Now with Strength and Honor We fight, PREPARE FOR WAR!

Vincent crept across the rafters of the mansion. He was above the Lord's bedroom, in which the target would be arriving in a few minutes time. He quickly tied a rope around the rafter he stood upon. And he waited.

You know, if you told me I'd become this a few years ago, I would have laughed at you.

Well, look at'cha now. You're climbing on rafters in a noble's manor. No point in denying it now.

Two years earlier…

"Chrom, what did you need me for?" Vincent said as he tried to keep with Chrom's long strides.

"I am appointing you the leader of Ylisse's intelligence agency," Chrom stated simply.

Vincent stopped and looked surprised. "You're appointing me as leader of intelligence?!"

Chrom grimaced, "It's…not what you're thinking. You'll see when we get there."

They arrived within five minutes. Vincent stared at the old, worn door. It looked like a broom cupboard.

"Er…what?" Vincent said baffled.

"There's something you should know, Emm eliminated nearly the entire organization of spies Ylisse had. She said it was to promote peace with other countries…" Chrom shook his head to clear his thoughts of his sister. "So all that's left is the most stubborn and probably best of our spies. After you," he gestured to the door.

Vincent walked slowly to the door and opened it. To say he was shocked would be an understatement.

Inside the room were three desks that were battered and nearing collapsing. Two people sat inside the small, messy room with their feet up on two of the desks. One was juggling three apples.

"C'mon, I bet'cha can get it this time!" the woman said.

The man across the room hurled a knife at the apples she was juggling, stabbing it into the wall. He quickly threw two more knives and hit the other two apples. He jumped up with a 'Ha!' and high-fived the woman.

The hell?

"Huh?" the brown haired man turned to see Chrom and Vincent standing in the small doorway. Both of the people quickly saluted and said, "Sir!"

"And this is your new office Vincent," Chrom said, clearly trying not to chuckle. "These two are Matt and Heather. You two, this is your new boss, Vincent. Have fun!" Chrom walked right out of the room leaving Vincent and the two spies.

"It's a pleasure to meet you sir," they both said at the same time.

"Um…hello. I was just told seven minutes ago by Chrom that I was getting this assignment…so what the hell is my job here?" Vincent said.

"Your job sir, is to coordinate our missions. Be it intelligence, assassination or getting you a snack, we'll do it!" Matt said enthusiastically.

"…You do know I'm a tactician by trade, and have never spied in my life, right?" Vincent said uncertainly.

Heather cracked her knuckles, "Then we better get started sir!"

"You can drop the sirs. I really hate them," Vincent said, attempting to regain his cool demeanor.

"Very well sir," Matt said grinning.

I think I'm going to like this position.

Vincent snapped to attention as he saw his target enter the room. Of course Lord Jirall didn't look up as he moseyed around his room. Why would a person who planned to usurp King Chrom need to be watching the ceiling? Pathetic, prissy fool of a Lord.

As Lord Jirall walked into his closet, Vincent made his move. He slid down the rope stealthily. He quietly moved behind the door of the closet. As Jirall emerged from his wardrobe of clothes, Vincent jumped out performing a perfect kill strike to the heart. But Jirall must have heard him, because he twirled out of the way.

Damn! The rope is in plain sight!

Vincent tried to remedy his mistake with another attack. But Jirall picked up his rapier from his bedside and disarmed Vincent. He advanced on Vincent, stabbing with the sword. Thanks to Matt's training, he avoided the blows. He pulled out another knife and threw it at the Lord. Assassins should always carry a backup.

It hit Jirall in the left shoulder. Heather would be displeased. Vincent conjured a fireball and stood before Jirall.

A horrified Jirall spoke, "Y-you're a mage?"

A grim smile snuck onto Vincent's face, "Maybe. Lord Jirall, you have been found guilty of conspiring against the King. The punishment is death."

Jirall spat out a few choice swear words, "I am guilty of no such thing!

"Liar."

"Gah!" he tried to force his way past Vincent. But Vincent was too quick, he yanked the knife out of Jirall's shoulder and held it to his throat.

"L-let it be known that I, Lord Jirall of Ylisse met my end with courage and dignity!" Jirall said, admitting defeat.

"Pathetic. You're even weak in your last moments," and Vincent slit the man's throat. He quickly cleaned the knife and climbed up his rope. No one would trace it back to them. After all, not even Chrom knew about this mission.

Vincent climbed back to the chimney he entered from. When he got to the roof, he spared a few moments for gazing at the sights that could be seen from the roof at nighttime. Then he slid down the roof and jumped off. With a burst of wind magic, he landed safely on the ground. He sauntered to the gate of the manor.

When he arrived, Matt awaited him. "Took you long enough sir. I was done poisoning the accomplices five minutes ago!"

Vincent ran a hand through his hair, "Oh, shut it Matts. You know I'm still new to this."

