The Geneovasan:Part I of III

It was shortly after 7 o'clock when she realized someone was knocking on the door. Groaning, Maddie rolled out of bed slowly before walking into the living room to answer the door. Will arrived at the door a second after she did. Maddie undid the lock and opened the door.

"Sorry to wake you," shouted Sir Rodney. "But it's an emergency!" Rodney had obviously been running. His sword was at his hip, and he was in chain mail. His shoulder was covered in blood, but whether or not it was his own Maddie could not tell.

"Slow down," said Will calmly. "And what is happening?"

Rodney took a deep breath before saying. "It's the Baron. He was attacked."

"Attacked?" said Maddie incredulously. "By whom? Is he alright?"

"Geneovasans, and yes he is alive if that's what you mean. We killed one of the assassins, but two got away and we fear others may still be in the castle."

"Maddie, get dressed and ready. We're going after these guys." Will told her. "You have five minutes."

"No," said Rodney. "You're going after them. We are not risking your apprentice of only two years. These Geneovasans just killed three men at arms without alerting a soul. It's too dangerous for her."

"You've got a point." said Will, waving his arms about irritably. "But you forget I fought the Kalkara with less than a fourth the training she has had. And I will need someone to relay a message if I ever catch up to them."

"I still don't like it. . ." said Rodney.

"She is my apprentice," Will told him, "and I will decide which missions she is allowed to accompany me on!"

"Fine." Rodney muttered.

Maddie retreated inside the cabin and threw on a doublet, leather traveling jerkin, boots, gloves and most importantly the legendary cloak worn by all members of the ranger corps. Then she donned her belt and double scabbard. Finally, she looped her sling and ammunition pouch through her belt, and put her recurve bow across her back with its quiver of arrows. "Ready!" she called and then rushed to meet Will at the stables, where he was quickly saddling Tug and Bumper for a long hard ride.

Bumper whinnied when he saw Maddie rush into the stable. What's with all the urgency? I was sleeping!

"It's Arald" said Maddie.

"What? I know it's Arald!" Will said slightly irritated, slightly confused.

"I was telling Bumper." said Maddie.

"Oh," said Will silently, smiling. It was nice to know he wasn't the only ranger who had conversations with his horse.

Three minutes later, Maddie was swinging her leg up and into Bumpers saddle. "What is a Geneovasans?" she asked inquisitively. "I've never heard the name before."

"That's because they like it that way. But to answer your question, the Geneovasans are mercenaries, assassins, and professional hit men for hire. They are nearly as dangerous as a ranger, and in many of the same ways, including their ability to go about undetected. So if you ever feel like we're being watched, even if the horses haven't alerted us, don't hesitate to say anything."

"Okay." she replied, and then said, "Do you think they will try and hurt the townsfolk?"

"Almost certainly not," said Will as they started out onto the path up to Redmont. "They are assassins, not serial killers. Once an assassination has been attempted, their sole focus will be too disperse, blend in, and flee to Genovese, where they will receive payment from the government which acts as an intermediary between them and their clients. In a case like this, they will be even more eager to flee, because the assassination was botched. Although they may be slightly less eager to return to Genovese, right away. The only ones at risk now are us, because if we catch them, they will fight like cornered rats."

"Then why are we following them?" queried Maddie. "I mean, if they're no threat to the common people and this group is pretty much out of business? Why put ourselves at risk?"

"Firstly," said Will, "justice must be done. Secondly, they may try to regroup and perform another attempt on Arald's life, and lastly, I never said these ones were out of business. I just said that they may be slightly less eager to return to Genovese right away."

They arrived at castle Redmont, and dismounted. "You go and talk to the captain of the guard, and see if he knows anything. " said Will. "I'll stay here and look for any signs of their leaving."

Maddie ventured over to where the captain of the guard was standing, looking rather shaken. "What happened here?" Maddie inquired of him. "Did you see anything?" Startled, as he did not hear her approach, the man dropped his short spear. Fumbling around to pick it up he said "Err, that's not for your ears miss . . . ranger?"

"Yes, yes. I'm a girl ranger. Blah, blah, blah. Girls can't be rangers. Blah. blah. blah. I've heard it all before. Now answer my question."

"Right." he said. "Sorry, miss ranger. The attackers, they didn't come through the gate. Well I suppose that's obvious. I suppose they must have used a rope ladder to climb over the wall." His pupils dilated just a tad. He scratched his nose. His gaze shifted a little to the left and to the ground. Maddie had been trained. She knew the telltale signs. He was lying. The question was why? Nevertheless, Maddie decided that she would play his little game.

"But how do you think they got into the keep," she asked.

"I think they snuck in, past the guards in the early morning when the castle is on its lowest level of alert and the guard is changing."

He was a smart liar, Maddie thought. He only told her what she already knew. That tactic would fool most people, but not her. She had spent the last two years being trained both to lie and to detect the lies of others. If someone was being honest they would much more likely tell you that they didn't know. This was certainly suspicious, although it was far from conclusive evidence. But in light of his previous behavior . . .

Now for the hook. "Where do you think they went?"

The man gazed around nervously, glancing slightly in the direction of the Wensley Village Inn. Wensley Village was immediately adjacent to castle Redmont and the village was nearby.

Now for the sinker. "Do you think they could still be around here? Do you think they are hiding in the village possibly?"

The man nearly jumped. "Nocertainelynot!Theyundoubtedlyleftimmeadietlytoavoidbeingcaught."

"You're right. Thank you for your time." said Maddie.

She walked slowly back over to where Will was standing,so as not to tell the captain of the guard that she was on to him. "Dammit! Maddie, there is no sign of them! How could they disappear without leaving a trace like that? Even rangers can't hide there tracks entirely. And they didn't even have time to cover their tracks like this! How could they escape like this! It's not possible!

"I know how." said Maddie softly. "They didn't need to hide their trail. They're still here."