by Stanzin
CHAPTER 9.3
Lesley’s Diary – Smuggling – July 24, 1909
I think Cassius truly may be in love with me now.
On the plus side, I have to deal with the affections of a pair of brothers – woe is me (who am I kidding, the attention/competition is ecstasy). On the minus side – he’s taken to speaking at me in what I’m sure he thinks is a respectful tone of voice, but actually sounds like the kindly uncle who’s always trying to get you to sit on his lap.
Not killing him during every conversation is doing wonders for my self-control.
But, as I’ve mentioned before, Cassius is a man with a plan.
We’ve suspected for a while that the letters people here in the camp send out aren’t going where they’re supposed to, because we never get any replies. We’re cut off from the world in practically every way that matters. Cassius wants to fix that. He doesn’t have his own instrument, but someone in the camp does, and Cassius is going to get this secret mage to obscure letters.
I’m his delivery system.
Not everyone who comes to camp must join it. Some refuse the wonderful hospitality of the Spooks, and journey on after restocking. My job is going to be to hand them the letters to deliver to an address that will only un-obscure once the letter is a certain distance away from the camp. Once it’s delivered, the messengers receive a generous amount of coin.
Cassius hints that the letters may make their way out of the country.
Of course, we have to communicate all this to those who turn away without Riordan catching on, and this means a little bit skulduggery. Now, for every Incoming, I have to hand out pamphlets that inform them in pretty words what the camp offers. If I can get Cassius some of the pamphlets, his mage can charm them such that Riordan will see one thing and the incoming will see another.
I’m really curious about WHO this mage is now, though, because that’s an insanely complex sort of charm – I think there could be mind reading involved.
Look at me, all excited.