Failed Negotiations.

After Arash was back, he put his hands in his pocket and brought out a blue handkerchief. He then let his mind go back and remembered how he got it. That was when he helped Adlin to successfully leave the bathing arena without anyone discovering she was a girl. He looked at the handkerchief and thought of what was in-store for the next day. He tightened his grip, squeezing the handkerchief hard, trying to control his emotions.

 It was the day of the peace negotiations, everything had been prepared in advance by both parties, to make sure they have no flaws. Each preparations to each self secret. The negotiations were scheduled to begin at noon.

 At noon, marshal Sima and his men arrived at the designated venue first and waited for the Pan army envoys. When they arrived, they were welcomed with gestures, no words were said till they entered the negotiations tent. General Sima and the Pan army commander went into the tent. As they got into the tent, the guards at the door closed the tents curtains securely and moved some feet away from it, so the information in the tent will remain with who was in it.

 The negotiations lasted till night. During the course of the negotiations, Arash stood at the spot where he had promised Cyrus to personally guard. He monitored everything going on in the surroundings quietly. Soon, they were out, the negotiations had ended with no positive results.

Our negotiations had ended with no results reached, what a pity! The Pan general said.

You were not sincere in making peace negotiations, why did you bother wasting everyone's time? General Sima asked.

We were sincere, but you refused to acknowledge it. 

You didn't have a single sincerity, how do you say I didn't acknowledge it? General Sima asked again.

Goodbye! The Pan general said and they both bowed to each other.

He turned to leave and immediately, Arash jumped down from a rooftop and launched a fierce attack on the Pan general in a motive of deceit. The Pan general speedily dodged to the side, hereby letting the sword that was pointed forward to go straight for general Sima. That was the real motive of the attack. But before the sword could get to the Marshall, Adlin had reacted flexibly. She blocked the sword with her's and they engaged in a heated duel. They were matched in strength and skills and after they fought for a while, the Pan soldiers went on to carry out the next stage of their plan.

 They intervened in the fight and pretended to catch Arash but let him go. Immediately he slipped through them, he aimed at the Marshall again and this time he was successful, but the Marshall evaded him with only a slight sword slash on his abdomen. Before Arash could launch a second strike, Adlin intervened again and this time, the Mezhou city guards intervened too, causing a lot of dragging for space as they surrounded Arash. They were confused as to whether the Pan soldiers were helping or just causing confusion.

 The Pan commander this time, walked through the soldiers and up to Arash, pretending to attack him and hit him with so much force that he flew out of the midst of the soldiers surrounding him. Immediately he landed on the ground, he escaped. The soldiers went after him but couldn't find him. Seeing this, the Pan commander breathed a sigh of relief. 

Father, are you okay? Adlin asked.

Yes. I'm fine, he replied. Go after the assassin immediately.

Yes! You guys follow staff Cyrus and search inside the camp. The rest come with me to search outside, Adlin ordered.

Adlin immediately ran off with some soldiers in pursuit of the assassin.

When two countries are at war, the delegates should not be hurt, said the Pan commander. Is this how you treat your guests?

What did you just say? General Funk asked with fury in his eyes, ready to pick up a fight but Marshall Sima stopped him.

As for the why we are having this drama, you should know it clearly, Marshall Sima told the Pan commander.

No more words! Goodbye, the Pan commander said and left with his guards.

Cyrus ask commander Adu to come back with the soldiers, then you team up with her and find someone with a fresh wound in the camp. We must find the mole, the Marshall commanded.

Yes! Cyrus answered and ran off with the remaining soldiers.

Arash wore an overall black clothing during the operation and covered his face with a black veil, so he wasn't recognized. But the Marshall remembered that Adlin was able to give him slight cut on the arm. The fresh wound is the key which the Marshall wanted to use in catching the assassin. 

Marshall, are you okay? General Funk asked.

I'm fine, he answered.

Escort the Marshall back to Mezhou city and ensure his safety, another general suggested and general Funk nodded.

In his room, Arash had already changed out of the assassination cloth and put on the soldiers gear. He had already dug a hole in the ground where he hid the clothing and covered it with sand and afterwards kept a table over it. Then he lay on the bed like he didn't know what was going on.

Whose room is that? A soldier asked from outside.

It is the Centurion's own, the one that was recently promoted, another answered.

They waited for Cyrus to come because only he had the right to enter a Centurion's room.

 During the peace negotiations today, Marshall was attacked, he asked us to search all the rooms, Cyrus told Arash when he came into the room and saw him half asleep.

Okay go on, he replied. Search everywhere, the shelves, the cabinet and the roof. Ha! It's a pity you can't even catch an assassin with your soldiers, he said with a grumble.

Arash why are you speaking this way? Cyrus asked. He had noticed that Arash seemed restless. 

Nothing. Just my grumble, he answered.

You guys carry on with the search, Cyrus commanded the soldiers. 

Arash stood up and stretched his body. Cyrus looked at the bed and his eyes widened in shock.