Indeed they were, because Clint just had arrived at the forest, and heard a loud scream. His gut feeling told him that it had something to do with the rebels, so he followed the screams to their source. He saw Rogers tensing his muscles when he approached.
"It's me." He announced himself, before dismounting the horse and walking closer.
"Clint?" Rogers seemed a bit disbelieving.
"There is a reason why i hate Stane" the archer grumbled.
"We're running out of things to cut," Nat sighed after finishing off the left leg.
"I'll do the next one," James took his own sword and lowered it to bellow Brock's waist.
"W-WAIT!" the traitor managed a mixture of a groan, whimper, cry and plea.
"Ready to talk?" they didn't really move from their positions.
"Y-YES!" tears were already dripping down his face.
"Good," Barnes moved the sword away and pulled the impaled weapons out of the man's body, while Romanoff moved him to sit up against the wall.
It was about that time they saw Clint arrive.
"What are you doing here?" the female asked while the male partly bandaged the mole's wounds, so he wouldn't bleed out too soon.
"YOU LOST HIM?!" Stane yelled, throwing the plate on the ground.
"W-We're very sorry sir…" the knight was shaking with fear as he and his companions watched the Lord's explosion on one knee.
"I'm sick of hearing that! I don't want apologies! I want those traitors and rebels DEAD!" he hissed.
"Everyone! Everyone look!" came the voice of a girl from outside and Stane turned his attention to the window before walking over to it.
The gates were open and knights on horses came in. the front lines had returned. They were led by James Rhodes, and many were wounded.
"Just perfect…" Obadiah muttered, gripping the stone.
"Stane declared me a traitor for helping you and lying to him." Clint told them, looking at Rumlow. "Well done" was his only comment about what they did to him. "My family is hiding, and I've got nothing better to do than being on the run or get hung. Latter is not an option."
"Sorry..." Steve rubbed the back of his head.
"Don't sweat it. That man hated me before already, it's okay. So...that man. Why did you nearly kill him again?"
"He's a mole."
"Ah. Explains the Red soldiers' dead bodies around here."
"He's not just a mole… He's our mole…" Nat narrowed her eyes on the said man.
"And he knows a lot… We plan to get it all, ain't that right?" James sat on his heels, swirling the dagger in his hand near Brock's body.
"Y-yes…" it was weak and fear-filled.
"Guys?" came a voice they knew, as three figures walked into their line of sight.
"Clint?" Sam blinked seeing the archer.
"Rumlow?" Wanda looked surprised at first before she seemed to realize it.
"Hi there," Sharon waved weakly.
"You're all okay," the two assassins smiled.
"Yeah so far," Wilson came closer and glared at the wounded man.
"So it was you…"
"You really did a number on him…" Carter whistled.
"It's less than he deserves…" Maximoff was cracking with the red energy.
"Don't worry, we'll make sure to get everything we need. Just wait a bit," the two assured.
When they cleared and went next to the other two, the interrogation started.
"How long have you been a mole?" they started with the basics.
"…They plan to do good-bad?" Sharon raised an eyebrow.
"Probably… but you know how their kind is…"
"It's Bad or Worse indeed…"
Clint watched the assassin-duo interrogate their mole.
Well, more like ripping him apart, but there can be arguments made about that. It certainly looked like they were ripping him apart with their sheer presence and pressure on him.
"Hey there Sam." He greeted the other man.
"What are you doing here man? I thought you were home?"
"Was declared traitor."
"...sorry man..."
"It's okay. You should calm down, Wanda." -he had counted one and one together and found out her name by now. "He gets what he deserves early enough. Those two basically promise that." He then turned to that one person who was new to him. "And you are?"
"Sharon Carter. You?"
"Clint Barton."
"You're quite famous."
"Yeah, and now on the run. By the way, do the rebels need an archer?" That last part was asked a bit louder. "I've got nothing else to do anyway, and would feel better if Stane would suffer." -he had threatened his family after all.
Thor frowned when he saw how Rhodes and his soldiers returned. "Get the nurses and doctors ready, inform Lady Foster. We've got work to do" he ordered, before walking to the med bay.
"Thor!" James called, getting off the horse and smiling.
"Boy am I glad to see a familiar face!" he hugged the wizard.
"How are things here?"
