“ What seems to be the problem?” A deep raspy voice said just behind her right shoulder. The two guards knelt down to one knee, the color of their faces leaving them. “ Lord commander sir!” Both said, and then they stood and saluted. “ T-This young woman wanted to get into the outcast camp. But it’s against the law, and she is a lady of high status, so it would be improper.” One guard stated, his voice shook as he gave his report. 

Michiko cursed the timing of such a meeting. If she had not been so hasty, maybe she would not have run into this man. She turned to the man behind her. He was tall for sure, his black heeled boots added to his height. “ I apologize for the inconvenience, but I must see this witness. You see, this non elf witnessed a crime a week ago and I must know what they saw.”

“ Did this… non elf reach out to you?” He brushed his raven black hair out of his face as he spoke. Michiko felt that his dark purple eyes would look into her very soul. “ No.” She responded, internally panicking about what else to say. “ A servant of mine overheard this rat talking to someone about the crime. And as I have been assigned to solve this case, I must follow every lead.” She could not believe she had said that without stuttering even once. Her heart was racing a mile a minute and she could not fathom how this commander would respond. “ I have heard of no such crime.” The commander shifted his golden cape as he questioned Michiko. The collar of his cape was made of cotton and was lined with a silver trim. 

“ Of course not, You’re not a part of the crime division in my city. How could you have possibly heard of this?” 

“ I like to keep myself… and the tenth sage informed.” The tenth sage. Jaquel talked about sages before, but she didn’t have time to ask him who they were. But, whoever they were, these sages sounded important. “ Yes, I completely understand. The sage from my district likes to be kept in the loop as much as any other sage.” Michiko was shooting in the dark. She had met lords and ladies before, she had even met a king once. All of them liked to be informed about any information regarding their lands and people. She prayed her persuasion skills weren’t as rusty as she thought.