Kort struck up the plan for getting everyone into the castle. Everyone listened intently, although Kort could feel their trust had weakened when they learned that he was the half brother of the enemy. He hadn't really answered Geogins question, but no one seemed to notice.
"There are many rankings in our system. That's to accommodate the many recruits in our system. Yolise and his mate are the Alphas, while his foal is heir. I am Beta, adviser and next to the throne if all three of them perish. Then there is Zeta, Gamma, Omega, Generals, Troops, and Scouts. Everyone starts a scout and works their way up. The castle back entrance leads to the storage room of all the poison. Our official mark is the poison horn, so you must dawn some poison on your horn.
We should wait a week and gain the trust of Yolise. Our story is, if he asks, that I recommended you to join and described how great the empire was and what privileges all would get when they took of the snooty Celestials," he showed an apologetic look to Celesty, "and we made out living in their wonderful lands, becoming the new Celestial unicorns and living in harmony forever. From the storage you'll go the recruit section. I'll get someone to handle you from there. I'll head to confront Yolise and report my findings. I won't mention you or your plan. I swear on my life, I am helping you."
They all looked grim. Soon the came to Mud River. It was named rightly so, as Tar Scar had. The river looked too bad to drink from. But, to the horror of poor prim Celesty, who's primness had been destroyed during the mission, Kort lowered his head and drank deep from the water. "The water may be foul, but it's all we got. We've no home with fresh springs and lovely waterfalls" he explained. His voice was bitter, and they all knew he suffered the shame of his fore-fathers bad choices in life. Pity burned in his fellows hearts. Rage at Yolise for condemning him her was in Korts.
Soon they found the tree marking. "You wait here. I'll scout a head a furlong and return. It will be slow going until we get to the castle. If I run into trouble, you'll hear me laugh very loudly while I stall someone. Go around me and sneak ahead. I'd catch up with in but a few moments."
"If were supposed to be new recruits, then why are we sneaking in?" asked he ever blunt Dawe.
Kort stared at Dawe. "Because no one ever joins Yolise willingly until their heart is filled with utter hatred" he stated simply.
Everything went well until but a mile from the fortress. Kort scouted ahead as usual, his wind low from jumping back and forth between his friends and scouting. His heart filled with dread when he spotted him. He stood through the mist sneering at Kort. Korts mortal enemy. Him. Jestin. The famed killer of Karlo.
"Back from your expedition Korty?" asked the smirking Jestin. He knew Kort hated being called that. His brother had often said that to him as a colt.
"I see your back too Jester" he said coolly back. Jestin, in turn, hated being called that.
"Lately I feel my missions are better. Yours seem to have gone to the...dogs." 'Jester' put an emphasis of dogs.
It dawned on Kort. Jestin was there. He was the one who has attempted to kill Celesty to be stopped by him and his friends. Korts mind raced. He had to think a of a lie. Very, very fast.
"Why" continued Jestin accusatory, "did you protect the enemy?"
"She was my prey and rightfully I got to kill her" he defended. He grinned fakely and laughed. His laugh boomed and echoed in the quiet landscape. Jestin raised an eye (unicorns don't have eyebrows so he had to raise an eye).
"What exactly is funny" he sneered.
"Oh, the memory of her painful death thrills me to the bone!" he replied merrily. Jestin stared blankly but seemed to take the excuse.
"What about those others with you? They hadn't our mark" his enemy pressed.
"Mere prisoners" he replied lightly. "I've picked up another on the border of the Barrens and the Endless Plains. She's awfully filthy too. Of course, not as filthy as you. Soon they'll all be scouts and they will be one with evil"
Jestin looked furious. He himself had accomplished nothing, Kort could tell from the look on his face, while Kort had supposedly killed a Celestial unicorn and recruited six new unicorns. That explained why Yolise had made him Beta in the ranks of evil.
Jestin soon left after an embarrassing half-minute silence. Kort let out a sigh of relief and set off back to the trees. He saw they were gone. He let his nose to their ground. Their scent mingled with another. What was that smell? When he recognized it his heart faltered and he felt utterly shocked.
Blood had meekly stained and fed the thirsty earth. Some one had been attacked!