1002 lines
59 KiB
Plaintext
1002 lines
59 KiB
Plaintext
From WHITEJL@DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU Tue May 12 09:06:57 1992
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(5.65c/IDA-1.4.4/pen-ident for <RITA@EFF.ORG>); Tue, 12 May 1992 09:06:51 -0400
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Message-Id: <199205121306.AA25409@eff.org>
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Received: from DUVM by DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU (IBM VM SMTP R1.2.2MX) with BSMTP id 3201; Tue, 12 May 92 09:03:34 EDT
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Date: Tue, 12 May 92 09:03:29 EDT
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From: "SilentElf" <WHITEJL@DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU>
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To: RITA@EFF.ORG
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Status: OR
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1 /
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DDDDD ZZZZZZ //
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D D AAAA RRR GGGG OOOO NN N Z I NN N EEEE ||
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D D A A R R G O O N N N Z I N N N E || Volume 4
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-=========================================================+<OOOOOOOOO>|)
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D D AAAA RRR G GG O O N N N Z I N N N E || Issue 2
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DDDDD A A R R GGGG OOOO N NN ZZZZZZ I N NN EEEE ||
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\\
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\
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- DargonZine Volume 4, Issue 2 06/03/91 Cir 1129 --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- Contents --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Two Bits and a Silver II Michelle Brothers Sy 20, 1013
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Blood on Oron's Crossroads Wendy Hennequin Naia 12, 1014
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1 Two Bits and a Sliver
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Part 2
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by Michelle Brothers
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(b.c.k.a. <brothers@tramp.colorado.edu>)
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Teran glared angrily down at the open gate of Dargon. Two months
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wasted on a wild goose chase and he was finally back where he started.
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The trail was probably cold by now; Eliowy wouldn't be foolish enough
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to stay in the city and that left Teran further behind her than he'd
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been the entire chase.
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He'd spend a fruitless two months searching for his charge up and
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down the road to Tench on the chance advice of a person on the street.
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The information--that the boy had seen someone answering Eliowy's
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description leaving by the main gate and heading towards Tench--had
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been completely wrong and Teran strongly suspected that it had been a
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plant, although where Eliowy had gotten the bribe money and the time
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to talk to the boy was a mystery.
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Dusk was deepening into night, so Teran kicked his horse into a
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trot so he could make it into the city before the gates closed. While
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Dargon did have a smaller, secondary entrance that remained accessible
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though the night, the graveyard watch asked too many questions for
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Teran's comfort.
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The gate loomed in the road and Teran urged his mount to a faster
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gait, eager to be off the road, it only for one night. He deserved a
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warm bed and good food before taking up his search again.
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As he drew closer, Teran could make out a figure on horseback,
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riding quickly down the main street, cloak streaming behind. The gate
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guards stepped hurriedly aside as the rider charged through the gates.
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Teran pulled the bay off the road. Horse and rider plunged past, and
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Teran caught a glimpse of bright auburn hair in the last of the light.
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Swallowing a shout, he pulled the bay around and sent him
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charging after.
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`This is getting to be a habit,' thought Eliowy in annoyance as
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she charged over the wet sands and towards the stairs leading up to
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Liriss' private pier. Behind her the sounds of combat rose soft as a
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whisper over the beat of the rising surf. The guards who dragged her
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here were being occupied by a lone man, who, for no reason that Eliowy
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could see, had come to her rescue.
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One of the guards was currently having a drink of seawater and
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the other two were learning the finer points of losing a sword fight.
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In an unoccupied corner of her mind, Eliowy was almost sorry that she
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couldn't stay and help get rid of Liriss' minions, but getting out of
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Dargon was much more important right now. She'd openly defied Liriss
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and her life wasn't worth the time it would take for him to kill her
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any more.
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She had until dawn; Liriss shouldn't learn of her escape until
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then.
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The stairs creaked loudly above the beat of the waves and the
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soft, tinkling clash of bladework. Slick with spray, the banister
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imparted a splinter to Eliowy as she tried to keep her balance in her
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hurried charge. Her arrival at the top of the stairs was ungraceful;
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she tripped on the topmost stair while looking back to see about
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pursuit.
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Loud footsteps on the pier sent Eliowy scrambling for the dubious
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cover of a small pile of shipping crates.
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A man, clad in chainmail, hurried past and down the stairs
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without sparing a glance to Eliowy's hiding place. Shouts echoed up
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the steep walk, followed by more of the tinny sounds of steel on
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steel.
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Creeping to the edge of the stairs, Eliowy could just see the
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pier guard engaging her rescuer in the gathering gloom. There was no
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sign of Liriss' thugs. The fight entered the water and Eliowy drew
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back from her vantage point. In a few short minutes the fight would be
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over and by then she'd have to be well away. Better start running.
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The question was, where to go. Liriss' connections within the
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city were so extensive that there was no place she could hide from him
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for long. Going to Tench was too obvious...hiking along the beach
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might be an idea... She slipped away from the boxes, mind working
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furiously on coming up with escape route that might be successful
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against a powerful mounted enemy.
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A soft, disgruntled whinny drew Eliowy to the one thing that had
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kept her in Dargon for so long. A horse lipped idley at the worn
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railing. For the first time since arriving in Dargon Eliowy felt in
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charge of her situation.
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`A quick stop at the house to get my stuff and I can be out of
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the city and Liriss' reach by dawn,' she thought as she pushed herself
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to her feet and advanced towards the animal.
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A faded blue horse blanket was secured to its back by a well worn
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saddle. Empty saddlebags hung on either side of the horse's rump and a
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crossbow with a quiver of quarrels dangled from a snaffle on the right
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side.
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"Good horse," said Eliowy softly, patting the horse's neck.
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Gratified by the attention, the animal nuzzled the top of the girl's
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head. Beneath them, under the pier, the sounds of combat could no
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longer be heard. "Good boy. I'm really sorry, but I need you more than
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your owner does, so be cooperative..."
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Eliowy swung into the saddle and with a clatter sent the animal
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careening down the pier.
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Dust was churned up and illuminated by the passing street
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lanterns and the last shreds of dusk sunlight. Buildings flashed past
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as Eliowy guided her mount through the main streets that were less
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familiar to her than Dargon's back pathways and alleys. Few people
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were abroad, even this early in the evening. The gang wars kept people
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indoors as sunset drew near because in the dark, it didn't matter
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whose side you were on.
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Fear made her tense and she gripped the leather reins in sweaty
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hands as she urged the horse into a full trot, wanting to be gone as
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quickly as possible.
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The brightly lit front and balcony of the house where Eliowy had
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been staying came into view. Pulling the horse to a stop beneath a
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sign depicting a blonde woman holding a sheet to her breast, she flung
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herself out of the saddle and hurried up the main steps.
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Warm colors decorated the main room where half a dozen women
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lounged on couches and chairs. Pastel drapes and exotic tapestries
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covered the walls and candles brightened the room. A welcoming chorus
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followed the girl up the main staircase.
