[Mkguild] Spies and Assassins (6/?)

[Azariah Wolf]

This part feels a little rough to me, so any suggestions for polish are 
welcome.

-LurkingWolf

_____________

<i>March 3, 708 CR</i>

Gerard walked the short distance that had been marked out for him on the 
killing fields, clearly in pain but unwilling to stop until he reached 
the end.The healer's assistant that stood by winced in sympathy with him 
several times as the stag walked about, but he didn't stop him.The deer 
Keeper needed the practice.

The false leg that Lois had delivered a few days past was proving to be 
an interesting contraption.It flexed and moved in ways that a wooden peg 
would not, giving Gerard a much more familiar feeling as he tried to 
break it in.It also moved relatively quietly.Sometimes, the stag could 
hear the mechanism bowing to support his weight, but it was only a 
slight sound, and would not have posed a likely threat, even on a patrol.

As he rounded the corner on another lap on the short track, he saw the 
ermine who had provided the contraption entering the killing 
fields.Giving a confident smile, Gerard put some more force behind his 
steps, making his way to meet the ermine halfway.

"You're looking good on your hooves, Gerard!" the former assassin called 
as the two approached.

"I would still take my natural leg over this any day," the exhausted man 
said in return."Still, the last few days have been inspiring.With some 
help from the healers, I'm certain that I will be battle ready before 
long at all."

The expression on the face of the assistant showed that he was far less 
confident, but he afforded a smile and a nod nonetheless.He clearly did 
not mean for the attempt to fail due to any lack of effort on his 
part.Lois turned back and gave Gerard a hearty clap on the back."Let's 
see what you can do," he said, motioning towards the small rut that the 
stag had already beaten out with his pacing.

The buck heaved a sigh, but squared his shoulders towards his 
destination and set off in a march towards the other side.He was at 
least past any lapse of confidence.All that remained was to retrain his 
body to walk with this new leg attached.

Lois watched his friend give a few laps before he caught a glimpse of 
another familiar figure to the side.Dressed in light leather and 
carrying his bow along with him, the lynx, Alex, came towards him with a 
purposeful gait.The ermine acted as though he had not seen his patrol 
commander until he had come closer, and by that point the cat had 
already greeted him.

"Lois!" he called, coming close.He offered a paw to the ermine, who 
accepted with a strong shake.

"I had not expected to see you until tomorrow," Lois admitted, turning 
to keep an eye on Gerard.The stag had taken a seat near the walls, and 
was discussing something with Coe's assistant.Whatever the discussion, 
he had not yet noticed Alex's arrival.

"Neither had I, but it's just as well that I found you before we left.I 
want to talk with you, Lois."

"I'm certain you do," was the deadpan reply.

"I think you misunderstand me."Alex stepped around Lois to make sure 
that the man was looking at him."I do not mean to berate you, or to 
demand you call the mission off.I just want to know why we are on this 
mission, that is all."

"You assume that I know any better than you do," Lois replied.

Alex snorted quietly."George may have delivered the patrol assignment, 
but Andwyn contacted me specifically with further details.According to 
the official word, this is an intelligence mission to ascertain the 
current alignment of the Wounded Moon tribe.Less officially, we already 
know where their allegiance lies, and we're sending you in to change it."

"Why?I'm not negotiator."

"Stop playing dumb, Lois," the commander said, all trace of friendliness 
gone from his voice."You and I both know that your method of changing 
alliances is to kill the person who decides them and allowing the chain 
of command to do the rest.You're not a negotiator, you're an assassin, 
and that's the entire reason for this mission."

"Very well.I will admit the true purpose of this mission, but I will 
also contend that I have no pleasure in the methods I must use in its 
accomplishment."Lois met Alex's gaze for the first time in this 
conversation.The lynx watched him for several moments before letting out 
a soft sigh.

"You and I are the only two who realize our true purpose in this.It's 
dangerous to keep truths from my fellows, but I see few alternatives at 
this point.I assume you have been informed of our new companion?"

"I think Andwyn called him Julian, but I know little beyond that point," 
Lois admitted."Do you not consider him trustworthy?"

Andwyn grunted and shrugged uncertainly."He spent quite some time in the 
North, allegedly maintaining the façade of alliance with Nasoj since the 
Three Gates.Andwyn trusts him, but I find it extraordinarily difficult 
to believe that a man could keep the trust of Nasoj for nearly ten years 
without giving him some very good reasons.I'm not planning on telling 
him any more than I have to.Unfortunately, the curse changed him into a 
moondog, and Lucy was forced to perform a bonding ritual with him just 
to save his life.I am not certain about the nature of the bond, and that 
makes it difficult to trust Lucy with sensitive information although 
it's no fault of her own."

"You mean to keep our purpose secret, then?" the assassin asked.

"Until I find it necessary to do otherwise, yes," Alex said.He looked 
back across the field towards Gerard, who had noticed them and was 
making his way to them."I'm not sure about you, Lois, and this only 
gives me more reason to question you.Tread carefully."

As he spoke, Gerard gave a cry, thankfully more of frustration than of 
pain, and sank to the ground on his one natural knee.The healer was next 
to him before Lois and Alex could arrive, but he was still looking the 
stag over with a confused gaze when the two reached him.

