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[sub][@VitaVitaAR][/sub][/center]
Fragments.

Misshapen pieces that only fit together clumsily. An adventurer from Velt. A mute bearing an old scar. A sister threatened, and a mastermind so idiotic as to leave a [i]note[/i] at that. Not a note that exposed their location, but a note that, for whatever reason, served to exonerate this assassin, if only partially. This was a nem who could not even notice the proximity of the Paladin and the Gentle Blade. Understandable, for a foreigner. But to not know too, that this was [i]Aimlenn[/i], where the Iron Rose was headquartered? To not know this, but to think it reasonable to make a plea after they had offered their head to the axman?

Serenity let out a sigh. One that was almost seething.

Who the [i]fuck[/i] was stupid enough to think this up and decide THAT was the way one could rid themselves of a Princess? Fragments indeed. Fragments so warped that they lead to an idiot, a buffoon, a clown with too much power and not enough sense, who thought that a disloyal assassin was their best piece to play.

There was a wetness in her palm. A warm wetness.

Serenity looked down. Her fist was clenched, her knuckles white, fingers digging deeply enough into creases that even blunted nails broke skin. Another sigh. Sir Gerard and Vier had asked what was needed. She, then, needed to simply take a step back.

So she did, and instead, turned her eyes towards those outside the circle that had clustered around this assassin. Nobles and retainers, Crown and Rose, servants and performers. And windows, lined with knights but still exposed to peering eyes.

Searching, always, for surreptitious movement, for the spark of magic. There had not been a second assassin to take advantage of the chaos of the first. But even in the absence of [i]that[/i], there needed the presence of a handler. Someone to hold the assassin's leash, to ensure that they didn't choose to seek help before this. Someone to ascertain their success or failure, to reprimand hints of betrayal. To silence them if necessary. And if they didn't even have something like that...

Goddesses above, if only every villain were so incompetent!