The Knightpunk Code

by Kory Shen

  I had to catch him alone, when no one would interrupt us, especially not Lexley. That was the same thing an assassin would plan for, though, and exactly what the castle guard would plan against. I needed an edge.

  What about a message? But unless I delivered the message myself, he wouldn't know whether it was real. It would be Lexley's word against…a piece of parchment.

  No, I would have to deliver the message myself. It was a huge risk, and I would be gambling on the notion that my father wasn't a complete idiot. That he could tell when Lexley was lying.

  Lexley might have forced my father's hand to declare me a traitor, but if my father learned that Lexley was behind the attempt on his life…wouldn't that sway him? He had taken it personally, hadn't he?

  I arrived at the Temple, not quite sure how to proceed. No matter what I did, though, I would need my armor. I grimaced at the thought of nine more rounds with Mira.

  Kuri was sitting in the healing ward with my armor when I reached the room. Had she been here the whole time?

  "Still on guard?" I asked with a smile as I entered.

  Kuri shrugged. "Or hiding. Some of the priestesses want to pester me about…" She paused. "About elves."

  "They all know? I guess it was hard to hide the last time you were here. Hey, do you know where Genna is?"

  "It's always Genna with you, isn't it?"

  "She's like my muse. Helps me think," I said. "And you're like my sword. Helps me kill shit," I added with a grin.

  Kuri looked unimpressed by my attempt at flattery. "She should be here soon. She said she would bring dinner early, in case you were back."

  We waited in silence for a few minutes, Kuri sitting on the lone chair in the room, me sitting on the table.

  "What were you doing before I got here," I asked.

  Kuri looked away. "Practicing."

  "In here? How?"

  "Doesn't matter."

  "Oh, come on. Show me."

  Kuri blushed slightly, then held up one palm. "It's a game I've played since I was little." A little tongue of flame appeared in the middle of her outstretched hand. As I watched, the tongue of flame sprouted two arms and two legs, then a head. Soon, a little flame-man was standing in her hand.

  "That's awesome!"

  Kuri smirked. "It's to practice fine control, but this is only getting started."

  The little flame-man in her hand lifted one leg. It waved an arm at me. I waved back.

  Kuri giggled. The sound was completely alien coming from Kuri, but I bit down hard to keep myself from making a comment. The flame-man lifted the other leg, then waved the other arm. Soon it was moving its body in a purposeful, rhythmic fashion.

  "Shit! It's dancing!"

  Kuri smiled. "I call them fire dolls." The fire doll danced to the edge of her hand. Then it jumped onto the ground and walked over to me. I drew my legs back as it approached.

  "Won't it burn me?" I asked.

  "Not if I control it properly," Kuri said. "That's part of the training."

  I tentatively put my hand out close to the ground, palm up. The fire doll walked over, then leaped into my palm, where it started gyrating its hips. I slowly raised my hand back to my chest level. It was suspended above my hand by a fraction of an inch, not touching me at all. There was some warmth, but the fire doll wasn't burning me.

  I laughed. "This is—"

  Genna walked in at that moment. "Jaks!"

  Kuri turned around at the interruption.

  "Ouch!" An intense heat seared my palm. I shook my hand, sending the fire doll tumbling away. It flickered out.

  "I'm so sorry!" Kuri reached for my hand to check it.

  Genna came over to me as well. "What happened? What was that?"

  "Nothing. I was practicing," Kuri mumbled.

  I looked at Genna. Had she done that on purpose? Genna was one of the gentlest people I knew. She wouldn't hurt me on purpose, or play around like that. Would she? What did Kuri think of her mind reading, anyway?

  "Genna—"

  Genna put her fingers over my lips. "Quiet now. Sometimes you think too much."

  My eyes widened. Did Kuri even know about Genna's ability?

  "Like I said, you think too much," Genna whispered.

  Kuri gave us a strange look, then shook her head. "Where's dinner?" she asked.

  Genna pouted. "I left the basket outside." She stepped out of the room, then reappeared with a woven basket filled with loaves, fruit, and a leg of lamb.