"Friend Rhodes! It is great to see you. Things here are a bit complicated at the moment. Lord Stane is quite angry. Some rebels were here, apparently to warn them about the Red, but they could flee before they could get caught. Even the one who got caught could flee. And Clint Barton was involved too, seemingly, but he fled too. It is good to know something good happened - you returned alive. Now let me take care of your wounds, my friend."
"We could always use more people," Sam smiled at Clint's offer.
"Besides, we need another quick fighter. Can't let those two have all the action," Wilson added and laughed.
"Who is it?" Nat narrowed her eyes on Rumlow, who was apparently debating who he should fear more.
"I got it…" James said quietly and took the dagger, running it along Brock's leg and then up to his stomach, leaving a nice, red line.
"I'll give you free advice," he slowly started pushing the blade into the soft skin.
"Whoever you fear, the Red Skull, the mole in the Iron… I can assure you…" the traitor whimpered and almost screamed from the slow pain.
"We're far more terrifying," he twisted the blade as the man screamed.
"S-STANE!" at that name, they all froze.
"It's—It's Stane! He- He's the mole!" Brock repeated and Barnes took the dagger out.
"…That explains a lot…" the two assassins whispered.
"Rhody?" Tony whispered as the said man looked around.
"Tony?" James called back quietly.
"Up here," came the voice again and Rhodes looked at the make-shift vent.
"What are you doing?" the knight was beyond confused.
"Are any of the royal guards down there?" the Prince asked.
"…No…?"
"Good," without another word, Stark jumped down and right behind him Pepper.
"Because I need to tell you something."
"Am i allowed to listen too, while i take care of our friends wounds?" Thor asked, while continuing to bandage Rhody up.
"Oh, hey Thor. Sure, just don't turn traitor on me," Tony smiled and sat on a chair.
"There's something really wrong with Stane," Stark started.
"I overheard him talking to Barton – you know the master marksmen? He knows something's up and apparently hates them. I'm not sure about the whole story, but something bad is coming…"
"I knew why i hate that man and always found him weird." Clint repeated himself and was once again glad that his family was now safe in hiding.
Steve on the other hand felt ill. He had received direct orders from that man, and didn't knew anymore if the things he did were right or wrong. He probably worked the whole time in the favor of Red, without knowing it...and he had to report everything, too-
"Shit" he cursed. "Then he knows everything- everyone had to report everything to him. He is informed about every movement of every Iron-soldier, can get into my office where i kept every plan or idea about things they would do- he let the soldiers run into an open blade..." With every attack- or defense-plan he had told that man he had killed his own soldiers.
"Yeah… That'd explain how the Red knew your every move before you did it…" James frowned, recalling the ambush they prevented.
"What's Skull's next move?" Nat looked down at Rumlow, who was about ready to pass out.
"Answer," Sam kept himself from doing something.
"…at…attack…" the mole managed, eyes begging.
"Wonderful…" Sharon frowned before Barnes used his dagger and ran it through Brock's heart.
"What should we do?" Wanda asked, looking at the people around.
"…Some of us should try and warn the Iron… The rest go and look for the Red," Romanoff didn't really like the idea, but there wasn't much they could do.
"We won't make it past the wall," Sam motioned to Bucky, Steve, Clint and himself.
"I could," Maximoff closed her eyes.
"I can use my magic, get past it quickly and quietly…"
"You're not going alone," Nat protested.
"She won't," Sharon smiled and put an arm around her neck.
"I'll go with her. The guards don't know me yet."
"How are the troops?" Red Skull asked, sitting atop a brown horse.
"All ready my Lord," Commander Alexander reported in.
"Wonderful… Give the word. We march on the Iron now!" Schmidt smirked as the word spread quickly and his army of 25.000 knights moved out.
"Be careful. I don't know exactly what you can do, Wanda, only heard rumors, but they probably have more guards stationed. If you want to sneak in, tell me - i know some ways in and out." Clint said.
"Me too" Steve added.
"You can also use this horse. It's pretty strong, should be able to carry you two. And since we search for the Red, you can use the horse better. You should leave it somewhere though, before you enter the town" the Archer gestured to the stallion by his side.
"Right, I'll contact you for help," Wanda nodded before she and Sharon rushed to the horses and made their way to the city.
"So, where… do we… star…t…" Nat started but in seconds, her vision blurred and her legs turned to jelly.
"Natalia!" James caught her before she could fall, a bit of panic on his face.
"Natalia?" he touched her forehead and took a sharp breath.
"Poison…" he whispered, gently setting her down.
"When?" Sam was by her side, checking her pulse.
