“What would you know of it, Earth Clan?”Indra asked, curling a lip. “Your men aren’t out there dying.”
“My mistake, we simply make the weapons youuse to defend yourselves.”
“Enough.” Fallon’s voice rumbled through theroom. “I did not call this meeting so we could argue over issuesthat have already been settled. The Trateri will claim these landsand if you have issue with that then you can leave.”
Dirty looks were shot around the table beforeeach settled back into their chairs.
“I don’t suppose the assassin said anythingbefore he died?” Van asked in a bored tone.
“What makes you ask that?” Fallon asked, hiseyes growing cold and fierce.
Van shrugged and waved a hand. “Why elsewould we be here?”
“You are correct, he did say something beforeI snapped his neck.” Fallon’s voice was silky as his eyes narrowedto slits.
“Well do tell us.”
“He said, ‘The Lion Clan gives itsregards.’”
Van sprang to his feet and pounded a fistinto the table. “Absurd.”
“Is it?” Indra asked. “Just moments ago yousounded as if you would like to shake hands with the assassin.”
“Lion Clan did not do this. On my honor, wedid not.”
“I did not say you did,” Fallon told him. Vanrelaxed back into his seat and inclined his head in gratitude.Fallon’s next sentence made him tense and his face turn red. “Iwould, however, be a fool if I didn’t have Darius investigate. Hewon’t limit his investigations to just Van’s men either.”
“What?” Indra popped to her feet. “Why mustthe rest of us be subjected to suspicion when the assassin as goodas pointed the finger against him?”
Fallon’s head turned slowly. He allowed hismask to slip for a moment, letting the burning rage through forjust a moment. Indra gulped and lowered herself back into her seat.“Because I said so.”
The meeting wrapped up quickly after that andbefore long the clan heads, except for Darius, filed out.
“It could have been any of them,” Fallonsaid, turning his head as Darius took a seat next to him. “Haveyour men to check into all of them.”
“This would be easier if we could use Henry’sconnections to find the traitor.”
“We can’t chance it,” Fallon said. “Not givenwhat the assassin suggested.”
“So the assassin won in the end. He managedto cast doubt upon a staunch ally.”
The cup Fallon held up to his mouth hesitatedbefore Fallon tossed back the contents.
“Work as fast as you can. Van was right inone sense. Sooner or later an assassin is going to get lucky.”
A commotion at the tent’s entrance drew bothmen’s attention. They looked up to see a dark haired man pushinghis way through Fallon’s men.
“Great, how did Cale hear about this?” Dariusmuttered.
Fallon gave him a warning look. Darius heldup a hand and shrugged.
“Brother, I came as soon as I heard,” Calesaid, striding across the room.
“Oh? You have good ears,” Darius said,tapping one finger against his thigh.
Cale gave him a cool look and slightly bowedhis head in respect. There was no love lost between the two. Calewas jealous of the close relationship Darius shared with Fallon,while Darius felt Cale was a complete waste of space who constantlyused his connection with the Warlord to make his life easier.
“As you can see, the attempt wasunsuccessful,” Fallon said.