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Eliowy had not had much contact with the dezins of the house she
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was staying in. She was usually out on the streets when they had free
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time and she'd been advised by the proprietress not to bother the
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women in the evening. Eliowy usually spent her nights practicing sword
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work in her room, limiting her contact with the women to quick
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`hello's, `goodbye's and compliments on some particularly pretty piece
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of frippery. She knew that her housemates were whores, but pretended
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not to notice and for their part, the prostitutes never asked why the
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girl didn't share their profession when she obviously lived in the
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house.
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Liriss had known that she wasn't practicing prostitution to
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provide him with his required fee, but said nothing, assuming that it
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would only be a matter of time before the girl couldn't make enough
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picking pockets to pay him and resorted to the better paying
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profession of lady for hire.
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Eliowy's room was at the end of the hall on the second floor and
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the heavy door swung partially shut as she ducked into its dubious
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sanctuary. Like the rest of the house, the room was lavishly
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decorated. Tapestries hung on the walls and a deep, double doored
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window with a window seat let in moonlight across from the main
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entrance. A large four poster bed dominated the left hand wall and a
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wooden wardrobe covered the right. Thick rugs hid the floor. Light was
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provided by a pair of lanterns placed on either side of the bed's
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headboard.
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The house's only servant always seemed to have them lit before
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Eliowy returned from her day on the streets and today was no
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exception. Warm yellow light pooled across the floor in a steady
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stream.
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Eliowy headed for the wardrobe first. Pulling open the doors, she
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grabbed her worn pack from the cupbord's bottom. From pegs she pulled
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her old travel clothes and threw them on the bed, followed by the new
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pieces that Liriss purchased for her. They might remind her of his
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foulness, but they'd keep her warm during her trek away from Dargon.
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Winter was just around the corner and leaving now as a sure way to get
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caught in the first autumn storms.
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After the last piece of clothing was pulled from the wardrobe,
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Eliowy went to the bed. From underneath the wooden frame she pulled
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out her sword and scabbard and flung it on top of her clothes. Digging
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a little yielded her harp.
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Well worn goldenwood glowed in the light and the strings, made of
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costly spun wire, glinted like bits of moonfire.
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Sadly, Eliowy stood and wrapped the instrument in her old cloak,
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placing it deep in the bottom of the pack. She'd had to sell the
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harp's case months ago for a little bit of coin that fed her for less
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than a week; true value of the case should have put her up in the best
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hotel for a month, but desperation and hunger led her to accept the
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first reasonable offer she came across. Guilt was still fresh and
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Eliowy was glad that her mother wasn't alive to hear her pitiful
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excuses.
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Clothes were piled on top of the instrument to give it added
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protection. She would detune the strings as soon as she was clear of
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the city to keep them from snapping in the cold; the cloak wouldn't be
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enough to protect it once full winter set in. She pulled the
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drawstrings of the pack tightly shut then buckled on her sword belt
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and spare dagger.
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The sword itself was drawn a second later at the sound of the
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door shutting completely.
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"Tilden!" Eliowy lowered the sword point at the sight of the
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hollow eyed ex-scout. "I told you to leave me alone."
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"You're not usually this late," commented Tilden, leaning against
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the door and surreptitiously engaging the lock. "And you rode in from
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the direction of the docks. What happened?"
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"Liriss tried to kill me," said Eliowy, surprised at how easily
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the words came out. And how willing she was to talk about it. The
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shock of nearly fulfilling the crimelord's death sentence hadn't quite
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worn off. "I was late again last night and he said...he said I needed
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to learn a lesson. He was going to...he tried to..." She choked on the
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last few words, the realization that he was going to use her finally
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sinking in.
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Tilden closed the gap between them and gently pulled the sword
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from Eliowy's limp hand. He put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
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Eliowy didn't notice.
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"I always carry a dagger," she continued, after a moment, staring
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blankly at the open wardrobe door and seeing again Liriss' enraged
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eyes glaring at her from across the room. "So when he grabbed me...I
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cut him..."
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Tilden bit his tongue to refrain from commenting on this foolish
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audacity. No employee, in all the years that the scout had worked for
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Liriss, had dared to pull a weapon on Dargon's crimelord, let alone
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take one to his flesh. That he hadn't outright killed the girl was
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surprising; that she was still alive at all to tell about the incident
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was a minor miracle. Tilden listened in fascination as she continued
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the tale, eyes staring blank and fearful at the door as she re-lived
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the incident.
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The wood paneling of the wall was smooth against her right palm,
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the looped wire grip of her knife warming slowly in her left. Light
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glinted off the blade's edge, staining the steel a dull, burnished
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orange. Despite the tremors running through her body, her weapon arm
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and dagger remained steady.
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"You'll never get away with this, Eliowy," said her target icily,
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large hand pressed firmly against the long cut on his chest. Though
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shallow, the wound dripped blood steadily and clashed with the rich
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gold of his shirt.
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"Don't bet on that," said Eliowy. She took the final step that
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brought her to the door. Fear, oozing out of her sub-conscious into
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her body, had not yet reached her mind and even as she shook in
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terror, she eyed the man calmly.
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As she glanced over her shoulder to locate the door handle,
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Liriss lunged for her, only to freeze again when she turned back to
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face him. "Just stay back," Eliowy warned, treatening with the
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bloodied knife. Pulling the door open, she sidestepped into the
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opening. "If you take one more step," she said as Liriss moved again,
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"I'll kill you."
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"I'll see that you die slowly and painfully for this!"
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"Not if you can't find me."
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Both knew this was no idle statement. Eliowy was very experienced
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at running and hiding and Liriss knew that if he couldn't get a tail
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on her immediately after she left him, she was as good as lost. The
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same skills that kept the town guard off her back and had kept her
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safe through months of running cross country would keep her from
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falling to Liriss' underlings.
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Eliowy stepped carefully backwards into the outer office. Liriss
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followed, eyes glittering angrily. His need to do something almost
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over-rode the threat her knife offered and, as Eliowy glanced behind
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herself to spot the outer door, he lunged for her.
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The knife opened a foot long slice in Liriss' gut as Eliowy
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brought the blade around to defend herself. With a bellowed cry of
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pain, the crimelord fell to his knees, gasping, arms clutching his
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stomach, trying to stop the blood.
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Little crimson trails crawled down the dagger and across Eliowy's
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hand to disappear into the embroidered cuff of her red tunic. She
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stared at her attacker for an instant, before turning and bolting. The
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door crashed back on its hinges just as Liriss collapsed to the floor.
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"I ran into Kesrin in the hall," added Eliowy into the pause that
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followed. Tilden said nothing, astounded that she'd been able to hurt
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his former boss so easily. "And he brought me back to Liriss' office.
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Liriss...wasn't in any condition to give orders so Kesrin sent for
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guards to take me down to the blocks..." Her voice trembled at the
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thought of how close she had come to dying in the rising tide.
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"You're lucky to be alive," said Tilden, squeezing her shoulders
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gently. "The guards let you go?"
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"No...some man rescued me. I...didn't think it wise to stay
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around and see if he won or not..." The image of the blonde haired man
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fighting with the two guards rose before her eyes again. He had won.
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He wouldn't have attacked the guards if he didn't think he had a
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chance. Which raised the question of why he had rescued her at all.
