beyond a week or two. It was Palace and Swan who really brought us together, gave us an objective. They knew the Silvers better than we did. Knew how they thought, how they acted. And they knew that, if we really wanted to make a difference, this had to be bigger than us.
JACOS: And it certainly is. Would you like to talk about the incident at the Hud? It’s referred to as the Drowning of the Northlands.
(Colonel Farley stares for a long time)
COL. FARLEY: No I fucking would not.
* * *
While the Disputed Lands keep a different calendar from Nortans, and the river ferrier is hardly a scholar, I can triangulate his entries to sometime after 300 NE. Based on my conversation with Colonel Farley, I suspect these Red soldiers moving along the border included himself, General Sentry, General Crimson, and the beginnings of the Scarlet Guard.
* * *
JACOS: Before Huntress, what was your code name within the Scarlet Guard?
GEN. FARLEY: I was Lamb. And my father is Ram.
JACOS: You were quite young when you joined.
GEN. FARLEY: Yes.
JACOS: And you aided your father with his missions throughout the Lakelands. Planting operatives in key positions, sabotaging Silver trade and transport, smuggling, intelligence gathering, assassinations, et cetera.
GEN. FARLEY: They were my missions as well.
JACOS: Of course. And you were hand-selected for the Nortan infiltration.
GEN. FARLEY: Yes.
JACOS: How old were you when your mother and sister died?
(General Farley does not respond)
JACOS: Would you like to talk about the incident at the Hud?
GEN. FARLEY: No I fucking would not.
* * *
FROM MILITARY RECORDS OF HORN MOUNTAIN AND THE MONTFORT DEFENSE CENTER:
* * *
Our spies in the Lakelands have reported a major event in the north, on the shores of the Bay of Hud. Based on our intelligence, several attacks and acts of sabotage throughout the kingdom have been traced to a small group based out of a remote village. The King of the Lakelands retaliated with force, and moved the waters of the bay to quite literally extinguish the first embers of rebellion. We’re still waiting on casualty counts, but preliminary reports place it in the hundreds. I’ve put in a request to send an operative to investigate properly and report back. I’m most interested in this so-called group, their organization, and their size. They seem to be well coordinated and able to move. Not to mention smart. Several have been captured but have given nothing under interrogation. It seems they operate on a need-to-know basis, very militaristic. No one knows the whole picture. Will see how they respond.
* * *
Drowning of the Northlands most likely early spring, 315 NE.
* * *
Jacos: I understand you played no small part in recent events, particularly those surrounding Mare Barrow.
Mr. Whistle: Wasn’t much of anything. Girl’s a good thief. I used to sell off what she lifted, take a little for my troubles.
Jacos: You also introduced her to General Diana Farley and the Scarlet Guard.
(Mr. Whistle narrows his eyes and shrugs.)
Jacos: It’s all right to tell me as much or as little as you like, sir. I’m simply here to get every angle.
Whistle: You know Whistle isn’t actually my last name, right? It’s a code. Guard’s not the only people around with code names, eh.
Jacos: I see.
Whistle: It’s part of a bigger operation. The Whistle network. Fences and smugglers all over the country, relaying with each other. Someone down south can move sugar, up north we got batteries, and so on. Necessary, you know, with your type running everything. How else were we supposed to survive in the cracks?
Jacos: I certainly agree with you. And the Scarlet Guard infiltrated the Whistle network early on, didn’t they?
Whistle: Infiltrated? No, they partnered with us. We helped them move, carried information, smuggled supplies and people. But we were in charge of ourselves. No one took a job they didn’t want. That was the agreement, and the Guard kept it.
Jacos: How long were you working with the Guard?
Whistle: Oh, me? Not long. Less than two years, I suppose. They move pretty quickly, that Guard. Once they set to moving.
Jacos: And before the Guard? What was life like then? I assume you’ve seen a great deal of it.
Whistle: Is that your way of saying I look old?
(Mr. Whistle laughs)
Whistle: Yes, I’ve seen my share. The good, the bad. The Stilts is better than most places. We’re no tech town, and I never had to pass through one of those, thankfully. But you still have to watch kids ripped out of their homes