"Too soon, if you ask me," Ankly murmured under his breath.<br/><br/>He left his horse saddled, taking the reigns and leading it to a tether port left hammered into the ground by past travelers. He tied good ole Bertha up and stroked her neck for a few moments, his muscled back to Mikail as he worked. "There. That's a good girl." He reached onto the saddle bag and let her lap up a few cubes from leathered palm. He breathed deeply to clear his mind and settle his racing heart. When he reached that inner serenity, the queen's guard turned to face his charge. With quick, quiet steps, the assassin approached him behind. His oiled sword rang softly through the brisk night air, pulled from its sheath.<br/><br/>Ankly lunched forward to stab him in the back.