The assassins appeared like a black cloud emerging out of the woods and StarWind held her hand out firmly, clearly an order for the enemy to halt. She had no thought that they would actually stop, but it did cause them to slow as she had hoped. She figured that they would be cautious after the previous attack and she was right. She heard murmurs of conversation as the group of assassins spotted her and the mage. That was precisely the moment HawkShadow opened fire from their rear, unleashing three arrows in swift succession before disappearing. Shouts rose through the assassins and the rear of the group started to turn around when StormSong and SkyDancer attacked from the left.
Those in the rear of the assassins’ ranks could not find the enemy. The cries from the left kept them turning, looking for something to attack. StormSong and SkyDancer withdrew and MistyTrail and Goral immediately hit from the right, arrows flying into the knot of dark-clad assassins. If the assassins had chosen any direction to counterattack, they would easily break free of the trap, but the confusion kept the group turning, bumping into each other and preventing any unified response.
The leader of the assassins realized what was going on and tried to rally his troops, but he could not be heard over the shouts each time a new enemy was spotted. Clearly frustrated, he rallied the three men closest to him and broke out of the trap. The leader charged directly at the two mages, shouting for his men to follow. The bulk of the Sakovans kept the triangle turning as the number of assassins dwindled with each turn.
“Now,” ordered StarWind.
Temiker smiled as he cast his spell. He marshaled the calm winds of the forest and sent them as a torrent towards the leader of the assassins. The wind howled past StarWind and Temiker and hammered into the charging enemy. StarWind sent a force bolt into the chest of the leader as the wind defeated the charge, leaving the four assassins standing still. She chose another target for her force bolt as Temiker joined in with force bolts of his own.
StarWind could no longer hear the sounds of battle as the roar of the wind filled her ears. She also could not see the battle for the wind was blowing dirt and leaves through the air. She could see that the four who had charged were down and she signaled for Temiker to cancel the wind.
The wind died instantly and the cries of the wounded and dying filled the void. StarWind stared towards the triangle and saw only horses bumping into one another. Two of the charging assassins were moving on the ground and StarWind drew her sword and strode forward with Temiker close behind. She glanced again at the triangle and saw her people checking the bodies of the assassin group. The cries ceased and the forest became deathly still.
StarWind approached the four fallen assassins. Two were obviously dead, but the leader and one other were still alive. The two men rose as StarWind approached and she stopped a short ways from them.
“Who are you and why have you violated our laws by entering the Sakova?” she demanded.
Neither man answered and StarWind noticed that while the leader’s hands were visible and empty, the other man’s were not. StarWind started to ask the question again when the assassin with the hidden hands screamed and sank to his knees. He tottered for a second and then fell down face first, crashing to the forest floor. Both of his hands held throwing stars and a large knife was firmly planted in his back.
“I would advise you to answer the lady,” HawkShadow growled from behind the leader. “She doesn’t like to be ignored.”
The leader looked at the fallen body of his man and shook his head. “A group of assassins do not an army make,” he scowled. He raised his head and looked into StarWind’s eyes. “We are hunting for a fugitive. She entered the Sakova so we entered as well.”
“So you entered forbidden land with knowledge of what you were doing and without permission,” StarWind declared. “I am sure you know the penalty for such an offense?”
“I know the penalty plain enough,” the assassin growled. “What I don’t understand is why you are talking to me. Get it over with.”
“You seem eager to die,” StarWind commented. “I would prefer an explanation for your visit.”
“Nobody is eager to die, wench,” the assassin stated, “but I die whether you kill me or not. If I return without the girl I may as well slit my own throat. It matters little to me if you dirty your blade instead of mine.”
“Oh, it won’t be her blade,” grinned HawkShadow as he walked around to face the assassin. “It will be mine and I choose whether it will be swift or slow and agonizing. I am skilled, as you are, in many types of death. I would be merciful if you were to make the lady happy.”
The assassin’s eyes narrowed as he glared as HawkShadow with tightened lips. Slowly, he nodded his head. “Very well,” he agreed. “Ask what you will.”
“I know more about you than you think,” StarWind began, “so please don’t try to lie to me.”
“There is no gain for me in lying,” the assassin declared. “I have been sent on a fool’s errand with a bunch of fools instead of an army. I will tell you anything you want to know. I have nobody to protect.”
“Good,” StarWind said. “Why is the girl so important?”
“She is to be a hostage to get her father to cooperate,” the assassin answered. “We were ordered to capture her and to make sure she remained alive.”
“Who ordered this?” StarWind asked.
“We work for Klaarg,” the assassin leader replied. “I am not sure who he works for, but it is someone high up in the government. I do not know what they planned for the old man to do, but it had something to do with his magic ability. Klaarg did not confide in me.”
“How many men does Klaarg have and where are the rest?” the Sakovan spymaster asked.
“I only know about our group,” the assassin answered. “We are a hundred strong, or were,” he corrected. “There is another forty at the west end of the Sakova. The remaining twenty are trying to capture the brother in Alamar.”
“There are other groups besides your hundred?” quizzed StarWind.
“I am not sure,” answered the assassin. “Klaarg always has something going and he never lets any information out that he doesn’t have to.”
“How do you get in touch with him?” HawkShadow asked.
“We don’t,” the assassin replied. “We are to meet him in Gatong when we have the girl. If we don’t get the girl, we don’t return. It’s that simple.”
“What does this Klaarg look like?” queried StarWind.
“Big man,” smiled the assassin, obviously hoping that Klaarg would meet an end similar to his own. “Tall and heavy, but not fat. Bushy black hair with a weird scar in the middle of his left eyebrow. It is not easy to see though. It is shaped like a corner. You would have to get pretty close to see it and getting that close will be dangerous. He knows most of the barkeeps, so if you ask about him, he will know about it before you ever see him. I wish you luck with that one.”
“Just so you know,” StarWind stated, “you have betrayed nobody but Klaarg. The other forty men are already as dead as your own.”
“Thanks,” the assassin said. “The men were just doing their job and I am glad that I am not responsible for their deaths. As for Klaarg, he deserves whatever you give him.”
StarWind nodded as she turned and headed for her choka with Temiker close behind. The rest of the Sakovans were waiting for her.
“Another forty horses,” chuckled MistyTrail. “The horse gatherers are being kept busy this week. A few more parties of assassins and we can open up a horse market.”
“Careful, MistyTrail,” laughed SkyDancer, “if RavenWing hears of your good idea, you may be promoted to a horse gatherer.”