Tom led himself and his Vice Captain out through the castle passageways. Then Raven approached. Her usual severe attitude in place. Tom had been angry at having a kid on his team. A girl her age couldn’t possibly serve any use and would only get in the way. At least that’s what he had thought, but the truth was she was the one of the group with the best head on her shoulders and was always useful. “Delacroix. Everyone is found inept when compared to you.” Tom said wearily, appeasing to side of her that thought herself permanently in the company of idiots. Sure he liked Raven, but right now he was lacking the patience for all of his team’s different idiosyncrasies.
“Khara. Good.” Tom said as Khara’s face appeared out of the shadows behind him. Sure Khara acted more like a ghost than a human, however if one knew her well enough and they knew what signs to listen out for one could know when she was around. In fact it had become a bit of a game between the two of them with her always trying to catch him off guard. Not that either of them were childish or joyful enough to ever voice their game out loud to each other.
Then Raven asked what they were up to. Tom could feel both Kass and Khara giving him inquisitive stares. Whilst keeping his face impassive, Tom sighed internally. He hated having to explain things and honestly he just wanted to get moving. “I’ll explain on the way.” He said leading his group through a few more corridors and then out a back door of the castle. It was a little-known peasant entry that led to a narrow alleyway that smelled of urine more often than not.
Tom had taken no more than ten steps when he ran into his weapons master returning to the castle. “Bribois, come.” He ordered the bloodied man, not breaking his stride. In fact as rain started to fell from the sky he speed up his pace. The rain would only watch away tracks and clues. “So the Princess has somehow managed to escape and our new orders are to re-capture her.” Tom explained to his current comrades. He looked pointedly at Julien, “Alive. Obviously.”
Tom took a few more steps before looking at Khara. “I’m going to need your expertise on this one, first though I think we should-“ Tom’s instructions were cut off by some rather noisy citizens. "You're going to regret waking your neighbors!" From the side street he’d led his team into, Tom couldn’t see who the voices and numerous footsteps belonged to, however he could of recognized that voice anywhere.
“Of course the forest brats are here,” Tom groaned to his team. Using his own little nicknames for the orphans who likes to hang out in the forest and cause trouble for everyone else. His old friend, Kat, and his sister, Leila, included. He did not have time for this. They were clearly up to something, no one makes such obvious movements against an enemy, but he also couldn’t just ignore them and let them do whatever they wanted. Thinking quick on his feet, Tom easily evaluated the Daggers he had with him. “Okay, Khara and Delacroix. You guys keep going, find the princess.” Khara was easily his best tracker and whilst Raven had many strengths he preferred Julien and Kass had his back. He trusted their skills more. “Don’t either of you dare come back with empty hands.” He dismissed them and turned back to his remaining comrades.
“Okay. Kass, wanna’ get up high. Watch our back with your bow?” Tom said to Kass treating his Vice captain with suggestions rather than the orders he gave the rest of his team. He hoped she’d take him up on his suggestion. At least with some sort of marksman they could bluff that they numbered more than three. “Brisbois, with me,” He ordered before creeping down another side street that led to a large courtyard the forest brats had gathered in. With eyes on his enemy, Tom was able to identify Leila, Kat and three others. “Keep going, I’ll distract them and you can come at them from behind,” Tom whispered his combat suggestion to Julien.
Kat’s back was to him and silently Tom pulled out a small dagger. Narrowing his eyes he held it between his forefinger and thumb before letting it fly directly at one of her comrade's head. He ducked back behind the corner without seeing the result. Tom called out tauntingly, “’Red Bitch’? I’m not expert on royalty but I believe you’re supposed to say ‘Her Majesty’? Tom pulled out his sword and dragged in along the ground so it made a loud scraping sound, very clearly directing them to his location. He crouched down ready to attack whoever came around the corner looking for him.