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Eliowy dismissed the question immediately. She didn't have time to
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worry about the reasons behind the fortuitous rescue. She had to take
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care of herself. If he survived the battle and she ever saw him again,
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she would thank him properly. But until then, there were more
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important things to worry about.
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Eliowy realized that Tilden's arm was wrapped possessively about
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her shoulders and glared at him. "I said that I didn't want to deal
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with you again, Tilden." she said, annoyance pushing aside her fear.
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She ducked under his arm to get away from him.
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"What Liriss did to you was terrible," continued the former
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scout, catching hold of her collar as Eliowy tried to duck away. "He
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deserved what you did to him. More than what you did. I asked for your
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help before and you said no. Now you have a reason. Help me to kill
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Liriss!" The wild, almost mad light that Eliowy was used to seeing in
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Tilden's eyes grew brighter. His sanity seemed to slip away as his
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need to kill the crimelord took over. He shook her as she stared at
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him. "Help me! You must help me kill him!"
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"Let go!" Eliowy tried to yank out of his grip and did nothing
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more than pull the cloth of her tunic tight around her throat. She
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grasped at her dagger.
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"If you won't help me willingly," threatened Tilden, pulling her
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close. "I'll just use you as bait. To lure that creeping slime to me.
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I don't need your cooperation. Just your body."
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Eliowy could feel his hot breath on her neck as she reached
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around and stabbed him in the arm with her knife. With a loud scream
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of surprised pain, Tilden jerked away. Eliowy slashed him across the
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throat as she turned to face him fully.
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Tiny red bubbles formed at the corner of Tilden's mouth. His hand
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reached towards his neck in confused surprise as he slid to his knees
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making no other sound. Eliowy stared at him in fascinated horror as he
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slumped to his side.
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She'd never dreamed when Teran first started teaching her
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bladework that she would ever be able to kill someone. Too many times
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on this paniced escape she'd proven herself wrong. Tears of regret and
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fear filled the girl's eyes and she started shaking again.
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Heavy pounding on the door brought her to her senses.
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"Eliowy? Is everything all right in there? Eliowy!" The voice of
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Madame Tillipanary rang faintly through the heavy wooden portal. "Open
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the door, Eliowy! What's happened?"
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"Oh, no..." Eliowy looked away from the door. Calm settled over
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her and she sheathed the knife after cleaning the point on the hem of
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Tilden's dirty shirt. She pulled on her cloak and pack, then stepped
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to the window.
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The pounding became more insistent.
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Eliowy pulled open the shutters of the double window. Stepping
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out onto the balcony, she knelt down and let herself carefully over
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the edge, leaving fingerprints, red from Tilden's blood, on the sill.
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Sergent Coressa DaVrice let her patrol down Layman Street,
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keeping eyes wide open for things in the alleys and shadows. Layman
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Street and the area around it within a quarter mile of the dock were
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not the best place to be caught daydreaming in. Her troop of six had
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drawn night duty for the last three weeks and the territory had
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steadily been getting worse as each week passed. They carried shields,
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heavy swords and wore full corslets in this part of town these days.
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It seemed that the local crimelord was consolidating his position and
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the gang warfare had been bitter recently. The upper eschelons of the
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town guard were even sure who was behind the trouble, but they
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couldn't prove anything, so the street fighting continued. Except
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where the guard could stop it.
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"This is absolutely the last time I put the companies duty up as
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stake in a card game and win!" DaVrice muttered to herself as they
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passed in front of the most profitable brothel in town. A horse in
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full riding gear was tethered out front. This struck Coressa as odd
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because the _Lucky Lady_ also had one of the better stables in the
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area and client's transportation usually received the same good
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treatment as the client themselves.
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She was about to comment on this to her second when he stepped up
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beside her.
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"Um...Sergent?"
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"Yes, Caisy?" He was supposed to be guarding the rear and
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shouldn't have come forward without orders. Not that she minded much,
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but if the Lieutenant should happen by...
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"Looks like there's someone hanging from the second story window
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of the _Lady_," Caisy informed her, pointing.
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Sure enough, when DaVrice looked, there was a slender shadow
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dangling over the balcony's edge.
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"You there!" she called, motioning the three of the four guards
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directly behind her to get underneath the window. "Stay where you
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are!" Who would be leaving the _Lucky Lady_ by anything but the front
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door, DaVrice wondered as she led the rest of the patrol through the
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invitingly cracked door. Not a thief. The _Lady_ hadn't been robbed
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since it opened ten years ago, despite the amount of wealth rumored to
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be held inside. It couldn't be a `client' either--if one started
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harassing the employees he left by the front door, usually with a new
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set of bruises. The _Lady_ was strict about screening visitors.
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The cloaked form resolved itself into a slender female in the
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light of the soldier's lantern as they clustered beneath the balcony.
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She let go at the same time as the sound of splintering wood echoed
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down the nearly deserted street. A scream from inside marked the
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person landing on the nearest guard. They both tumbled to the ground
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in an untidy heap.
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Eliowy rolled free of the unconscious guard's body as one of his
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companions grabbed for her. She dodged the ill-timed snatch and
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ploughed into the other one, shoving him aside. He stumbled and fell
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over his fallen partner, while the first one made another grab for the
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girl.
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She just missed catching ahold of the trailing cloak as Eliowy
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ran for her stolen horse. Grabbing the reins, she was missed again as
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she swung into the saddle. Curses erupted and the guard made a try for
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the bridle. Eliowy ran her down, goading the horse into a trot, then a
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canter, and finally a dead run.
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Whistles and more shouts caught on the wind and followed her as
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she headed towards Main Street.
|
|
|
|
"...scream so naturally I rushed right up," Madame Tillipanary
|
|
was saying when Kalen Darklen arrived on the second floor of the
|
|
_Lucky Lady_. Her well manicured fingers clasped and unclasped
|
|
nervously in her pale green wrap. "The door was locked and when I
|
|
knocked and called, there was no answer."
|
|
"So you had one of your bouncers break the door in," Sergent
|
|
DaVrice said. She inclined her head to Kalen as he stepped up beside
|
|
her, but kept her attention focused on the woman before her.
|
|
"Bernail, yes. The safety of both my girls and my clients is of
|
|
great importance to me, you understand." Madame Tillipanary looked
|
|
from the guard sergent to the lieutenant earnestly. "Anyway, HE was
|
|
lying on the floor when we got in. And the windows were open."
|
|
"We arrived upstairs a minute after he took the door out,"
|
|
DaVrice directed the comment to Kalen. "Just about the time our prime
|
|
suspect jumped. Roji, Paone, and Liat let her escape. I sent them to
|
|
try and warn the gate guards," she added at Kalen's frown.
|
|
"Tell me about our suspect," said Kalen, folding his arms. He was
|
|
easy-going, but letting a possible murderer slip right through your
|
|
fingers was one good way to make him angry.
|
|
"Female, sir, but that's as far as I got. Madame?" DaVrice and
|
|
Kalen turned their attention back to Tillipanary. The sheet clad woman
|
|
who had been whispering to her stepped hastily back and the madame's
|
|
expression abruptly smoothed.
