by Pwyll Duggan
"A Trade Guild Officer is inside with the Duke's men. Captain St James also, guarding Lady Rika. But no-one has seen Lady Tanaka this day. She's why we serve, who we are supposed to serve." He focusses on me.
"By my honour, will you look for her?"
I put my right arm forward. We clasp wrists.
"By your honour and mine - I will try."
That gets me a salute from all the guards.
Chapter 5
The estate is drop dead gorgeous. Groomed trees match the garden. Lanterns and stone pillars engraved with protections line all the pebbled paths. Gardens surrounded by small rocks line the driveway I am walking up. Wide enough for multiple carriages, it leads to a formal landing, small fountains and water gardens to each side. A long, gilded carriage, four horses in harness, is off to one side. Armed footmen and coachmen stand around it, alert. House guards line the landing and walk the ground in pairs.
I stride up to the landing, guards looking at each other. One runs down the steps and I speak before he can, anger and command in my voice.
"Lead me to Lady Rika before I remove your head from your shoulders. I'm not in the mood to put up with Lord Tanaka's commands." He stops in his tracks, stuttering.
"I... I have my orders." I give him a dismissive look.
"I just walked thru the gate. You stronger than all of them?" He blanches and shakes his head. "Lead on then." He turns and leads me past the other guards and their questioning glances.
The entrance way is as extravagant as it is opulent and over the top. I show no respect at all, stomping thru the door and over all the carpets. The guard pauses and then races to catch up to me, as I don't remove my boots. As we walk down the hall, I ignore the servants, vases and paintings we pass. We come to large double doors, with its own two guards. Resplendently dressed in polished armour, all dyed blue, hands on sword hilts.
As I go to move past them to open the door, they move to block me. Right hand darts out, grabbing the top of one breastplate, at the neck. I lift and drag him forward, holding his legs off the floor. His partner half draws his sword as I whisper.
"You really think I care whether you live or die? Let's see if you friend is fast enough to draw before I use you to beat him to death?" My escorting guard has already run off down the hall. Both of their eyes widen and then relax.
"Good boys. Open the door, will you? Then I can have room to put this guy down." I lift him higher, tilting him slightly, armour groaning getting the point across.
The thick double doors are pushed open and I carry the guard inside, legs kicking. The room turns to me. Two giant wide beautiful dining tables are side by side, length ways. A small gap between then, servants darting in and out of it, serving food. Rika and Captain St James on one table, the head of their table with an empty place. A setting is clear next to Rika for me. The other table has both the Duke's men, the Trade Guild Officer at my guess, with a red-faced Lord Tanaka at its head, glaring at the interruption. His kimono a contrast to the smart suits of the others at his table. He's dripping in jewellery, black hair greased back, reedy goatee hanging low. I almost giggle - he's Ming the merciless with a huge stomach.
Blue guards line all four walls, hands now on sword hilts. A steep contrast to the wall hangings and paintings, landscapes mostly. And the floating chandelier, small glowing crystals dancing around themselves. The shouting shatters the silence my entrance caused.
"HOW DARE YOU ENTER MY HOUSE!" I casually look at him and whisper thru the side of my mouth.
"Go limp and this will hurt less." I launch the guard into the air, past the length of the table. He hits the ground, back first and slides into another guard on the wall. Good 20 or 30 feet there for the throw.
I raise a gauntleted hand and start counting fingers.
"One. You sent an assassin to kill your daughter." Next finger goes up.
"Two. Said assassin was to kill me also." Third finger.
"Three. Tried to rip us off on the sale of magic items." Next finger.
"Four. Paid thieves to try and steal said items." I reach up and take my helmet off, walking to my seat.
"And you have done other things. BUT I NEED TO SEE THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY FIRST." I slam the helmet on the table, making plates and glasses jump. "WHERE"S THE LADY TANAKA!"
Silence descends like a vice. Guards shuffle and two help up their friend. Lord Tanaka's face is still red, but shock dominates it now. The duke’s men continue to munch and drink, the taller one writing things down again. The Trade Officer, a middle-aged man like me in a nice suit, greying hair and beard, desperately trying to keep a poker face. He's eyes betray him, telling me he's enjoying the hell out of this. Rika's hand rests on my arm, trembling slightly. I lower my voice as I sit down.
