Royce adjusted his weight on the small vessel, hoping to reawaken his right side. Pins and needles jabbed at his awakening side.

His commanding officer misconceived the adjustment for discomfort in the conversation. He quirked his brow. "You say the mission was a success, but I sense the sabotage didn't go as you planned."

The double spy looked up from the pins and needles jabbed into his right leg and looked his CO in the eyes. They'd come out here, in the middle of Neverwinter's unforgiving frigid waters for privacy. Royce had to admit, he was more at home in the artic chill of Neverwinter than ever in the soft belly warmth of Hillsfire. Still, these were cruel lands, just as the Ice Spirit had intended and this was no man to trifle with.

"You're right, sir, it only went how we generally planned, but I had bigger plans. They fell through and almost jeopardized the mission."

Now it was the CO's turn to shift. "Bold words. I said speak freely and you're trying to push your way out of this position." His cold blue eyes darkened as if he was the only thing in Neverwinter keeping the Ice Spirit's wrath at bay.

As brash as always, Royce did not recoil. He thrived in the icy glare. "I bare my truths to the wind, sir." He used the common phrase of the land that he had nothing to hide. "But I worked closely with the Recovery Special Tactics Squad. There are a few I wished to eliminate. They would be," his thoughts wandered, "problematic."

"And that is why your plan fell through. You thought it would promote you, hm?"

He held his tongue.

"Ambition will get you killed. Fight the fight with passion, not for glory."

"All hail the Ice Spirit," they said in unison.

Royce was silent for the rest of the ride. The old ice wraith had no foresight. Only he knew this would be no simple victory without Loki dead. That one dangerously beautiful woman could crumble the entire war.