The Bat Court

The League of Assassins' Gotham base.

"David Cain failed?" Ra's al Ghul wasn't particularly surprised by the news. "As expected. He's no match for Roland. His failure is no great loss."

"Master, Roland wasn't the one who defeated him," Ubu explained. "It was the children at Roland Cathedral. They all had guns—and forced David Cain to retreat."

"Hmm..."

Ra's al Ghul was somewhat speechless. "Even with guns, they're just a bunch of children. How could he fail to handle them?"

Had David Cain heard that, he probably would have sworn at Ra's al Ghul. What did he mean, just a bunch of children? With over a hundred gun barrels pointed at him, did it matter whether the people holding them were children?

If a handful of gunmen fired at him, he might have been able to dodge. But a barrage from over a hundred guns? He was only a well-trained human, for crying out loud!

Just then, a nursery rhyme rang out from somewhere, sounding especially eerie in the night.

"Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time."

"Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind low walls and attic beams."

"They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed."

"Speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send the Talon for your head."

Then Ra's al Ghul heard the alarm.

"Oh, it seems we have visitors." Ra's al Ghul gave a cold smile. "How very bold."

Outside the base, several assassins had already been taken down.

Their attacker wore a skintight suit, with clawlike blades on his hands.

"The Court of Owls sends its regards."

"Tell Ra's al Ghul he has three days to leave Gotham City. Otherwise, he'll regret it."

After delivering that threat, the man left immediately, moving so fast that the