"You have 10 minutes. Then Lady Rika inherits this estate."
Lord Tanaka starts to splutter, rage building. I look him in the eye.
"You may deal with Night Ones. But I kill them. And those that work for them."
He goes pale, as does everyone at the table. Bluff worked, proof obtained. Tanaka looks at the Duke's men and races out of the room. I speak up.
"Guards - make sure he's getting Lady Tanaka and bring him back with her. NOW!" I don't look up as the guards leave the room. A shaking servant leans over, wine bottle in hand. I change my body language, relaxing and smiling.
"Water. Or something without alcohol please. Thanks."
Before anyone can speak, I turn to Rika and grab both her hands. She winces as I still have the gauntlets on.
"Sorry for all this. Heard some interesting things. So, it was either burst in thru the doors or burn the place to the ground." That gets me a weak smile. I withdraw my hands and take off my gauntlets, laying them next to the helm. Turning to the people opposite to me, I bow from my chair and introduce myself.
"Shielder Paul Walsh my Lords. Wyvern Slayer and Nightbane. Wielder of a Soul Eater. Partial leader of Clan Walsh." I get small bows in return. The tall reedy fellow starts in.
"Gerald Ottoman, Shielder Walsh. Duke Reynolds Holdings Adviser. To my right here is James Smythe, Agriculture Quartermaster." James nods.
"Greetings Shielder Walsh. You seem such an interesting fellow I just had to come see what you could do." Ah using titles to obscure duties, how original. Like MI:6 being Universal Exports in the James Bond novels. Totally believable. And life once more gets interesting.
The Trade Guild Officer stands, bows to Rika first, then me.
"Lord Corwyn Randal, Trade Guild Manager for Duke Reynolds domain. I'm here to apologize for my members actions, seek recompense for actions taken by all and re-establish proper trading relations. In the Duke's name of course." A small smile reaches his lips.
"The King and Duke need their taxes after all." He sits quickly, signalling for more wine. He's enjoying the drama, as no matter what, he'll come out on top. Well paid also.
There is no small talk as we partake of finger food and drink, time ticking down. Rika has a hand on my thigh, and I on hers. I push back my chair, time almost out for my ultimatum as we all hear shouting coming from the hall.
"How dare you drag me. Let me go. I command you." The doors are forced open, a guard leading the way while two drag Lord Tanaka in. A carried cot follows, Lady Tanaka on the bed. Rika gasp in horror at the sight of her mother. Both eyes are bruised closed, lips broken and swollen. Arm bandaged across her chest.
I run forward past the struggling Lord and to the cot. Without thinking my hand touches her skin while I chant, healing flowing out of my hand into the broken body before me. The arm snaps back into place as her face slowly transforms, returning to normal. Her hue returns to a healthy shade, granting her better breathing also. Rika drops next to her on the floor, hugging her mother, tears flowing.
Rage flows and I see red as I turn. Rose St James is before me, green eyes drilling into my soul.
"Rika's decision. Sit." Her words are there, but I'm not listening. Behind me a sobbing "Please sit Paul." Tha
t deflates me with its sorrow. The boiling goes deep, building as the guards drag him back to his seat. I sit, tense. Rose helps Rika move her mother to the head of our table, next to her husband. Rika stays next to her mother, holding her hands. Two guards have hands holding Lord Tanaka's shoulders. He can't get up from his chair.
Lady Tanaka is barely here, eyes vacant and dull. She slowly looks over at her husband, whispering something. Rika bends down to hear. Her mother repeats herself and Rika stiffens. She then looks at Lord Randal and speaks up.
"I am divorced. My daughter is now the Lady of the estate." Lord Tanaka goes a deeper shade of red, yelling.
"You can't do that!" slowly he raises his arms at his wife, and I act. I mumble "Force Shield" and place it on him, covering him from the front. Puts him in the centre of the half sphere, curving around him.
Lord Tanaka screams as a sphere and bolt launch from his hands as he raises them. I'm buffed from the hit, draining spirita into the shield as it holds. The Bright bolt impacts the shield, tiny cracks racing along the small hexagon parts of the shield. The Fireball impacts directly in front of Lord Tanaka, blowing back on him. His two guards are partially shielded by the Lord's bulk and chair. Lord Tanaka keeps screaming as he burns, lunging at his wife. His fingers trail blood down the shield, skin peeled away as he falls to the ground.
