"Is there anyone besides you from whom it does not need to be confidential, either now or if they later evince knowledge or authorization in some suitably definitive way?"

"There are names I could provide, but they may themselves be revelatory of whom my information concerns. May I erect a privacy ward before answering the question?"

"Go right ahead."

Ferris takes out an old, worn-looking wand capped with an opal and carefully draws a perimeter around the room. The sound of the rain fades away to nothing.

He returns to his seat.

"You may share the contents of our conversation with Manus' second ambassador to Liscor, Tanivv Riverscale, though only by discreet means I can suggest, to avoid notice. I can write it down for you. With my employer and at least one other associate of theirs, though I would rather not name them yet. I may include more afterwards, but is that more agreeable?"

"I think... yes, I can agree to eight months of confidentiality outside the described list of people with the precautions you suggest provided you have not misrepresented the nature or hazards of your information. Is there a formalization you prefer?"

"I don't think a contract will help, and you are—Lawful Good, in your ontology? I've heard a bit about it. Is it true you lose your class if you break your word? If you can repeat the agreement on a truth stone I'll be happy with it." He produces a round rock from a pouch and sets it on the desk. "This is one of the ones you hold, sorry."

He picks it up. "I am actually not sure if I should technically under my home circumstances be allowed some sort of leeway in the matter of lying but I am at least operating under the assumption that I am commanded to eschew it and would be stripped of my magic if I violated this command. I think I am personally Lawful Neutral though I aspire toward the ideal of Lawful Good. I will abide by the aforedescribed confidentiality agreement for eight months or until such time as I discover it to have been made on false pretenses."

Repocket the stone.

"The first thing of note to you is that Keisha Silverfang was arrested in Manus four weeks ago on suspicion of involvement with a prison break in Zeres in Elfebelfast. She has at yet not been extradited, nor has Zeres yet been informed, one reason for the clause of confidentiality. However, while there is not currentely a strict extradition agreement between Manus and Zeres, it would be considered a... deliberate offense, between cities not at war, to refuse to hand her over, once her presence in Manus inevitably leaks.

"Silverfang has thus far qualified as of interest to detain due to her projects and connections, but that usefulness is not indefinite, and by the end of the month, she will likely be extradited by default. Your name came up in questioning, although your exact connection is still unclear. I'm here on behalf of my employer, a Wall Lady of Manus, to offer negotiating Silverfang's release in exchange for intelligence on several subjects. If that is not of interest, I am also able to offer gold or other privileges on her behalf."

"Is she all right?"

"High-security prison isn't stimulating, but she should have received three meals a day and shouldn't have been harmed. Manus runs a tight ship. I don't have specific knowledge of her mental state."

"What is it that you want to know?"

"The Dragon. That's the first thing. Silverfang said she was looking for one, but she didn't have much to say about it. Do you know more? Without going into specifics, as we haven't agreed to a trade yet."

"Very little, but I know who does know more."

"Is this someone who would be receptive to communication, if you put us in contact?"

"I don't know anything about whether they might have history with the people you represent or would be inclined to count on any assurances you'd be willing to make about the use of the information."

It's the goddamn Antinium, isn't it.

"It would be very valuable if you could procure more information about it. What you already have may already be worth a significant amount, even if it's only confirmation or denial that there is specific evidence of the dragon existing, or identification of who it's thought to be or what age it is."

"To what end would you put this information?"

"A lot of people would be interested in gaining contact with a living Dragon. Dragons were thought to be extinct. Discovering one could redefine the landscape of Izril. How much do you know about the history of Drakes?"

"Very little, I have a fairly poor memory for history facts even when I've in fact learned it in the first place and I haven't, here."

"The Drakes claim to be descended from Dragons as a point of pride. In times before legend, the Drakes and Dragons were allied. Many of the Walled Cities claim they were built by or with Dragons. Of course, the legends then go that the ancient Drakes overthrew the Dragons, but Drakes still consider Dragons... founding fathers, of sorts. Many take their heritage and traditions very seriously.

"Oldblood Drakes—those with expressive Draconic features, like wings or breath weapons, you may have seen some—are held in great prestige, and family lines where the old blood runs thick are treasured and cultivated."

"I'm not sure I have seen those, but noted. Is my information pertaining to dragons, however much or little of it I may possess, alone, worth Voyager Silverfang's safe conduct to Liscor, or is there more you want?"

"It's not enough that I can make promises. My employer will likely prefer to personally conduct an interview, and any formalities are best conducted in Manus to put on the record for Zeres if they come asking around, so a trip to Manus is likely warranted if you are amenable to the offer and wish to discuss specifics."

"...well, of course take your time in thinking about how to approach it. I'm less interested if there is going to be a paper trail inviting Zeres to take offense with me; I had been under the impression that you represented people with the wherewithal to offer her release free and clear without any formal obligations to anyone with a more concrete interest in her imprisonment."

"If you wish, you can require that your involvement be confidential and that you remain anonymous in the documentation. If anything, that would sell it better. It's more about having a paper trail at all than the actual contents of it. There aren't formal extradition obligations, but it's less diplomatically costly to release other cities' wanted criminals if we're getting something else in exchange for it, and since we're not going to be telling them what we learned, it's useful to have something to point at. Prioritizing Manus' benefit over Zeres' is expected; being unnecessarily anticooperative isn't.

"...On that note, it's likely an agreement will involve some form of exclusivity to not share the same information to additional parties, which is complicated by there presumably already being others in the know, but we can work something out, I expect."

"No, I think that if it's recorded that you had her and an anonymous individual treated with you for her release then they'll notice it was me."