"A good competition." Gilan said to Horace. They were standing just outside the conference hall, breathing in the cool night air. "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, but that prince sure knew how to fight." Horace said ruefully, rubbing his shoulder "I never once looked like I was winning, and against an unarmed man too."
"Do not be too hard on yourself." The voice came from behind them. Wolfpaw stood there, smiling slightly "I have never seen anyone beat him at close combat."
"Wolfpaw." Gilan said grinning "You actually going to talk to me this time?"
"Sorry about that. With your permission?" He gestured to his mask. It took Gilan a moment to realise what he meant
"Oh yeah, sure."
"Go ahead." Said Horace. Wolfpaw removed his mask with a sigh
"That is better. I always feel more honest without my mask." He had a delicate face, almost elfish, that matched his agile build.
"Why do you wear them?" Horace asked curiously. Wolfpaw shrugged
"Tradition. Symbolism." He said "To be a member of the Guard, you must forget distractions and discriminations. New name, new face. The mask symbolises leaving everything behind in service to the country."
"Wolfpaw's not your name?" Horace asked
"No." Wolfpaw said smiling "But I am not supposed to tell people both my names. It is to prevent favours and debts clashing with our duties."
"Are you supposed to be telling us this?" Gilan asked, "I'm mean, we're not of the forest."
"True, but Hayate said I could answer some questions. It is to…uh… 'Promote good feelings between nations. People fear what they do not understand, and fear is not a good basis for and relationship.' So you want to know anything else?"
"Which member of the Guard would you least like to be enemies with?" Horace asked curiously. Wolfpaw's smile dropped.
"Snakefang." He said quickly. Gilan frowned
"Snakefang? Never heard of him."
"He is also one of the founding members. He is the shadow of the prince. You probably did not notice him, not many do." Gilan and Horace glanced back into the room. The prince was standing impassively next to his father, surrounded by people. Now that he looked for him, Gilan saw a man standing a little behind the prince. He was tall and graceful dressed in the uniform of the Guard. His mask looked like a snake curled around his eyes, covering one of them. Shadow was a good word for him. Silent and dark. He looked like an assassin. Wolfpaw nodded when he heard this.
"That is what he was until joining the Guard. Or at least, that is what people say. They say he went after Hayate's life but the prince changed his mind just by talking to him. I certainly did not ask him about it." He said. "Most are absolutely terrified of him."
"Your prince allows an assassin that close to him?" Gilan asked incredulously "One that was trying to kill him?"
"Nope." Wolfpaw said "He allows him closer. Snakefang and Hayate are inseparable. When there is one, there is the other. Many have tried to separate them, the king included, and all failed."
"B-but, why?"
"Who knows why Hayate does these things? I, for one, trust his judgement. Before he made us into the Guard we were all viewed as unsatisfactory soldiers, with the right muscle in the wrong places. It did not matter to be agile, just strong. Look at us now."
"But would you trust him?" Gilan said seriously. Wolfpaw didn't hesitate
"Yes." He saw their faces "I told you, on duty, grudges are nothing. You do anything; even give your life, to protect the people. Off the Guard I would be terrified, but he is one of us. Besides, it is unconfirmed rumour, not fact."
"Do you have a specific place that you train?" Horace asked, thinking of Arulean's Battle Schools
"Yes, there is the ordinary garrison training and there is the Guard head quarters. Tell you what, tomorrow, I'll give you a tour."
"You're sure?" Horace said in surprise. He had assumed it would be kept deadly secret.
"Yes." There was a mischievous grin on Wolfpaw's face "It should be amusing."
Thanks Robin Flynn. Glad you liked it.