by Kory Shen
I sent more ice bolts at the floor, covering it in ice. As I stepped backwards, I sent a weak fire bolt into the area behind me, removing the patch of ice there.
"Interesting," Lady Dyann said. "But do you intend to polish the floor or fight?"
She launched another Heaven's Strike straight across the icy ground. I dodged to the side again, but her true attack wasn't with the spearhead. She swung the spear's haft at me like a staff, clipping me in the shoulder and knocking me off balance for a fraction of a second.
In the same fluid movement, she jammed the spear into the floor and used it to steady herself while delivering an armored knee to my side. I crashed backwards and rolled away, skidding upon the slick ice I had created.
I sent a lightning bolt at Lady Dyann, but she turned to take the attack with the shield across her back. I sent another lightning bolt, but Lady Dyann now held the round shield in her off hand. She blocked me with ease.
"Mira," I whispered. "Can you do the shocking touch like last time?"
"The wet floor will dissipate the charge, weakening the attack," Mira said.
"Great." I hadn't thought of that.
Lady Dyann approached cautiously, this time holding her shield ready. She jabbed forward, but it was a slower strike with less reach. I pushed off the wall hard, rolling past her while sending a lightning bolt. She blocked it.
We danced on the ice, me dodging her spear strikes, her blocking my bolts.
I maneuvered around until her back faced the watching Sentinels. The angle was almost right…
Lady Dyann jabbed again. I swayed to my right to dodge it but flailed my left hand at the spear, as if trying to grab it. Lady Dyann pivoted, jerking the spear back while swinging the edge of her round shield at my extended arm.
I dropped to one knee while sending another lightning bolt wide, as if she had disrupted my aim. Her round shield barely missed my arm as I pulled it back to my side.
My lightning bolt bounced off a Mirror Shield held by one of the Sentinels behind her. Some sixth sense or fighter's intuition warned Lady Dyann of the danger. She flung herself to the ground, the lightning bolt missing her by inches.
I sent an ice bolt at her fallen figure, but Lady Dyann pivoted, raising her shield as she stood. I pressed the attack, sending another full power ice bolt. Her shield crusted over with ice. This time, I sent a twin attack. Lightning and ice.
A frozen shield was useless for blocking lightning. I had meant to channel the lightning through the frozen shield's surface into Lady Dyann's metal hand.
But Lady Dyann released her shield before my attack struck, instead jamming her spear through the shield's handle.
Lightning enveloped the shield but fizzled out when it reached the middle wooden portion of her spear's shaft. She had learned from last time.
The hell. Lady Dyann was impossibly good. She pounded her shield into the ground once, shattering the ice coating.
Lady Dyann pointed her spear at me, its head unwavering. "Tricks upon tricks. Fight me like a knight," she said.
"Are you kidding? You're the one with the spear and shield." I showed her my empty hands. "Besides, it's not like they're treating me like a knight."
Lady Dyann lowered her voice. "Remember what I told you. You're not just fighting to win. It's how you win."
With that, Lady Dyann held her spear and shield in front of her, then dropped them to the ground. They clattered noisily on the icy floor.
"Face me," she said. "Knight to knight. No weapons. No tricks."
My father called out to her. "Lady Dyann, what's the meaning of this?"
"You swore you would try your best to slay him," Sir Joren said. He was crouched, leaning on his waraxe.
"He's too cunning," Lady Dyann said. "I've sparred with him before. Hand-to-hand, he's no match for me."
"I'm standing right here," I said.
But Lady Dyann didn't reply. She turned to me in a fighting stance and waited.
Without her spear and shield, I had the clear advantage. I could use my triple shot or other bolts to take her out. But then what?
She wanted me to demonstrate my power, my strength. She had cornered me.
I pivoted to my side, then raised my arms in my own fighting stance. "Fine."
We crept towards each other slowly on the slippery floor until our leading feet almost touched.
We punched at the same time, our fists colliding with a loud clang.
I recovered first and followed up with a left hook to her head, but she raised her right forearm to block me and aimed a blow to my stomach instead with her left fist.
I spun to my left on the smooth icy floor, curling my left arm around her right arm in an attempt to throw her.
She tightened her right arm and pulled back, each of us trying to throw the other. She suddenly stopped straining and swirled into me, reaching for my head with her free arm.
I ducked and swept my inner leg at hers. We ended up both tripping on the ice.
I had thought she would be slower than me in her bulky armor, not like when we were sparring in plain clothes. But Lady Dyann was too quick, twisting like a snake to wrap me up in her limbs. She was behind me, her legs tangled with mine, her right arm pulled tightly against my neck.
"Warning," Mira said. "Imminent collapse of suit integrity."
"No shit," I wheezed at the tight pressure against my neck. I yanked at Lady Dyann's arm, trying to pull it away, but I couldn't match her strength while in this position.
I could fry her with a full body shock, with her draped over me like that. It was the obvious move. Lady Dyann must have known that. Was she still expecting me to fight like her?
She was fighting for honor.
I was fighting for my fucking life.