  "I'm going to have to steal that from you," I said. "I'm starving."

  Genna handed the basket over with a smile. "You're back to being a thief? Or are you still a knight?"

  I reached for the lamb. "No idea, but I need to get my armor fixed up first. Then, I want to see the king." I was speaking mostly for Kuri's benefit. Genna would already know what I intended.

  "You're just going to show up and expect the king to grant you a private audience?" Genna frowned. "It's too dangerous."

  "Do you have a better idea?" I asked. I still didn't have a better plan. It was risky, but my father had been relatively fair, all things considered. As fair as you could expect a king to be.

  "Yes," Genna replied. "I'll come with you."

  My mouth fell open, half-filled with tender lamb meat. I shut my mouth and swallowed before speaking.

  "You're coming with me? Isn't that even more dangerous?"

  Kuri's forehead wrinkled. "You're a priestess, not a fighter or mage."

  Genna shrugged. "Tell her."

  "Me? You tell her," I replied.

  Kuri looked back and forth between us. I gave in.

  "She can read minds," I said.

  I thought Kuri wouldn't believe me, but she nodded slowly. "There are mages in my kingdom who can do that as well." She turned to Genna. "The Temple is stronger than it seems, isn't it?"

  "So am I," Genna answered.

  "Genna…" I hoped that she wasn't doing this to impress me, or to compete with Kuri.

  "That's not why," Genna said emphatically. Kuri raised an eyebrow.

  "I can help," Genna insisted. "I'm training, too." Her eyes flickered to Kuri.

  "Genna, how long have you been able to do this?" I asked. "You've only been at the Temple for a few days. Actually, you never told us what happened."

  Genna clamped her mouth close and crossed her arms.

  "Genna," I said. "You know all of our secrets. It's only fair."

  "I agree," Kuri said. "It's only fair." She scowled. "You read my mind?" Her hands glowed briefly red, but she took a deep breath and calmed down.

  "It's okay. Your secrets are safe with me. I won't tell anyone, not even him." She nodded her head at me.

  What? She had even more secrets. We were like some new secret society.

  Kuri wouldn't back down. "Prove it. Tell us what happened, then."

  Genna uncrossed her arms and sighed. "Fine. There's not much to tell. My first day here, an old priestess examined me. It was as if they already knew I had this ability."

  "You could always read minds?" I asked, my voice rising higher.

  "No! I mean that I had the potential. There was a ritual, a lot of chanting and burning incense, then the priestess did something to my head. I don't know what. Afterward, I could hear thoughts."

  I had been scared of the Temple before. Everyone was. But now I was absolutely terrified. What could they do?

  Kuri leaned forward curiously. "How did you deal with your new ability, though? I've heard cases of mages unable to handle their mental abilities. Their minds break."

  Genna nodded. "It turns out I'm not the first one in Temple history with this ability. They've uncovered an herb that dampens my abilities a bit. Makes it more manageable and easier to control. I eat these regularly."

  She reached into her dress and pulled out a dark brown root. She took a bite off one end, made a face while swallowing, then put the root back into her pocket.

  "Looks tasty," I said.

  "Isn't that sn
akeroot?" Kuri asked.

  "Yes, it is," Genna said. "Your people are well-versed in herbs, aren't they?"

  Kuri frowned. "Stay out of my mind."

  "That's what I told her," I said. "Can you read anyone's mind?"

  "Not always," Genna said. "Some thoughts are easier to read. Others are more difficult. Reading a mind is like picking a lock. The better you know someone or the more time you have, the easier it is to read thoughts. It's why you're an open book to me."

  "Aren't I lucky," I muttered.

  "And me?" Kuri asked.

  Genna replied with a shrug and sweet smile. "Back to the mission to see your father. I'm going."

  It would be hopeless convincing Genna not to come along.

  "That's right," Genna said.

  "Stop that!" Kuri and I both said in unison.

  "If you think of a better plan, I'll know," Genna replied. "I'll also know if you don't. Now, hurry up and finish your dinner. You have nine rounds left with Mira."

  I groaned. My gentle Genna was growing up.