"What happened?" Lois asked."Are you injured?"

"No more so than I was before.No, the metal leg just seized up; it won't 
move!"

Lois sighed, sounding relieved."All right, I should be able to help," he 
said.He pulled one of the throwing daggers that he customarily kept in 
the bandolier that over his shoulder. He gripped the mechanical leg, 
only to look up when Gerard placed his hand on the assassin's shoulder.

"I'm just bracing," the deer said breathlessly."Remember, this thing is 
attached to me now, if you're messing with it you're going to throw off 
my balance."

Lois grunted in affirmation and began to poke around where Drift had 
omitted the panel for just such an occasion."We ran into this problem 
once when we were performing early tests," he explained."I'm not certain 
why, but something within the leg gets caught."

"Can't it be repaired?" Gerard asked.

"Perhaps," Lois replied, nearly whispering."Unfortunately, the man who 
built this is incapacitated."The leg saved him the trouble of explaining 
why as the catch suddenly released with a strident squeal, snapping down 
in the blade of the dagger that Lois had been using to seek out the 
faulty piece.The ermine hissed and took a step back.

"That's better," Gerard said.He stood up and rested his weight on the 
leg, relieved to see it flexing under his weight.He realized after a 
moment that Lois was not watching him, and took a look at the throwing 
dagger in his friend's hand.

It was bent, somehow twisted by the force of the mechanism's 
release.Lois gave a quiet chuckle."If you needed to know why I was not 
using my bare hands to unjam it, you have your answer."

Gerard gave an astonished laugh."I'll be certain to make note of that 
should it ever happen again," he responded.

"That seems quite a dangerous thing to strap to your leg," Alex 
commented, giving a smile to Gerard."How have you been, my friend?I had 
heard about this strange invention, but I had yet to see it for myself 
until now."

Gerard smiled and stepped forward, clasping his patrol commander's paw 
in his hoof."It's good to see you again.Honestly, I'm not completely 
certain about this replacement, but it is certainly far better than 
nothing at all.I suppose that I am likely to miss a few patrols while I 
adjust; I hope it isn't too much of an inconvenience."

Alex smiled comfortingly."We'll manage somehow.As a matter of fact, we 
will be taking a patrol beginning tomorrow.It won't be the same without 
you."

Gerard sighed."I do hope to be able to return to duty soon, but I have 
no idea how long it will take to recuperate.I promise, as soon as I am 
able, I will rejoin you.Stay safe until then."

Lois chuckled."I'll keep an eye on him, don't worry too much."

Alex sighed."Don't rush, Gerard.You will be missed in the meantime, but 
I want you to be fully prepared when you do return."

The stag nodded."Give my regards to Lucy.Make sure she stays safe."

"To be fair, the sheer power she wields makes me less worried about her 
than I am about you," Alex deadpanned."Still, I'll do what I can."He 
turned his gaze on Lois."Don't tell her that she's getting special 
treatment," he warned."She'll think it's because her age was regressed, 
and we'll never hear the end of her lecture over the injustice of the 
Curse."

Lois chuckled, but nodded."I don't know if I truly have lips anymore, 
but if I do I assure you, they are sealed."

The three friends shared a chuckle at that. Finally, Alex nodded to them 
both as he stepped away."I need to refine my aim before tomorrow's 
departure, but I will see you both as soon as possible.Good day!"

Gerard turned to Lois as the lynx walked away."You may want to try to 
replace that dagger before your patrol tomorrow," he suggested."You 
never know when you will need every tool at your disposal."

Lois nodded in agreement."I will be certain to do that.Be careful with 
your practice.Don't overexert yourself."

"Of course.Be careful yourself.You've had all of one patrol and you've 
already gone through a life-threatening situation.If it were something 
you could decide, I would suggest a few relaxed patrols before you try 
any more death-defying again."

Lois nodded.To be honest, the nature of this coming patrol made him more 
than a little nervous, but it was nothing he had not done before many 
times, and often with more dangerous quarry.Perhaps it was the fact that 
it was not his life alone that could be threatened by his actions, or 
perhaps it was allowing this one vestige of his former life to carry on 
that put him on edge.His inaction had led to disaster once before, 
however, and he didn't mean to let it happen again while he saw an 
alternative.

He managed to snap out of his private thoughts before the silence had 
hung between him and Gerard for too long.Smiling, he sketched a 
respectful bow to the stag as he stepped away."I will see you upon our 
safe return," he promised."I expect you will be walking comfortably once 
more by then."

Gerard smiled."I hope so.Perhaps nature will conspire to aid me before 
long.I should be shedding my antlers before long at all.They are no 
great weight to be certain, but any small advantage is appreciated.I 
will see you after the patrol."

As the two parted ways, Lois silently wondered what would happen to 
Gerard should his request be granted permanently.With Paula added to 
their group, he found it unlikely that Gerard would be allowed to 
continue with him.Had he unwittingly raised the man's hopes of returning 
to action, only to crush them by providing his replacement?He certainly 
hoped not.
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