Princess is in my hand at a thought as I vault the table, going over the shield. I drop down, thrusting the sword thru his chest, leaving her to drink. Turning I check the guards, both moaning and sizzling. Chanting I drop a hand on each, a healing stream of spirita flowing down to revive them. The body behind me sizzles as the screaming and panic starts. Rika has her mother tight as she wails, terrified. Rika's tears flow, relief crossing her face as we lock eyes. Rose is standing, mace half up, ready. Lord Randal has fallen back in his chair, drink (or something else) staining the front of his pants.
Only the Duke’s men Gerald and James are still sitting. Gerald taking more notes and James staring at me, softly clapping.
"Well done young man, well done. Full of surprises you are." As the guards stir, I check for more danger, but there’s none to be seen. As the confusion dies down, Rika continues to comfort her mother. Lord Randal brushes himself down, trying to regain some sense of decorum. It's not working with the stain on his pants. We all ignore it. Servants try cleaning and the guards take the body away at Rika's command.
Gerald waits for all the be calm again before beginning to talk, rather calmly.
"That settles the local dispute. Lady Rika Tanaka..." Rika interrupts quickly.
"Walsh, Lady Rika Tanaka-Walsh." Gerald coughs politely.
"Lady Rika Tanaka-Walsh hereby controls the Trade Guild for Kawaba, and thru that the local area for his royal highness thru patronage of Duke Reynolds. All that remains is the Trade Guild decisions and the fact the Shielder is to come with us to Dukehold for the Peerage Council that starts in two days’ time."
"What! Why me?" James head swiftly pops up as he says.
"To make it more interesting of course!"
"Seriously?" Gerald looks at James. James smiles back at him and turns to me and winks.
"In private Lord Walsh."
Lord Randal knocks on the table with a fist.
"Let us wrap up this bad business so I can leave. A fine of 8000 imperials for the Tanaka family's actions here payable immediately. Failure strips the title to the nearest Trade Representative." Rika glares at him.
"And Whom would that be?" He smiles.
"Why Lady Murdock of course."
"Of course, she is." I add, smiling. "Do you prefer it in gold or magic items?" he pivots to me, greed across his face.
"You have that many items?" I nod.
"A weapon would fetch 2000 imperials. I will give you four." He grins. "With a full itemized receipt from the Trade Guild, with the witnesses present." The wind leaves his sails a little, but greed still motivates him.
"With the loss of fees, it would not total 8000." I hold up my hand, stopping him.
"Enough. Four is more than has been on the market for the last year. Last person who tried to cheat me... well let’s say he's powering the Wall now." Randal gulps and nods, reaching inside his jacket. Gerald drops a scroll in-front of him. Randal scowls a little by signs it and uses a ring to place a seal on it.
"I'll be right back with those items." I go to the hall, and with no eyes on me I summon forth four of the trash axes that I had in storage for trade. I wait for a few minutes then return, axes in hand.
"Delivery in full." Randal's eyes light up as he waves a hand over them, triggering a ring, I guess.
"Nice having you here Lord Randal. Heading East I guess." He doesn't look up, nodding in agreement, too busy studying his wares.
James helps him up, his arms full of the axes.
"Let me get you to your carriage." He leads the Lord out, waving over his shoulder as he goes. Gerald is shaking his head.
"The greed of men knows no bounds." He says as they leave the room. Rika is still comforting her mother as servants start to reappear, helping them up and away. Rika looks my way and I nod as she guides her mother away.
Servants refill glasses, remove spilled food as we all sit down again. James walks back in, suit fitting way better than his robes from the other day. He sits sideways on his chair, grabs his glass and downs it in one swift gulp. He turns to Gerald.
"Told Mr Walsh our plan to save the dukedom and this village yet, or just waiting for my majestic form?" Gerald quips without pause.
"Awaiting in your orbit as always my friend."
Rose leans back, pushing her chair out.
"If you don't need me my Lords, I shall depart." James laughs as Gerald pulls out a notebook, evil glint in his eyes.
