Kaven met the old assassin in his chambers. Lord Hywin looked at him flatly. "We have much to discuss, milord" Lord Hywin stated. Kaven nodded in agreement "Yes, of course milord."

"Where should I start?" He pondered as he stroked his snow white beard. "For the last few months, I have been looking into your brother's visions." He opened a book on his desk "I want you know, I have the most respect for your brother" he said as he flipped through pages.

"Fifty two men." He continued "Forty eight women, thirty children. All found at the sight mentioned in your brother's most recent vision." Hywin's voice was flat but the rage underneath was undeniable. The old assassin's face became one of stone, he was silent for a moment.

Hywin turned the book towards Kevan. "I do not claim to understand magic. I do know killers." Kaven said nothing, jaw clinched and his eyes dead. “What are you saying milord?” Kevan asked, “This book was found on Lord Bracken when he died and I had it ever since.” Kevan picked up the book and skimmed through the pages, the book was written in the Vallond common tongue yet had phrases of several different languages and images of different animals. “What does this book and Lord Bracken have to do with my brother’s visions?” he asked as he place the book down and his gaze met the old assassin’s.

`

“I am not sure what Lord Bracken has to do with this, he died an angry and broken man. My blade slit his throat.” Lord Hywin picked the book up and turned a few pages and placed it back down. “Not much at first glance. Yet I have been recording your brother’s visions and some have corresponded with phrases in this book.” Kevan picked up and read the passage below:

Dark winds. Darkness comes to consume. The fox, trickster king. Breaker of the bloodline. I will return, a true king will rise.

Kevan placed the book down “John Redwood.” he said solemnly. “My first thought as well.” he agreed. “My brother killed him. I watched as he struck him down. He was killed here on the steps of the castle.” The old assassin sat quietly a moment before he spoke again “John Redwood, Lord Bracken, Lady Greaold all died in combat. House Redwood extinguished. Their lands divided by greedy lesser nobles. Marelus the jester knight, Sir Walshe, The Great Bridmund. All executed for treason. The crimson wolf banner no longer flies in Vallond.”

“Who is planning to kill my brother?” Lord Hywin sat back into his chair and folded his hands “Someone who is well versed in ancient magic and extremely dangerous.” he continued. “Not many people come to mind but those who do are not close to this level.” Kevan was silent a moment taking in the words he had heard “Do you have any leads?”

“A few. How familiar are you with the lesser houses of the Midvale and the Reach?” Hywin asked as closed the book “Not very.”he answered. “Most of the houses are knights and very minor lords that have served for generations. Those who swore fealty back to the crown kept their land the other either were put to the sword or exiled” Lord Hywin explained. “As you know the secret patrols. I invited a couple of different members of those exact houses.”

“I invited members of those houses on my secret patrols.” Kevan cocked his head to the side “Any of them stand out to you?” “Not at first they did not. I told them the mission was to find and hunt rogue mages on direct orders of the king. Every time we would arrive at a place corpses would be discovered. Nothing else, village after village. Yet a member of house Graceford finds a magical scepter on his first night.” “You mean that man from this meeting this morning? Where is he now?” Kevan frantically asked.

“My agents are talking to him.” the assassin said coldly. “I do not approve of your methods.”Kevan frowned. “Yes but you can not deny they work.” Lord Hywin said with a wiry smile.

Kevan did not want to admit it but the assassin was right. It was him and his agents who discovered John Redwood had returned and the lord who had had been funding his army of sellswords. Yet that was different, he started an open rebellion. This man seems like he only wants to help. “I want to speak to him.” Kevan demanded. Lord Hywin’s face slightly twitched “Very well, milord” he said formally as he arose to his feet. Lord Hywin stood bowed slightly and made his way to his chamber door, spoke to one of his personal guards briefly and sat back down. “Lord Graceford will be here shortly.” he stated.

“Now the other leads I have are a bit more uncertain. I have agents looking into those as well.”

“Anything I should know?” Lord Hywin shook his head, “You should not worry yourself with that. I will bring you anything my agents find out.” Four knights of Lord Hywin’s personal guard entered the room, dressed in crimson armor with snow white cloak. Their helms had a crescent moon with a lower mask that covered their faces. Behind them stumbled two men. Both clearly drunk. Staggering around and speaking in utterances while laughing. One of the men he recognized from earlier, Lord Graceford. He was stout and portly, sweating through his fine black robes.

The knights all bowed slightly as they approached the table. One stepped forward “Milords, we have brought Lord Graceford.” he said respectfully before Lord Hywin waived them away. The two men stayed behind and stood. The other man was thin and had a hooked nose and shaggy brown hair. He was dressed in cotton tunic with dark shoes, fairly common. “Lord Graceford.” Kevan said without taking his gaze of the drunk man. “Where did you get the scepter?” he asked sternly, the drunk fool smiled “I found it.” he boasted. Hywin chuckled “Jador tell Lord Tyndale what you found out.”

The man bowed “of course milord.” he pulled out the wine skin and took a deep swig. He then handed it to Lord Graceford who took at it like a suckling child. “Lord Tyndale, our friend here claims he found it by a corpse. Said he ran from two men dressed in black and crimson cloaks. One was tall, carried a great sword, had a large white eyes. The other one had long black hair, make up on his face, painted nails. Both apparently could use magic.”

“Actual magic?” Kevan asked, the man shrugged “Hard to tell milord.” Kevan turned his attention back to Lord Hywin “Any of those sound familiar?” Hywin shook his head “I will look into it. Jador who is in the capital currently?” Jador thought for a moment “Katherine returned recently, Savos as well, Iedan and Myrnn will be back by first light.” he answered. “What of Tiwo? I need a bladesman.” “Has not yet checked in but I will send him straight to you when he does.” Lord Hywin nodded and Jador bowed. “Take Lord Graceford by to the inn but keep him in the city.” Jador bowed again “Of course, milords.” he said as he collected the drunk Lord Graceford and quickly exited the room.

“I am surprised milord.” Kevan said as he sat back in the chair.”By what milord?” Gideon asked as he crossed his arms, “I expected a man bloodied and broken. Yet here he was drunk and unarmed.” Lord Hywin smiled “I learned early on some men talk when faced with a blade, but all men will talk when faced with pleasures.” Kevan smiled “Now that we have a lead. What will we do?”

“I will send men to look for those men. Hopefully we can find them. If magic, actual magic is at play we will need to be prepared.”