“Ghah…!!”

“Marquis!?”

The blade of the messenger turned assassin has been intercepted by Leonas, using his own upper arm. While he has glaring faults as a commander, he is undoubtedly a first-class warrior. The experience he gained through decades of repelling foreign invasion bears fruit: the great noble manages to stop the attack with the least amount of damage.

“Get away from Marquis!!”

“Ha…h!?”

Seeing blood spurt from Leonas’ arm, the escort knights tackle the messenger. The man — armed with the Brumerush’s suit of armour and a short sword — is thrown to a corner of the tent.

“Protect the Marquis!!”

The knights and retainers step between Leonas and the messenger. They draw their swords and charge the assailant.

“Kh…damn you…!!”

The man desperately defends himself with his short sword, but he was at too much of a disadvantage: soon enough, he slumps down to the floor, a sword stabbed deep into his chest.

“Gah…haah…”

“We did it…?”

So whispered a knight, looking at the assassin as he draws his last breaths. As life gradually leaving him, the man manages to whisper a few last words.

“I…failed…you…Lord…Brumerush…”

"Count Loghain.." The man says his last words as his hand touches Loghain.

“What!?”

Hearing the assassin suddenly called his name, Loghain reacts with absolute shock. The mid fifties man with the title, “Hero of Ferelden” stand dumbfounded, as the eyes of the knights gather on him.

“...Count Loghain, what is the meaning of this?”

“I-I don’t know!! I know nothing about any of this!! This is…yes!! This must be a ploy by Lubreo Lambert!!”

To send an assassin in order to trick fellow nobles into fighting each other. Loghain’s intuition is not far-fetched at all, but no one present would believe his words.

Loghain is already under suspicion of colluding with Brumerush: in addition, his disregard for the soldiers’ lives has earned him a fair amount of contempt from the other officials.

Even if Loghain has spoken the truth, the demons of suspicion looming over him have grown too strong.

The knights slowly approach Loghain, from all sides. Ready to apprehend him at a moment’s notice.

“Wait. We cannot assume the assassin spoke the truth.”

“My...my lord!!”

Leonas’ words stop the knights in their tracks. Loghain looks at the marquis, eyes filled with hope.

Leonas, however, shows an expression as stern as the other knights, as he looks at Loghain with doubt and suspicion.

“The suspicion over you, however, is a fact. Loghain, you will be held captive for the time being.”

“T-That can’t be!!”

Loghain shouts as the knights grab his arms.

“You will have to let us search your tent too. If you truly did not betray me, I trust there is no problem, is there?”

“Marquis!!”

Loghain grows pale. He really knows nothing about the assassin, but he does have secret ties with Brumerush. Documents and other proof of his exchanges with Brumerush could be found in his luggage.

(This is bad…!! I should have dealt with him sooner…!)

“Marquis Bryland!! I am innocent!! This is all a ploy to eliminate me and drive you to fight Marquis Brumerush! P-Please, reconsider…!!”

“Enough shameless acting, Sir Loghain!”

“Gh!”

One of the knights punches Loghain in the stomach. A fist charges with years of resentment interrupts the middle aged lord’s speech.

“H-How dare you…!”

“Sir Loghain. When marquis Bryland was attacked just now, why did you not step in to defend him? Aren't you one of the best fighter in Ferelden?”

“Wha….”

One of the knights walks in front of Loghain and questioned him.

All the knights in the tent had rushed to Leonas’ aid, standing between him and the assassin. Only Loghain, however, stood where he was, without even trying to help Leonas.

“That is…I…”

Loghain could not find any words to justify himself.

When Leonas was attacked by the assassin,  Loghain judged he had been sent by Brumerush. To try to stop the assassination would mean opposing Brumerush’s plans: Loghain thus could not go to stop the assailant and ended up not budging from his position.

“The doubts upon you cannot be denied! Follow us without resistance!”

“Stop!! Let me go!! Marquis!! Marquis Bryland!! Please help— ”

“.........”

Leonas looks at the knights drag out Loghain, silently.

Afterwards, documents apparently containing orders from Brumerush are found in Loghain’s luggage: his betrayal is verified.

The other assassin that has purposely made noise outside the tent in order to attract attention is also quickly found. Cornered, he takes his own life: the assassination of Leonas Bryland is thus foiled.

Then —

“Our enemy is at the northern walls! Brumerush must die!!”

“YES SIR!!”

A large-scale “civil war” broke out within the Ferelden Army. The rampage starts, with none of the parties aware of who orchestrate it all.

The battle of Fort Lassic thus accelerates towards its conclusion…