FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The assassins were quick to assemble for war, with members quickly mounting the walls, and others breaking free of the gates, standing there with crossbows and throwing knives ready. And down the hill, apparently still trickling through the ravine, was an army of Falskin.

Plated in armour from head to toe, these reptilian invaders looked more than ready to take on the small army of assassins, who, clad in robes, seemed woefully unprepared.

"Guildmaster!" one of the largest figures in the army shouted, stepping forth from his ranks. "Show yourself. I wish only to talk."

Khej pushed his way past his assassins, emerging from the door to stand opposite the massive Falskin. The two looked at each other, each a couple hundred metres from their respective forces.

The armoured figure removed his helm, revealing the powerful visage of Lord Drysenn beneath. The reptilian looked down at Khej and smiled.

"Khej," he said. "It's been a long time."

"Did it ever occur to you that that was by design, Drysenn?" Khej asked drily. "Tell me, why have you brought this host to my doorstep? We have done nothing to wrong you."

"And there you are wrong," Drysenn shook his head. "You see, your son kidnapped two Falskin from their rightful home in Parai. I, on behalf of my steward, request...nay, demand, their safe return. Immediately."

"From what Kar'na has told me, they chose to leave on their own free will," Khej said idly. "Therefore, you have no claim to them. Leave our territory, before we have to fight. Because this fight will not end well for you."

"I have the armies of eight territories of Parai behind me," Dryseen said, gesturing back at the soldiers, who were still filing in. "We outnumber you a hundred to one."

"As one is to a hundred, so to is the ratio of an assassin to one of your footsoldiers," Khej said proudly. "And we have the advantage of knowing our territory. Your armies will be crushed. For what? The sake of two children?"

Drysenn shook his head. "You clearly misunderstand. Of course, the children are on my mind. But, more importantly, you have stolen the honour of one of the houses of Parai. In doing so, you offended the whole nation...most of which I now control. We must have the slight repaid. And the price is either the children, or the whole assassin order. Your choice...wolf."

Khej hesitated.

"I...I will speak with the masters. We will decide the fate of your children. Though I thought you had more intelligence Drysenn. To risk all these men for petty honour."

"Don't try me," Drysenn warned. "Go and confer. My men and I will wait."

With that, the seven foot tall reptilian turned his back on the assassin guildmaster, and walked back to his own forces.

"It's a trap!" Master Ac'barr stated, slamming his hands on the table. "We turn the kids over, and then what happens? He comes back and destroys us, no risk to the kids. We have them as leverage, we should use them."

"As stupid an idea as it is bold," Kar'na countered, slumping back in his chair. "Sanvar doesn't care what happens to his children. Neither does Drysenn. The wanted note for them was 'dead or alive'. Doesn't strike me as very caring. And if we used them as leverage and threatened to kill them, that would just give them justification for an all-out war."

"Oh come on, Kar'na, you've gone soft," one of the foxes at the table said, rolling his eyes. "You may have travelled across half of Parai with those kids, but remember: they are just Falskin. We turn them over, we stand a chance of peaceful resolution."

"Yeah," another master, a lioness, agreed. "They're just Falskin. They're only a little bit better than animals!"

"You know that's exactly what they think of us, right?"

The argument stopped briefly, as the masters all gathered their thoughts. All sixteen were present, including the newest, who had been promoted just a week before Kar'na went on his mission to Parai: K'eyush. The one-handed lynx was a good presence at the table.

Each of the masters were allowed to permit a second to accompany them to the table. K'eyush, of course, had chosen Dakir. Kar'na had Tai at his shoulder, while Jei'orr had Kyl'e. And, for whatever reason, Khej had Svara.

"Regardless," the lioness Ch'kiliil said, shaking her head. "It matters little. These monsters kept some of our own in slavery. To me, this makes them little more than savages. I say we hold the siblings for ransom."

"You think _that_will make them back down?" K'eyush asked incredulously. "It'll just make them enraged! We covered this already. Listen..."

