"IMPOSSIBLE!" shouted a young man.
Another man said, "Calm down, Matthew. You are an Ostian spy. You are to follow the order. My brother knows what's best for the country and it is his decision that you're going to be sent as spies to Bern with Jaffar and Legault."
Matthew replied, still was not happy with the answer, "But Lord Hector, how do you expect me to work with someone from Black Fang, and an assassin who killed Leila? How can you trust them to work together with me?"
"I don't. I don't trust them. I don't like Jaffar as much as you don't like him, Matthew. But my brother, Uther, knows that Jaffar has an exceptional skill. We both know it too because we've seen what he could do when we stopped Nergal. Remember? Legault's skill is also not questionable at all, he was said to have similar skill to the Four Fangs of Black Fang. That's not something to be underrated at all. You, as a spy, should know that better than anyone else, Matthew. Now let's go to the strategy room. My brother and Oswin would explain the mission to you," said Hector.
Matthew was obviously angry and he did not like the order at all. But he knew that he had no choice, he was an Ostian spy indeed, and he knew that going against Lord Uther's command would not be something that Leila would be proud of. He knew that Leila would have wanted him to continue on to serve House Ostia as long as he could, and even if possible, surrender his life when serving them. This mission though, it was like being rubbed with salt on a wound. To be sent on a mission with someone who killed his dear lover? How could one not feel insulted? That question kept on replaying inside his brain while Matthew was on his way to the strategy room with Lord Hector.
The Ostian spy opened up the wooden door while giving a small nod to the soldier who guard the room with his iron lance. Matthew allowed Lord Hector to enter the strategy room before he followed him into the room and close the door behind him. Lord Uther and Oswin were the only two people in the room at that time, they were discussing something that seemed to be important enough that they both ignored Matthew and Hector. Oswin finally noticed their arrival and told the two of them to have a seat while waiting for Jaffar and Legault to join them for the briefing of the mission.
A few minutes had passed by, and the two former Black Fang members had not shown themselves at all. Matthew and Hector were both getting restless and irritated. The younger brother of the Marquess of Ostia stood up and started to pace himself around the room. Lord Uther and Oswin both ignored his action and continued to discuss the matter seriously between themselves. Matthew still thought about the order, wondering what was so important (and dangerous?) that he needed to be assisted by Jaffar and Legault. Before he could come up with a good answer to his own question, the wooden door of the strategy room was opened once again and Jaffar entered the room with Legault.
"Sorry we're late, we took .. ehm ... a detour around the castle," explained Legault. Jaffar was being his usual silent self, and said nothing.
Oswin acknowledged their presence and told them to take a seat. Hector was aFngry with them being late, and about to confront them before Lord Uther grabbed his arm, telling him to sit down and listen to the briefing. As he was about to take a seat, he noticed that his seat was taken by Legault while Jaffar sat to the left of Matthew, pinching the Ostian spy in between the former Black Fangs. Matthew stood up and about to find another seat, but Legault blocked his way.
"My my .. young Matthew doesn't want to sit beside me?"
Matthew ignored the sarcastic question and turned to the left to walk pass Jaffar, but the so called Angel of Death stood up and blocked his way as well. No words came out of his mouth though. Matthew immediately grabbed Jaffar by his neck.
"STOP IT, MATTHEW!" yelled Oswin. He continued, "Behave yourself! You're in front of the Marquess of Ostia. Don't start any trouble that you might regret later on, Matthew."
Matthew was so tempted to say that it would be worth it to finish Jaffar off even if that meant him being released of his duties and position to serve House of Ostia, but he loosened his grip and sat down. Hector was about to object to the comment, but saw his brother's look and chose to stay silent. Even he, the carefree one, knew that this time was about something serious. They should all put aside their personal problems with each other and focused to work together.
Once they finished the small quarrel, Oswin began the briefing of the mission, "Now as you all probably know, you're here to be briefed about your mission to spy on the Kingdom of Bern. I realize that Lord Hector had been wondering why we would want to spy on our ally, but we should take any means that is necessary to protect our own people. The Kingdom of Bern is now currently under King Zephiel's rule after the death of his father a few months ago, but due to his lack of experience in ruling a nation, Queen Hellenne had requested for an advisor to help him out carrying his duty as the new king. Now this advisor is our problem. Ever since he took part, there has been questionable decisions made by King Zephiel. The advisor's name is Levan, and apparently he has been rumored to be involved with Nergal a few years prior to Nergal's death. A few early reports from Leila mentioned that .."
Matthew's hands started to shake uncontrollable, and Oswin decided to stop his explanation for a while. He apologized to Matthew about it, but then emphasized that they needed to continue with the briefing. So he went on with his explanation and mentioned that Levan's name had been mentioned as the one who bridged Nergal's followers to the true Black Fang. It seemed that Levan had been involved with Brendan Reed in the past as well. Oswin then asked whether either Legault or Jaffar had heard the name Levan before or not.
Both of the ex Black Fang members confirmed that they knew the name, it was the only time that The Angel of Death and The Hurricane worked together. Legault then mentioned that his job in Black Fang was to hunt those who betray the Black Fang and execute them on the spot. He added that Levan was supposed to be one of those who were executed, and he was sure that Jaffar killed Levan with a stab of the dagger to the heart. But then he remembered that they were not able to confirm Levan's death due to the mercenaries that Levan hired to protect him swarming the place. It was troublesome enough for the two of them to get out alive that they did not manage to get back to confirm Levan's condition.
"Could he be still alive? ... I guess we'll find out soon."
Lord Uther took over the briefing, "Let's get straight to the point. The three of you are going to go to Bern to investigate on Levan. There, you would be secretly assisted by the current leader of the Wyvern Knight of Bern, General Vaida and her subordinate, Captain Heath. One of you is going to give report to Oswin at least twice a month. If you find anything suspicious, immediately report back to Ostia. Under no circumstances that the three of you leave Bern at the same time, there must always be at least one of you there to survey the situation at all times. You are also under no circumstances to act on your own. Any action taken other than investigating Levan should be under House of Ostia order and not your own. Any questions?"
The three spies stayed silent, and Lord Uther took it as no question. Before he finished the briefing, he said that all three of them are now Ostian spies, and they were all to cooperate with each other instead of killing each other. After he finished saying that, Lord Uther left the room with Oswin and closely followed by Hector. Matthew, Jaffar, and Legault stayed inside the strategy room, not sure what to do.
Legault finally stood up and said, "Let's go. We got a job to do, partners."
And for a brief moment, Matthew felt that he just might be able to do this mission and get along with the other two.