by M. Gregg Roe
“My brother and elder sister both married the ones chosen for them by our parents. Their arrangements had been made years in advance. My own was not, as I will relate. My father had someone in mind and was certain that he would eventually succeed in arranging my marriage to that person. And so I waited, dreaming of marrying a handsome young man from a wealthy family, bearing perfect children, and living in bliss.”
Cinda pursed her lips briefly before continuing. The expressions were serious now, and some had probably guessed the identity of the one she was supposed to have wed.
“Last year, at the beginning of Summer, my mother suggested that I take a woman’s self-defense class from Xlee’s Martial Arts Academy. I agreed because I already knew other young women that had taken the course and praised it. I would say that my friends recommended it to me, but I know now that none of those were truly my friends. They were simply girls from wealthy families that I associated with.
“I completed the entire course, even though I found it difficult and did not like the other students. Both my parents praised me. I learned useful skills and improved my physical condition. Even after completing the course, I continued to perform the exercises that I had been taught.
“Not long afterward, my mother informed me that she wished for me to enroll as a student at Xlee’s Martial Arts Academy in order to study further. I saw no purpose in that and refused, but she paid me no mind. She enrolled me and saw to it that I attended the classes whether I wished to or not. I was not happy with the situation, to say the least.”
Cinda swallowed and pursed her lips, feeling tears begin to well in her eyes. “I behaved abominably in class. I paid little attention to the instructors. I either ignored the other students or insulted them. One, in particular, attracted my ire. She was overweight, poorly-educated, and clearly a commoner. She was also friendly, enthusiastic, and popular. I both envied and hated her. One day, when assigned to spar with her, I caused her injury, claiming it was a mere accident.” Cinda closed her eyes briefly as tears began to stream down her cheeks. “It was not. I wanted to cause her pain, to hurt her dearly. In that, I succeeded. She had to be taken to the Temple of Karth for healing, for she was barely able to walk.”
Looking out, Cinda could see that most of the courtesans knew exactly who she was talking about. “I was taken to see Lady Grasapa. She lectured me at length and suspended me from class for a brief time. She told me that I had only been accepted as a student at my mother’s insistence. That confused me. Upon returning home, I promptly questioned my mother. And that is when I finally heard the truth about my sister’s arranged marriage.
“Elsebeth was married to someone that she had known for years and whom we had all been fond of. But after marriage, he changed. He controlled every facet of my sister’s life. And he became abusive. She was essentially a prisoner, but one of the servants brought word to my mother. But even knowing, we could do nothing, for my sister’s husband denied any wrongdoing.
“Hearing this, I understood just why my mother wanted me to learn to defend myself. I took it to heart. I began to pay proper attention in class. I practiced at home. I learned many things and even found myself beginning to enjoy the lessons. But I still continued to treat the other students poorly, especially the one that I discovered had actually come from a poor farming village.”
Cinda looked at each of the other courtesans in turn before continuing. “In class I never said anything, but outside I taunted Audrey mercilessly. My behavior was inexcusable. Audrey, for her part, simply ignored it all, even though I could tell that it bothered her. But even she had her limits, and it culminated in a fight between the two of us in the woman’s changing room. By the time an instructor stopped us, we were both injured.
“I was once again taken to see Lady Grasapa. I was terrified. The instructor made me sit down opposite the desk and then told her what he had witnessed. Lady Grasapa promptly announced that both Audrey and I were to be expelled! I was stunned and completely broke down. I finally realized that I had made Audrey the target of my own fears. I truly envied her, not for her popularity, but because she was free. She could marry for love, while I must needs marry out of duty.
“I realized that I had no choice. For myself, being expelled was embarrassing, and would certainly disappoint my mother. But for Audrey, it might mean the death of her dreams, for I could see how much studying Shorinken meant to her.
