Ice warriors

Chapter 2

The room in which Nard stepped out into was dark but that was why they'd spent twenty minutes sat in complete darkness in the prepping room. His night vision was enough that he was satisfied that Gertain had created the shadow gate in the correct location.
A small two storey house, where the family were holidaying in the south.
This rooms windows should face onto their target location.
Nard stepped more fully into the room, drawing a set of curved knives through his blood gauntlets, then crept to the bedroom door, keeping it guarded just in case.
Next through the shadow gate was Djan, the squads Iron Lord. Nard flashed some hand signals then the small wiry soldier, moved quickly and silently to the window his short sword and knife in hand.
There was still no sound or sign of movement from within the house when Hastian their Quieter slipped through the shadows, he already had his pistol crossbow cocked and loaded. He knelt next to Nard under his direction as Gertain came through and closed the gate.
Nard signalled for the other two to remain in the bedroom and keep a vigil on their target address then he carefully opened the door and left, followed closely by Hastian.
The pair of them made quick work of checking the entire house, ensuring their information was correct and the house was empty.
When they returned upstairs Djan was still focussed on his task, turning to check it was them as they entered. Gertain however was lounging on the bed.
"House clear, how's the target?"
"All three floors have patrols, two men per floor and four of the third. Best options would be infiltrate the first as they are the only ones walking as a pair then progress upstairs, if we want to remain undetected,"
"Gertain can you form a gateway to the roof?"
"Have a look and answer your own question," said the shadowstepper.
"The roof is covered in lanterns, they aren't trying to make this easy for us," added Djan
Nard moved to the window to check this for himself.
"Can't move into a shadow that isn't there," said Gertain flippantly.
Nard ignored the comment and watched for the patrols, true to Djan analysis. The ground floors patrol were walking in alternate directions checking each room in turn, their lanterns marking the journeys easily enough. They crossed paths in what appeared the kitchen. The second floor were doing the same but travelling as two groups of two. Only on the first were they keeping together, leaving an entire two minutes between each circuit, giving the squad plenty of time to manoeuvre about on that floor.
The patrols were clearly trained men or at least practiced in their task, their routes were timed also perfectly giving perhaps a twenty second window when no guard was potentially going to see them.
"You see the time window?"
"Twenty seconds," said Djan.
Nard thought for a moment, the roof wasn't an option so they had to find a new point of entry, but they'd been trained to adapt.
"Rope entry, third room from left,"
Djan nodded then rummaged about his bag, pulling out a rope attached to long thin dart.
"On my order," said Nard, carefully unlatching the window as he watched the patrols.
When it was time, he quickly opened the window for Djan to send the dart flying across the gap, thudding into wood. Then Nard closed the window again, the rope stopping it close completely but in this darkness it shouldn't be clear. He didn't look but knew Djan was slipping an small iron pole, with an oiled rag inside, onto the other end of the rope then Hastian wrapped the rope around his body and held tightly, he would be the anchor.
On the next time window, Djan used his power to force the dart into the wood further and on the next they pulled to test it would take their weight.
On the fourth turn, Djan flew from the window, using his skill on the metal pole, sliding along the rope, he perched as best he could, if required they would have sent across darts for footholds before.
Now the upper and lower floors would not see him. The next movements had to perfect. Two more time windows and Gertain slid across, so the pair awkwardly hung near the windows. Then quickly, Djan used his skill to unlatch the window to their right. Then the pair swung into the room, out of sight of Nard.
Moments later he heard the swishing sounds of shadows as they both re entered the room when Nard and Hastian waited.
"This would be a lot easier if you could just set up gateways to places you'd not been," said Djan, not for the first time since they'd practised this technique.
"If you don't mind accidentally appearing at the bottom of oceans, I will next time. Don't tell me how to do my job and I won't tell you how to throw darts," said Gestain, no hint joviality in his cold voice.
Nard waved them both to silence.