He leaned forwards slightly.

"Outside these walls are fourteen thousand Falskin. We number about three hundred. An all-out confrontation is the last thing we want."

"But it won't come to a confrontation if we keep the Falskin as prisoners."

"Drysenn doesn't care about the kids," Kar'na said, shaking his head. "To him, this is a matter of honour."

"Kar'na," a fellow wolf scowled. "You realize that this is, at least partly, your fault. If you hadn't brought them along, we wouldn't be in this mess! You could have simply given them to Drysenn at your first meeting. Peace would've been restored, and this dreadful war would end! But because of you, we're facing this onslaught!"

"Shut up!" Svara yelled, pounding both fists on the table. "I don't want to hear any 'I blame you' or 'this is your fault'. I don't care whose fault it is! This is not the time for blame, it's the time of action! And instead of simply shooting down ideas, left, right, and center, we should be building on them. Agreeing on them. Making a plan! Instead of simply pointing fingers and acting self-righteous. Myra and Aryn were already firmly a part of the group by the time Kar'na arrived. Kiri and the others would have abandoned Kar'na, whom they'd only just met, if he wanted to leave behind their friends. Kar'na would've been forced to leave them behind too, meaning Kiri wouldn't be here now! Khej would still never know what happened to his son."

"Wait a minute," the other wolf began, only to be cut off by Svara's tirade.

"No, you wait a minute! Kar'na did what any decent person should've done. Maybe it's not the most logically-driven choice, but it's the choice he chose. And the past is the past. If you could all stop pointing the blame around, maybe we'd be at a solution already. Instead, half of you are covering an individual who did what he thought right, and the others are trying to pin everything on him. If you thought with what rests in your head, instead of what sits between your legs, we have a chance here."

"Careful Svara," one of the lynxes, probably Tes'ali's master, Watcher, warned. "We were just warming up to you."

"Lay off," Master Khayal, a caracal, said, waving his paw. "He's got a point. There _has_been a lot of blame pointing. Let's work together to think of a plan."

Heads nodded around the table, and everyone leaned in. Khej patted Svara on the back, and smiled at him.

"Well done," he whispered, and Kar'na suddenly understood. Svara was the only one here who'd been through it all. He was a good point person for Khej to have, as it allowed him a leg up on the conversation.

"Whatever we decide," Jei'orr said, leaning in. "It doesn't involve turning over those two kids. They have a life yet to lead, and if what Kar'na's told us is true, they won't live if we hand them over."

"Agreed," the wolf who'd originally pinned the blame on Kar'na, master Shep, sighed. "But, if we think about it...it would make things easier. We turn them over, and if they stick to their word, they go. If not, we have a fight on our hands. And with how all the other plans seem to be coming together, a fight is the only option that seems to be a certainty."

"We're not turning back the kids," Kar'na growled. "They chose us, and they don't want to go back."

"Yes we do," a new voice put in. Everyone turned around to look, and saw the two Sanvar'a siblings standing at the door, looking in to the room. "If it means a peaceful resolution to all this, I want to go back."

"Me too," Aryn agreed, voice trembling slightly. "I don't want to be the cause for needless suffering and death. If it means peace, we'll go."

"Kids," Kar'na said, getting to his feet and heading to the door. "Don't be too rash. We'll find a way to get rid of them without having to turn you over."

"Will it result in the deaths of so many of our people?" Myra asked back, looking Kar'na dead in the eye. "We may rather be among you Ch'kiliil, but we_are_ still Falskin."

"Kar'na," Khayal said gently from across the room. "This should be their decision. It ultimately impacts their lives."

The caracal got to his feet, and walked over to the white wolf, resting an orangish-reddish hand on his shoulder. "Some things are beyond your ability to control."

"I...but...no," Kar'na said, shaking his head. "I won't allow it. Not yet. There are still other options we haven't yet explored. Come on everyone, let's continue to think on this. You two, head back to your quarters. When we figure out a solution, we'll send for you."