“I confessed everything. I took full responsibility for causing the fight. I begged Lady Grasapa to spare Audrey, but protested not at all my own expulsion, for it was what I clearly deserved. She relented, telling me that Audrey would simply be required to take some remedial instruction. My relief knew no bounds at hearing those words.” Cinda smiled. “And then Lady Grasapa smiled slyly and informed me that I was to be suspended for but a single month, after which I was welcome to return. The threat of expulsion had simply been a ploy to bring me to my senses, and in that she succeeded admirably.”
Cinda paused briefly to take a sip of water. Courtesans always gave speeches after completing their probation, even confessing surprising things at times. But she was baring her soul, revealing her deepest secrets and regrets. She could see that the others appreciated it.
“I decided to simply go straight home, even though I was limping quite badly. This was partly to punish myself, and partly because I feared to encounter Audrey at the temple. I limped my way across the city, shamed by my actions and fearful of how my parents would react. Ultimately, I was a coward. I told my mother briefly what had occurred and then shut myself in my room. I even had a servant bring me dinner there so that I would not have to face my father.
“But I could not stop thinking about it. I had spared Audrey severe punishment, but my treatment of her had been unforgivable. I went downstairs, sought out my mother, and told her that I intended to apologize to Audrey in person. I had planned to go to Grasapa’s home and ask her where Audrey dwelled, but that proved unnecessary. My mother informed me that due to my complaints, she had investigated Audrey and discovered where she lived. Her words pierced me. I had no choice but to sit down, shocked unto my core. I had received my comeuppance, and it hurt as nothing ever had before.
“That Audrey lived not in squalor, but with Lord Draymund and Lady Almera in their magnificent mansion was galling. I had repeatedly bragged to Audrey about the wondrous mansion that I lived in, and she had never once said a word in response. And all the while, she had been living better than I.
“There was more. Audrey was engaged to Master Saxloc, something else that she had never mentioned. As some of you may have guessed, Master Saxloc was the one to whom my father had strove to arrange my marriage. This, despite the fact that Lady Almera had made her hatred of arranged marriages quite clear during our one visit years earlier. As far as I know, Master Saxloc was never aware of this, and I have never spoken of it to Audrey.”
Cinda took another sip of water and cleared her throat. “It was, in fact, that very engagement that finally persuaded my fool of a father to give up on Master Saxloc and seek someone else. It was another way that Audrey had unknowingly affected my life.
“I was sick to my stomach as I made the short walk to where Audrey dwelled. I found the gate unlocked, and then promptly became lost amidst the numerous pathways. I had decided to simply take a shortcut through the landscaping when I encountered someone. That was Audrey, of course.
“I apologized. I prostrated myself as if she were a noble and I a mere commoner. And being Audrey, she was embarrassed and made me stand back up.” Cinda found herself both crying and smiling. “She forgave me and told me that she wanted me to return to my training. It was more than I deserved.
“I won’t bore you with all my sleepless nights, regrets, and recriminations. I punished myself as no one else could. I even contrived to meet her at the daily market in order to apologize further. And that is when Audrey told me that arranged marriage was wrong, and that I should run away. To her, it was just t
hat simple.
“After I returned to my Shorinken training, I went to see Audrey, for she had trained so intensively that she had injured herself greatly. I went even though I feared how Lord Draymund and Lady Almera might react to my presence. And the impossible happened: Audrey, a commoner and daughter of a pig farmer, became my friend—my first real friend. And each day I pray that she will always remain my friend.
“When informed of my impending arranged marriage, I followed my friend’s advice and abandoned my home and family. Lady Almera made me welcome and then took me to see High Witch Ermizad. That ultimately resulted in the outright banning of arranged marriages in the Witch’s City, and then the freedom of my sister from her vile husband, who even now languishes in a cell below the Witch’s Castle.
“But for myself, there was no going back. I had need of a job and a place to dwell, for I was determined to achieve independence. From Audrey, I conceived the idea to apply for employment here, even offering to sell my virginity. It was a future that I had never envisioned, one which terrified me initially. But that is past, much as the old Cinda is past. The new Cinda is a courtesan, and all of you are her family. Thank you all.”