The pressure on my neck increased, even with the armor.
I had to do it. But what about the others watching? I was a scoundrel to them anyway. It wouldn't matter. Still, I could give myself a chance…
"Mira," I gasped. "A quarter strength body shock. Now!"
I kicked against the floor, using the distraction of the shock to somersault, with Lady Dyann on my back.
For an instant, we were both upside down and suspended in the air. Her body was between me and the Sentinels, shielding their view.
The instant seemed like an eternity as I made my choice.
"Lightning…" I began to whisper as I twisted to send a punch into Lady Dyann's helmet. I had to take her out with this one hit, to keep up the charade.
Even upside down and shocked, in that slow, stretched-out moment, Lady Dyann moved her arm to block me.
No, it wasn't possible.
But then her arm stopped, as if we were both in a frozen dream.
"…bolt." My left fist brushed past her arm and struck her head at the same instant as a lightning bolt. The first attack concealed the second one.
And then it was over.
We fell. I stood up, but Lady Dyann remained face down on the floor, unmoving.
I slowly turned towards the line of Sentinels. Sir Joren was already rushing forward, his waraxe swinging.
"Hold!" Sir Joren stopped mid-swing at the fierce cry, stumbling to one knee.
On the other side of the hall, my father stepped through the line of Sentinels guarding him.
"Let him go," my father said. "Enough knights have fallen today."
Had he changed his mind? Was this all a show for the others? For that bitch of a queen?
Queen Priss rushed to his side.
"What?" she screamed. "You're letting him go?"
My father turned around without a word and walked back into the throne room.
"Kill him!" Queen Priss screamed at the Sentinels around her. They shifted their feet awkwardly. "Kill them, or I'll have your heads!"
I looked at Lady Dyann's splayed figure. She was okay, wasn't she?
Genna whispered from behind. "Jaks. Lady Dyann's still alive. Come on!"
I turned and took her hand. The
n, the two of us left the castle.
* * *
Kuri, Genna, and I were back at the Temple in the healing ward. I had just gone through a single round with Mira and a healer to fix the minor damage to the suit.
I sat up and examined my recently healed skin.
"That went better than I had hoped," I said.
"Your armor?" Kuri asked.
"He means his talk with his father," Genna said.
"A foolish risk," Kuri said.
My father had listened to me, though, and he had let me go in the end. Would he come around? Reign in Lexley? He had been about to give me a chance, when the queen had interfered…
Genna opened her mouth, but I raised my hand to stop her.
"It's stupid, right? Hoping my father will change?" I asked.
Genna closed her mouth.
"I don't need to read your mind to know that's what you think," I said.
Genna frowned. "No, Jaks. He's still your father. It's never stupid to wish the best for your family."
Kuri stepped closer. "My whole family turned their backs on me when they saw I could do this." She held up her hand. A fire doll appeared, dancing for a few seconds before winking out.
"But you still want to go back to them, don't you?" I asked. "That's why you're here. To prove your worth to them."
Kuri lowered her head.
Kuri and I weren't that different. Was I doing all this to prove my worth to my father?
Genna moved to my other side. "You're right, Jaks. People can change, you can change, but change isn't always what we expect." She looked at Kuri. "You can search for a way back to your loved ones. But maybe they're already here."
Genna wrapped her arm around my own as she spoke.
"What will you do?" Kuri asked.
"Expecting my father to change is stupid," I said. "Even if he wanted to…" My anger flared at the memory of Queen Priss. "He has too much deadweight around him. Too many burdens."
I raised my eyes to meet Genna's, then Kuri's. "My father was right about one thing, though. I swore to serve the Elderlands, and her people deserve to know the truth." I had to find the stolen armor and weapons, and not only to clear my name. If my father was too weak to show the people, I would do it for him.
Genna sighed, already knowing what I planned to do next. I wasn't quite sure how to bring it up to Kuri, though.
Kuri tapped her fingers impatiently. "I can't read minds like her. What are we doing?"
"Uh, I'll tell you when we get there," I said.
"Where?" Kuri asked.
Genna rolled her eyes.
CHAPTER 30
"A brothel!" Kuri screamed at me. Her fists began to glow.
"Quiet down," I whispered. "We don't want to attract attention."
We were standing on the street opposite Vimm's new hideout. We had waited until evening and wore hooded cloaks to hide ourselves. Even if my father had let me go, there was no telling what Lexley would do. I wore my armor under my cloak, unwilling to leave it unguarded elsewhere.
"You knew this?" Kuri gave Genna an accusing look.
"His old boss is here," Genna explained.
"You used to work in a brothel?" Kuri shrieked.
"No!" I glared at Genna. "You're not helping."
Genna shrugged. "Are you looking forward to your date with Sylvia?"
Kuri looked at me again.
"No," I said. "It's not what you're thinking." I pointed a finger at Genna. "Stop that. You're doing it on purpose."
Genna smirked.
"I liked you better before you could read minds."
"I can tell when you're lying," Genna said with a smile.
I shook my head. "Follow me."
Kuri grumbled but followed us to the whorehouse's front door. I knocked.
