Sorry for the long delay. )
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Chapter 6- War!
"Chere, y' back." Remy said cheerfully.
Rogue barely said anything but she allowed him to carry her bag.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, swamp rat." Rogue said flatly.
"Swamp rat? Hey… dat's not nice, y' know. Well, never mind…" Remy smiled. "If chere calls Remy swamp rat, Remy will call chere river rat."
"River what? … Grr…" Rogue grabbed her bag from him and stomped away.
Remy looked after her. He saw the guards opening the gates again for someone. It was John.
"John, mon ami!" Remy ran towards his friend. John slapped his back.
"Hello, mate."
"How've y' been?"
"Well. You?"
"Getting ready for the war." Remy said gravely. "Bandits are already here."
"I guess I'm back in time." John laughed.
Remy nodded. "Come one, Jean-Luc will want t' see y'."
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"Hank told me he wouldn't be coming back."
"Yes. He wants to retire. He went back to his hometown."
"I see." Jean-Luc nodded. "So the ceremony is in two days, you should get ready."
"Yes."
Remy and John came in.
"Pere, John is back."
Rogue froze. John! The guy at the Guild. Oh hell…
John looked at Rogue in disbelief. Rogue rushed out of the room. John frowned.
"You're back. So, how was it there?"
Outside, Rogue pressed her ears against the door. Eavesdropping was wrong but this was too important.
John hesitated. "Nothing." He said.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing." John repeated.
"Well, that's weird." Jean-Luc said. "But it's good to have you back."
"I didn't know we had other spies at the Assassins Guild."
"We don't." Remy said. Jean-Luc shook his head.
"You're the only one."
Both men looked at John curiously. John started laughing. "I'm going crazy, mate. Must be too tired."
They laughed with John. "Get some rest." Remy patted his back.
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John banged on Rogue's door. No one was in the room. He saw her at the courtyard. He ran down to meet her.
"You're a spy!"
Rogue didn't dare look at him.
"Admit it."
"What?" Rogue looked innocent.
"You're the shelia at the Assassins Guild."
"Ah'm not."
"You are! I'm telling Jean-Luc." John said. Rogue pulled him back and gripped his sleeve.
"Don't, John."
"I have to." He simply said.
"Why?"
"I'm a Thief. You're a spy. An intruder."
"But yah were a spy too, weren't yah? Yahr an intruder at the Assassins. If ah tell Logan, he'll hunt yah down."
"Don't. Look, they're like family. They treat me good there. Look, I feel bad enough, lying to Logan and… and the rest, ok?"
"Did yah like it there?" Rogue asked.
"Yes. Yes I did." John said, an image of Wanda flashed through his mind.
"Then, John, fohr the Assassins, please, don't tell. Don't tell them about meh." Rogue said. She looked scared.
"Why are you even afraid? You looked different when I first saw you."
Rogue looked down. She released her grip on John's sleeve. "Ah wish ah knew."
But John knew.
"I won't tell, Rogue. No. You're Wanda's friend. But promise me something."
"What?"
"Even if you find anything useful for the Assassins, you won't tell them."
"Ah can't promise that." Rogue remembered John's conversation with Jean-Luc. She was sure he was keeping stuff from Jean-Luc. She had to repay him somehow. "But ah can help in yahr war." John nodded.
"Then I'll keep your secret and you keep mine."
Rogue nodded and shook John's hand. They would look out for each other now.
"Hank was a spy too, wasn't he?"
Rogue kept quiet but her expression told it all.
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The day has come. Rogue was getting ready for the ceremony. She tied her hair into a ponytail and went down to the hall. She saw Remy there, grinning at her.
"Chere, y' graduating today. Nervous?"
"No."
"Aww, chere, y' don't have t' lie t' Remy."
Rogue rolled her eyes. She saw the Crescent Seals being placed on the salver. Elders and Thieves piled into the hall.
"Greetings, fellow Thieves." Elder Lee's voice boomed through the hall. "We are gathered here today to present our academies finest. They will be graduating from the academy today and will be presented with the Crescent Seal. They have proven worthy of it. Let the ceremony begin." He stepped down from the podium.
"They say de same t'ing every year." Remy whispered to Rogue, who grinned.
When Rogue went up to the podium to collect her Seal, Elder Lee shook her hand warmly.
"Congratulations, child." Rogue forced a smile. Imagine what everyone here in this hall would say if they found out she was an Assassin.
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It had been a week since the graduation. Rogue was free to do what she wanted until she got a mission. She lounged around all day. And Remy followed her all day. Today, Rogue was walking around in the garden with Remy trailing after her. She actually smiled at him, which made him chuckle. The ice queen never smiled.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, chere."