Cinda bowed deeply and then used her sleeve to wipe her face before looking out at the sea of happy faces, some also displaying tears. To her surprise, Lady Aurelia was the first one to get up and hug her, showing her age as she awkwardly walked over. “I only accepted you because of how much Audrey impressed me,” she whispered and Cinda laughed. It took several minutes for all of them to hug her, each saying a few words.
Afterward, she thanked them all again before heading downstairs to the clothing storeroom. Located underground, its temperature and humidity were maintained by alchemic means. Each of the courtesans had a section inside to store their work clothing. Cinda shook a glow-cube to activate it and made her way to her own area—an assemblage of hanging racks, drawers, and shelves all crafted from dark wood.
After some consideration, Cinda selected a dark green dress with a conservative neckline. For footwear, she chose a pair of black leather sandals, and for undergarments, ones of light green cotton. Next, she went upstairs to the preparation room. It was for applying makeup, donning clothing, and selecting jewelry and other accessories. Two female and one male courtesan were already there making use of some of the dressing tables and large mirrors. Marielle was adjusting a wig that gave her long red hair, likely so that she could pretend to her client to be High Witch Ermizad. Cinda wondered how Ermizad might react were she to find out, suspecting that the woman would actually find it amusing. She went to the jewelry section and selected a gold necklace with three sizable green gems—actually glass, but they looked beautiful. She donned her undergarments before sitting down at a free dressing table. After her hair was satisfactory, she applied makeup, donned her dress, slipped on her sandals, and finished by putting on the necklace.
That evening, Cinda would be accompanying a man over a decade older than herself to a gentlemen’s club. (The same one, in fact, that Draymund belonged to.) They would dine there, go for a stroll, and then travel to the man’s home. And there she would render services that would have mortified her prior self. But she would render them willingly, for they were part of her training and she was proud of her skills. She also very much liked this particular client. He was one of her regulars, and he always saw to her needs just as she saw to his. Few clients did that in her experience.
Cinda smiled at herself as she stood in front of the full-length mirror. She was a courtesan now and would be until the expiration of her three-year contract. But that was a small price to pay, because her future was her own.
4
‡ Dragon ‡
Draymund cursed as his right boot came loose from the muck with a wet sound. Tracking down and slaying a dragon was difficult enough without having to put up with thick woods, dense undergrowth, sticky mud, and pelting rain. Cold rain. And it had rained every single day since he had arrived at the quaint little village of Briarwood, as far south as it was possible to be in Andoran’s Realm without actually being in the Gray Forest. He was, in fact, heading directly toward the Gray Forest now, praying that the dragon wasn’t stupid enough to go inside. Not even a dragon could survive long there, and he certainly wasn’t going in after it.
The journey to Briarwood had been without incident. Folmer, one of the village elders and an experienced woodsman, traveled to the Witch’s City in person to hire him. He had made for pleasant company during the three-day journey as the two of them swapped tales. Draymund had accepted the job without even asking for a fee. He simply asked for an escort to and from the village, along with food and a place to stay. He did this partly because small villages usually couldn’t afford to pay much, but also because he generally earned far more selling blood and other parts taken from his conquests than from the fee he asked to slay them.
Folmer’s description of the dragon that was harassing his village (and which had already killed two children and numerous livestock) had immediately piqued Draymund’s interest. Orange dragons were rare, and rare meant valuable. It was also a small one, and he hoped to bring back the head to add to his collection. It would look nice mounted on the wall of his trophy room.
Draymund found some waterlogged vegetation he could walk on, and that made the going easier. Dragons could fly, as could he if he cast the proper spell. But the pouring rain and thick mist made that both difficult and dangerous. The dragon was on foot and so was he. He wasn’t following the dragon’s tracks because there was no need. His sword indicated the way, actually pulling him slightly in the proper direction. The DragonSword and its matching DragonShield were the reason that he could hunt nearly any dragon without outside help, although his magically-hardened chainmail and ability to cast powerful spells certainly didn’t hurt.
