Being about to cross the Amstel River, two squares away from the company headquarters, he crossed paths with Herman and Claes, the squires, who always wandered the district in endless walkarounds. Claes they younger, always struggling to keep up with his master, both loading those humungous iron shields that Frans was glad never to have the need to carry around. He greeted them sharply and ordered them to go to the Shooting Field as soon as they were done with their ramble. Herman assured his captain of their presence once they were done going over the square round to make sure everything went smoothly tonight.
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The plan of the night had materialized two weeks ago, with the help of two of the guard's musketeers Jan and Heede. Together they established an exciting plan to catch the Marquis on the night of the queen's visit.
Heede, was strenuously advocated to carry on a massive inspection to all the men attending the event and detain all of those carrying an edged weapon, and perhaps they were lucky enough to get hands on one of the notes written the Marquis himself and arrest him on the act. For the captain, this plan seemed truly impractical, it required too much manpower and the fuss created by searching every man would surely scare the criminal away. Worse even, he could frame some of his targets by planting the note on their pockets, something that would work wonders for the Marquis campaign on eliminating targets. The musketeer kept fighting for his plan to be implemented saying that the guard had enough men to keep it low profile and rapidly done, but Frans was not paying him more attention at that point.
Jan, on the other hand, proposed exploiting the Marquis clear hatred for the protestants. The company had determined early on that the victims were not chosen at random but that they were all connected by the pattern of all belonging to the protestant church, the major religious group of the city. He suggested Frans the idea of throwing a protestant celebration to incite the Marquis to act on a frantic manner and reveal himself to the world. Plan immediately discarded by Frans, due to the fact that the visiting queen was of catholic creed and a protestant festivity would be offensive. Furthermore, provoking the Marquis too much could bring unpredictable outcomes and put people at big risk. Jan couldn't hide his disappointed face when his project was not well received by the captain.
Frans, however, with the inspiration by ideas brought by his men, was meditating a new exciting quest which he immediately shared and all three agreed upon.
They knew that the Marquis of Heaven attacked on festival nights after the curfew were placed. His objectives were always men of protestant creed and were assassinated by stabbing wounds. He had great strength due to the fact that he took two men at the same time at the bridge, feat not possible if he were feeble. Lastly, he disappeared through the night fast as a bullet without the need for an oil lamp never to be caught.
Frans established the plan of the night as follows: Since the Dam Square was to be the epicenter of the event, the criminal would surely attack within the area. The guard was to be scattered on groups of two men per exit of the main square surrounded by dozens of oil lamps to illuminate even the smallest rat of the street. Jacob, the guard drummer was to act as a bait on the cold night, wearing an austere protestant robe to attract the Marquis attention to him, thus becoming an irresistible target. The captain himself, the best shooter of the bunch, would be waiting on top of the Council Building, the tallest of the square, hidden among the shadows waiting the perfect time to take the shot and put the killer down forever.
The oil lamps illuminated but a couple feet away, and while he practiced the shot, Frans noticed it would be a really though ordeal from that position atop the building. But today, Frans was peaceful, he trusted fully in his aim, but more so in his unspoiled honor which he would not let be taken away by this nocturnal enemy.
Reaching the Company's headquarters, Frans entered through the main entrance and crossed the marble floors until he reached the saloon where his group was waiting. He polished the iron shield engraved with "Shooting Company II, Captain Frans Banninck Cocq," with his coat's cuff and headed himself in. Their expectant gazes met him as he stepped inside.
With a smile like a proud father, Frans stepped towards the table to go over the plan once again. He felt more serene than he ever remembered and understood that it was braver to die at the hands of an assassin than by the freezing claws of infamy.
"Let us see if tonight, the brave Marquis meets God at the end of my musket." He thought.
