Mark made good on his words. After a few punches blocked, the taller kitsune managed to wrap his arms around Horace's waist and scooped into the air. The older Horace groaned in disarray as Mark overpowered him and slammed him onto the wooden floor.
I will credit the older man for his resilience, but Mark quickly stifled any movement from Horace's attempts to free himself. It was clear who the stronger of the two was. I felt foolish for even doubting Mark like that. I should have known better.
I told him, "You shouldn't move around like that, bud. You just woke up from some grievous injuries."
"Your concern is noted but not warranted.", Mark responded. As Horace moved underneath his grasp, Mark slammed his palm to the back of the elder's head. He held him down against the floor. "These wounds are more pesky than dangerous in my current state. In a matter of hours, I will be firing at full capacity. With that in mind, I encourage our esteemed host to share more compassion with a man he had just bandaged up a few minutes ago."
Horace seemed to be taken back by the mountain weighing him down. A bitter scowl colored his features. Despite the malice leaking from the man underneath him, Mark remained confident.
"This all started when you wished death upon Claire's family...or rather, you stumbled across some individuals who do.", I said.
"You are correct. When I left the inn, I decided to look around the city for a map shop. I know I gave our usual tails the slip, but I didn't account for the possibility of a third party. When I found a shop, I exchanged my escort services for a collection of maps that caught my eye. Our deal was that I escorted the owner's grandson to the nearby village named Oa, and as you may expect, it went off without a hitch. Hey- stop squirming, or you'll force me to become more violent than I already am."
Ignoring the man's threats to the elder, I spoke to garner his focus.
"You didn't allow any injury to happen to the boy, right?"
He briefly shifted his attention to me before tightening his grip on the downed elder. Mark remained in control, and Horace's resistance seemed slowly fleeting.
"I'm no amateur, bud. Of course, I ensured that young Lannister didn't get a single scratch. Watching a berserk wolf demi-human tear into the flesh of your escort is bound to scar him in some fashion, but both of us will see another day."
"I expected as much."
Mark said, "What transpired after puts us at odds with our host here."
"What do you mean by that? Does it relate to how you found yourself injured?"
He shook his head in confirmation.
"To walk away without further conflict, a deal had to be struck with my assailants. Horace likely suspected that and aimed to strike me down ruthlessly. Yet, he made the same mistake that my assailants did. He underestimated me, so he is eating the floor."
"You made a deal with your attackers. I assume that weighed the repercussions for doing such a thing.", I said.
"Of course. Well... as much as I could at that moment. They had me on the ropes, so I took a calculated risk to ensure our survival. I am relying on their continued underestimation of my capabilities, but we both know I will only temporarily extend my capabilities. It appears that they desire Clarice, so that is why I-"
"I knew it. You'd turn the first opportunity that you had. Untrustworthy is what I warned, but your continued existence is my proof.", Horace growled.
I watched in surprise as Horace seemed to level up right before my eyes. Mark's eyes widened as the man moved from Horace's back to my side in moments. Together, we watched as Horace oozed malice akin to the Lynx's. His stance remained aggressive as he recovered from the damage he sustained from Mark's grapple.
"You're wasting all of our time, Horace. I have told you that we are aligned. If you continue treating me like an enemy, I will become one. Claire has proven to be an ally to us during this short time, so I aim to repay her generosity. However, if you continue to be the aggressor, then I will see more merit in abandoning her and her cause rather than continuing our alliance.", Mark states in a serious tone.
The kitsune poked his frames on his face and stared daggers into the recovering man. His stance was more casual rather than defensive, and as such, I replicated it. Mark seemed adept in situations like this one, so I simply provided numerical support with my presence.
"I second his analysis. It is already foolish to align ourselves with you two, considering the danger it presents to us. With the Blois duel around the corner and the spies watching over us, I am on board with simply skipping town to avoid this nonsense. What you two offer us can be easily found elsewhere, so do not delude yourself into believing that we need you. It is the two of you who need us, Horace."
Mark nodded along to my words, giving credence to my statement. Horace seemed to weigh our words for a moment. His brow wrinkled as he grappled with his thoughts.
"I require proof that you do not intend to betray us. Relinquish the details of your deal, and we may move past this encounter without further ado," he said in a stern tone. He placed his hand on his chest as he spoke, "I pledge that on my honor."
"Your honor? Need I remind you that you attempted to stab us in the back?" I questioned wryly. "As far I know, he doesn't need to explain anything to you. Even if he made a deal to ensure his safety, you should be grateful that he returned to us in relatively good shape."