|
|
"The child's name is Eliowy K'rill," Tillipanary said. "She's not
|
|
one of my girls. A friend of mine asked me to keep an eye on her, so I
|
|
gave her one of my empty rooms." Kalen glanced at DaVrice. Both could
|
|
guess who the woman's "friend" was and why he wanted the girl looked
|
|
after at a brothel. "She's not very tall," the madame continued, not
|
|
seeming to notice the exchange of glances. "She was pretty, but not a
|
|
great beauty. Fair, oval face, auburn hair and curious golden eyes."
|
|
Kalen gave the woman a startled look. "Are you sure about that?"
|
|
he demanded. "The eyes and the hair?"
|
|
"Yes, Lieutenant, I'm sure," said Tillipanary, puzzled. Under the
|
|
questioning look she studied the guard closely. "She was always such a
|
|
nice, polite child. She didn't seem capable of this..." She gestured
|
|
vaguely at Tilden's sheet shrouded body.
|
|
"Be that as it may," muttered Kalen. "Sergent, organize another
|
|
squad of six. Search the city for this Eliowy K'rill and inform the
|
|
other patrols to keep an active look out. Suspicion of theft and
|
|
murder."
|
|
"Yes, sir!" DaVrice saluted crisply and led the remnant of her
|
|
squad down the carpeted stairs.
|
|
"Only suspicion...?" Madame Tillipanary's voice trailed off
|
|
questioningly as the guards disappeared from sight.
|
|
"There is always the possibility that this was self-defense,"
|
|
said Kalen neutrally. One time luck, two times coincidance, three
|
|
times a charge. Kalen didn't think this incident was just a
|
|
coincidance. Red hair was rare enough along the coasts to be notable.
|
|
And those eyes... "Until I have a chance to question the girl, we
|
|
can't be positive. If you think of anything else, Madam, please report
|
|
it to the Guard."
|
|
"Of course, Lieutenant," said Madame Tillipanary agreeably. "I'm
|
|
sure that you'll want to investigate further, and there is the matter
|
|
of the body," the woman averted her painted eyes. "So I'll have his
|
|
hallway closed off. It's accessible by the back stairs. If you would
|
|
please use those, I would greatly appreciate it. To avoid the
|
|
customers, you understand."
|
|
"Of course," said Kalen dryly. "I'll have someone come to deal
|
|
with the body tonight. Good evening."
|
|
The last thing Kalen saw as he left the room was the same sheet
|
|
clad prostitute whispering frantically in her madame's ear and the
|
|
look of pleased speculation on Tillipanary's face.
|
|
|
|
Madame Tillipanary hurried through the chill autumn night, wind
|
|
pulling at her heavily embroidered cloak. She kept one hand on the
|
|
dagger belted around her waist, in case one of the punks thought she
|
|
might be a target. With the gang wars in full swing, being Liriss'
|
|
employee was no longer a guarantee of safe passage along the night
|
|
streets.
|
|
She arrived at the steps of Liriss' town house without incident.
|
|
Two personal guards, older men who had been with the crimelord almost
|
|
as long as Tillipanary herself, nodded to her as she hurried up the
|
|
stairs and pulled open the door. Of all the people who worked for
|
|
Liriss, the madame was the only one besides his lieutenant who was
|
|
permitted access to him at any time.
|
|
A gust of wind pushed the woman inside and set the expensive
|
|
beeswax candles dancing in their suspended chandelier. Shadows capered
|
|
around the sparsely furnished room, hiding doors to the left and
|
|
right. A staircase crawled up the far wall.
|
|
Her delicate slippers made no sound on the hardwood floor as
|
|
Tillipanary made her way towards the stairs. Picking up her disaphorus
|
|
skirts, she started up the steep walk, only to be stopped on the
|
|
landing by Kesrin, Liriss' lieutenant.
|
|
"May I help you, madam?" he inquired politely, blocking her way
|
|
to the second floor. Sharp hazel eyes studied the woman out of a
|
|
neutral expression.
|
|
"I must speak to Lord Liriss immediately," declared Tillipanary.
|
|
She'd considered Kesrin a nuisance since the day he'd risen to
|
|
prominence from obscurity eight years ago and she'd never bothered to
|
|
hide the fact. She was certain that his careful, precise manners hid
|
|
something and it frustrated the madame that she hadn't yet been able
|
|
to figure out what. "Get out of my way, Kesrin. This can't wait." She
|
|
tried to step past him again only to have him interfear once more.
|
|
"Lord Liriss isn't seeing anyone this evening, madame," said
|
|
Kesrin firmly, catching the woman's elbow. "You can tell me, if it is
|
|
so important and I'll see to it that my Lord hears of it."
|
|
"Let me go," Tillipanary ordered coldly. "I'll tell Liriss and no
|
|
one else."
|
|
"He's not seeing anyone this evening," Kesrin repeated,
|
|
tightening his grip on her arm when she tried to pull away.
|
|
"He'll see me."
|
|
"He's indisposed."
|
|
"Don't feed me that line," snapped Tillipanary. "He takes his
|
|
girls in his office, not his home. And if you do not let go of me this
|
|
instant--"
|
|
"My Lord Mardos." A new voice rolled through the argument,
|
|
followed by a tall, slender man in well cared for physician's robes.
|
|
"Lord Liriss is resting comfortably. I've bandaged the wounds and left
|
|
a jar of medicine for the pain by his bed. Mix a spoonful with water
|
|
or wine if he needs it. And don't let him up until the end of next
|
|
week, at least." The spate of instructions preceded him down the
|
|
stairs as he joined them on the landing. "My Lady." He nodded politely
|
|
to Tillipanary.
|
|
"Thank you, Doctor," said Kesrin calmly, while beside him the
|
|
madame paled. "Your fee will be delivered to you in the morning."
|
|
The doctor bowed. "Then I bid you good evening, my Lord, my
|
|
Lady," and he swept down the stairs.
|
|
Tillipanary waited until the door boomed shut before turning on
|
|
Kesrin.
|
|
"What in the name of the Red Garter of Randiriel is going on!"
|
|
"Lord Liriss was attacked this evening," said Kesrin after
|
|
considering the slender woman for a long moment. "By the girl he sent
|
|
to stay with you."
|
|
"Eliowy," breathed the madame. She shook off the chill feeling of
|
|
dread and explained softly; "She killed Tilden tonight just after
|
|
sundown. The City Guard got involved..."
|
|
"That's not possible!" Kesrin burst out, his unflappable poise
|
|
cracking for once. "I sent her to the blocks tonight. Just BEFORE
|
|
sundown. She's supposed to be dead!"
|
|
"Well she's not!" Tillipanary hissed, her expression going cold.
|
|
"You'd better plan on doing something about your lapse, Kesrin. Lord
|
|
Liriss will not be pleased to hear that she's escaped." Despite her
|
|
concern about Liriss, the madame spared enough emotion to feel pleased
|
|
that her hated rival was in a very dangerous situation.
|
|
"I will deal with it," responded Kesrin just as coldly, his
|
|
poised manners and neutral expression back in place. "Thank you for
|
|
bringing me this information. I'll mention to Lord Liriss that you
|
|
dropped by."
