormund took a step forward. "The mage asked you a question." He touched the handle of his axe. "Should I give you a good reason to talk?"

"That won't be necessary," Adom said calmly. "Rennik's going to tell us everything he knows. Because he understands his situation. Right, Rennik?"

"Your sponsors," Rennik blurted out. "Guildmaster Mavarin found out you had backing from several powerful merchant houses. She said you were being positioned to challenge our trade routes."

Adom and Valiant exchanged a look.

"How did they find out who our backers were?" Adom asked. "Those arrangements were meant to be private."

Rennik shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I just follow orders."

"Seems like your orders nearly got people killed," Valiant said, his tail swishing rapidly back and forth. "That's a serious violation of the Merchant's Code." He pushed the plate even closer. "Please try the sandwich? I've been experimenting with this cheese for months."

Adom glanced at the sandwich, then at Valiant. Did he not say weeks at first?

"I didn't know!" Rennik's voice cracked. "You have to believe me!"

Adom studied him for a long moment. "What's happening at the Crimson Scale right now? What are they planning next?"

Rennik shook his head. "I don't know. They don't tell people like me about plans." He hesitated, then added, "But they've been turning away new applicants. Usually they're always hiring, but Velth said no new faces until this 'situation' is resolved."

Adom's expression shifted subtly.

"No new hires," he repeated softly. "Interesting."

"Makes sense," Valiant said. "They're worried about spies."

"Like anyone would trust this one with sensitive information," Thormund said, nodding at Rennik.

"They don't!" Rennik protested. "I'm just a courier!"

"A courier who throws bombs," Thormund reminded him.

"That was just this once! I don't usually—" Rennik caught himself. "I mean, I've never done anything like that before."

"And yet you did it so well," Adom observed coolly. "Almost as if you'd had practice."

Rennik opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again, looking miserable. After a moment, he reached out with a shaking hand and took a small bite of the sandwich.

Valiant's ears perked up immediately. "Well? What do you think?"

Rennik chewed slowly, then swallowed. "It's... it's actually really good."

Valiant beamed. "I knew it! The rosemary makes all the difference. Adom, you should try it too."

Adom looked momentarily distracted. "What? Oh. Perhaps later."

"I'll save you one," Valiant promised, looking utterly delighted.

Adom stood suddenly. "Valiant, Thormund, a word?" He gestured toward the door.

"Stay," Thormund told Rennik with a menacing stare. "Finish your sandwich."

Rennik nodded quickly, taking another small bite as they left.

Once outside, Adom closed the door and turned to his companions.

"We need to get someone inside the Crimson Scale," he said without preamble.

Valiant's tail swished thoughtfully. "But they're not hiring."

"The boy just said so," Thormund agreed. "No new faces."

"Not new faces," Adom said, a slight smile playing at his lips. "But what about an old face?"

Valiant's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "You mean..."

"Rennik," Adom confirmed. "They're already expecting him back. They know he was at the warehouse. If he returns with a convincing story about how he escaped..."

"But he won't return to Crimson Scale just to spy for us," Thormund pointed out.

"No," Adom agreed. "He won't."

Thormund looked at Valiant. "Little boss, didn't you want to be the bad guard in there?"

"Yeah. I was. Wasn't I?"

"You made him a sandwich with your special cheese," Thormund said flatly.

"Well, yes, but I was asking intimidating questions while he ate it."

Adom frowned. "What are you two talking about? Bad guard?"

"It's 'bad guard, good guard,'" Thormund explained. "Interrogation technique. One person threatens, one person offers comfort. Makes suspect open up."

"I read about it in a book," Valiant added enthusiastically. "It's very effective! The suspect bonds with the good guard out of relief and shares all their secrets."

"And you were supposed to be the bad guard?" Adom asked Valiant, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Valiant said proudly, then deflated slightly. "I mean, I was trying to be."

"You gave him your special cheese sandwich," Adom pointed out again.

"I wanted to see if he liked it," Valiant admitted. "I've been working on that recipe for weeks."

So, weeks it is then. Adom thought.

Thormund shook his head. "Worst bad guard ever."

"Next time, I'll be much more intimidating," Valiant promised. "I've been practicing my growl."

He was about to attempt a growl when Adom sighed. "Let's focus on the matter at hand. We need someone inside the Crimson Scale."

Valiant frowned, tail swishing faster. "We can't force Rennik to spy for us. That would be unethical."

Adom and Thormund both looked at him.

"What?" Valiant asked defensively. "It would be!"

"We won't send Rennik," Adom said. "We'll send someone else. As Rennik."

Valiant's whiskers twitched in confusion. "I don't follow."

"Remember that mask I made the last time?"

"The face changing mask?" Thormund asked, his normally gruff voice tinged with unease. "The little boss told me about that. Getting caught with that kind of deception inside the Crimson Scale headquarters... that's asking for a quick burial, mage."

"Yes," Adom agreed. "But also our best chance to know what they're planning before they do it."

"Wait," Valiant said, standing on his tiptoes in excitement. "Are you suggesting we send someone disguised as Rennik into the Crimson Scale? As a spy?"

"I am."

Valiant was practically bouncing now. "Oh! Oh! I'll do it! I've always wanted to be a spy! I can wear a tiny hat and everything!"

Adom and Thormund exchanged glances.

"Little boss," Thormund said gently, "the mask can't turn a mouse into a human." He turned to Adom. "Right?"

"Right."

"Oh." Valiant's ears drooped. "Right."

"Besides," Adom added, "we need you here, coordinating things."

"Of course," Valiant straightened, trying to look dignified. "That makes strategic sense."

"So who will wear the mask?" Thormund asked.

*****