"Next window we retrieve the dart, then it's time to move. Remember if we leave any of sign of us being here, we fail,"
Djan nodded, Gestain flared his nostrils, his equivalent. Djan stepped forward, then on Nards order the dart flew back across into safe hands. Djan repacked the tool, then he and Nard gathered around Gestain, away from the window as the moonlight would stop his power working.
Hastian took up lookout then on his signal the other three stepping into shadow, Nard first.
In their destination, Nard quickly assessed the room, guiding Djan to hide to the left side of the door and Gestain further into the room, by the corner. He took up the other side of the door and waited.
Counted in his head he was prepared when he saw a split of light under the door frame. The door opened outward and the guards stepped in. He lashed out with blood at the rear guard, created a mask that blocked his mouth. Djan leapt at the first pushing him just in time into a shadow gate. Then shortly afterward another one appeared under Nards guard and he disappeared too.
Gestain then disappeared himself, appeared moments later, giving a curt nod. Hastian had safely detained the guards.
It was Nards job as squad leader to know the limits of his men. In the case of Hastian he could keep only two grown men quieted safely, using direct skin contact for added impact, that was not his limit but the most efficient use of his powers for the task they had.
Now the first floor was empty for them but the second had four guards and their target. Ideally they would slink from room to room, checking each in turn, then retreat through a shadow gate to avoid contact, but Gestain had opened too many already, he was reaching his limit.
He gave a hand signal for Djan to hold position on the stairs, whilst he and Gestain progressed on. Slowly they ascended the stairs, Nard taking point.
He waited in shadow as patrol walked past. Then quickly he shot up a hook of blood into the rafters and pulled himself out of sight, in position he turned to do the same for Gestain but the man had disappeared, a moment later he heard the shadows swirling behind him and saw Gestain step onto the beam. Nard wanted to chastise him, but decided to postpone the dressing down.
The beam allowed them free movement of the entire hall, which consisted of three sides of a rectangle, they stood along the longest side. Nard indicated for Gestain to stand at one corner whilst he went to other then they waited.
It was human to worry about important tasks, in the case of these patrol guards they would spend longer in the most important room, there target room.
After a while of watching he checked on Gestain who indicted he had the target in sight.
Nard crept along the beam, keeping his balance on the narrow oak easily enough. Gestain showed him in hand signals that the furthest room on the left was the target.
As leader, Nard monitored for himself all success or failure hanging him ultimately but also because Gestain was too lax and not the best observer. This time he was correct however, the guards did not enter the room but stood outside it for longer then any other.
They moved into position, as the pair of guards turned to walk back he lowered himself slowly and quietly, then hardened the blood so Gestain could slide down. The shadow stepper tried the door as Nard recalled the blood, it was locked. They swapped, Nard filling the lock with a enough blood to take the shape. He hardened it and opened the door, it did not click. He pushed down the quick flush of panic, it would not do. He focussed on the blood key, adjusting it ever so much, click. They hurried in and closed the door just as guards turned the corner.
There were no sounds of shouting but that didn't mean they handed been seen. Gestain slipped out a  set of bladed metal knuckles and pressed himself against the wall.
Nard went straight for the jewellery display, keeping in the corner of his eye the gently sleeping noble. This lock opened on his first try. Set on three tiers of velvet were ornate jewellery or outstanding cost, Nard carefully placed the golden broach they'd been given in the location he'd been provided, between the pearls and silver snuff box.
He closed the lid and locked it, then snuck back to Gestain. The telltale sliver of lantern light under the doorframe showing the guard were present, the door handle turned as Gestain and Nard fell into darkness. The quickly collected Djan then returned to Hastian, there were beads of sweat on the chunky mans brow most probably from the strain  of keeping two men under.
Nard gestured to him they were ready, then he took his hands away. He told them to get up and walk at the wall, pointing to where, they did as told as disappeared into the gate. Then finally they retreated back to base.