Wolfpaw glanced around the assembled members of the Guard. He had never seen them look so grim and focused. Then again, there hadn't been a Guard member assassinated before. Fallen in combat, sure, but the idea of someone carefully watching them, waiting to strike... It was unnerving. And it wasn't as if they'd gone for just any of the Guard, either. There was one less founder summoned to the great map table. From ten to nine. It might have been a coincidence, if the assassin hadn't taken Fleetfoot's mask and sliced it neatly in two. It was a message. At last Hayate's voice broke the silence
"They are late." He stated. Wolfpaw glanced to Boarskull and Braveheart's places
"I'll go look for them." He offered immediately. Anything to get away from this suffocating silence, for something productive to do in the face of grief
"I think that would be rather unwise in the present climate." Snakefang said silkily. He was standing, as ever, at the prince's side wearing an almost bored expression. There certainly wasn't any grief written on the features visible below his mask, which was of an emerald snake curled in on itself. "Perhaps we have had enough of Guards wandering around without a care in the world, hm?"
"If you have something to say, Snake, then say it." Frost said coldly.
"Well it really does not surprise me that you die so easily off duty." Snakefang said easily, ignoring the hostile glares "After all, you seem to have the impression no one would dare to challenge you. When you get complacent, these things happen."
"You had better not be saying this was Fleetfoot's fault," Frost growled back. Snakefang shrugged
"It is always the victim's fault when they die. They were not clever enough, or strong enough, or fast enough."
"Fleetfoot was a lot better than-"
"Enough." Hayate said firmly. They both stopped talking immediately and turned to him "Snakefang, if you would find the others? I take it you will have little trouble with your own safety." Snakefang nodded and left the room out of one of the windows. Hayate waited a few seconds before turning to Frost "I know you are upset. We all are. Fleetfoot was a great friend and a great Guard. We should honour his memory by finding those who did this, not by fighting." The woman nodded, and Wolfpaw decided it was time to move the conversation on
"You said 'those' who did this." He pointed out "You think this more than a personal grudge?"
"I had hoped the Guard would be above grudges." Hayate said, glancing at Frost "But I am not deluded enough to believe it. Still, I don't think any would take something this far. There are many unfamiliar faces running around due to the king's conference. An assassin couldn't ask for a better opportunity."
"Do you know who hired the assassin?" Sparrowshot asked
"It could be any of them." Nightfire said. Leafwhisper nodded in agreement.
"We are already watching most of the main suspects to make sure they don't get up to any mischief." Frost pointed out "Do we discount them as they were being watched at the time of death?"
"No." Hayate said "Don't relax your watch, but we had better look more closely at the others too. Unfortunately, the assassin probably has split off from whoever brought them here and is working on their own."
"We could try searching the city." Sparrowshot said half-heartedly. No one bothered saying how impossible that would be; they all knew it. They stared in silence at the map of Viridian, before Hayate sighed
"What we can't do is take men from the border. The bandit levels had been rising all year, but now they've gone quiet. Too quiet. If we relax our boarders even a little we could have invasion on our hands."
"I suggest we work in pairs." Nightfire said "It'll take time and energy, but working in twos increases the likelihood of surviving an attack."
"Or just increases the death toll." Snakefang said quietly. When did he come in? Wolfpaw wondered, as he turned to look. His heart fell as Snakefang tossed two masks onto the table, split down the middle.
Mac Gustah - Thanks! Glad you liked it.
pennydragon - Sorry, I was just happy I managed to write that much in a row. You may have noticed, but I tend to write whenever it comes to me, rather than on a regular basis. I was stuck at the end of chapter 15 for a while before I managed to finish it, then 16 actually flowed!
Willow Treaty - You noticed that too? Most of their adventures happen because Rangers just HAVE to satisfy their curiosity.
Guest - Sorry, I tend to give up and leave stories when I get stuck, coming back to them later. I'm glad you liked it enough to stick around for the wait.
NymphadoraTonks11 - Sorry to make you wait!