Holz hesitated before speaking. "I... I have an idea," he began, his voice barely above a whisper.

With a hurried explanation, Holz laid out his plan, words tumbling out in a mix of uncertainty and urgency. As he finished, he looked anxiously at the two, searching for any sign of approval.

"It could work," Jamie acknowledged thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

"But if it fails, they'll know we're here," Thomas countered, concern etched on his brow. "We can't afford to alert the entire estate."

Jamie nodded slowly. "True, but none of our other options seem much better. At worst, we might have to launch a frontal assault, which I'd rather avoid."

Thomas took a deep breath, his eyes settling on Holz. "Alright," he conceded. "Let's give it a try."

--

Two guards in plate armor stood at the mansion's entrance. Their helmets bore the crest of House Combs. Their hands rested casually on the pommels of their swords, but their eyes were sharp, sweeping over the quiet street before them.

Behind them, an imposing wrought-iron gate stretched upward. Beyond the gate was the meticulously manicured garden and the dark mansion.

"Now," Jamie whispered from the shadows, giving the signal.

At the far end of the deserted street, Thomas and Holz emerged, moving swiftly but cautiously. They stayed close to the tall green wall.

Holz's heart pounded in his chest as he advanced. With both hands raised subtly, he aimed the palms toward the guards. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He needed to get closer, just a little closer.

Finally, one of the guards caught sight of them. He squinted, then nudged his companion. "Look," he muttered, pointing toward the approaching figures.

The second guard straightened, his posture tensing. "Halt! Who goes there?" he called out.

Thomas and Holz continued their advance, saying nothing.

"State your business!" the guard demanded, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword.

At that moment, Holz struck.

[Nail]

[Nail]

[Nail]

[Nail]

From the palms of his hands, four slender projectiles shot forth. Metal nails sliced through the air with deadly precision.

As a [Carpenter], Holz had never imagined using his skills in combat. His skill in firing nails was a practical tool for quick repairs and construction.

As soon as the four nails struck their marks, the two guards staggered, their strength abruptly sapped as their knees buckled beneath them. The nails had pierced through the sides of their helmets with unsettling precision, and a stunned silence followed as their bodies began to slump.

Holz and Thomas lunged forward before the bodies could hit the ground and make a racket with the armor's noise. Each caught a falling guard, straining under the weight of the armored men. They dragged the dead guards to the end of the street, away from prying eyes.

High atop the garden wall, Jamie remained poised. From his vantage point, he scanned the sprawling grounds of the mansion, alert for any sign that their actions had been detected. The timing was crucial; they had only moments before someone might notice the absence of the sentries at the gate.

Breathing heavily, Holz and Thomas returned to the base of the wall where Jamie waited. They now bore the burden of the guards' armor and weapons, along with two dead bodies.

"Mind giving me a hand here?" Jamie whispered, swinging his legs slightly as he balanced precariously on the narrow ledge atop the wall.

Thomas looked up, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth at the sight of Jamie's dangling boots. "Enjoying the view?" he teased quietly.

"Charmed," Jamie retorted with a wry grin. "But I'd rather not linger."

With a swift movement, Thomas braced himself against the wall. "Alright, on three," he murmured. Jamie adjusted his grip, and with Thomas's steady support, he lowered himself down, his boots touching the ground with barely a sound.

Once reunited, they turned their attention to the guards. Jamie's expression grew serious as he examined the two motionless figures. "We've got an issue with this plan," he noted grimly. "What are we going to do with these?"

He lifted one of the helmets, revealing a small, jagged hole where a nail had penetrated the metal. A thin trail of blood marred the otherwise polished surface.

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Holz's face paled. "It was the best I could do," he confessed. "The shot wasn't perfect."

Jamie placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We work with what we have."

He began unfastening the straps of one guard's armor. "Thomas and I will head into the garden and secure a third uniform," he instructed.

Holz nodded. "Got it."

As Thomas removed the armor from the second guard, the two of them tried to clean the blood as much as they could. The fit wasn't ideal; Jamie's armor hung a bit loose on his lean frame while Thomas's broader shoulders strained against the confines of his cuirass. Still, it would be enough to pass a lazy inspection.

Jamie wiped the blood from his helmet with a scrap of cloth, then set it firmly on his head. He adjusted the visor to obscure his face.

Reaching beneath his cloak, Jamie drew out his two daggers. He held them at his sides, hidden but ready. "Quick and clean," he murmured to Thomas. "We can't leave anyone behind who might raise the alarm."

Thomas met his gaze and gave a curt nod, drawing his sword with practiced ease. "Understood."

The two men moved with measured, deliberate steps toward the mansion's entrance. Jamie and Thomas paused briefly, their gazes sweeping over the garden, recalling every guard's position they had observed earlier.