"…the Reds. One must have had laced his weapon with it…" Barnes licked his lips.
"She's exhausted to… This isn't looking good…" Wilson muttered.
"I don't plan on it. I'm serving the Stark family for years already, why should i betray you, my prince?" Thor hinted a bow, putting some balm on the next wound. He then listened to what the Prince had to tell. "I suggest we should be careful from now on, but don't let Stane know that we're suspicious about him."
"Wow, wow Tony," James looked in shock.
"Do you hear yourself?" he added.
"Yes I know - sounds insane. Probably is to. But I know what I heard. And why else would the Red know so much about our plans?"
"It's true Rhody… I was there as well," Pepper spoke up.
"…Okay, fine…" Rhodes sighed and rubbed his face.
"But what are we gonna do about it? I mean… we can't really just go up to him and call him out can we?" he looked at the smirking face of the prince.
"No. Tony no. Thor just said not to do that!"
"Relax! I'm the prince, I can call him out!"
Thor moved his hand, freezing the prince to the spot. "Please, Prince Antony, re-think this decision. If you go and call Lord Stane out, he probably has enough influence on every guard in this palace. He would imprison you on the spot, maybe even kill you and make it look like an accident. I beg of you to consider this when you re-think it."
Tony looked at Thor for a few seconds before sighing and closing his eyes.
"Yeah, I figured something like that… But I don't want to just sit around and do nothing anymore. This is my Kingdome – my father left it for me. I won't let Stane destroy it."
"But you don't have to do it alone Tony," Rhodes smiled.
"He's right. Not to mention we're not the only ones who don't like Stane. Rile up the people, they can do what you can't," Pepper smiled.
"Steve" Clint spoke to the Captain, "Do you know where Doc Banner is right now? I've heard he was in the next town..."
"Doc Banner?" Sam asked.
"A medical genius. He knows a damn lot about it. I'm sure he can cure her." Clint answered.
"Well, if you have an idea where he is, i suggest we should divide the group. One part searches Doc Banner, the others search for Red." Steve proposed, looking at the faces of their little group. "Buck, you wanna go with Natasha and Clint?"
James looked from the burning woman to his friends and bit his lip.
"I'm leaving her in your care…" he turned his eyes dead on Clint. They were full of hesitation, conflict and uncertainty. And it also gave Barton a message - if something happens to her, you're dead.
"You sure Winter?" Sam was surprised at what he said.
"We don't have much of a choice…" he glanced down at her.
"The faster we find the Reds and stop them, the faster this whole mess is over. Besides… she would yell at me for trading killing Reds for looking for a doctor," a weak smile was on his face.
Clint nodded and turned around, gesturing for putting the female assassin on his back, so he could carry her without any hindrance. "Well, we're off then. I will see to it that you will hear something from me till tomorrow at daybreak." The archer looked to the sky to gain some orientation, and then took off.
"Okay. Any idea where the Reds could sit and wait to attack?" Sam asked, particularly looking at Steve, who shrugged.
"It could be everywhere. Stane is the mole and knows what i thought where they would have their camps; so it is possible that they are there, but with complete different troop strength. We're either underestimating them then or overestimating, the latter would cost us precious time. It would be the best to think what Red skull wants. The Iron Kingdom. It would be best if he falls in with the whole army then, to make it look like a war, and not a walk in the park, i guess. It would otherwise seem suspicious to the common folk. But I've got no Intel how strong the Red army is, nor where they could hide. Have you any information about that?"
"I know a place," James muttered, keeping Sam from saying anything.
"I can't assure its right, but my gut's telling me it can be. Or more, they'll pass through there. The place is big enough and in a good hiding spot. You won't see it if you just 'pass by' or anything…" he turned his head to Steve.
"But… It's kind of up to you if you want to go there…" his eyes were sympathetic and apologetic.
"After all… What happened there hit you pretty hard…"
"That could turn out to be difficult." Thor said after thinking a moment. "You can't just leave the castle and talk to the people in town and rile them up. Lord Stane would notice and stop you before you know it."
"Yeah, well I can't, but most of you can do it instead!" Tony grinned and looked at the four.
"You want us to start a riot? Do you have any idea what the guards could do if they saw us?" Rhodes looked in shock.
"I do, and I have complete faith in you!" Stark nodded.
"…We could simply start whispers… That way, we wouldn't actually be seen spreading the word," Pepper suggested.
"See? You're in good hands!"