Rogue walked up to him. "Tell meh."
Remy grinned. "Make Remy."
Rogue gazed into his eyes. She never noticed them before. How strange, they were red on black…
"Hey, yahr eyes…"
Remy looked away. Did he scare her?
"Remy got t' go, chere." He muttered and walked away but she pulled him back.
"What are yah afraid of?"
"Remy is scaring y', isn't he?"
"No." She told him.
"Non?"
"Not at all."
Remy leaned down to kiss her.
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John decided to write a letter to Wanda. He sat down and placed a piece of paper on the table. He picked up his pen and began to write. But then he frowned and scrunched up the paper. He threw it in the bin. He took another piece of paper.
"Dear Wanda… Naw… That sounds weird…" He mumbled to himself. "Hey Wanda… Or… Sweetheart… What? Where did that come from?" John crumpled the paper and threw it away.
"Let's begin again… 'Wanda, how are you doing? I am home. How are Logan and Chief Basil? I hope they are fine. So, how's the life of an Assassin? It's a whole lot better than being an apprentice, isn't it? I miss the Guild, and I wish I can go back but I have some important work to do.' That sounds better." John smiled to himself. He continued to write.
"John, mon ami, y' will never guess what happened just now!" Remy burst in. John quickly hid the letter under his bed.
"What?"
"Remy kissed chere! Remy kissed her, mon ami!" Remy said gleefully. John shook his head.
"Really, Remy. Is that all?"
"Oui, John. Mais it's a big t'ing, mon ami. Huge."
Ok. Good for you, I guess."
"What did y' hide under y'r bed?"
"Wh-what? Nothing!"
"Mon ami, it's not nice t' keep secrets from Remy, y' know. Remy doesn't like it."
"It's nothing. Really."
But Remy dived down onto the floor and stuck his head under John's bed. He grabbed at a piece of paper and got up.
"Who is dis Wanda, mon ami? Wanda, how are y' doing? I am home." Remy said in a mocking voice.
"Give that back, Remy. That's not funny."
Remy face turned from cheeky smile to a frown. "She's an Assassin, mon ami."
"Just someone I knew back there."
"John, y' went dere t' spy, not make friends."
"What? Was I supposed to not talk to anyone for four years?"
"Non. Dat's not what Remy meant. She means more than a friend t' y', mon ami. Remy can tell."
"Ok, I admit. The shelia is nice to me, Remy. She's a beauty. Anyway, you have your own sweetheart too."
Remy smiled again. "Oui. Y'r right. Remy shouldn't mess wit y'r love life. Just be careful."
"Yeah. Always will be. So, she a great kisser?"
"Oui, mon ami."
"Ok. Don't tell me anymore." John pushed Remy away. "I want to finish my letter."
"Oh Wanda…" Remy said in that mocking tone again. He laughed and ran out of the room as John banged his fist on the table.
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"The Guardians are coming!" A boy tore through the courtyard as he shouted the new happily. The boy was Elder Jacob's grandson.
Logan, who was practicing with an apprentice, faced the boy who stopped to pay respect to the elder. "The Guardian's are coming? How do you know, Danny?"
"I saw their flag from afar. And the guards said to themselves. They saw the flag too." The boy said. After he bowed at Logan, he ran off again.
"That's enough for today. Go back to your quarters." Logan said as Hank approached him.
"The Guardians are here. Are there any Knights?"
Outside, in front of the gates, ten magnificent white horses pulled up. Their riders got down, all dressed in pale blue and white.
"Greetings, Guardians from the North." Basil said. The Guardians nodded and their leader spoke up.
"Basil, it's been a long time. How are you?"
"Fine, Bryce. Never better. Please, all of you, come in. Your guest rooms will be ready in a short while."
"Thank you, Chief Basil. We appreciate everything." A Guardian, Andrea had spoken. Basil smiled and led them away.
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"I've heard that the Guardians are at the Assassins." Jean-Luc said.
"If anyone can stop this war, it's the Guardians."
"Francis, you don't understand." Elder Lee said.
"Look, all I know is that this war will do us no good. Better stop it before it's too late."
"The Guardians are too meddlesome."
"I agree. Remember what happened the last time?"
"Lee, that was fifty years ago, and you weren't even born." Francis glared at the man.
"You were a kid at that time, you knew nothing then." Lee glared back.
Francis stood up as if to challenge Lee. Jean-Luc stood up also. "Now's not the time to fight, my friends."
Francis nodded and apologized. He sat down.
"The Assassins will probably listen to the Guardians. They have a good relationship with them. But I heard the Knights didn't go with them."
