Of course, I never had to pretend, because nobody told me about any of this until later. As a bottom-feeder in Arcadia in more way than one, most information does eventually reach me, sifting down as it were, ready to snap up for a cove with the right eye and a willingness to hold his nose at times. I've got my own little space carved out in the living body that is the city, made up of its thousands of inhabitants, fair or fowl, if you'll pardon the pun. You want something found? I'm your man. It says so right there on my door: "Bronzeplume Investigations - Retrievals of all kinds."

I used to get hassled regularly by the peacekeepers, but ever since I uncovered where their chief's beloved daughter had been stashed by some unsavory elements, there's been a delicate peace. So I wasn't expecting some of their more musclebound specimens to bust open my door and restrain me none too gently. I briefly considered putting up too fight but decided it was too early for any of that and besides I was hung over. Then who sauntered in but Christopher Wren. His brown wings, with delicate cream-coloured spots, looked unkempt as always, and his piercing stare kept me pinned in place more effectively than his goons every could.

"Basil, glad to find you at home," he said, raising an ironic eyebrow. "Apologies for these officer's enthusiasm, but you know how it is, they need to be let off their leashes every so often, and they felt you might present a danger to my person. Who could say why."

I could have hazarded a guess, but kept my mouth shut. This wasn't the time or the place.

He tossed an envelope of rich, thick paper onto my desk, held shut with a familiar seal.

"I find myself in need of your... services. You have one week to find out everything you can about what's in there. If I am satisfied with the result, you'll receive a thousand gold pieces and an imperial pardon. If not -- well, let's not dwell on unpleasantness. Understood?"

A thousand gold pieces? My mind spun. That was enough to set me up for life in a cozy nook somewhere, perhaps even carve out some minor nobility in the lands below. He must really be in a bind. My sense of danger, which had already been doing double duty ever since the goons busted in, kicked it up another notch.

What could I do though? Somehow I didn't get the idea it would be healthy to decline. I nodded. Time enough to figure our how to get out of this intact later. For now I wanted these peacekeepers out here, a glass of something strong in my hand, and that envelope's contents spread out in front of me. If there's one thing I cant resist it's a puzzle, and I had a feeling this one was going to be a doozy.

"Excellent. Keep in touch via my secretary if there's anything to report. " Wren nodded to the heavies, and they let me go with a shove, then trooped out behind him. The last one only paused to give me one last glare, which I was more than happy to return along with a rude gesture.

I reached for the envelope, and carefully slit it open. All that it contained was a piece of paper with an angry eyeball drawn on it. I checked the back, obscurely glad to not be stared at any more, but all that was there were the initials Q. V.

Interesting. Where had I seen that eye before? Nowhere pleasant.

"Remember, one week. I'll be here and know where to find you!" Christopher says as he walks out the office and his lackeys slam the door behind them.

Well great... at least it is something to do, but I am never quite happy whenever it's the Wrens that need something. Only a few months ago I got tangled up in that nasty business with his wife. Adultery is nothing special in this business. The Wrens have a status to uphold. They pay handsomely for my discretion. A thousand gold pieces, though... that's unusual.

I get out of my chair, pick up my black wool topcoat, drape it over my shoulders and tuck the envelope into my pocket. Stepping outside, a sharp cold wind hits my face. All this sun up here and still so cold. I should get out of this forsaken place more often.

After a short walk on the cobblestones of the main Arcadia, I take a left into an alley between two dimly lit lantern posts. They glow a faint red color. I remember when they still intrigued me. But now I've seen them so often, I barely take notice. I stop at a dark brown establishment. There are faded golden letters above the entrance: "Penumbra". This is where every obscure job starts for me. You'll find people of all sorts here. Though I usually leave with more questions than I entered, it is a good beginning.

It's unusually quiet today, only a handful of tables are occupied and none of them by more than two people. I walk up to the bar. "BASIL! HOW IS MY FAVORITE GRUMP?!" the jolly barman yells at me. I nod at him. He slides me a glass of sunflower seed ale. "Thanks, Jay."

"No problem at all buddy! What are you looking for today? No, don't tell me. I'll guess... another jealous husband? A missing dog? No... you've scored big time now! The neighbor's cat hasn't been seen for two hours! HAHAHA" Jay mocks. It is usually best to just let him blow off some steam. Whenever I give him the satisfaction, he tends to just ramble on.

I pull Christopher's envelope out of my pocket, take out the paper and put it on the bar. "Have you ever seen this symbol before? It looks familiar to me." His smile fades and his face shows a surprised look. "Yessir! As a matter of fact, that man there has a tattoo just like it." he says as he points at a table in the corner. A slender man in leather clothing takes notice, jumps up and bolts for the door. I lunge for the exit and tackle the man before he manages to get outside. During a chaotic struggle on the floor, we briefly make eye contact. I see a bright piercing stare, one green eye, one black. But quickly, my gaze is broken by his black boot kicking me in the face. The stranger gets up and runs off.