“I didn’t mean any insult Bayle, but this is what I’ve been ordered to do,” said Lance his spine straight and his eyes forward.Bayle shook his head in response as he read the letter, and took a long breath as it ended. “I’ve been keeping track of you Lance,” he said as he folded the letter neatly and placed it to the side of his desk. His sneering expression was gone. “You haven’t been one who overly relied on his status in the past. This mission could turn the tide for Stent. Or at least buy us more time. You and I both know that I would have a better chance of succeeding at it, than you. That’s nothing personal, you’ve proven very effective in a short time, but this kind of infiltration and wetwork, is not something you’ve done. We’re of equal rank, if you don’t refuse it, I can at least join you on this mission, and it wouldn’t be going against the General’s orders.”Lance met Bayle’s gaze. “I refuse.”Bayle took a breath and smashed his fist on the thick wooden table in front of it. A large crack formed where his fist landed though his hand was undamaged. When he looked at them again, his expression was calm.“Fine. Let me perform the brief though.”“Thank you,” replied Lance.“I’m not doing it for you,” replied Bayle as he began pulling papers from his now cracked desk. “Knight Jakub, please retrieve the other penitents on the third floor.”Jakub swallowed, and nodded. He seemed a bit pale, and had only barely resisted squirming all throughout their conversation.Michael stood in the awkward silence as he waited for his companions to be brought down to be briefed. Bayle was back to his usual self, his expression betraying nothing, and Lance similarly wore a mask of indifference. There were things going on that Michael could only guess at, but the end result was what was most important to him. It was time for another mission. A dangerous and difficult one at that and they’d be travelling (...)