  CHAPTER 28

  The rest of the evening was an unending barrage of pain, healing, and more pain. I rested after four rounds, ate again, then went to sleep. The next morning, I ate once more before finishing off another five rounds.

  The healers had offered me a special brew to ease the pain after the fifth round, but I refused. I had heard of the Temple's potent brew, the one that took away all pain. When used too often, it ignited an unquenchable hunger, one that only the Temple could sate again, at a cost. Genna assured me that they wouldn't slip me some of the brew secretly.

  After the final healing session, I stood, stretched, and walked over to my suit of armor.

  "Mira?" I asked. "Is it done?"

  The suit was whole again, at least to my eyes. Somehow, Mira had mended the tears in the dull black material.

  "Yes, suit integrity is restored to one hundred percent," Mira replied. "I've also taken the liberty of recalibrating the exterior composition based on an analysis of the combat data. The restructured material should be able to counteract the unusual properties of the weapons you encountered."

  "Mira. Talk like a normal person."

  "I believe your armor will be able to withstand a strike from Lady Dyann or Sir Hurik in the future."

  "Really? You can do that?" I hoped they were still alive. Checking on them hadn't been high on my list of things to do.

  "I will not be sure until we test your armor in the field, but I am highly confident about the predicted outcome. Do be aware the recalibration cost you an additional five rounds of bioorganic extraction."

  "Wait. I had to sit through five extra rounds because of that?" Mira had used my body like a leech. The improved protection was worth it, for sure, but it was unsettling to have Mira use my body like that. "Mira! Ask me first next time, okay?"

  Mira didn't seem bothered at all. "Understood."

  I entered my suit and took a few quick steps forward, testing it. I tried throwing a couple punches into the air, then a kick. Everything about the suit felt perfect. It was my body that was still a bit sore.

  I thought about slipping away without Genna, but she stepped into the room right then.

  "Ready to go?" she asked. Kuri came in behind her.

  I nodded. "You know the plan. Let's do this."

  "I'm coming, too," Kuri said.

  "Absolutely not," I said. "I can do this." Mira had made me look like an ordinary knight again. I whispered to Mira. "Make me look like a mage for a second."

  Kuri watched my appearance change, then change back. She didn't seem impressed.

  "So, I can do this." I stepped back in surprise as Kuri's body lit up in flames. The flames vanished as quickly as they appeared.

  "It's not a beauty contest, Kuri. This is a stealth job. We're sneaking in. Genna can use her mind reading to give us an edge. You stay back."

  Kuri frowned.

  I sighed. "We'll need someone to rescue us if things don't work out. Like you did before." I gave her a wide grin.

  Kuri shook her head, but she looked like she was trying not to smile. "Fine. It's your funeral."

  "Hey, don't say that." I turned to Genna. "Let's get this over with."

  Half an hour later, Genna and I stood in the shadows of a stack of barrels, watching the castle's front gates. I looked like a generic Knight Sentinel. My helmet was open, as I would have to speak to the guards. I had stuffed strips of burlap into the sides of my mouth and applied a thin coat of tar to my cheekbones and nose, trying to give myself a more angular look. Genna had applied some of her eye paint around my own eyes as well.

  Genna wore plain clothes like a boy, her red hair hidden under a dark wig I had managed to scrounge up from one of the old playing troupes around town.

  "How close do you have to be? To do your thing?" I asked.

  "About the same as a voice. If I can hear you speaking, I can hear your mind," Genna said.

  "You don't need to see them?"

  "Nope."

  "Okay, I'll go first."

  I walked up to the front gates with Genna trailing a short distance behind me. When I had looked like Lexley, I had marched right in, but it was too dangerous to try the same trick twice.

  Fortunately, I had a brand new trick. Or rather, Genna did. It was why I had agreed to let her come.

  There were four armored Sentinels at the gates, a beefier defense than usual. I supposed they were expecting trouble. The drawbridge had been repaired with a makeshift substitute.

  One of the Sentinels raised a metal fist to stop me.

  "Hail, Sentinel," the knight said loudly.

