Just as Malik stepped over the corpse of the last guard, a black owl materialized before him.
It was Black.
He held a scroll in his claws.
Malik took it off him just as he paused before him.
He unfurled it open.
{Roya fell for it all. Her people destroyed some of Al-Ayan's camps, thinking they were our own. We've already dealt with them and many of the other groups that tried to threaten a few of our rallies, but we weren't entirely successful... or we made it seem that way. A masked group escaped. There's no doubt that they're the ones you expected, and of course, you are their target. They'll likely approach you from the northwest wing with her in the lead.}
He nodded once, then walked in their direction.
Soon after, figures came in a line.
Seven of them.
Their faces were covered in iron masks.
Their movements were too coordinated.
Those were the assassins.
They found Malik calmly standing in the hall, admiring a painting on the wall.
