The Hornet's Nest: Part 5

To Caolinn’s knowledge, there had never been a mission to capture Darr, not in all the years since his defection. He’d essentially camped under the Order’s nose, but no-one had ever gone after him, not even when he’d been most active. Darr would have said they were scared of him, but Caolinn suspected the truth was more prosaic. More likely, The Order of Whispers had simply never seen him as a threat.

The team Nairne assembled took Caolinn by surprise. Nairne herself was there, and Mala too, but the rest of the Agents seemed of little significance. There were few of the names from Nairne’s list here, and few individuals who had a personal connection to Darr. Perhaps the Lightbringer was trying to avoid suspicion by not associating with the rest of the Inquest spies too closely – or perhaps most of them hadn’t even arrived. The more time Caolinn spent studying the list of names, the more she realised some of the people it mentioned weren’t even in the Chantry of Secrets yet. Either they were waiting to be transferred from other bases, or they were soon to become new recruits.

It was a frustrating state of affairs. Caolinn could inform the higher echelons of the Order that they were soon to be infiltrated, but what would that do to her own position? If any of them found out about her connection to Torwen, she’d be in just as much trouble – and whilst she wasn’t concerned about that for her own sake, it would completely curtail her ability to root out the spies.

So she joined Nairne’s mission and kept her mouth shut. Sticking close to the Lightbringer still seemed like her best option, so that was what she’d do.

Their party of six left the Chantry as dawn broke. As Nairne gave last-minute instructions, Caolinn amused herself by calculating the distance to Darr’s nearest lair. The Order knew it was there – it was what they were about to raid – but Darr really had been every bit as brazen as he’d always claimed. It would take them barely five minutes to cross the water to his hideout; it was visible from the Order’s own front door.

Indeed, Nairne was still giving orders by the time they crossed the water to the far bank, and turned to follow it west. Only as they reached the cave that fronted the lair did she fall silent.

“Oozes,” someone said in disgust. Caolinn had to agree. There were other ways into the base, ones that left the creatures in peace, but if the Order didn’t know about them, she wasn’t about to tell them.

They dispatched the oozes quickly and the Agents filed into the cave. It quickly became apparent that they didn’t know what they were doing; Caolinn brushed away the sand and lifted the concealed trapdoor herself with some amusement. Hadn’t any of them scouted this location beforehand? Maybe they really were scared of Darr, after all.

“It’s this way,” she said, letting the trapdoor fall back with a bang. “There’s another cave below.”

Even in the darkness, she could feel eyes turning her way, some in relief and others full of suspicion. What had they expected though? she thought scornfully. She’d worked with Darr for years; she might not know all his secrets, but she knew a good few.

Nairne, made ghostly by the light of Mala’s torch, waved towards the hole. “After you.”

Caolinn shrugged and began to climb down. At least if Darr proved to be down there, he wouldn’t skewer her first and ask questions later. Probably.

In truth, Caolinn wasn’t sure what Darr would do if they met again. They’d been on reasonable terms when she’d last seen him, but she’d also made no attempt to explain her plans to him before she left. Only Amber had worked out she was leaving, and that had been a mistake. Caolinn had known what she was doing in following Torwen and refused to feel guilty about it, but secrecy suited her nature. She’d have much preferred to leave no trail at all.

The cavern below the ladder was dark, and by the musty smell, Darr hadn’t been there in some time. Caolinn took a few hesitant steps forward. Already, she knew they’d find little of interest – Darr would have destroyed anything incriminating before he left.

Mala joined her at the foot of the ladder, drawing her torch to give extra light. “Looks like he’s well ahead of us,” she said, as more Agents spread out around them.

Of course he was, Caolinn thought. The moment she’d left, Darr would have changed his plans. He could be anywhere in Tyria by now.

She was about to say as much to Mala when there was a blaze of light behind her, followed by a scream. Caolinn ducked instinctively, a blast of fire surging over her head. By the time she turned, two of the Agents were on the ground, spots of flame burning all around them, clinging in lumps to the floor and walls.

“Oil,” Mala said grimly, even as she went to help the fallen Agents.

“You never said anything about traps.” Nairne’s voice came from behind Caolinn, as she finally reached the bottom of the ladder.

