laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Having returned Garrett's sword to his charge, Rollo helped provide some semblance of normalcy in the Rigossenn household as the day wore on. Pacing the stone floor in the atrium with the other seconds, his eyes rose as Wesley was escorted into the room and towards the family as well as the other nobles seated on the opposite end.

"Tell us what happened," Sir Gerald leaned forward, his bearded face of stone seethed underneath, showing in his eyes.

Kneeling before them, the knight bowed his head. "Last night, while I was on watch, men in black charged out of the darkness and attacked us. I fought with three while Sir Thomas fought another three or four. We killed at least two of them and wounded another two or three, but..." His face rose as Lady Cornelia's chin quivered. "Forgive me, sire." Leaning over, he placed his hands on the carpeted floor, face to the ground. "I place myself at your mercy."

Straightening in his chair, the count glanced to the Sir Quentin, then the others that quietly looked on. "My son wouldn't have run, no matter what. I don't lay this at your feet, but those that committed this murder."

Rollo glanced up to the bishop who quietly watched and listened with the others and wished that this pompous ass was responsible. He knew Garrett hated the man as much as he did, so would take pleasure in removing the bishop from office. A sudden movement towards them at this end of the room prompted Rollo to shift his gaze to his charge who had that familiar look in his eyes. "Rollo, saddle the horses. We're going for a ride."

"Sir," turning on his heel, Rollo led the other knights out of the room.

"Where are you going," Sir Gerald queried, his voice echoing in the hallway.

"I want to see this place for myself," Garrett replied. "Maybe we can track these assassins to their lair."

"Sergeant, dispatch a unit to accompany him."

"Yes, sir."

"Father, I'll be fine." Rollo knew where this argument was going to lead and he prepared to have a large escort out of town.

"I just lost one son, I'll not lose another." The definitive reply only made Rollo grin as he turned towards the main entrance and walked through the foyer.

Once all the horses had been saddled, Sir Quentin, Sir Dartan, Sir Azon and Kronos joined the seconds along with a unit of heavy cavalry numbering around fifty rode from the palace and out through the main gate, then through the town. People moved out of their way, some bowing to the sons of both the count and duke as they passed. Wesley was also among them and Rollo knew this man's life wasn't off the chopping block yet. They passed the Ale 'n Inn at the northern gate, then rode northwest once off of the main road and across open fields which had been left until spring to plant, the thunder of hooves churning up the earth behind them. Quiet farms to the northeast and east of the city the few signs of life out here, beyond the city walls as the contingent soon disappeared into the forest.

Led to the normal camping spot just east of Lake Esla, the unit stopped and dismounted. Rollo heard the cavalry create a wide perimeter around the area as Garrett motioned for everyone to remain behind him. "We want to make sure we don't ruin their escape route, be careful." Wesley moved to Garrett's side as Rollo tied their horse's reins to nearby trees and then took long strides to catch up. His senses alert in case these men in dark clothing decided to claim two sons today.

"Where did they come at you from," the count's son asked Wesley who pointed.

"North, west and northeast. Once he fell, they all blended back into the forest and disappeared. From those same points, it seemed."

"Did you hear any horses," Sir Quentin asked as they stopped at the clearing's edge.

"No, I didn't. They may have left them farther out."

Peering through the treeline, Rollo headed towards the northeastern corner of the campsite and slowly moved through the heavy underbrush and around large oak, hoping to find something of worth. He knew Garrett wasn't leaving this area until they had a lead of some kind. Joined by Sir Dartan and Charles, the trio soon found the beaten trail from the site, towards a tree which abruptly stopped.

Walking around the large oak, Rollo soon glanced upwards. "This can't be."

"They took to flying?" Dartan's eyes followed his as they tried to find any evidence that the men jumped from branch to branch, but knew that would be nearly impossible unless smaller branches were broken. But none were found on the ground. "I don't understand."

Rollo knew there were other things in the world that could help one vanish, but he kept his opinions to himself, not wishing to implicate Garrett or his mother's private practises. "I can only go on what we do know, but it certainly seems they were masters of covering their tracks."

"Assassins hired for this sort of thing could only be masters, which means a lot of coin was paid. Not many have such aspirations." Dartan's eyes returned beyond Rollo as he scanned the forest around them. "Also means they wouldn't stop with Thomas either."

Rollo just nodded quietly, then paralleled the trail to the site as the others soon joined them. "Nothing beyond a tree just yards from here," he informed as Dartan nodded, arms crossed.

Brow furrowed, Garrett's hands fell to his weapon belt, "This doesn't make sense." As they quietly mused on what lay around them, and what wasn't there, Sir Azon emerged from the northern trail with his second, confusion on both of their faces. "What is it?"

"I just had a vision of sorts," Azon revealed, confusedly. "They were using magic of some kind." Pointing to the various entries made from the forest, he re-enacted the moments last night as if he was there. "Three groups emerge, attack Sir Wesley and Sir Thomas. They fight and as he said, ran back into the forest without hesitation and to that tree," he turned and pointed. "Then I saw a bluish flash as each one disappeared." Surprised and confused, he turned back to them. "I don't know how I know these things, but it's as if I was there." Glancing to Sir Wesley, "He was telling the truth."

"Magic is outlawed," Sir Quentin reminded. "How is that possible? No one can learn the arcane arts in this kingdom without facing the penalty of death. You know this."

Hands up defensively, "I swear, sir, I never knew I could do that before."

The plot thickens, Rollo mused as they all studied Azon for any sign of duplicity, but he was certain the knight from Narbonne was being honest. Either that, or he was a consummate actor. What was certain is they had a conspiracy on their hands.

Standing dutifully on the edge of the forest, Sir Franklin Topher, Captain of the Second Cavalry cleared his throat. "We should see to your safety, milord, if there's nothing else to discover."

Nodding reluctantly, Garrett's face told the turmoil of thoughts that was roiling through his mind and everyone present could sympathize with him. Soon, they were mounted up and headed back to Stamford.