Kain's nimble fingers angrily snatched the documents from Roderick's outstretched hand, and started grumbling something about making examples.  As his narrowed eyes scanned the document, his mutterings fell silent, and his shoulders visibly slouched a little.   "...Alright your highness"  he said, acidly.  He was not so much annoyed with her, but with the fact that Assassins had penetrated this deep into the city, without him ever having known about it.<br/>"...Perhaps my little fit was premature."  he mumbled.  "...The cooks haven't fed me breakfast yet.  You know that makes me edgy..."<br/><br/>Ama's face grew grim.  This news was already several hours old.<br/>The Spymaster saw that informants were paid very well to keep the crown apprised of anything of note that happens within the city walls.   Kain had eyes and ears in places that people never knew they had.  And now, this.<br/><br/>Kain shook his head, and drew back one of his sleeves.  And then looked to the young queen.  She was ever so much like the niece he always wanted but never had.  "I'll see what I can find out." The spymaster murmured, in a concerned tone.  "As soon as I get something definitive, I'll be back."<br/><br/>After pulling back his sleeve, a strange, intricate contraption could be seen on the inside of Kain's left forearm, looking like a miniature whaling harpoon.  He pointed his arm up high to the cavernous ceiling of the throne room, to the open windows overhead.<br/><br/>A glass vial could be heard breaking in Kain's gauntlet, followed by a hissing steam signature.   A Small, hooked spear shot upwards to the ceiling, trailing behind it a thin strand of wire.   Next, gears could be heard spinning up, and Kain was vaulted upwards through the air at an alarming rate.   He disengaged the contraption, the wire and bolt returning to his arm neatly.   Still almost flying upwards, the spymaster curled himself into a ball, and flipped twice, disappearing through one of the high, arched portals like a professional acrobat.<br/><br/>Ama arched an eyebrow.  Kain's departure was a little showy, but the queen did say she was in a hurry.  No one seemed to bat an eye otherwise.<br/><br/>The General of the Armies then considered the Queen's proposal.   He would rather be mobilizing the household, and making preparations to investigate the whos and whys involved with this latest unfortunate intrigue.<br/>But on the other hand, being with the queen would be the easiest way to protect her, should any of these would be assassins get to be too ambitious.<br/><br/>Ama's eyes drifted over the queen's body, considering it.   The young queen was athletic, and in excellent shape, lightly built, and agile.  He had wanted to train her in martial weaponry for some time, but was always waved off, and told it was more important for her to be trained in matters of diplomacy and communications, negotiation and peace.<br/><br/>He was then told that should all of that fail, they would then come to find him.  He scoffed at their ignorance.<br/><br/>A rapier, or some other light, quick blade would suit her nicely...  He then realized that his eyes lingered a little too long on Illyria.  She had grown into a fine woman, beautiful even, and highly intelligent.  He father would be proud.<br/><br/>"You heard the queen..."  he murmured to the light assembly... "Fetch an assortment of light weaponry from the armory, and report to the courtyard at once..."<br/><br/>Ama clenched his teeth.  The stress mounted, but he hid it well, like any professional soldier would...   Dark times might be ahead, but he knew his queen would be the light...