"What’s going on." A young boy walked out clutching a small toy as his Mother nervously looked out the window, tapping her foot.

"Go to bed, Sam." Pulling the blind she watched as the soldiers, knocked on each door of her road forcing their way in. "Richard." The woman called out and a burly man came out with tired eyes. "Take him to bed."

"Come on Sam." The man said caringly as he grabbed his son and forced him back to the room. Coming out minutes later he grabbed his wife’s waist and looked out the window himself. "Looks like we won’t sleep tonight."

His voice was full of worry watching as the soldier slowly made their way closer to their house. "Who would even think to kill the Emporer?"

"I know," Richard said annoyed. "But believe it or not, I’m quite scared." His grip around his wife’s waist tightened as he leaned in. "You saw him. The call for blood. I still feel shivers."

"Things are different now." She grabbed his hands and squeezed. "You won’t be called up to war like before."

"I know." The silence between the two lasted a couple of seconds as a banging on the door frightened them. Richard moved quickly to open the door as two men walked in one taking his helmet off as another moved around the house.

"Forgive us for the intrusion." The one who took his helmet off apologized in a sincere voice as Richard gave a knowing nod.

"We have a small boy, this way. I just don’t want to frighten him." The soldier nodded as Richard led the soldier to Sam’s room. Opening the door carefully the tired young eyes looked at the two before opening in excitement seeing the soldier. "Do what you must."

The soldier nodded and began to walk around tapping the floor and walls. Richard went over to Sam and held him carefully to stop him from interfering. "Dad. You know the soldiers." Sam asked with excitement as he looked at the man carrying out his orders.

"Not know Sam." The soldier was quick to check everything. He could tell it was a normal family and didn’t wish to intrude longer than he must. Going over to the two he knelt before Sam and smiled.

"You be good for your parents now." Sam smiled as he looked at him with near worship.

"Do you know the Emporer?" It was a question filled with childlike wonder and caused the soldier to chuckle.

"Of course." The soldier lied as he ruffed the boy’s hair. "It’s my job to protect him and you is it not?" Sam nearly jumped up hearing that as he looked between Richard and the soldier. The second one walked in soon after.

"It’s clear." The soldier got up and put his helmet back on hearing his comrade.

"Forgive us for this." Richard shook his head.

"I understand."

"It would be best to keep the little one inside for now. The Mayor has issued a full lockdown."

"Thank you." Richard smiled as he led the two out, opening the door for them. "Good luck." The soldier gave a final nod leaving the two as his wife quickly came up behind him.

"God." She let out a deep breath. "I was nervous. And we haven’t even done anything." Richard smiled gently kissing her forehead.

"It’s fine. Let’s go to bed."

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Inside a small inn, three soldiers walked in and looked around. Going up to the desk they reached behind and looked at the guest list. The innkeeper didn’t fight it and let them be as he pretended to clean his desk.

Flipping the pages he stopped and tapped his finger on one of them. "Where is room 4." The innkeeper nodded leading them. Outside they looked at one another. They all had the same determined look on their faces as the two pulled out their weapons. The third walked into the center and kicked the lock on the door hard.

Inside a sleeping man jumped up in fright as he assumed a stance ready for battle. Despite this, he stood no chance against the three and was quickly grabbed not even being given the chance to put clothes on. Kicking and fighting one of the soldiers had enough and punched him in the stomach. "Stop resisting." The warning was clear and the naked man gave up trying to break free.

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Esmond sat holding his paper. Reading it he had a blank expression. A quiet knocking came broke his attention as an Unyeilding guard walked in. "We have a suspect Count Underwell." Esmond nodded getting up and carefully putting the paper down. He glided like a shadow behind the guard not making a sound as they went deeper into the barraks.

The guard opened a cellar door with Esmond descending in it. The smell of blood filled the air as small rodents could be heard running around. Esmond looked at it in disgust but quickly took his eyes away looking at the only prisoner in a cell.

He was tied to the wall as three soldiers stood around him watching with cold eyes. "You three are dismissed. Continue your search."

"Are you sure Count?" One asked worried looking at the prisoner who was still showing he would put up a fight. Despite that a shot from Esmonds empty eyes caused them to flinch as they nodded and left leaving Esmond with the Unyeilding guard.

"Put him in the chair." The guard nodded opening the door. The prisoner made a break for it trying to run through and grab the guard’s weapon but was quickly met with a punch to the gut that made him throw up. Lifting the crouched prisoner, the guard tied him to the chair and took a step back.

Esmond walked over and looked down. "This can go two ways. Tell me where your leader is now and nothing more will happen. Or I will force you to tell me." The prisoner looked at Esmond and spat at him. Esmond scoffed and walked away. Pulling a table over with a set of tools laid on it as he carefully glided his finger over them.

