[center][h1]Lady Safina Haliel[/h1][/center]

She'd only just finished with the capon and the first steak when the guard's alert came. Safina resisted the urge to sigh. Couldn't even enjoy a full meal before being thrown back in the thick of it. And she'd have to change her garments back, too. Should have just ate in the city, free fine dining be damned. 

Safina waited for the guard to leave before rising as Elysabeth did, nodding in response to her orders. 

[b]"Understood. Stay on your guard, Countess. These seem like tactics [i]I[/i] would use, were I in a position to subvert Hathforth. In any case, I'll go rally my people."[/b]

Thirty minutes later, those of the Concord within Hathforth assembled within one of the keeps' hidden hallways. Clad in full combat leathers and chain, Safina swept her gaze over the dozen or so assassins gathered.

[b]"Alright, people. Seems we have competition. If they're after the vault, they're going to have more than a few surprises waiting for them. Defensive positions, every party favor we have. You all know what to do."[/b]

Resolute nods and stoic salutes followed before the assembled assassins dispersed, starting to set up traps and ambush positions. Before long, the passage leading to the Wizard-Queen's vault was a veritable killbox, traps both mundane and magical littering it, with a dozen hardened assassins waiting in ambush beside.