Myra looked about to protest, but Kar'na, catching her eye, added, "Tai. Go with them. Make sure they get there."

"Sure," Tai nodded, getting up from his place right near Kar'na. "Come along you two. We'll let them decide what to do. Have you two visited the leisure hall yet?"

The siblings seemed markedly upset, but they went with the white cat just the same. Kar'na watched them leave and Tai shut the door behind them, before turning to look at the assassins, who were all staring at him with a measuring gaze.

"What?" the white wolf asked.

"And just like that, you bring down your whole argument," K'eyush said softly. "You speak of keeping them here since they chose us, yet refuse to let them return to their own people? To do what their choice is?"

K'eyush got to his feet and locked a level stare on Kar'na. "Kar'na, we assassins stand here as a barrier. It is our job to ensure people have free choice. I mean, yes, we kill people too, but we give the killers the choice of having their targets eliminated. Ultimately, it's up to them. Because we believe in freedom of choice. Without that, we are nothing."

Kar'na didn't flinch his own eyes from the lynx's. "They're just kids. They don't know what they want."

"And yet, you're willing to take their word of wishing to stay amongst us, over the fact that they now wish to return to their own people?" Ac'barr shook his head. "Kar'na, this is hypocrisy. I don't believe we can have a council with one who so willing leaves their own words."

Kar'na's gaze locked with each around the table, before he slumped slightly. "Very well. I will go out and talk to them. Clear my head. Though, while I'm gone, I wish this council to continue coming up with plans. If we can find one that works, do not hesitate to call me back."

The council nodded, and Kar'na opened the door, stepping out into the hall beyond. He muttered some meaningless nonsense to himself, a tactic he long ago discovered helped him to calm down, and began down the stairs. However, at the base of the stairs, he got a shock.

There, crumpled in a heap, was Tai, his former apprentice.

"Tai!" Kar'na shouted, rushing down quickly and landing beside the cat. "What happened? Are you alright?"

"Mm," Tai grumbled. "Those kids...I don't know with what...they hit me. Said they were...sorry...and that...they were heading...to Drysenn."

"No..." Kar'na said hollowly, looking at the door. "They...help! We need help down here! Everyone!"

The door at the top of the stairs flew open, and K'eyush looked out. Following this, the one-handed Lynx rushed down the stairs, swiftly joining Kar'na and Tai, while the others began to move.

"Where are the Falskin?" K'eyush asked, looking at Kar'na in alarm.

"They've left," Kar'na said frantically, torn between staying with his former apprentice or going after the reptilian siblings.

"Go after them!" Khej ordered. "We've got Tai. Get them, before they do something they regret!"

Kar'na hurriedly got up from Tai, and ran out the door into the main hall beyond. The assassins that occupied the hall sat glumly around tables, weapons in hand or sitting before them. None shared the same frantic energy that occupied Kar'na's mind.

"Has anyone seen the kids?" Kar'na demanded, provoking most heads into looking at him. "The Falskin siblings?"

"Aye," a fellow wolf nodded, looking at Kar'na quizzically. "They just went to the front of the hall. Why? Is some-"

Kar'na never heard the rest of that question, immediately heading for the front door. Bashing it open, he emerged into the open, the Falskin army about half a kilometre distant...and the Sanvar'a children halfway between.

"Stop!" a voice called out distantly. Myra glanced over her shoulder to see Kar'na standing in the doorway, shouting at them. Though the Falskin felt incredibly guilty about leaving, and having to hurt Tai, it would work out in the end. Because of them, the guild would survive, and none of their friends would be hurt.

As they approached the army, Drysenn stepped forwards from the ranks, and walked towards the siblings.

"So, they simply gave you up, eh?" the reptilian chuckled evilly. "I was expecting them to. I'm just surprised it took this long."