"Blame the Shielder Miss St James, you're in this now too." She glares at me, that steely glance from our practice bout a few days ago returning to the fore. I'm in even more trouble now. Gerald glances up and starts.
"I see that you have put together that Countess Murdock is playing all sides. Well, we need both of you to attend the Peerage Council and cause a ruckus. A powerful and over the top ruckus." James grin goes even wider as he adds. "Nothing like a little misbehaving for a good time, heh?"
Chapter 6
I sent Rose to the coffee house and wait while she escorts Aysun and her mother back to the Tanaka estate to be with Rika. Alone in my thoughts about what James and Gerald want me to do. With Rose's help, and her water-horse, we can reach Dukehold in a day, if we ride like the wind. That gives me a day to help the Grove with the Dead problem… No rest for the very wicked here. They want me to make a fool of myself at the council meeting. With a display of power to put off the Countesses allies, making them all think twice. Thereby giving the Duke's men more time to mount a defence against her gathering troops. My information from beyond the wall helped, or at least confirmed what they knew. She has help from the Night Ladies.
Not that she's all that nice to begin with, from what James and Rose both told me. What's with the noble class around here, using slaves and generally shitting on people. Have they never heard of revolution? Vigilante justice? This world needs more comics. Well maybe start with education first then, so they can read them.
The lights from demi-town across the river get my eye as the bridge comes into sight. Different problem to solve tonight. My not-so-little Bunny. Really don't want to break her heart. I brush aside the curtain as I enter the noisy Coffee House. Shouted greetings bounce around me as I wave, making my way to the serving bar to get myself a seat. An arm links thru mine. Chel, Aysun's little sister, has me. Her half shaved head and dark clothes amplifies her gothic chick look. Still that darkish skin Dark elf girl thing speeds up my blood a little. No elves where I come from. Lots of kangaroos and snakes though.
She drags me across the floor to a far table, a little booth away from everyone. It's tall seats and curtain give it some privacy from spying eyes and allows me to crash as I sit, Chel sc
ooting around the far side to get next to me. Head on the table, arms by my side, I slump right down as she nudges me.
"You supposed to be fun and games Paul, not some wet rag." She pouts at me, poking my side.
"I know what will cheer you up." As she tries to slide under the table, hands scouting out the tops of my thighs.
"Chel" I sigh "I need a friend more than a playmate at the moment."
"Phooey. A child from you would be gods sent." I pause and gaze at her questioningly.
"Gods sent?"
She smiles and sits up.
"You really are clueless." Her eyes beam. "But Aysun said you were good in bed. How does that work out?" I sigh and try again.
"Can you explain why everyone is so desperate for what's in my pants?" She nudges me again.
"Just playing with you. Let me get some drinks then I'll explain the birds, the bees and The Order." She scoots around to go to the bar, leaving me wondering.
Two mugs and a huge pitcher accompany her back to the booth. She sees my look.
"Don't fret, you get worry lines on that nice face. It’s just cider, not fermented." She places them all on the table and I take a sip. Apple cider it is. She plonks down and slides around, putting her legs up on the other side of the table, skirt hiking up, so I can almost see underneath. She winks at me.
"Just so you know what you’re missing out on." They are some really nice legs.
She grabs her mug and takes a huge pull.
"Okay, why women want Shielder kids." She pauses and looks at me, face serious. It's a little off putting and different from her normal demeanour.
"Security and income mainly. Any woman who gives birth to a confirmed Shielder child - the Priests can confirm it, receive a lifetime income from the King. Any more kids they have are also tested, just in case the blessing continues. And it has before. Shielder children are special." She takes another swig.
"Normal people can maybe hit level five, right? But get no special powers or better than normal abilities. Sure, they can train and get really really good, but not blessed. Shielder children aren't limited like that at all. They can hit level ten and be better than normal - faster, stronger, take more damage. All the good stuff you have. So, the King encourages that, with the income, the kids are raised by their parents until ten years old and are then sent off to the Capital to be trained for the King. Sometimes they are taken at birth, depending on need, but the income is for life. LIFE. I'm 64 now. A dark elf can live for 500 years. If I have a child now, I may have another Stone Blessed later in life. And life would be easier for my whole family. It's what every family wants." She chugs again, emptying the mug and then refilling it.