Tracking (Court Opening Day, afternoon)
Gar Logan had spent the morning escorting various family members to and from the infirmary where they were checking on the condition of Lord Slade. Lord Stanhelm had made Logan's orders clear. He wanted Logan to stay clear of court, at least until Stanhelm had an idea of how the other nobles were reacting.
By the noon meal, Captain Logan had attended to all of the visitors from his household who had wanted to look in on Lord Slade. He grabbed a quick bit of bread and cheese and ate while he walked over to the stables. It was time to do some looking around. Fortunately, the path behind the stables hadn't seen much foot traffic during Hangover Day.
What he found was disturbing. The attackers (the tracks indicated at least three, possibly four), had been very quiet, very efficient. He found the spot where he'd been ambushed. He had set himself up in a position away from Lord Stagg and Brunnor to keep watch, and he had thought himself well-concealed. One of the attackers had managed to approach him and knock him cold with a single blow. Gar wasn't one for bragging, but he'd have thought such a scenario near impossible. His woodcraft was as good as any civilized man's. From there, Gar followed the tracks of the attackers as they had crawled into position and then launched their attack on Lord Slade and Brunnor. This fight had also been over quickly, and the attackers had moved off parallel to the path.
Gar noticed signs that they had paused near the edge of the path. Could they have been hiding there in the shadows while those girls had come on the scene. Gar suddered at the thought. At one point the footprints of one of the girls was a few feet from that of one of the assassins. Gar bent and examined on of the footprints: Soft leather boots, a deep impression in the mud. These were big men. Big and strong and very stealthy. A very dangerous combination.
A sound of footsteps along the path called Gar's attention back to the present. He slipped off to the side near the back of the stables and melted into the bushes. He made extra-sure he had a wall at his back this time, and watched to see who else was passing this way.
By the noon meal, Captain Logan had attended to all of the visitors from his household who had wanted to look in on Lord Slade. He grabbed a quick bit of bread and cheese and ate while he walked over to the stables. It was time to do some looking around. Fortunately, the path behind the stables hadn't seen much foot traffic during Hangover Day.
What he found was disturbing. The attackers (the tracks indicated at least three, possibly four), had been very quiet, very efficient. He found the spot where he'd been ambushed. He had set himself up in a position away from Lord Stagg and Brunnor to keep watch, and he had thought himself well-concealed. One of the attackers had managed to approach him and knock him cold with a single blow. Gar wasn't one for bragging, but he'd have thought such a scenario near impossible. His woodcraft was as good as any civilized man's. From there, Gar followed the tracks of the attackers as they had crawled into position and then launched their attack on Lord Slade and Brunnor. This fight had also been over quickly, and the attackers had moved off parallel to the path.
Gar noticed signs that they had paused near the edge of the path. Could they have been hiding there in the shadows while those girls had come on the scene. Gar suddered at the thought. At one point the footprints of one of the girls was a few feet from that of one of the assassins. Gar bent and examined on of the footprints: Soft leather boots, a deep impression in the mud. These were big men. Big and strong and very stealthy. A very dangerous combination.
A sound of footsteps along the path called Gar's attention back to the present. He slipped off to the side near the back of the stables and melted into the bushes. He made extra-sure he had a wall at his back this time, and watched to see who else was passing this way.