Darius ducked under the flap, his eyes going immediately to the assassin.
"Another one? That makes the third this month."
Fallon bent and using the man's hair lifted him so his face was to the light. "Any one you recognize?"
Darius's eyebrows pulled together as he examined the man's face. "No. Did he say anything before he died?"
"Said it was courtesy of the Horse Clan."
Darius's jaw dropped as his eyes widened in rage. "Horse Clan? They're your ally!" He strode to the prone figure and spit on it. "I'll have my men make inquiries. If any of them had anything to do with this, I'll find them."
"It's not certain it came from the Horse Clan, my friend."
Darius shot Fallon an agonized look. "It doesn't matter. You and I both know we can't do anything but question anyone indicated. They knew right where to hit us. Questioning the Horse Clan's integrity could jeopardize their loyalty."
"Which is why I want you to hold off," Fallon said, crossing his arms.
"You have a plan."
Fallon inclined his head. "You're right. Until now I have had no reason to question the Horse Clan's loyalty. I am not going to start now because of the word of an inept assassin. My back was to him. He could have slit my throat or slid the dagger into my heart. He did neither and told me where the attempt originated. Why?"
"To throw off suspicion and drive a wedge between you and one of your closest allies. But, how can you be certain?"
"We'll find out if my plan works." He headed to his sleeping chamber and a clean set of clothes. "Call a meeting of the clan heads. I want to see their reactions when they see their assassin failed."
Fallon's face was cold and unyielding as he watched the clan leaders shift in their seats. Their unease might have something to do with the head sitting in the middle of the table.
Henry, head of the Horse Clan, hair white with age, poked at the head with one finger, causing it to roll towards the leader of Snake Clan, who batted it away with a look of distaste. Indra was a tall, lithe woman with long black hair braided into a series of interlocking braids.
Only four of the clan leaders were present, as well as Darius, who was Fallon's right hand man. The last three were currently leading war parties.
"Why were we pulled from our beds in the middle of the night?" Van was middle aged with golden hair and a barrel chest and was the oldest except for Horse Clan's leader. As Lion Clan, he was one of the potential traitors. Fallon had no proof. Yet.
"Someone tried to assassinate me tonight," Fallon said blandly, watching for any betraying tick.
There was a hushed moment of silence as each processed how this might affect them. Indra arched one eyebrow but otherwise kept her expression politely interested.
Van smirked and said, "Guess someone really wants you dead."
"They will just have to consign themselves to disappointment."
"For now."
"Is that a threat?" Darius asked sharply.
"Did it sound like one?" Van waved one hand. "Given the number of attempts lately, it's just a matter of time before one is successful. Perhaps now you will reconsider heading back to clan lands. This place isn't good for our people."
"Yes, our mistake. How dare we take our people somewhere where they won't have to fight over every speck of food or have to decide between giving water to their children or their horses," Darius said.
"But we haven't stopped fighting, have we? We've just traded one enemy for another," Van said, baring his teeth.
"At least we aren't fighting amongst ourselves," Ben, the leader of Earth Clan said, arching an eyebrow. He was the youngest in the group and had not been tested by battle though he was in his twenties already.
"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 you use to defend yourselves."
"Enough." Fallon's voice rumbled through the room. "I did not call this meeting so we could argue over issues that have already been settled. The Trateri will claim these lands and if you have issue with that then you can leave."
Dirty looks were shot around the table before each settled back into their chairs.
"I don't suppose the assassin said anything before he died?" Van asked in a bored tone.
"What makes you ask that?" Fallon asked, his eyes growing cold and fierce.
Van shrugged and waved a hand. "Why else would we be here?"
"You are correct, he did say something before I snapped his neck." Fallon's voice was silky as his eyes narrowed to slits.
"Well do tell us."
"He said, ‘The Lion Clan gives its regards.'"
Van sprang to his feet and pounded a fist into the table. "Absurd."
"Is it?" Indra asked. "Just moments ago you sounded as if you would like to shake hands with the assassin."
"Lion Clan did not do this. On my honor, we did not."
"I did not say you did," Fallon told him. Van relaxed back into his seat and inclined his head in gratitude. Fallon's next sentence made him tense and his face turn red. "I would, however, be a fool if I didn't have Darius investigate. He won't limit his investigations to just Van's men either."
"What?" Indra popped to her feet. "Why must the rest of us be subjected to suspicion when the assassin as good as pointed the finger against him?"
Fallon's head turned slowly. He allowed his mask to slip for a moment, letting the burning rage through for just a moment. Indra gulped and lowered herself back into her seat. "Because I said so."
The meeting wrapped up quickly after that and before long the clan heads, except for Darius, filed out.
"It could have been any of them," Fallon said, turning his head as Darius took a seat next to him. "Have your men to check into all of them."
"This would be easier if we could use Henry's connections to find the traitor."
"We can't chance it," Fallon said. "Not given what the assassin suggested."
"So the assassin won in the end. He managed to cast doubt upon a staunch ally."
The cup Fallon held up to his mouth hesitated before Fallon tossed back the contents.
"Work as fast as you can. Van was right in one sense. Sooner or later an assassin is going to get lucky."
A commotion at the tent's entrance drew both men's attention. They looked up to see a dark haired man pushing his way through Fallon's men.
"Great, how did Cale hear about this?" Darius muttered.
Fallon gave him a warning look. Darius held up a hand and shrugged.
"Brother, I came as soon as I heard," Cale said, 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 bowed his head in respect. There was no love lost between the two. Cale was jealous of the close relationship Darius shared with Fallon, while Darius felt Cale was a complete waste of space who constantly used his connection with the Warlord to make his life easier.
"As you can see, the attempt was unsuccessful," Fallon said.
"Have you caught the parties responsible? They should all be given the traitor's reward," Cale said heatedly.
"Yes, well, when they're caught I'm sure you'll be first in line to give them that reward," Darius said sarcastically.
It was well known that Cale liked to attend such events. A bloodthirsty man, he tended to take advantage of those in weakened states.
"I thank you for your concern, but we have much to discuss. You should retire for the night. I'm sure Henry will have much for you to do tomorrow," Fallon said in dismissal.
"I would be a horrible brother to let a little missed sleep keep me from your side. I wouldn't want you to have to rely on the loyalties of others in this dark time. After all, family can always be counted on," Cale said with a sidelong glance at Darius.
"And what assistance might you provide? You don't know the first thing about such things," Darius said.
Fallon interrupted before the discussion could degenerate any further. It would not be the first time a shouting match had erupted between the two. He'd hoped placing Cale under Darius' command several months prior would help to reconcile the two or at least make them less antagonistic, but it had only seemed to worsen their relationship. Each man had his strengths, but both refused to see any good in the other.
"Enough," Fallon said. "I am tired and would like to see my bed before the sun rises. Cale, thank you for the offer, but Darius has experience in such matters and is as close to me as you. I have no reservations about his loyalty and would thank you not to question it again."
Cale face reflected anger for a moment before it smoothed back into a pleasant expression. He bowed his head and said, "As you wish, brother."