The wind carried the scent of iron and frost as Zee, Sevi, and Torren approached the Knight's regional command. The stone walls of the fort rose like jagged teeth from the earth-squat, brutal, unforgiving. No banners flew; the man inside had no need for pageantry.
They had chosen this knight first not out of convenience, but because his death would send tremors through the kingdom. A veteran of the Crown's wars, a man the people trusted. Removing him would shake the faith of the loyal and strain the Marshal's lines.
With forged credentials bearing the king's crest, they posed as new recruits assigned for observation and report. It got them through the gates, but time was thin.
Torren remained outside, watching from the roof of a nearby stable. If things went poorly, he was their final light.
Inside, Zee and Sevi were led to an austere office. The knight, Beltran, rose from his desk as they entered-a massive man in plate, his presence as heavy as the room.
Beltran frowned. "I wasn't informed of any inspection."
Zee kept his voice even. "Orders were issued two days ago. Post-conflict assessment. You've dealt with Arcane contraband recently."
Beltran grunted. "No arcane in this region. The only thing we burn here is heresy."
He turned to sift through parchments on his desk. That was the moment.
Zee moved first.
Beltran reacted fast-far faster than expected. His sword came off the rack with a clang, and the desk crashed aside in his wake.
"You think you can raise steel to a knight of the realm?" he bellowed.
Steel met steel. The clash was deafening. Zee parried a brutal overhead slash that cracked a lantern hanging from the ceiling. Sevi darted in with twin daggers, feinting low before being batted away by a gauntleted fist.
Beltran fought like a man who had survived real wars-his stance tight, each strike purposeful. Zee felt the full weight of it with every block, his arms vibrating under the force. He feinted right, then ducked under a crushing blow that shattered a shelf unit behind him.
"Guards!" Beltran roared.
Zee kicked the broken shelf forward, toppling it between the doorway and the knight. Heavy volumes and splintered wood filled the frame. Shouts echoed from the hall.
"We have minutes," Zee snapped.
Sevi lunged again, slashing at Beltran's leg. The knight buckled slightly, just enough for Zee to find an opening. With a pivot and a sharp exhale, he plunged his blade between the armor's plates under the arm.
Beltran snarled, gripping the weapon. "You... cowards..."
Zee twisted. The light in the knight's eyes dimmed.
No time for words. They moved.
They barreled into the hallway, illusion spells trailing behind them-screams, smoke, flickering false fires. Guards turned the wrong way, fooled by shadows.
Down the stairwell, through the mess hall, over the outer wall. Sevi's cloak snagged on an iron spike; Zee yanked her free.
They vanished before the fort could fully wake.
By the time the sun rose, Beltran was dead.
And the first dog was taken care of.