I have given it quite a bit of thought. Walden Macnair believes that he was cheated out of the fame and glory he was owed by the Protectorate, and now he's decided to pursue fame and glory by working against us. Oh, the degenerates here think quite highly of him - for he doesn't just write pompous missives while bedding whores in France, he murders their caretakers and attempts the same on the son of He who has granted their continued existence. They are too dull to realise that Macnair only has his own best interests in mind.

As for the guard, there are many possibilities, the most likely being Walden tortured him for information, then killed him so that he would not be able to report back about it to us.

Ah, did she? I'm sure she enjoyed that just as much as you did. And how's the baby, then? Pining for his new best chum?