With confidence, they strode forward, mimicking the assured gait of soldiers during a shift change. As they passed through the gate, they exchanged a subtle nod before parting ways. Thomas veered left, Jamie to the right. Each disappeared into the vast garden.

The garden was a labyrinth of towering hedges, marble statues, and winding pathways adorned with flowers of many colors. Neither man gave pause as they navigated the grounds, their borrowed uniforms granting them passage past unsuspecting watchmen. Their movements were swift and purposeful, advancing steadily until they reached the forefront of the mansion. Here, with the enemy at their backs, the true mission began.

Jamie felt an intense focus settle over him. A clarity that narrowed his world to the immediate task at hand. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, visualizing the positions of the guards and plotting his course. Five soldiers stood between him and their objective.

Two were stationed near an ornate fountain depicting mermaids and sea serpents. Another patrolled the main garden path. The final two lingered near the garden's entrance, their silhouettes partially obscured by the leafy canopy of a grand oak.

Drawing a deep, steadying breath, Jamie opened his eyes. He melted into the shadows, his form slipping silently along the edges of sculpted hedgerows.

Rounding a corner, he caught sight of the two guards by the fountain. They stood at ease, their pikes resting casually by their sides as they talked.

Without hesitation, Jamie acted. In a fluid motion, he drew one dagger and sent it spinning through the air. The blade whispered as it flew, finding its mark with deadly accuracy in the throat of the furthest guard. Before the other could react, Jamie surged forward, covering the remaining distance in a heartbeat. He sprang from the shadows, his second dagger slicing decisively across the nearer guard's neck, silencing him before the alarm could be raised.

Both men crumpled soundlessly to the moss-covered stones bordering the fountain. The tranquility of the scene belied the swift violence that had just unfolded.

Jamie knelt beside the fallen guards, retrieving his thrown dagger and swiftly wiping both blades clean on the guards' cloaks. He paused, ensuring neither man showed signs of life.

Clutching his twin daggers once more, Jamie moved through the shadowed garden. A solitary soldier paced methodically along the stone path ahead, drawing nearer with each passing moment. There was no place to hide, no convenient shadows deep enough to conceal the aftermath of what he was about to do.

'Where can I...?' Jamie's thoughts raced, seeking a solution. But time was against him. 'To hell with it,' he resolved silently.

He sheathed the dagger in his left hand, keeping the right firmly in his grasp. His pulse quickened as he counted down in his mind.

'Three... two... one...'

In a burst of speed, Jamie sprinted forward. The soft soles of his boots made barely a whisper against the dewy grass. The soldier's eyes widened in surprise as he hastily reached for his sword, the metallic rasp echoing faintly.

Drawing upon his arcane powers, Jamie whispered a spell under his breath.

[Cause Fear]

A ripple of invisible energy emanated from him, enveloping the soldier in a primal, chilling dread. The man's movements faltered; his hand froze upon the hilt of his partially drawn sword. Terror flickered across his face, rendering him momentarily helpless.

Seizing the advantage, Jamie closed the gap. With grim precision, he drove his dagger upward beneath the soldier's chin. The blade sliced through flesh and bone, nearly severing the head from the body. The soldier collapsed soundlessly, eyes vacant, as life faded swiftly.

'Just two more,' Jamie thought, his gaze shifting toward the remaining guards. But as he turned, he saw that the pair had already spotted him. Their stances were alert, weapons drawn as they scanned the garden for any sign of additional threats.

"Dammit," Jamie cursed under his breath. Stealth was no longer an option; he launched toward them, feet pounding silently against the ground.

The two soldiers, swords at hand, moved to intercept and prepared to attack.

Before they could engage, Jamie heard a low, resonant word carried on the air.

[Plow]

Suddenly, the earth trembled. The impeccably kept lawn shifted and cracked beneath the soldiers' feet. With a thunderous rumble, the ground gave way, collapsing into a gaping chasm. The pair shouted in alarm as they, along with a nearby fountain and a swath of vibrant flowers, were swallowed by the sudden sinkhole. Dust and debris filled the air, muffled their cries as they vanished into the depths.

Jamie skidded to a halt, eyes wide at the unexpected turn. He raised his hands in exasperation. "So much for keeping it quiet," he muttered.

Thomas emerged from across the ruined expanse; he navigated the upheaved terrain with ease.

"Sorry about that," Thomas called out in a hushed tone. "Had no choice. It was four against one on my end."

Jamie sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I suppose subtlety was never going to be an option," he replied, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Did you at least get any usable armor?"

Thomas hefted his left arm, revealing a limp, headless body draped over his shoulder. The armor, though bloodied, seemed relatively undamaged. "This was the best I could manage," he said.

Shaking his head, Jamie made his way toward the front of the garden, where Holz waited nervously among the shadows. The younger man's eyes widened at the sight of the bloodstained armor and the destruction that lay behind them.

"Here," Jamie said gently, handing Holz the armor. "Let's get into the Mansion."

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