Caolinn shook her head. “There never used to be any. That wasn’t Darr’s style.”

It hadn’t used to be, anyway. It seemed he’d changed his tactics since she’d left.

They moved more carefully after that, uncovering another vat of oil ready to burn, and a wall full of poison darts. To Caolinn’s surprise, it was Nairne who scouted ahead, checking for and disabling the traps; she wouldn’t let any of the Agents advance until she was certain the way was clear. For a spy, Caolinn mused, the Lightbringer was unusually selfless.

Finally, Nairne was satisfied and waved the rest of the party ahead, into the main room of the lair. She caught Caolinn by the arm as she passed. “If there prove to be any more ‘surprises’, it’s on your head.”

Caolinn wanted to protest but didn’t dare. She looked guiltily at the wounded Agents, still under Mala’s care at the side of the room. How was she supposed to know what Darr had left behind?

Nairne moved off, leaving Caolinn to study the cavern. Everything was much as she’d last seen it, with only minor alterations. There were even the same plans and maps lying on the tables, others stuck to the walls. She peered at one, noting Darr’s scrawled handwriting, so at odds with the meticulous way he charted things like troop positions and enemy movements. Nobody cared what he’d been thinking, he’d once told her, but they needed to be able to read the maps. How else could they continue his work after he was gone?

She felt another pang of guilt, of a different kind this time. After he was gone. Darr had been talking about her taking over his operation, Caolinn realised, but she hadn’t seen it at the time. She’d believed herself only a foot soldier, expendable and easily replaced. Perhaps Darr hadn’t seen her that way at all.

“Any of this new?” Mala had joined her, the injured Agents now on their way out of the cave.

Caolinn shook her head. “These are all charts of the Inquest’s movements, from when we were tracking Zurra. The Syndicate had bases all over Tyria. Darr located every one of them.”

“The Syndicate.” Mala pulled a face. “You could have come to us for help, you know. The Order would have fought against Zurra, too.”

“No, the Order would have stormed in and taken over. They would have pushed Darr aside.” Caolinn knew she was parroting Darr’s words, and knew equally how true they were. He’d never trusted the Order of Whispers, and she wasn’t sure Amber had either. Perhaps they’d been right.

Caolinn followed the cave wall, glancing at maps and lists she remembered all too well. Darr had seen no reason to cover his tracks, evidently – all of this was old news.

She stopped in the corner she’d always worked in, where her desk had stood – only to find it wasn’t there. Caolinn looked round, puzzled, finding the desk had been moved several feet to one side. There were no marks on the dusty floor to show it had been shifted, either; Darr must have cleaned the area before he left. Why bother with that, though? He’d usually worked in a semi-organised state of squalor. For that matter, why move the desk at all?

It took Caolinn several minutes, but finally she saw it. In the corner of the cavern, once concealed behind her desk, was a hidden door. All the hours she’d spent staring at the wall, and she’d never even known it was there. She ran a finger down the tiny indentation, one she’d always assumed was natural, and sure enough discovered a latch. A latch that surely only she could find.

Caolinn froze. The door was extraordinarily well-hidden, no hinges or even joints to be seen. Only someone who’d known the desk had been moved would have paid attention to that corner at all. Only someone like her.

She stepped back, trying to look casual, as though she was studying another wall full of maps. Her mind raced. Darr had left a trail for her to follow, and only her. He couldn’t have known she’d lead the Order here. Was this in case she ever decided to join him again? Had he made sure that, wherever he went, she’d be able to find him?

Hesitation gripped her. Darr had left this trail solely for her – how could she betray him to the Order he’d spent so long avoiding? And yet, how could she not? She needed the Order’s trust, and she needed to know what Nairne would do next. The Lightbringer was going after Darr for a reason, one that Caolinn needed to uncover if she was to root out the Inquest spies.

Besides, Darr was asura. In so many ways, he was no better than the Inquest. He deserved whatever he got.

Caolinn shook her head. No, that was taking things too far, even if a small part of her mind insisted it was true. Darr was certainly ruthless, though, and he’d been a solo operative for a long time. He could take care of himself.

She stepped back into the corner and reached for the hidden latch, raising her voice so the whole cave could hear her. “Lightbringer Nairne. There’s something you should see.”