"You think they want to fight too?" Elder Roger asked.
"No. That's not their job. War is their last resort, when nothing else prevails. They will come to us eventually, to talk over matters. They will propose a truce between us and the Bandits." Jean-Luc said.
"We cannot do that. Everyone knows that a Bandit will never listen to other people's orders. Not unless the order is issued by their leader. And Daniel is unlikely to back down."
"Sir…" John stepped into the room. "We've heard that the Bandits are moving. Towards us."
Jean-Luc banged his fist on the table. "Tell the guards to tighten their shift. When they see them coming, sound the alarm. And John, tell the Thieves to get ready. War is upon us."
John bowed and left the room. He looked worried.
"Let's just hope the Guardians come soon." Francis said gravely.
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"A truce, Bryce?" Basil asked. The Guardian chief nodded. Bryce had proposed a truce just as Jean-Luc said.
"That's the only way."
"Thieves have crossed on our territory. Bandits have killed apprentices…"
"Do you mean to attack the Thieves?"
"Not yet. When this war is over, we will fight them."
"Many will be hurt from the war. Do you really want to do that?"
"We have too. We Assassins have our pride, you know."
"Basil… the Bandits are already moving…" Lucas pointed out. "If you don't help the Thieves, you'll be attacked next when they fail."
"When they fail? How do you know they will fail?"
"Hank, you've been with the Thieves. Give me your honest opinion. Do they stand a chance against the Bandits?"
Hank looked surprised. "How did you know?"
"We Guardians know everything; we just don't interfere with your business. Everything we know is kept a secret."
"Well, ok. Truth is, they will fail for they aren't good enough. They never train as much as we do. Maybe we should lend a hand." Hank turned to Logan.
"I guess we could. No, we won't agree to the truce, but we will help them fight the war."
"Lives will be lost."
"Don't forget that the Assassins don't usually help outside their Guild, Bryce."
"So this way, the Thieves will owe you a favor." A Guardian named Chris said. Hank nodded.
"That's the best we can do."
"Don't forget, Basil. Marie Darkholme is with the Thieves."
Basil nodded gravely and said nothing. Logan looked uneasy in his chair; Hank sighed and looked out of the window.
"She'll do fine." Logan said.
"The Knights are preparing as we speak."
"For the war?"
"Yes, Joseph, for the war. The Thieves need all the help they can get. The Bandits have recruited many members."
"Since Guardians know everything, why didn't you stop this from happening?" Elder Charlie asked.
"That is not our job. You cannot change destiny more can you change the colour of your skin." Guardian Zach said.
Elder Charlie glared. "Is that an insult to me being black?"
"Enough!" Basil snarled. "Can we focus on the subject at hand?"
"Yes. Please do." Leader Bryce said. "We'll be moving on to the Thieves tonight."
"Certainly. You should rest before your long journey. It will be tiring."
"Thank you." They got up and left. Logan heaved a sigh.
"I wonder how Stripes is doing?"
"You said she'll do fine." Hank said to his brother. Logan nodded. "I know. I just hope I'm not wrong."
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"The Bandits! They're coming!" Henri yelled. "Pere!"
Jean-Luc stuck his head out of the window and looked pale. "Sound the alarm." He said quietly and disappeared from the window. He was downstairs in a minute and giving orders to Thieves.
"The Guardians are not here yet. Never mind, we can hold them off."
Remy came running. "Pere, let me go."
"Yes. Go. We need all the help we can get."
Remy nodded and ran off again.
Rogue watched from her window. She heard the alarm sound. She got out her dagger from her closet and slung it on her belt. She wore her black trench coat. She made sure that all he weapons were in place. Crossbow at the back, dagger by the belt, one more in her boot, poison powder under the sleeves. She left her room and went downstairs where Remy was talking to some Thieves.
"We will attack from de side. When Henri gives de word, charge. Understand?"
Everyone nodded and went to get ready.
"Chere, y' gonna fight?"
"Ah should, shouldn't ah?"
"Of course y' should. John!" Remy looked over Rogue's shoulder and saw John. John came to them and nodded at Rogue.
"Hello, shelia, fighting today?" Rogue nodded back. "Jean-Luc got me fighting at the East Door. You're taking the West Door, eh?"
"Oui. Come, Rogue. We must go."
Rogue followed Remy to the West Door.
"Good luck, Rogue." John told her.
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"The Bandits are attacking the Thieves. We have to move."
"Ok, Bryce. Take one group with you first, we will follow behind." Logan said.
"Thank you." Bryce said and walked away.
