“I need to tell you something, urgently. It’s about your boss!” the small woman said as she ran after Casey on the street.

Casey rolled her eyes and kept pace. She didn’t have time for whatever bullshit the woman was peddling.

“Please! It’s important!” she persisted.

“I work for myself. I’m my boss,” Casey said rounding on her. “Find someone else for whatever scheme this is.”

“Brennor,” she whispered, stepping closer. “And it’s not bullshit.”

Casey stood up a little straighter and narrowed her eyes. There were only a handful of people in the godsforsaken place that knew she worked for Brennor. This woman shouldn’t be on that list. Casey had never seen her before.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Casey said, turning away.

“You do,” she woman replied surging up next to her. “Ever since the grenade instance things have been different, haven’t they?”

Casey grabbed the woman’s arm and pulled her off to the side. She squeaked, drawing some attention. Casey smiled at her to keep anyone else from getting involved. The smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“You will keep your voice down. Who are you anyway, and where are you getting this information?”

“Lola. Lola Fairway. Brennor hired me to listen for him.”

Casey pulled her hand away, her lip curled. An information trader. As lowly as it gets. She couldn’t believe Brennor would hire one of these people, let alone a local. He was getting sloppy.

“I was fine taking his money. Doesn’t much matter to me who is ruling. Nothing will change for me. He paid well too…”

“Enough. Say what you wanted to say so I can be done with this.”

“Sorry. He’s getting unstable. She stormed that meeting, that witch lady. I think her name was Parker. That wasn’t supposed to happen, and it’s making him unhinged. He’s obsessed with her. He’s… he’s talking about taking big steps against her.”

Casey swore. Vanessa was a nuisance, yes, but more of a bug that flitted around. Not a problem to be worried about.

“Why bring this to me?”

“Maybe you can do something. I know you have power. I hear things, ya know?”

“You’re help is noted. Thank you.”

“Noted enough to deserve a nice dinner?” Lola asked hopefully.

Casey rolled her eyes and pulled a few coins from her bag.

“If you hear anything more, find me,” Casey said, shuttering inward. As deplorable as information traders were, she could see the use. As long as she didn’t find someone else to outbid her. Information traders had no loyalty to anyone, or anything, but money and themselves.