The prisoner gulped seeing that but didn’t speak. "I don’t understand you mercenaries. You work for money. Why do you put so much of a fight up? You and your comrades." Esmond hand stopped as he reached down and lifted a small knife, holding it up to the candlelight. Smiling as if he found what he wanted he gently tapped the man’s bare chest with the tip of the small blade.

"Last chance." Esmond tapped over and over placing more pressure on the knife each time. The prisoner looked between the tools and Esmond’s empty eyes.

Weighing up everything he put on a weary smile and nodded. "What do you want?" Esmond smiled pulling the knife away as he pulled a chair over and sat before the prisoner. Despite the smile they could see it was fake, no goodwill existed behind his eyes.

Lifting two fingers Esmond fiddled with the knife in his other hand showing the skill he had with the blade. The prisoner watched nervously as Esmond stayed silent for a couple of seconds.

Esmond watched every drop of sweat on the man’s body. The way his eyes darted to the side in panic. The tensing of his muscles in a sly way to break free. "Two things." Esmond finally spoke seeing the the prisoner’s nerve reach their peak. He grabbed the knife and bounced it on his leg. "Your leader. Where is he? And why was your company causing such a ruckus."

The prisoner nodded. "I don’t know where is." Esmond slightly moved closer. "Honestly." He cried out in panic. "He told us he was going somewhere on the day of the assassination and we didn’t see him after. We thought he had a job to do, it’s not unusual."

Esmond looked at him for a couple of seconds but eventually nodded and waited. "As for my company. Once again our leader just said to kick up a fuss. A contract apparently by some criminals. You should know why our company was good for that. But nothing serious. A few fights, drunken stupidity. That type of thing."

Esmond nodded and leaned in. "Criminals. Your boss works for criminals."

The prisoner flinched seeing Esmond come closer in. He tried to look him in the eyes but felt himself being sucked into a deep abyss when he did. "I don’t know. I’m a vice-captain. My role is mainly involved in battle. Not things like this. I just stayed in the tavern. It felt weird."

Esmond looked back at the Unyeilding guard who nodded and walked off. "He will find that out. We know where you mercenaries frequent. Won’t be hard to find out Cooper."

"I said everything."

"Not yet." Esmond stopped him as he leaned back once more. "These criminals. Do you know who they were?"

"I don’t know fully. Just they stay around South port." The prisoner said with an exhausted sigh. Esmond nodded before smiling, this time it being genuine.

"Nothing else."

The prisoner thought as he looked at the tray of tools once more. "He told me to come to South Port in a couple of days. I don’t know why." Esmond got up without saying anything, leaving the prisoner tied to the chair.

"HEY!" He called out fighting the restraints. "LET ME OUT! I GAVE YOU WHAT YOU WANTED!" His cry fell on deaf ears as Esmond ascended the stairs leaving the prisoner tied up in the dim dungeon.

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"You seem nervous." A dirty man called out as he threw a couple of coins on the table and moved a piece from a board game he was playing. The opposite made his move next as the Iron Company leader closed the blinds and sighed.

"How can I not be? Look at everything going on outside."

"You got to respect it." The other player of the board game said with a small chuckle. "Takes balls to do what you did."

"It wasn’t meant to go like this." The Iron company leader said frustrated as he fell leaning against the wall.

"We’re not judging. You’re paying a pretty penny to be kept here after all." The two on the table laughed at them getting the Iron company leader to look at them with cold eyes.

"You not worried." He said with an exhausted voice as the two looked at one another.

"Why should we be?" One asked confused, "We have the protection of the Old Snake."

"Who?" The Iron Company leader asked in confusion as the two looked at each other with smirks.

"The boss. He will keep us safe. Just keep low for now." The man made another move in his game before sighing still feeling the eyes of the Company leader. "Why don’t you go and rest man? You’ve hardly eaten or slept."

The company leader looked at the two before nodding. "Fine." Getting up he walked to a back room. Closing the door he leaned against the wall and listened in.

The two looked at one another before clicking their tongue. One put his finger on his lips as he moved in. "Should we hand him in?" Leaning back he quickly spoke aloud next. "You can’t make that move man. Taking the piss."

The other smiled, leaning in aswell. "Sure. He’s dead weight and a liability." He leaned back quickly and cheekily smiled. "Shut up would ya. Just cos you got money on this game doesn’t mean you can lie."

Pointing to the door he waved his fingers in front of his neck the other nodding. "I will beat the shit out of you. Move back your piece."

"You really want to start this now." The man, in an exaggerated manner, threw his chair back and walked over to the other. Leaning in he got close to his ear. "the old snake won’t let us off if we don’t help him."

"I know." The man said cautiously as he threw his chair back as well. "COME ON THEN!" He cried out pretending a fight was about to break out the two looking to the door.

"Tomorrow." the man nodded in agreement. "Your not worth it. Keep your fucking money." The man said spoke with fake disdain as he left, going to his room.