The group of Assassins stood by the gates, all ready. Among them were Pietro, Jamie, Octavos and Piotr. The gates opened and they set off.
"We will arrive there shortly if we keep up this pace." Bryce told them, when they were half way there.
They took a short rest along the way and reached there at noon. The fighting already started. Assassins immediately charged at Bandits and started slashing. The Assassins arrival brought much spirit to the weary fighters. They fought harder and more Bandits dropped to the ground. Bryce went to see Jean-Luc.
"The Assassins came to fight?" Jean-Luc asked. He looked tired. He had just been in battle when he heard that the Guardians had arrived.
"They will help. Knights are on their way. We'll help, don't worry."
"My two sons are in battle, how can I not worry?"
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At the battleground, everyone was fighting hard. Rogue's heart jumped for joy when she saw her friends arriving.
Pietro joined her fighting a big, burly Bandit. They brought him down. Pietro winked at her.
"Fun?" She asked him. Pietro always wanted to know how a war felt like.
"Yeah!" He said as he stabbed a Bandit in the heart. He was off again. Rogue went back to the Bandits and killed five.
Remy was fighting hard. He earned a cut across his cheek and blood gushed down his knee. But he didn't care.
He was keeping an eye out for Rogue as they fought. He hoped she wouldn't get hurt. Suddenly, she gave out a yell. A Bandit made a cut on her arm. She growled and pounced on him, punching his face until he blacked out. She kicked him and moved on. Remy's heart pounded for her.
John, at the East Door, was having big trouble. The Bandits ambushed him and most of his men were down.
"Retreat!" He yelled as he ran back into the Guild. He closed the gates after making sure all the Thieves were back in safely. "Damn!" He kicked at the ground. He looked at the West Door. Remy looked like he needed some help.
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Remy certainly needed help. More Bandits arrived, and there was no sign of the Knights yet. More Assassins came, but they fought so hard that they were soon tired.
In the end, Remy was forced to retreat when he saw that many Thieves were getting hurt. The Assassins, trained to fight, got away with nothing more than tiredness and a few mere cuts and scratches.
Rogue got her coat torn but that was all. When she saw Remy all cut up, she ran to him.
"Yah ok?"
Remy tried to smile. "Remy is fine, chere."
"Yah don't look fine. Sit down. Rest."
Remy nodded and did as he was told. Rogue went to look for her friends.
"Hey, boys." She said. Piotr nodded and smiled.
"You're not hurt, right?" Pietro asked.
"Look, just because ah didn't train with yah, doesn't mean that ah'm not as good."
"Ok. So, who's that guy over there?"
"Remy? The leader's son."
"Oh." Piotr nodded. "He's hurt."
"Ach! Those Thieves can't fight." Jamie said.
"Keep it down, idiot!" Rogue hissed. "We're here to help, remember?"
"Sorry." Jamie mumbled.
"Hey, won't they get suspicious about your dagger?"
"Yeah, they might think you're an Assassin."
"Ah don't think so." Rogue said. "Ah gotta go." She saw Remy getting up from his seat. "Remy, wait!"
"Oui?"
"Yah should rest, yah know."
"Remy has t' go see Jean-Luc."
"Knights here! We're saved!" Cried out a guard.
Remy heaved a sigh. "Remy has t' go, chere. Walk with Remy?"
"Ok."
Remy smiled and went to see Jean-Luc, Rogue following behind him. Henri was talking to Jean-Luc when they came. Henri patted his shoulder and went off to greet the Knights.
"Pere, many Thieves are hurt. Remy doesn't t'ink we can go on like dis."
"I know. Basil will bring in more Assassins, until then, the Knights will help us."
"Sir… If ah may… Ah want tah lead a group tah the Bandits camp. They won't be expecting it. They'll think we're too weak right now, without help from other Guilds."
"Rogue!" Remy exclaimed. "Non! Remy will not let y' go!"
Jean-Luc frowned. "It is a good suggestion. What do you think, Remy?"
"Non, pere! Remy will not let her go! Rogue, Remy won't let y'!"
Rogue pulled Remy aside. "Remy! Ah need tah do this! Ah need tah prove mahself tah the Guild."
"Chere… Remy knows y' are loyal t' de Guild. Y' don't have t' do dis."
"Yah don't understand, Remy." Rogue looked away. "Ah have tah. And that's that. Sir, let meh go. Ah can do it, sir."
"Ok. Go."
Rogue nodded and went to the courtyard to summon a group.
"Pere!"
"She can do it, Remy."
"If anyt'ing happens t' her…" Remy huffed and went after Rogue.
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Pretty long chapter, eh?
Thank you for the reviews, as usual. D