"We came by ourselves, Drysenn," Myra hissed. "We're willing to turn ourselves over. But only if you promise that you will leave here, and that the guild won't be harmed."

Drysenn seemed to ponder this, as another "wait!" was called out by the frantic white wolf. It sounded closer, and Myra risked a glance over her shoulder. Kar'na was running towards them, apparently planning to stop them.

"It's a trap!" he shouted, meeting Myra's eyes, even so far away. "Run while you can!"

"Mmm," Drysenn said, shaking his head. "You see, you're here now. You couldn't get away. The guild won't be harmed...but a certain white wolf owes me a debt."

"What?" Myra asked, stunned. "No! You have us! Let your honour be satisfied."

"It is," Drysenn grinned. "But my revenge...isn't..."

He turned to one of the archers beside him, a tan-coloured reptilian with his bow drawn back. Drysenn's gaze was evil, as he smiled.

"Shoot the wolf."

The arrow left the bow in a silent motion, flying through the air with barely a sound to mark its presence. Kar'na didn't even have time to move, as the arrow stuck him right in the middle of his stomach, imbedding deep.

The wolf collapsed, his fallen body turning the light dusting of snow red beneath him.

"Kar'na!" Myra screamed, as strong Falskin arms wrapped around her forearms. "Kar'na!"

But the white wolf didn't move, laying still and silent in the snow. A fierce horn blew from the wall, and suddenly, hundreds of Ch'kiliil were at the top, and arrows began to rain from the sky.

"Retreat!" Drysenn called to his army. "We have what we wanted!"

Though Falskin began falling left and right under the hail of arrows, Myra had no cares. All she wanted to do was rush to their friend, who lay fallen in the snow. A fierce battlecry came from the gates, as the entire Assassin Council emerged, rushing towards their fallen brother.

"Though men may die," Drysenn intoned, looking at the great fortress. "I have what I truly wanted. While my greatest threat lies dead in the snow, I take what he gave his life to defend."

"You're a monster!" Myra shrieked, tears in her eyes. "I'll kill you myself! I swear, by the gods of the Ch'kiliil...by the gods of the Falskin...by the gods of all realms in between, this will end with my knife in your chest."

"Doubtful," Drysenn grinned. "But, I suppose, possible. You won't be executed, after all. My steward and I agreed on a fitting punishment."

"Yes," Sanvar, Drysenn's steward, and Myra and Aryn's father, agreed, stepping out from the crowd. "We though it might be...poetic. That your ends be the same as how this all began."

"To Man'ahjit mine," Drysenn grinned. "You kids will spend the rest of your days, clapped in irons, working for our cause. All the while, having to defend yourselves from your fellow slaves. They will surely show no mercy...to a fallen Falskin."

"None," Sanvar promised wickedly.

"How is he doing?" Dakir asked tenderly, entering the room where Kar'na lay upon a bed. The caracal noted the many people in the room, but it was only to one he asked the question. The guild's doctor.

"The wound is pretty serious," the serval said, standing up from Kar'na, allowing another doctor to take his place. "But it may yet heal. The problem lies in this..."

He pointed to a black tinge, that lay at the edge of Kar'na's wound. It seemed to hiss slightly in the open air.

"The slimy bastards used poison," the doctor continued. "Though the wound might heal in time, unless an antidote is found, the poison will kill him."

"Do we know what kind of poison was used?" Dakir asked, looking down at the haggard face of his friend.

"No clue," the doctor said, shaking his head. "It could be from any one of the thousand poisonous plants in Parai. We'd need to find that specific poison, before we could make the antidote. And that could take years."

"What of the Alchemist?" Dakir asked. "Could he assist?"

"The Alchemist knows every poison and herb in the world," the doctor nodded. "Of course he could assist. But he lives halfway across Arlea. Sure, we could get a messenger to him in two days, but we'd need the individual himself. Only _he_could figure out what we need."

"I see," Dakir said slowly, shaking his head. "So all hope is lost?"