He had acquired both magic items before he had married and sired a son. They had once belonged to a legendary hero known as Saxloc Dragonslayer. That had made naming his son a simple matter. (His wife objected, but he hadn’t been about to give in.) The sword and shield were crafted from a reddish-gold metal whose secret of manufacture and even name had been forgotten. They were lighter than they looked, and nothing seemed able to even scratch them. Maintenance was simply a matter of keeping them clean.
The DragonSword was tugging him right and ahead, and he suddenly heard a loud sucking sound indicating that the dragon was close and also struggling with the muddy conditions. It was time to prepare for the kill, which meant casting several spells in advance.
“Strength.” He felt the burden of his armor and equipment lessen. “Enhance.” His sword began to glow gently as it became even more deadly. “Providence.” A spell that provided a bit of luck. “Silence.” The dragon wouldn’t be able to hear him approaching, but he also wouldn’t be casting any more spells while it was in effect. Invisibility would have been nice, but that was a spell that he had never mastered.
Despite the pounding rain, it was now eerily silent. Draymund strode confidently forward, allowing his sword to guide him and using his increased strength to overcome the mud’s resistance. He soon arrived at a small clearing. Roughly circular, it measured about fifteen yards across, and he could actually see the colorless trees of the Gray Forest opposite. The dragon was in the center of the clearing, facing to the right as it used its snout to try to clean the mud from its forelegs. It was a small one, measuring about six yards long from snout to the tip of the tail. The scales were orange, but a dull orange rather than a bright one. The eyes were a vibrant yellow, with a vertical pupil similar to a cat’s.
Draymund stood motionless amongst the trees at the edge of the clearing. Dragons had such wide vision that sneaking up on them was difficult. Still, he thought it worth a try and began to move slowly to the left. After covering barely two yards, the dragon’s head suddenly moved and pointed straight at him. Despite the still-falling rain, it had clearly spotted him.
Disregarding stealth, Draymund smile
d as he entered the clearing and headed straight for his prey. The dragon swiftly moved to face him, opening its mouth wide to display an impressive number of sharp teeth and a long black tongue. But it was the glow that he could see deep inside the mouth that mattered. All dragons possessed breath weapons of some type, and orange ones were no exception.
He was only four yards away when a sizzling ball of electricity shot out of the dragon’s mouth. Draymund didn’t even slow as the DragonShield moved of its own accord to interpose. He felt a slight impact as the shield completely absorbed the ball lightning. It took a while for dragons to regenerate their breath weapons, and he wasn’t about to give it time. As the dragon raised its right foreleg with its four curved claws, he lunged forward and right, targeting the other foreleg. But the dragon surprised him. It managed to pull back its left foreleg far enough that the DragonSword’s blade only severed the ends of two of the claws. Before he could recover, the other foreleg impacted the ground to his left, spraying him with a mixture of mud and water.
The unexpected tactic caused Draymund to take two steps backward. He was now splattered with mud, but none of it had reached his eyes. The helmet had certainly helped with that, but he suspected that the Providence spell was also at work. Instead of pressing the attack, the dragon was now unfurling its wings. It was clearly a smart one, having already decided that he represented a significant threat.
“Oh no!” he yelled as he stepped forward and brandished his sword. “You are not getting away!” The Silence spell was broken, but that no longer mattered.
The dragon suddenly lunged forward, opening its mouth wide. The DragonShield blocked its attempt to bite him, but he was forced backward by the ferocity of the attack. A broad swing of his sword caused the dragon to pull its head back, and he instantly moved forward and right, targeting its left wing. This time it was the dragon that was surprised as the severed wing fell to the ground, preventing any possibility of escape through the air.