On the third day of the conference, the heavens opened. The torrent of the rain soaked cloth in a matter of seconds and thundered off wooden platforms. Horace paced inside their rooms feeling bored and irritated. Wolfpaw had apologetically informed them that with the rains only Guard members could go out into the forest or onto the ropes. It was too dangerous, he had explained, the ropes were slippery and treacherous in such conditions. He had stayed with them for about an hour, his cheerful company and knowledge keeping the room interesting, but had been called off to deal with an incident. Now there was nothing for a man of action like Horace. The rangers had found some sort of coloured wooden game and were amusing themselves by making up a series of complicated rules an then attacking each other's 'armies'.
"Ah ha!" Will cried gleefully "You've fallen into my trap. My cavelry charge and attack your light infantry."
"Did I now?" Halt said, raising an eyebrow "Or did you fall into mine? My archers move to reinforce my infantry and fire on your cavelry."
"While my assassins attack your base and capture your commander." Gilan added, removing Will's pieces from the board and replacing them with his own colour. "Your army is now a spoil of war." Halt scowled at Gilan, who smiled innocently back "All's fair in love and war."
"Remind me why I put up with you?"
"Why are you complaining?" Will protested "I'm the one who got ganged up on!"
They continued to bicker lightheartedly, especially when Will tried to incite his previous forces into rebelling and Gilan stated that the commander was going to be excuted.
"What in the world are you playing?" Wolfpaw asked as he came into the room.
"Wolfpaw! How'd it go?" Will asked. The man sighed and sat down on the spare chair, removing his mask.
"Are you hurt?" Gilan asked with concern
"No, no. It was not that kind of issue." With visible effort, Wolfpaw put on a smile "Nothing to worry about. And you did not answer my question. I see the pieces of Conquest, but what kind of rules are you playing?"
"Don't change the subject." Gilan said firmly "What happened?"
"I said it is nothing for you to worry about."
"I'll decide that." Gilan crossed his arms and stared at Wolfpaw, who refused to be cowed
"It is official Guard business, and technically you are a foreign spy."
"Technically I am an hounary member of the Guard, remember? I saved-"
"The Captain's life." Wolfpaw interrupted irritatedly "I know."
"So as a member of the Guard, I am allowed to ask for information."
"Does not mean I have to give it to you." Wolfpaw said stubbornly. They both glared at each other, before Wolfpaw relented. "They found a Guard member's body last night." He muttered
"What?"
"I said-" Wolfpaw raised his voiced "They found a member of the Guard dead. Someone killed him. I have just been with Hayate to see his parents."
"You don't know who killed him?" Halt asked
"No." Wolfpaw said sighing "Which means we have got an assassin lurking around somewhere. As if we did not have enough to do with the recent influx of bandits arriving."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Gilan asked
"Stay out of trouble, my friend." Wolfpaw said smiling "Although that may be a little difficult for you rangers."
Yay! Two whole chapters. As always, tell me anything wrong or out of place and I'll try to change it.
Guest/Bibliophile13 - Sorry about any mistakes I make. If you tell me about them, I'll correct them. (I'm a little confused with the problem with the title 'The Guard' is an organisation, so it uses capital letters... doesn't it? Spelling and grammar have always been a bit of a blind spot for me) Thanks for the help!