A Finger in Every Pot @rose-red-sinner
It had been convenient to arrange the deal between herself and the youngling leech Kellen-Child when the creature was in her captivity custody. When the Tribunal settled the matter of the traitors, the presented problem became getting the information she had been promised.
Milena knew without a shadow of a doubt that if she asked her Raven -- not just any of them, but Lilita personally -- to do the deed, it would be done regardless of the spy’s reservations towards their informant. It was the nature of their business. But with the sensitivity of their circumstances the Queen had decided against using a third party. The only way she could ensure a constant flow of information in the raw; that is to say information that had not been taken apart and pieced back together with new or missing pieces, would be to find a way to meet with her informant in person.
The idea of using the abandoned tower to the southeast had come to her on the precipice of a dawn. Milena had been able to gather information about the crumbling structure without raising any suspicion, and found it perfect: far enough for any of the Blood District’s Vampires to be out of earshot, and ancient enough to provide not only a place to meet but aid in escape with its fragility should they be discovered. Arranging the time of meeting through Lilita had been a child’s game afterwards.
The Bone Queen pulled the edges of her fur-lined shawl tighter against her skin as the night wind howled. The wind fought to push at the withered stones of the Watchtower, but Human architecture of old stood steady and refused to bow down. Though she could not see her, Milena knew Lilita was close -- her Raven had demanded to guard her even if it was from afar.
Neither of them trusted the Vampire girl. Milena was simply better at masking it.
“You’re late,” Milena did not deign to turn away from the hollow skeleton of a window as she heard something else, something behind her, interrupt the war between the wind and the structure, “the sun set on the horizon some time ago. I don’t appreciate being left to wait -- unless you’ve forgotten you aren’t the only one risking something in coming here.”