|
|
"I appreciate that," Tillipanary said, voice too sweet. "I'll
|
|
drop by tomorrow to see Liriss. He'd best be alive tomorrow." She
|
|
pulled away from Kesrin and made her way back down the steps,
|
|
solitiously accompanied by the lieutenant.
|
|
`Of course Liriss will be alive tomorrow,' he thought, escorting
|
|
the madame to the door. Despite all the years of planning, it was
|
|
still too soon to move and until the time was right, he had a part to
|
|
play.
|
|
As Tillipanary disappeared into the blowy autumn night, Kesrin
|
|
turned to one of the door guards.
|
|
"Find me the assassin, Kendall," he ordered. "And I want him here
|
|
yesterday."
|
|
|
|
Pale, early morning sunlight gilded the grass and leaves and
|
|
reflected in bright sparkles from the stream beside the road. A cloud
|
|
of dust settled gently back to the ground, eddying in mini-whirlwinds
|
|
as Eliowy led her horse towards the thick trickle of water. Sweat
|
|
dribbled down the beast's coat, cutting narrow tracks in the foam.
|
|
"Sorry, boy," she said softly, patting the horse's shoulder as he
|
|
wearily bent his head to drink. "But we needed to put lots of distance
|
|
between us and Dargon." The horse didn't react, greedily filling his
|
|
stomach with the cold water. Eliowy scratched his ears, wondering if
|
|
the creature's original owner had survived the pier-side fight. In a
|
|
way she hoped he had. Someone that kind didn't deserve to die in a
|
|
battle with cutthroats. But at the same time, she hoped he hadn't.
|
|
Someone that kind also didn't deserve to have his mount stolen. "As
|
|
soon as you're rested," she added, "we're leaving. We're still too
|
|
close to the city for comfort."
|
|
She pulled the horse away from the water so he wouldn't drink
|
|
himself sick, and tied him to a nearby bush so that he could browse.
|
|
After quenching her own thirst, she settled by the stream's edge,
|
|
planning to rest until the horse had eaten enough to continue on.
|
|
Good, paranoid intentions fell by the wayside as weariness
|
|
combined with the unusually warm autumn sun caught up with Eliowy and
|
|
she drifted off into much needed sleep.
|
|
A shadow across her face, blocking the sun's heat brought Eliowy
|
|
abruptly out of an uneasy doze. She opened her eyes and had her bleary
|
|
sight filled by a horse's nose.
|
|
"How did you get loose," she mumbled, sitting up and reaching for
|
|
the reins. She froze, seeing someone else's hands on the smooth
|
|
straps. "Oh no..."
|
|
"Good afternoon, Eliowy," Teran said quietly, sitting stiffly in
|
|
the saddle. The bay twitched its ears restlessly.
|
|
The blue of his tunic matched the rich blue of the sky and Eliowy
|
|
found her attention caught by the embroidery at its neck; tracing the
|
|
interlocking patterns with her vision meant she didn't have to meet
|
|
her teacher's azure-blue gaze.
|
|
She climbed to her feet, eyes still fixed on Teran's throat.
|
|
"Good afternoon to you," responded the girl, more out of habit than
|
|
politeness. She backed up a step, towards where her horse was
|
|
tethered. Teran didn't move. She took another step back and still the
|
|
man didn't shift. Eliowy took one more step, turned to bolt for her
|
|
horse and froze.
|
|
It wasn't there.
|
|
She whirled back to face Teran, eyes wild. His expression hadn't
|
|
altered. With casual deliberance he swung out of the saddle to the
|
|
ground.
|
|
Eliowy twitched, but stood her ground. There was no way to
|
|
escape; she couldn't out-run him and she wouldn't return home with
|
|
him. Fear crawled into her throat, drying it instantly, leaving behind
|
|
the bitter taste of panic. The desire to be left alone overwhelmed
|
|
her. A hand crept to the hilt of her sword. The sword that was a gift
|
|
from the same man she contemplated using it on.
|
|
Something caught her back before she could do more than bare an
|
|
inch of the blade. Perhaps the memory of the man beating her around
|
|
the practice yard or of him giving her the blade on her last birthday
|
|
penetrated her paniced mind. Either way, she allowed the sword to
|
|
slide back into its sheath.
|
|
And still Teran did not move.
|
|
Eliowy didn't pause long enough to wonder why he'd done nothing.
|
|
Cloak swirling in a self-created wind, she turned to run.
|
|
She made it away only so far as the edge of the stream before
|
|
Teran caught her by the trailing cloak. And found the cloth loose in
|
|
his hands when Eliowy pulled the clasp open. He reached again and
|
|
grabbed the girl's collar, pulling her close before she could slip out
|
|
of that too.
|
|
Eliowy's tiny wrists nearly disappeared in the blonde man's grip
|
|
and she tugged uselessly against his strength. Fury penetrated her
|
|
panic and she slammed her heel down on his foot, hard. Teran grunted
|
|
in pain, drawing his leg back, but did not loosen his grip. A second
|
|
later he thrust her away from him when she bit him in the wrist.
|
|
"You're not taking me back," Eliowy informed him firmly, suddenly
|
|
calm. Amber eyes blazed like a torch, at odds with the level
|
|
declaration. This time the sword did clear the sheath, glinting with
|
|
the same fire that burned in her eyes. "I refuse to go. Just leave me
|
|
alone."
|
|
"Eliowy, we need to talk," said Teran quietly, gaze flickering
|
|
between her face and the sword. "But not with blades. Put it away."
|
|
"As soon as you go," Eliowy replied, slipping into a guard
|
|
position. The leather wrapped hilt felt warm in the palm of her hand
|
|
and as she extended the blade, sparks seemed to glint on its edge.
|
|
Teran drew up short. His eyes narrowed as he studied the girl.
|
|
Then he nodded sharply. "So be it, then." And he drew his own weapon,
|
|
matching Eliowy's stance almost exactly.
|
|
Surprise flickered though Eliowy's eyes, but she didn't hesitate
|
|
when he came at her.
|
|
The parry was automatic and strong. As their blades connected the
|
|
crash echoed through the air, followed by a gentle whoosh and a white
|
|
hot explosion. The force blew the combatants away from one another and
|
|
withered the grass into crumbling grey ash around them.
|
|
A shocked silence spread away from the stream on the summer-hot
|
|
wind that followed the blast.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 Blood on Oron's Crossroads
|
|
12 Naia, 1014
|
|
by Wendy Hennequin
|
|
(b.c.k.a. <HENNEQUI@CTSTATEU>)
|
|
|
|
I. Martis Westbrook, Knight Captain of the Southern Marche
|
|
|
|
I wasn't sure what happened. No--I knew--I *saw*--but even as the
|
|
Beinison army thundered into our ranks and the troops of Houses Bivar
|
|
and Redcrosse and Othuldane and Equiville fell like heavy hail, I
|
|
could not believe.
|
|
I gave the order to retreat. I gave the order to *retreat*!
|
|
"Fall back!" Caedmon, beside me, shouted. I heard him--he stood
|
|
not yard from me, defending me as I stood stock still in shock. No one
|
|
else heard. "Fall back!"
