The only bad thing about being a member of the Assassin’s Guild was sharing space with others. While Rook didn’t need to kill all the time - it was like creativity in that it needed rest - it certainly wished it could kill at any time. It considered it a challenge by the Grandmother to retain its killing need. Let it forth when given a task.

Thankfully, the Retainer - the one who gave out assignments and rewards - tried to give Rook assignments that interested it. 

Rook sat at the mess hall with several others, a cat and dragon puppet, and few humans. Many were out on assignment today. 

The dragon puppet nodded to Rook. Its rival named Theseus sat across from it. “What do you want?” Rook sneered.

Theseus also worshiped the Grandmother, hallowed death who was there at the beginning of time. Rook felt it was only sporting to form a rivalry, although sometimes it wondered if Theseus thought the same.

His head shook as he spoke, “Just wanted to compliment your rabbit’s foot there.” He waved a claw to Rook’s chest where the pink and blue rabbit’s foot hung. “I heard that’s good luck.”

“Might give me a leg-up over you,” Rook said, waving the foot around with a grin.

A long meow was followed by a cat puppet lunging onto Theseus. A pink and yellow, rosy furred cat clung to him and kissed his cheek. Rook resumed its sneer.

Most intimacy was repulsive to Rook, but lovers showing off affection was especially vomit-inducing. Like its killer instinct, perhaps its repulsion was an exaggeration on their part. The twinge in their stomach was not worse than if it saw a mother and child kiss. But something about couples activated their killer need. Much like the girl and maid, they were a set. If one was to die, the other would as well and that posed a challenge to it. 

“Rook,” a voice boomed. 

Rook stood with a start. It saw the Retainer, a dark skin human with a grin like he knew something Rook didn’t. “Got a special one for you.” 

A Fume Knight, notable for their red and black armor with the cauldron crest, waited in the foyer of the guild hall. The guild hall was carved into the mountain, as if the guild existed since Grandmother Death did. 

The Fume Knight was still in his helmet and looked the two up and down. “This is the assassin?” the knight asked with a short wave to the puppet.

“I assure you, it is one of our most … focused assassins in our guild,” Retainer said with his deep, sultry voice. 

Rook started to vibrate with excitement. A Fume Knight meant a huge, important job. 

“Alright,” the knight said, sounding resigned. “We want this utterly destroyed and the people living there eliminated.” 

Rook jumped in place. “Consider it done!” it shouted and bolted for its dorm room to prepare.

It contained its excitement to a tremble throughout its body the whole way with the Fume Knight to join with a small band of more red and black armored folks. By the Grandmother, could Rook rise to the occasion? Were the knights and itself enough? It would have to do. 

The group stared down at Fort Skrika and watched now as a sun and a penguin puppet led two donkeys dragging a cart along. The sun puppet approached the knights with a clearing of his throat. “Hello there, fine knights,” sun puppet said. 

“You must be Charlie,” the Captain said. “You wanted to make a deal?”

Charlie the sun would look amazing sewn into a quilted jacket for the Grandmother. Face on the back and striped yellow and red arms for the collar.

“We have two puppets and a witch for you!” Charlie motioned to the cart. “They’ve sustained some head injuries but -” 

One of the bags holding the prisoners tore open and out popped a golem. The toad golem stood next to the cart, bowed up into a fighting stance. 

Rook leapt into action and, in a flash of movement, it held a claw blade to the neck of the redhead witch. “Don’t. Move,” Rook ordered. “Or the witch gets it.” 

The golem’s round eyes widened and it shook its head, its mouth turned in a frown. The knights approached the cart and unveiled the two puppets. A huge teal one with horns and a small red one with one eye. On their chests were words of power, similar to the golem. 

“Well done,” the Fume Knight Captain said. “Unfortunately, our orders are clear.” 

“What!?” Charlie screamed, his face contorting with pain. The penguin waddled backwards towards the fort. Rook rushed and knocked the penguin down to cut open his throat. Confetti and cotton gushed forth.

“Destroy Fort Skrika. Kill everyone.” The Fume Knight covered the three’s heads. “Take these three off. Kill this one.” 

“No wait!” 

Rook twirled around Charlie and, in one arc, slit his throat as well. Rook’s paws trembled. “Rip and tear!” Rook roared, lifting its claw blade into the air. 

The knights raised their swords and halberds. Two of them were armed with tags marked with Words of Power to burn. The march began - two to the south and north, two to cover the west. Tags were spread amongst them and instructions as to what words to speak when applying them. Rook rushed forward on all fours, mouth drooling.

The festival crowd at the center of the fort scattered. Buildings burned. The knights closed in with ease. The fort was a fire pit, lighting up the midnight sky and sparks drifting in the chilling breeze.