"Unless someone gets a genius idea, then I'm afraid so," the doctor agreed, turning back to join his aides in treating the wound. Everyone in this room was a doctor, trained and qualified. Everyone, except for Dakir, who'd been sent in by K'eyush.

He knelt down beside Kar'na, and squeezed the wolf's hand gently. "Get better soon."

With that, he got up and left the room, head hanging. What was he going to tell the others?

He hadn't been walking long, before K'eyush joined him, and the two had a hurried discussion. Finally, deciding between the two of them, they nodded and went off to the quarters. There, they found Kiri, Khej, and the rest, all together heads bowed, and hands resting idly. They all turned to look as the two entered the room.

"The arrow was poisoned," Dakir said gently, sitting on one of the beds. "Unless Kar'na gets an antidote...he's going to die."

"Do we know what the poison is?" Khej asked hopefully. "If we find that, we can find the antidote."

"I'm afraid not," K'eyush shook his head. "They have no idea, and apparently, Kar'na doesn't have too long. Only...nevermind."

"What?" Khej asked specifically, as the lynx realized he may have said too much. He didn't want to give these people false hope.

"I...the Alchemist," he relented. "The doctors say that only the Alchemist can help him now."

"But that's a myth," Tes'ali protested. "He doesn't exist!"

"But if he does, he's the only hope for your brother," Dakir countered. "I say we authorize a full team to go looking for him. And another to get the siblings back."

"No," Khej said firmly, eyes dead as he got to his feet. "I've lost too many to this fight already. I refuse to have anymore blood on my hands. This mission has no sanction. Instead, we should set up defenses for when the Falskin return. We will wipe them out, and I may be able to avenge my son."

"But father," Kiri protested. "He's not dead yet! We may be able to save him!"

But his pleas fell on deaf ears. Khej was adamant in his thoughts, lest he risk even more. He simply shook his head resolutely, and turned to go, leaving by the door. The stunned group behind him could barely believe it.

"How could he do that?"

"I don't know," K'eyush shrugged. "But we can't simply abandon Kar'na. Or the Falskin. I say we form a team and complete this ourselves."

"We'll be facing banishment," Dakir warned. "Even if we succeed, we'll probably never be allowed back here."

"So be it!" K'eyush shouted, getting to his feet. "I'd be banished a thousand times, before I simply let a friend die! While I still draw breath, I will carry on."

"What about the siblings?" Kiri protested. "We can't forget about them!"

"No," Dakir agreed. "We most certainly can not! So we'll need two teams. One to get the antidote, and one to go get the siblings. K'eyush, I'll go see what assassins I can round up."

"No," the lynx shook his head. "Too dangerous. If even one word gets to Khej, we'll be locked up. And then banished anyways. I think it has to be just us."

"Then I'll worry about getting the siblings," Dakir nodded. "You go get the antidote."

"What about us?" Kiri demanded. "You think we're just going to sit idly by, while my brother lays dying? No way, we're coming too."

"It's too dangerous," K'eyush shook his head.

"That's exactly what Khej said," Kytra grinned triumphantly. "So, whether you like or not, we'll be coming too."

K'eyush looked over at Dakir, who shrugged. They did have a point. It was indeed a plan then.

"Right," K'eyush nodded. "Then you're welcome to come with us. We can't all travel together, so I need you each to split yourselves off into teams."

After a brief discussion between the group, it was decided on who would go with whom. Kiri, Kytra, K'eyush, and another master named Khayal, would be in one. Khayal was a master bushman, which is why he was to be included.

In the other group, Wraith, Ari, Svara, Dakir, and Asar. Asar was a good tracker, so he, like Khayal, was brought up as a potential group member. And, once he accepted, the foundations were laid. They would be going to get their friends back. All of them.

"I wish we could have more," Kiri sighed. "But this will have to do. May the moons watch over all of us."

"And let each of us complete their task," K'eyush agreed. "Alright everyone. Gather your things. We need to be ready."