|
|
"Sound retreat again!" I screamed at the bugler and the drummer.
|
|
"Retreat!" I moved my sword arm and prepared to defend myself again as
|
|
I watched--I stared--as the Fist of the Emperor and with its
|
|
incredible Cavalry demolished the House troops.
|
|
The idiots *charged*. They actually charged! I gave the order to
|
|
retreat. What did they hope to gain by sailing headlong into the
|
|
Emperor's strongest troops? They knew we were outnumbered and that the
|
|
best we had to gain today was a stalemate and escape. Why did they
|
|
charge?
|
|
Next to me, the bugler played the notes of retreat once more; I
|
|
heard other buglers throughout the army picking up the music and
|
|
repeating the call. But retreating was no longer enough; I had to stop
|
|
the Beinson charge. "Order the Assault Brigade and the Archers
|
|
forward," I shouted. What I was doing was horrible; the Archers could
|
|
hardly last ten minutes against the Fist of the Emperor.
|
|
Beside me, Caedmon's sword flashed and rang.
|
|
I should have married him this morning.
|
|
"One of us may die today," Caedmon had said softly, touching my
|
|
mouse- brown hair.
|
|
Looking at the Beinison Knight coming towards me, I thought
|
|
Caedmon had been right.
|
|
He was a big man, six feet, broad, and his armor heavy. I lunged
|
|
forward without waiting.
|
|
Unexpectedly, my sword sliced through a weak spot in his armor
|
|
and he fell.
|
|
"So much for Beinison armor!" Caedmon called gleefully as he
|
|
dispatched his opponent. Blood spattered his Knight's chain as he
|
|
removed his sword from the corpse. "Let's get out of her, Martis."
|
|
But I couldn't move. I saw the men of House Othuldane, House
|
|
Redcrosse, and House Bivar being slaughtered like pigs in their stupid
|
|
charge, and the Fist of the Emperor pounded the Archers like wheat in
|
|
a hurricane. The Assault Brigade fought, bleeding and dying. In a
|
|
moment, Beinison would overrun us all.
|
|
"Martis!" Caedmon screamed, and the retreat sounded again on drum
|
|
and horn. The ranks behind me were in chaos; men and women ran
|
|
screaming into the hills behind Oron's Crossroads or the woods beside
|
|
us. I could see part of the Fist chasing them into the woods and hear
|
|
the screams of the Rangers as they fell. The only piece of sanity on
|
|
the field was the incoherent voice of Lord Kinseley--praise Stevene
|
|
there were *some* loyal commanders left to me-- rallying the House
|
|
Troops.
|
|
"Dear God," I whispered. "Cephas Stevene, save us."
|
|
The Fist kept coming and coming. The troops were done for. Good
|
|
God. I had lost--lost!
|
|
Those damn fools! Their charge was killing them--killing us! The
|
|
Fist poured over them like heavy rain, and I watched as blood
|
|
splattered on the new grass and brains spilled out of heads. The
|
|
shouts deafened me; I knew that the drums and horns were sounding
|
|
retreat, but I couldn't hear, I couldn't move, I almost couldn't see.
|
|
"Martis!" Caedmon screamed. Oh, God, I loved him, and I knew I
|
|
would never see him tomorrow. One of us was going to die.
|
|
"Martis, let's go!"
|
|
A fine Knight would I be, a fine Knight Captain, to be running
|
|
from the field while the Fist of the Emperor pounded my troops and
|
|
slaughtered them like pigs. But Caedmon was right; we had to leave. It
|
|
would be enough for the King to loose these troops today; he didn't
|
|
need to loose the Knight Captain, too.
|
|
So I moved, finally. I took my sword and turned with Caedmon
|
|
toward the woods. We would have to go through them, back to Westbrook.
|
|
Perhaps we could regroup and stop this madness...
|
|
Perhaps we could, with more troops--troops who followed orders!
|
|
Two of the soldiers of the Fist stepped between Caedmon and me
|
|
and the woods. My sword flashed; Caedmon raised his blade. I struck,
|
|
and the blow rang like thunder. But he was quick, both hands holding
|
|
weapons, and it was all I could do to keep his blows from raining on
|
|
me. I twisted and threw a blow from my waist and hip and arm, as Sir
|
|
Edward had taught me. It contacted, shocking my arm, but the blow
|
|
glanced off his armor.
|
|
"Damn!" I muttered. I heard Caedmon exchanging blows with the
|
|
other one, and I could hear him grunting.
|
|
Caedmon, forgive me. I should have married you this morning.
|
|
The man before me raised his arms to strike again. I could hear
|
|
the chaos behind me, and I cried internally for those dying, but I
|
|
could not turn and watch the horror. I stepped forward instead and
|
|
jammed my shield against Fist-soldier's right arm. I pushed my armored
|
|
knee against his groin. He stumbled; I lunged; he died.
|
|
"Caedmon!" I cried. He was still fighting, and I regretted my
|
|
weakness. Good God, don't let me distract him. God, save him. Save me.
|
|
Save us all.
|
|
The man was bigger than Caedmon; he was huge. *All* the soldiers
|
|
in the Fist of the Emperor seemed huge. Beinison was huge. God, how
|
|
could we keep them out of Baranur? No one has ever defeated the
|
|
Beinison Empire.
|
|
I stepped forward to help Caedmon. We had to defeat this man; we
|
|
had to leave, flee to the woods and then to Pyridain. Somehow--how? I
|
|
didn't know; I only knew I had to leave. Oh, Caedmon!
|
|
There was suddenly a Knight of the Star ahead of me--a giant,
|
|
hulking man, left handed. Caedmon cried out as a blow rang on his
|
|
helm. I couldn't look to see if he was hurt; the Knight of the Star
|
|
charged me.
|
|
I raised my shield.
|
|
His first blow nearly felled me by its sheer force. I staggered
|
|
and shook my head to clear it. Oh, God, I was a dead woman. Yes, the
|
|
dead woman who led the troops to slaughter (I could hear them now: If
|
|
only we had a *man* to lead them!), who ruined Baranur. The bards
|
|
would destroy me nightly.
|
|
But the Knight waited patiently for me to recover. When I rose, I
|
|
saluted him for his courtesy and his honor. Not every Knight practices
|
|
his chivalry on the battlefield.
|
|
He raised his sword, his strong left hand against my strong
|
|
right.
|
|
We charged.
|
|
Our shields collided like two strong ships; I shuddered from the
|
|
impact. My sword sailed high over his, aimed at his head--
|
|
I screamed as his steel sword tore through my upper arm.
|
|
Something made a horrible, ugly, grating noise. My shoulder wrenched;
|
|
the pain convinced me that my arm had left its place in my shoulder.
|
|
I stumbled, slipped on the bloody grass, and fell, the Knight's
|
|
sword still gone through my arm beside the bone. I couldn't move my
|
|
arm.
|
|
I couldn't move my arm! Oh, God, I'll never fight again!
|
|
Then I realized that death--at best--was staring me straight in
|
|
the eyes and I was foolish enough to be mourning a wounded arm.