Mark would hold his hand up as if to curve the boiling frustrations that began to leak alongside my words. He would clench his fists around his waist before extending his index finger toward the ceiling.
"Now, now, bud. I believe Horace's actions should be overlooked as they come from a good place. We must remember that fox demi-humans could be stronger in this area. It is only natural that he assumes that I am as well. Those people who jumped me were no joke. It is easy to see that any normal foxkin would have succumbed to their injuries or... sided with their enemies. That would save their hydes, which would be the most logical choice. Hence why I took it."
Horace grimaced at the man's confession, and his weary expression housed his icy glare. Acknowledging it, Mark would hold his palm towards the man.
"I agreed to be their inside man, and eventually, I would have served your mistress up to those who desire her head."
Horace flashed a resident malice that radiated as the man stepped forward. Sweat trickled down my brow as the man approached Mark with tightly clenched fists. A feeling of dread washed over me, but it passed as soon as it came.
"He's not going to do that, Horace. That is why he informed us. It isn't beneficial to our side.", I uttered as the man approached. I stepped in between the two men, hoping to avoid another clash. Pointing towards Mark, I shot the man a stern glare.
"Enough with the teasing. Tell the man your plan."
A devious grin folded the kitsune's lips as he lifted his glasses. He would erupt into a brief stint of laughter before calming himself.
"I tire of the surveillance, so I propose we act. For weeks, the two of you have sought after prospects for allies, and now you have found the right men. We will use our enemies' ignorance and underestimation of my strength to lure out the big fish. It will be a tricky endeavor," Mark says while stroking his goatee.
"That has merit, but surely they will not just reveal themselves. They are cunning enough to avoid detection for this long. How do you propose that we lure them out?" I questioned.
"I suspect that someone within their connections is betraying them so that I will feed our enemies false information. Of course, we will have to parade ourselves around to garner their attention, but this is where Horace's comes into play."
"You want me to contact my connections once more and monitor any strange movements," Horace says bluntly.
"I assume you believe this might be a ploy to divide you from your current allies. It is a healthy suspicion, but that is exactly why I decided to take you on by myself tonight. Even while weakened, I can contend with you. I have fought by Bonner's side for years. Together, he and I would kill you—that I have zero doubt about."
"Hold on now, Mark, Let's not get crazy.", I rebuttled.
"He knows it. Horace is a competent fighter regarding straight hands, but he can't risk using his magic without alerting the people watching them. With our combined effort, we'd paint these walls with his blood. Throw in Q, and he knows he can't stop us from taking Claire to her demise so that he will trust us. The fact that he is alive now proves we do not intend to betray Claire."
I was skeptical of Mark's claims, but Horace seemed to back down from his approach. The older man rubbed his bruises before folding his arms across his chest. Resignation flooded his frame before he extended his hand towards us.
"You are a wise man, which is why I believe in your abilities. Only by working together can we protect Claire, so we are in your care regarding magic."
Mark would be the first to shake his hand. Hearing the man speak alleviated the concern that the older man had displayed. I would follow up by replicating the gesture. Meanwhile, Mark seemed to walk toward his desk. Horace would take that time to bid us farewell formally, but I still eyed him cautiously.
The kitsune grabbed the tattered black robe Horace found him wearing. He slipped it on without care before shifting his attention toward the pocket. Once satisfied with finding whatever he was looking for, he turned to face us.
"Where are you going?" I asked curiously.
"Now that I've had this chat with Horace, there is another person that I need to chat with. It will be brief, so don't expect me to be gone for too long. It is still raining after all.", he answered.
He would lead the way out of his room as we entered the hallway. I could detect that there was something different from his vibe now. I didn't expect him to walk in the shape he was in, but I allowed him to do as he pleased for now. If things got too bad, then I'd step in to encourage him to rest more.
"I have those stones from the Grotto. We can discuss them more once you return."
"Good. I have something to show you, too, but let's hold that conversation until tomorrow. After I return, I will shower and return to my bed for recovery. I anticipate Qaushawn and Claire's arrival tomorrow, so I hope to have an interesting conversation with you tomorrow."
I would nod his words as I watched the man make his exit from the inn. He moved like a shadow through the door before I heard him curse the rain. I just hope that he clears up his suspicions while he's out. After all, I am relying on him.
"Very well, bud. Remaining vigilant."