"C'mon, me and Heather had it down magnificently in two years," Matt said cockily.

"I'm still a mage and tactician first and foremost. I'll never be the perfect assassin, that's your job," Vincent said quietly as he picked the lock on the gate. He wasn't as quick as he'd like. Heather would have words with him about that.

"What's our next assignment sir?" Matt said.

"Can't you lay off the sirs?" Vincent winced, "Makes me feel old."

"Nope!" Matt said cheerfully.

"Fine, then I'll keep calling you Matts," Vincent said irked.

"Fine by me!" Matt laughed, "So what's next?"

"We're going to celebrate a job well done in that tavern you love so very dearly. Heather is meeting us there," Vincent said.

"Heather? You got her to come drinking with us?!" Matt said astounded.

"Why yes I did, told her 'Matts can't stand a minute without seeing your face. He wants to love you forever-'" Vincent was cut off by Matt jumping at him. Vincent snickered and began to run off down to the city, with Matt yelling to him the whole way.

"Whew! That was fun!" Vincent said as he entered the tavern, Matt grumbling tiredly behind him. They quickly spotted Heather and sat down beside her.

"Heather, whatever Vincent told you to get you down here is a lie," Matt said out of breath.

Heather raised her eyebrows, "He only said you had something important to tell me. So pray tell, what did you want to tell me?" She smiled flirtatiously at him. Matt glared at Vincent as he tried to hide his laughter.

He knew Matt would make something up. It was only a matter of time though, both Vincent and Anna could tell they were in love. They just didn't know it. The messy, brown haired Matt wasn't going to say anything because he thought spies couldn't have relationships. The long, yellow haired Heather didn't think Matt liked her in that way.

The past two years had been enjoyable. Not only was he never bored with his operatives, but he was now married to Anna. Every day spent with her was a blessing, which he spent a lot of time with her. He was very content.

He was slowly turning the Ylissean Intelligence Agency back into something worthwhile. He had employed one other spy in the past year. An assassin named Lowell, but he was assigned elsewhere, doing secret work that couldn't even be mentioned.

Vincent snapped out of his reverie. Matts and Heather had begun a drinking contest. He had to watch this!

Seeing that the light was on through the door, Vincent knocked on it. Within a few moments, Anna opened the door. Her demeanor considerably brightened as Vincent kissed her. "How was your day Anna?"

"The usual, though a customer came by trying to sell me a fake replica of Chrom's sword Falchion," Anna said cheerfully.

"That must have been amusing-" Vincent was cut off when a piece of paper was slid under his door. Puzzled, he walked forward and picked it up.

Have to tlk, nt much time. Throne rm, ten min.

-L

"Well shit. I gotta go!" Vincent cried out.

"What happened!?" Anna said in alarm.

Vincent held up the note and said one word, "Lowell."

And Anna understood the emergency. "I'm coming with!"

At this point in their marriage, Vincent didn't even try to refute her.

"And what do I owe the pleasure of your late visit Vincent?" Chrom said wearily.

Vincent handed Chrom the note. He quickly read it over and suddenly looked more alert. "What's happening?"

"I can clear that up for you…" a figure emerged behind a pillar. A man with a pipe in his mouth bowed before Chrom. He had tan blond hair. "Milord, you won't like this at all…"

"Ah, Lowell, what do we owe the pleasure?" Chrom said politely.

"Valm. They're invading. My whole team was killed there. I was warped out by one of my bishops, now I'm here." That was Lowell, funny accent and quick to the point.

You could have heard a pin drop. "I-invading?" Chrom was shocked.

"Ferox. Twenty days max for the vanguard. You don't have much time until the main invasion. 'Bout two months 'til we'll be under the conqueror's heel," Lowell said between inhales of his pipe.

Lowell was secretive. Only Vincent knew what secrets he held. After that mission, where and when they met, Lowell served Vincent with absolute loyalty.

Chrom stood up, "Get some rest Vincent. We'll be heading out within two days. As soon as the army is mobilized, we're moving out." Chrom hurried out of the throne room.

Vincent turned to Lowell, "Can I count on you for future assignments still?"

A curt nod.

"Go fetch Matts and Heather. They're probably stone drunk down in the usual tavern. And then am I able to count on you for this war?"

Another nod, "I have unfinished business with Valm. You have my word."

"Inform Matts and Heather that they'll be coming with us. Send messages the usual way to the rest of the Shepherds. Then rest up. That's an order!" Vincent commanded. Lowell nodded and left.

Vincent sighed and looked at Anna, "Looks like peace isn't to be ours yet. Let's go get some rest."

She grasped his hand and they made their way to their room.

Vincent marched two days later in Chrom's entourage. Accompanying him were the Shepherds, his three spies and Anna by his side.

They were headed to Ferox. To war.

Vincent adjusted the tan stetson on his head. It was time to get serious.