|
|
"Forgive me, lady," the giant rumbled, stepping closer. He pulled
|
|
the sword from me smoothly, but the pain increased, and my blood
|
|
gushed from my arm and reddened the scarlet ground. "We have been
|
|
ordered to take no prisoners."
|
|
The Knight of the Star raised his sword. "Caedmon!" I cried.
|
|
I should have married him this morning.
|
|
The Knight of the Star fell.
|
|
Caedmon grabbed me with his right arm, and with his left, he
|
|
retrieved his sword from the neck of the giant Knight. "And don't you
|
|
dare lecture me," Caedmon snapped, pulling me roughly toward the
|
|
woods. "I know it was unchivalrous."
|
|
I shivered within my armor; my sweat was cold. Lecture him? I was
|
|
so relieved I couldn't speak.
|
|
"Caedmon," I whispered weakly. I was still bleeding. My God, I'll
|
|
never make it out of these woods alive. "Go. Run." I tripped on a
|
|
protruding root. "I'll never make it. Save yourself."
|
|
I could see his blue eyes beneath his helm, and they were angry.
|
|
"I didn't betray my Knightly code to leave you to die," he retorted.
|
|
"I won't leave you to die, love."
|
|
I loved him too, with all my heart. "I can't hold you back."
|
|
"Stop talking nonsense and run!"
|
|
I stumbled along, Caedmon half pulling me. My blood pounded in my
|
|
ears; the trees flew by in a blur. I staggered over the bodies of dead
|
|
rangers; the Fist was in the woods, slaying archers like helpless
|
|
birds. I heard other people running, crashing into the woods,
|
|
hurricane winds driven by the Fist of the Emperor.
|
|
My foot was yanked, and my face suddenly hit the ground. My arm
|
|
throbbed protest at the abrupt jolt, and I bled. Caedmon was pulling
|
|
me upright. Dazed, I sat.
|
|
"Your foot's caught," Caedmon informed me. I looked dully; I felt
|
|
exhausted. But he was right; my steel boot was pinned beneath a root.
|
|
Weakly, I tried to remove it; then, using my one good arm
|
|
hindered by my shield, I pulled. My foot would not budge.
|
|
How marvelous. First, a paralyzed sword arm to keep me from
|
|
fighting, and now a paralyzed foot to keep me from fleeing. I was
|
|
dead. The Fist was coming.
|
|
Caedmon raised his sword. He was going to kill me.
|
|
"Stop!" a voice behind him cried. Caedmon whirled; I looked past
|
|
him at another Knight of the Star. He wore a blue tunic over his plate
|
|
armor, and at his belt hung a silver horn. He advanced.
|
|
Caedmon looked back at me, then again at the Knight of the Star.
|
|
"Sir," Caedmon said, "will you give me single combat?"
|
|
"I will," the man answered, his voice strong.
|
|
Caedmon went forward, his sword drawn. He struck the first blow.
|
|
I should have married him this morning.
|
|
|
|
II. Lawrence Fanez of the Silver Horn, Knight of the Star
|
|
|
|
I was, I confess, a little sorry when the Baranurian line broke.
|
|
I am a loyal man; I have given my vow to the Emperor, and I fight here
|
|
for his victory. Still, I hate to see another Knight so defeated, for
|
|
the Knight Captain of Baranur had commanded wisely and had only lost
|
|
by the treason of her own troops.
|
|
"Charge!" Untar bellowed at the Fist of the Emperor. He has a
|
|
loud voice for one so young. Beside him, the Fist screamed their
|
|
victory call, and Mon-Taerleor began chanting.
|
|
I seethed. "Your majesty," I begged, cutting my way forward, "let
|
|
the High Mage stop his spells. We are winning; we do not need them."
|
|
For once, the young Emperor saw my reason. "Yes, stop," he
|
|
commanded Mon-Taerleor, and the chanting ceased. Although he stood
|
|
behind me, I could feel the wizard's gaze burning into me.
|
|
Let him gaze. Let him be angered and chagrined. It is little
|
|
enough after what he has done.
|
|
"They're going into the woods!" the Knight Commander called.
|
|
"Your majesty, shall we follow?"
|
|
I stopped my butchering. Yes, butchering, for the Baranurian
|
|
troops were helpless. I looked; my uncle, the Knight Commander, nodded
|
|
at me in approval as I waited for the Emperor's order.
|
|
Gow, let us give chase, I prayed. This slaughter is not
|
|
honorable. My Lord, let me have a Knight's combat this day.
|
|
"Yes, Sir Horace, follow," the Emperor decided. I saluted him
|
|
gratefully; I was ill with fighting a war on Amante's terms, and
|
|
gladly I ran to the woods.
|
|
"Sir Lawrence!" the Emperor stopped me. I slid on the blood, but
|
|
paused. When I looked at him, he ordered, "Take no prisoners!" He
|
|
looked at mine uncle. "No prisoners! Sir Horace, no prisoners!"
|
|
The buglers picked up the call: give chase, and take no
|
|
prisoners. I sprinted into the woods.
|
|
Archers littered the ground like storm-torn leaves. I stepped
|
|
around them, leapt over them, looking for my battle. May Gow grant me
|
|
battle, a Knight's battle. I am weary of the Masked God's slaughter.
|
|
The noise in the woods was deafening, like the cries of my own
|
|
brain. I ran, not knowing whom I sought, trusting Gow to lead me to
|
|
honorable victory.
|
|
|
|
The moon was rising over the trees. The moon, My Lady Alanna's
|
|
jewel, given her by Gow: I will let My Lady lead me. I fight for her
|
|
now, now that Liadan is dead. Yes, Alanna is My Lady; her I will
|
|
follow.
|
|
So I ran eastward, listening. A branch crashed in front of me; I
|
|
sprinted. I heard a man speaking in Baranurian, but the words were
|
|
muffled. I entered a clearing.
|
|
His sword was above his head, ready to slay a helpless Knight
|
|
whose foot was trapped. That I would not allow, be he Baranurian or
|
|
Beinisonian. "Stop!" I cried in Beinison, and then in Baranurian.
|
|
The man turned. He was a Baranurian; he wore no Star on his
|
|
chain. The helpless one twisted to see me too, but could not move much
|
|
because of the trapped foot and the horrible wound in the right arm.
|
|
The mobile Knight looked at the caught one, then at me. "Sir," he
|
|
asked politely, and I admired his courage and courtesy in speaking to
|
|
me at all, "will you give me single combat?"
|
|
A Knight's battle! Gow guide my arm. "I will," I answered gladly,
|
|
and I stepped forward to meet him.
|
|
I allowed him, out of courtesy, to strike the first blow; I knew
|
|
that he would be tired. The blow hit my shield, rattling me without
|
|
pain. I struck back, but he deflected my blow with blade and shield.
|
|
I struck again, but missed when the other Knight moved. He
|
|
stumbled on a dead archer and fell. I paused for him to rise; I will
|
|
not strike a fallen man. The Baranurian looked up at me with eyes as
|
|
blue as mine own and nodded his thanks for my gesture. I switched my
|
|
father's blade to my left hand and offered the Knight assistance. He
|
|
took the hand and rose.
