I suppose I shouldn’t have been all that surprised to have Achilles tell me what I smelled like within less than two minutes of his arrival. He was right I suppose, I did smell a bit funny, although it wasn’t exactly something I could avoid now was it? I felt my features scowl slightly into something less then the handsome perfection I was pretty sure they were as my cousin made this announcement.

“I consider it a necessary sacrifice- my family stayed to watch Diveen which means I am required to actually speak to the beetle. Just hold your breath, Cousin.”

I felt my lips lift ever so slightly at the newest name for the Tantrum King that Achilles had so been inclined to think of, then again, we were in a cave that was no doubt filled with them if one looked hard enough- thusly it was probably not nearly so brilliant a name as it seemed. It was amusing though, nonetheless and I was willing enough to allow it to bring a smile to my lips- I’d just about forgotten what that felt like. It was good. Guardian, Calliel and Orfiel were prompt as well as I continued to sit on my little rock- a rock Achilles decided he needed to share. I suppose he held the right too, I had merely taken a seat upon it because it seemed logical to allow the others to hear what I had to say. To be honest a part of me had feared that maybe they wouldn’t come, who would answer the summons of a child after all? Maybe I should have trusted them more, held a little more faith in the family Heyel assured me wouldn’t disappoint. I think that’s a bit of a lie, well, not so much a lie as hedging your bets. When you have a family as large as ours, chances are, someone amongst them will help you. It’s logic with a twist, made to seem more then it is and yet I like it- though thank the Angels above every day that there only ever was one Heyel. More then one and I think we might have all exploded from the constant need to outdo each other.

I shifted slightly to let Achilles find further purchase on the rock beside me. We were from the same blood, the same line and yet the difference between us was astounding. I’d never really bothered to look I suppose, to notice how big Achilles really was. I wasn’t full grown I suppose, not even close and yet I would never be that tall or that heavy, never have muscle that powerful- my own form more inclined to athletics like Orfiel, Calliel having followed her brother in that regard with Guardian somewhere between us all. Hmm, we were a rang them, from strength to speed and everything in between- sometimes I do question how Heyel ever managed to devise plans that seem to work out so well. Had you told me he could see into the future I would surely have believed it. Guardian spoke last as he managed settle, the violet of my gaze flicking from one to the other as I considered my own words and where best to start. There had been a lot of changes, a lot, some of them I understood and some of them I didn’t. Why Covet took the pack at all I hardly knew, but the pack, for now, was not the most important thought that danced around within my mind as I took a deep breath.

Maybe in a few years someone would say this was where it all started, or started again, with five wolves in a cave in the middle of the night- a night that was going to change everything when the morning came and Achilles discovered who we had lost on the very night we begun- but for now we didn’t know and for now their were other things at hand…or paw really. I moved to sit upright now, trying to make myself as tall as I could, white and silver pelt aglow in the faint gloom- red ears held forward.

“Before….well, before Heyel went missing he spoke to me. He called me to him and I came and he told me off for being too slow but that really isn’t the point.”

It was my first grand speech, cut me a little slack- I’m still learning to be the orator I one day will. Everyone has to start somewhere now don’t they?

“He spoke to me about Assassins and he gave me some names. He said I had to find them, so I did- all of you. Achilles, Calliel, Orfiel, myself and Guardian. Guard I don’t know why he gave me your name, you were last and you never trained as an assassin but he told me we needed you, because Achilles needed you and he said nothing else. If he had a reason I don’t know what it was, he didn’t say but you’re here anyway. He told me a lot of things, a lot, so much that my head was so full I was surprised I could even remember my name.”

I smiled lightly then, easily, attempting to add a little taint of humour to our meeting all the same before I spoke again into the little cave.

“I can’t repeat it all because it would take to long but I think it is time we brought Assassins back, the way they were supposed to be. I want to follow Heyel’s teachings but in a newer way, a different way. We need to modernize and adapt to this new Moladion because it isn’t the land of our parents anymore and there were things, I think, we can do better then those who came before us ever did.”

I knew what I was saying, I knew the enormity of it and I knew the risk by suggesting we….tweak Heyel’s methods a little. I hadn’t told my grandfather that, I hadn’t seen the need but surely…surely the ones who stood before me would. Heyel knew what changes needed to happen- though for now I saw no need to share them just yet, I simply needed their thoughts and their suggestions.

“Assassins worked alone once, almost entirely alone, but I think we could be stronger together. Us. Just us. No one else needs to know. I think maybe this land needs us again, but not like before, not so separated and segregated. This is our Art and it always will be, something we will guard and keep to ourselves but we need to offer it a little more….freely to others.”

I felt another grin touch my lips then, tail waving as I attempted to make them see the idea I had, or at least the understanding behind it. It would take work of course, but in the group before me I had faith- it was a group of the most stubborn and inventive wolves I think I may have ever seen.

“What I am suggesting is that we do not come as ourselves. I am suggesting we take up tasks in whatever pack we choose as I have. I am learning to become a healer because assassins always lacked the ability to heal and we relied on others. I am talking about an Order, a Brotherhood if you will- sorry Calliel just pretend with me, that is entirely secret, one that will work to get done what we need to get done. We will be ourselves, I will be a healer, Guard a warrior, Calliel a Hunter ad Orfiel a Scout or whatever path we should choose- but when there is work to be done I am suggesting we disguise ourselves, get rid of our scent, our look and our name- help each other to train and work for the greater good of these lands.”

There was another pause, a moment to allow them to begin to see the plan I was stitching together.

“We will be Assassins- but not the type that came before. We will be unknown, untraceable and unidentifiable. We will work to return a pack to Achilles and when that occurs we will make that our base from which to work on. In the meantime we will help loners, defend them from those whom would harm them- because a loner will often return a favour later on and Achilles can easily be prompted as a leader to follow when he finds his throne again, we will use our family connections, we have them in nearly every pack to keep an eye on as much as we can and set this land right again. I have already been to Asteraia, I have established an alliance for us with the Queen there. She has permitted myself and my group, provided we are disguised and can in no way implicate her pack- to meet within her lands, to use them to hide if we need. I suggest, from here, the task is simple. We simply need to split up, travel to the other packs, find a family member whom is willing to share information with us- a contact of sorts whom can keep us appraised of what occurs in there pack and then we will meet again. This way we will know where our skills are better served, who is helping us and who isn’t- we will help those who need help and use that help to promote Achilles as the next King, so that when he gains a throne he will have followers outside our immediate family. We will also work to keep an eye on those whom seemed….determined to get rid of Angels- but we will do it in disguise so that nothing can be tied to us- not ever.”

I think that is the most talking I have ever talked, letting the silence fall now for a moment before adding a final sentence.

“Micteca has agreed to help us, she knows the laws and ways of Assassins better then anyone and she wants to help. I think- all there is left to do is choose new names, Assassin Names, if you will. The Queen of Asteraia, I call her Impa because I don’t think she has a name, knows me now as Majora. What do you all pick? Calliel, I think you should be Ashei or maybe Farore- I think they suit you.”

After this, well, I simply needed to send them out, one to each pack to find someone there who might be willing to act as a contact, the benefits of family- while we kept an eye on the freelands, met with loners perhaps, promoted Achilles if need be and slowly start gaining our own little following while keeping our true selves unknown and safe. Defending the defenceless if you will- though I had far bigger plans then I truly cared to share all at once. For now- this would be enough.


h y r u l e
The Once and Future King The Heir of Heyel