Ash Kicker, son of the Lady Protector, had never expected to be an Assassin. To hide in plain where others would make grand declarations, to use the crowds where others would think such things beneath them, to keep the Brotherhood secret from his clan aside from Gale and Mother.

He never believed the legends of the thestrals, the boogeymares of silly foals, never could imagine their existence… could never know of what his master did for their clan. His life has taken such a strange turn these days… where's a good Long Patrol stint when needed? He'd rather face monsters of the woods then the horrors of his fellow Equestrians or worse the nobility. Why can't he just enjoy a good war then the craziness that his mothers whims have wrought.

What happened to the days when a warlock or rebellion could have earned him glory and rank. Why did Ash have to be more then a Kicker?