  I tried not to wince at the overly loud voice as I gave him a short salute. "Hail, Sentinel." I took a step forward, but the knight grunted.

  "The password?" His voice boomed in my ears again.

  Shit. They really were taking me seriously. I looked at him blankly. "Has something changed? I'm just getting back from Dover to the west…"

  The other knights shifted slightly on their feet. One knight's hand crept down to his sword pommel.

  "What's your name?" the first knight asked. "Which division?"

  I didn't recognize them, so they were the least likely to be in Lexley's division.

  "Sir Karlo, from Lexley's division," I replied. I pointed over my shoulder at Genna's disguised form. "That's just Bren."

  Genna whispered quietly behind me. It was too soft for anyone else to hear, but I had told Mira to boost my hearing like she had done before once. If the knight in front of me actually shouted, though, I was afraid my ears would burst.

  "I'm still working on it," Genna whispered. I needed to buy her more time.

  "Hey, is that a Slayer series?" I reached for the antsy knight's sword, pulling it halfway out of its sheathe.

  The other knights stared at me. You didn't touch another man's sword like that. You just didn't.

  "It is!" I nodded in excitement. "Look at that edge. I always wanted a Slayer, but my dad was an axeman. You know how it is."

  "Let go of my sword," the knight growled.

  I let go of the sword's handle. "Sorry, I got carried away." Anytime Genna…

  "Fire mage," Genna whispered. "The password is fire mage."

  I raised a finger. "Oh yeah, the password." I stepped closer to the leading knight and spoke softly. "Fire mage, yes?"

  The knight nodded.

  Nice one, Genna.

  "I'm not good with all these passwords and stuff," I said. "I just want to cut people up, you know?" I whistled appreciatively. "A Slayer, huh? Nice."

  The four Sentinels laughed as well this time. Another one spoke.

  "Be careful. The Bastard Knight is a wily one." He leaned closer to whisper, although his voice still thundered in my ears because of Mira. "They say he can take on the appearance of an old man or a pretty wench."

  "Pretty wench?"

  The first knight who had spoken nodded. "And some kind of cursed magic runs in his blood.
He used his tainted flesh to defeat the Second and Third."

  My mouth fell open. "No, that can't be. What happened to the Champions?"

  He shook his head. "They've recovered, but word has it they might fall out of favor with the king for their failure."

  A third knight spoke. "They could even lose their titles."

  I had been relieved to find out that Lady Dyann and Sir Hurik were alive, but my blood turned cold at the last rumor. They wouldn't suffer more on my behalf, would they? The only two honorable Champions? Or was it simply the petty gossip of jealous men? I needed to find out more.

  "But what—"

  Genna whispered. "Don't dally. Let's go."

  I paused, then shook my head in disbelief. "This Bastard Knight sounds like a real troublemaker. Thanks for the warning, Sentinel." I nodded.

  They returned my nods and stepped aside, letting me pass through the castle gates.

  Well, that hadn't been so bad. We made a good combo, Genna and I.

  "You think so?" Genna whispered. "Don't get too cocky. The real danger lies ahead."

  I had to admit, I was putting everything on the line, but my bet was threefold. I was trusting that my father would be fair enough to at least hear me out, as he had done so these last few days. I was also trusting that I, or at least my mother's memory, still meant something. And if nothing else, I was trusting that he would want to hear of Lexley's potential plotting. I just had to get close enough for him to listen before someone else interfered.

  Three bets. Three chances. Those were decent odds. Even if I acted like I knew what I was doing around the others, half the time all you could do was stack the deck in your favor and hope for the best.

  Damn it, did Genna have to hear everything? I sighed.

  "Don't worry," Genna whispered. "I've heard it all by now. You're practically a saint compared to other men. Except for your fantasies about that trip to the whorehouse." She made a disapproving sound.

  I hadn't told her about visiting Vimm. There hadn't been any point, since she would find out anyway. I shrugged my shoulders while I walked in front of her.

  We continued down the hallways, uninterrupted, when Genna suddenly whispered.

  "Someone's thinking about you. Around the corner!"