|
|
"I ask a boon," the Knight said softly.
|
|
"What do you wish?" I wondered. What boon could I grant an enemy?
|
|
How, will all loyalty to the Emperor and all honor to my country,
|
|
could I grant this man a boon?
|
|
"I ask that if I am defeated that you kill me, and quickly," the
|
|
Knight asked softly. He looked back at the wounded one. "I have heard
|
|
what the Beinisonians do to prisoners."
|
|
"Have no fear, sir," I answered him in his own language. "I have
|
|
been ordered not to take anyone prisoner."
|
|
"Then have at you!" he cried, attacking.
|
|
I sidestepped, and the blow rang on my arm, stinging me below my
|
|
armor. I felt the dent press into my muscle; I would have a bruise
|
|
there tomorrow if I lived so long. I readjusted my shield with a shake
|
|
of my elbow and whirled my sword above my head. The other Knight
|
|
caught it and pushed it away.
|
|
I smiled. An honorable, skillful enemy whom I could fight like a
|
|
man and not slaughter like a beast. Gow be praised and thanked that if
|
|
I were to kill or to die, I should do so as a Knight and not a
|
|
butcher.
|
|
I struck my blow still smiling. His armor sang with my soul in
|
|
the joy of the fight. His blade danced forward at mine helm, and I
|
|
ducked and hit his leg in recompense. He withdrew his hand to ready
|
|
it; I lunged forward but pierced only his quick shield.
|
|
"I hold," the Knight said. He held his shield toward me, and I
|
|
reached for the blade and withdrew it.
|
|
"I thank you." Then I struck.
|
|
The blow thundered in the suddenly quiet forest. His blade on my
|
|
shield sounded like drums. We were dancing again, and the battle sang
|
|
in our blood. His blows fell like hard hail; I fought without
|
|
thinking. My sword struck his arm, his helm, his chest, his leg. He
|
|
battled me valiantly and struck me back. He raised his blow to counter
|
|
my high-flying sword; I flicked my wrist, and the blade hit the back
|
|
of his helm. The Knight tried to hit me, but his sword slid down my
|
|
shield like melting snow. I pushed it away and thrusted.
|
|
A woman suddenly screamed--the other Knight was a woman!--and I
|
|
knew the sound--the cry my heart had made when Liadan lay dying in
|
|
mine arms--and I suddenly knew what I had done. My blood ran cold.
|
|
I killed her beloved before her. I had committed the crime of the
|
|
man I most hated, the one who plunged a dagger into Liadan's back, who
|
|
murdered her in her wedding gown, who served the Emperor as High Mage
|
|
and was immune to all justice--
|
|
I was hateful in mine own eyes.
|
|
Slowly, I turned, and I was shaking in mine armor at the horror
|
|
of it all. She--the other Knight--good Gow, the Knight Captain!--spat
|
|
curses at me as I approached.
|
|
I did not blame her, nor do I now. Have I not cursed Mon-Taerleor
|
|
in such a way?
|
|
Her foot was caught beneath a root, and now I understood why the
|
|
man had raised his sword: to cut the wood and free the foot. The
|
|
Knight Captain stared defiantly at me as I lifted my sword and let it
|
|
fall.
|
|
She scrambled to her feet and faced me belligerently. Her arm
|
|
bled like a flood. I knew she could not fight me. "Go," I said.
|
|
Hazel-green eyes stared out at me angrily. "Do you know who I
|
|
am?"
|
|
"I know, Dame Captain." I took the horn off my belt and thought
|
|
of healing potions. The silver horn immediately filled with one. I
|
|
handed it to her. "Drink; it will help you."
|
|
The Knight Captain fearlessly downed the potion and flung the
|
|
horn back toward me. It bounced on the gory moss, and as much as my
|
|
heart tore to see Liadan's gift so carelessly handled, I did not move,
|
|
but stared only at the Knight Captain steadily.
|
|
Her hazel eyes glared like enraged fire. "Why didn't you kill
|
|
me?" she demanded.
|
|
I blinked, shocked. "I will not slay a wounded enemy." I looked
|
|
at her arm; the potion was already helping to heal it, and it had
|
|
ceased bleeding. "You are too hurt to fight adequately; I cannot, in
|
|
all honor, combat you."
|
|
"And yet you tell me to go," she seethed furiously, her words
|
|
dripping like poison from a wounded adder's tooth. "You will not even
|
|
capture me?"
|
|
Suddenly, I smiled, vindicated. "Yea, Dame Captain, go," I
|
|
invited, almost ready to laugh. "I have been ordered to take no
|
|
prisoners."
|
|
Something in her broke; her eyes were no longer jewel-hard. I
|
|
heard a sob catch in her throat, and she turned suddenly and ran.
|
|
"Gow guide your arm next time," I wished softly, "and Sanar walk
|
|
with you."
|
|
I turned to go. I looked toward the dead Knight whom I had
|
|
killed; I had no more wish to fight today.
|
|
He had died quickly, as he had wished. I stooped to close his
|
|
eyes, then pulled back as I saw the moon glow in them.
|
|
I knelt, put my blade before me, and rested my helm on its hilt.
|
|
"To you, My Lady of the Night, I dedicate my deeds of arms and honor.
|
|
Grant me your blessing to act, with My Lord your husband, as your
|
|
Knight."
|
|
I fell silent after the ritual prayer, and said one from mine
|
|
heart. "I give you also, My Lady, my deed of mercy, and beseech mercy
|
|
of My Lord Gow that her vengeance fall not hard upon me, for I knew
|
|
not he was her lover."
|
|
But let my hand fall hard on Mon-Taerleor for murdering mine!
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 **
|
|
****** ****
|
|
** ** **
|
|
**** ** ** **
|
|
**** **** ** ** ** *****
|
|
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
|
|
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
|
|
** ** ** ** *****
|
|
** ** ***
|
|
****
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
Quanta is the electronically distributed journal of Science Fiction
|
|
and Fantasy. As such, each issue contains fiction by amateur authors
|
|
as well as articles, reviews etc... Quanta is published in two
|
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formats, Ascii and PostScript* (for PostScript compatible
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laser-printers). Submissions should be sent to quanta@andrew.cmu.edu.
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Requests to be added to the distribution list should be sent to one of
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the following depending on which version of the magazine you'd like to
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or
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quanta+requests-postscript@andrew.BITNET
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Send mail only- no interactive messages or files please. Note that if
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you subscribe with a letter sent over BITNET, you will have the
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by mail. Note that all issues are available from the anonymous FTP
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server fed.expres.cs.cmu.edu (128.2.209.58). If you can access this
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server and would therefore only want to be notified when a new issues
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has been released, please specify this in your request.
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Quanta now reaches an international audience of over 1000 subscribers.
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It is produced bi-monthly by Daniel Appelquist (da1n+@andrew.cmu.edu).
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* PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
(C) Copyright June, 1991, DargonZine, Editor Dafydd
|
|
<White@DUVM.BitNet>. All rights revert to the authors. These stories may
|
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not be reproduced or redistributed (save in the case of reproducing the
|
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whole 'zine for further distribution) without the express permission of
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the author involved.
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