Sylvia opened the door with a wide smile. "Jakson." She leaned forward to kiss me. I turned my head at the last moment so that she pecked my cheek. "Are you here for your appointment?" she asked.
Kuri frowned. "You said—"
"Let's just go inside," I said, brushing past Sylvia.
"Who are your friends?" Sylvia asked. "They look delicious."
"Not now." I reached past Sylvia to grab Kuri's and Genna's hands and drag them indoors. "Sylvia. Please?"
Sylvia shrugged. "Another time, then."
I looked around the first-floor room. It was empty except for Sylvia. No other women were around, either. I frowned, expecting the worst. "Where's everyone?"
"Some are working, but the rest of the ladies are with your boys in another room."
"What?" I yelled. I stomped towards the staircase.
"No, not like that, Jaks," Genna called out. She chuckled, then raised her hands to her mouth. "Oh my."
"What is it?" I asked, turning around.
Kuri didn't look amused.
"Your boys really love gambling, don't they?" Sylvia smiled. "They've gotten all the ladies playing cards with them. It's a regular gambling den in there."
"They didn't rack up a debt or anything did they?" I asked.
Genna sighed. "Unfortunately, not."
Sylvia chuckled. "No, they're playing for clothes."
"Clothes?" I asked.
"The loser takes her clothes off," Sylvia said, "Your boys are quite good, so it's usually the ladies that lose."
"That's…that's not fair. They're professional scammers. Your friends never had a chance." I muttered a curse under my breath. "I'll talk to Vimm."
Kuri whispered loudly to Genna. "What is all this? I thought he was an honorable man."
Genna laughed. "Oh, he is, trust me. But I enjoy watching him squirm."
I headed up the stairs, ignoring them.
I reached Vimm's room and knocked. Kuri and Genna stepped to either side of me.
I heard the thumping of a cane on the floor. Then, the door opened. Vimm nodded at me.
"I've been expecting you," he said. His eyes rested for a moment on the two women next to me. He bowed. "Welcome, ladies. Come inside, please."
Vimm hobbled back to his desk and pulled out his lone chair
"I'm sorry I only have one chair to offer you two ladies," Vimm said. "Perhaps one of you could sit on the desk?"
Genna smiled. "No, please." She gestured for Vimm to sit.
Vimm grinned and sat down. "Well, I suppose it's age before beauty."
I rolled my eyes. "I taught him that line."
Kuri turned to me with a faint smile. "This is the man that raised you?"
Vimm nodded his head at Kuri. "I taught him everything. Everything. From me." He jerked his thumb back at himself.
"Vimm, stop flirting with the girls. Everyone knows that at your age your leg isn't the only limp—"
Genna poked my chest. "Jaks! That's a low blow."
Kuri shook her head.
"This is Vimm! He's a fucking rogue." I threw my hands up in exasperation.
"I only see one person in this room acting like a rogue," Genna said archly.
Vimm laughed. "Alright. Enough ragging on our fine gentleman knight. I know why you came."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're not going to tell me you can read minds, are you?"
"Hm?" Vimm looked around with a puzzled expression.
"Nevermind. The weapons Lexley must have stolen. They're the key to proving that Lexley's up to no good."
"Right," Vimm said. "I've been asking around with the black market dealers. There were rumors of bad business going down, something none of them would touch."
I glanced at Kuri. "I don't know what it's like in your home kingdom. But trading rogue Sentinel armor has a mandatory death sentence here. It does in most human kingdoms."
"We have similar proscriptions on our artifacts of power," Kuri said, nodding.
"What did you find?" I asked.
"There's a docked ship that's no longer in use," Vimm said, "except when the black market dealers want to move something big. The last two days, it's been suddenly off limits. There are new faces
there, none of the old boys."
A ship? I hated ships. I had wanted to be a knight, and knights didn't mix well with water. Everyone knew that.
"You think that's it?" I asked, frowning.
Vimm nodded. "I'd bet my good leg on it."
"What will you do if you find the missing goods?" Kuri asked. "You think the king will be swayed?" She had wrinkled her nose at the mention of a ship as well.
"The king…he doesn't have the strength to move alone," I said. "It's the others we have to sway. The nobles, or the few honest knights left."
"Then, what?" Kuri asked.
"Then, we build on that," I said. "We take one step at a time, for the kingdom."
Vimm reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead. Where'd he get that? He was really playing the gentleman angle.
"You know you can still run," Vimm said. "Make a life elsewhere. You know what I taught you."
Run to live another day. It was why we gave up a job if we spotted a Champion. It was why none of us had been caught on a heist. Vimm wasn't wrong. But what about Genna or Kuri?
"I'd follow you anywhere," Genna said.
"Won't the Temple be mad?" I asked. "They'll hunt you down, for your…gift."
"They're already mad," she looked at her feet. "They're not happy I'm here, but they put up with me. For now."
Genna was defying the Temple? That had to be dangerous, reckless even, especially with her ability. It wasn't like Genna at all.
"Genna…" I said.
"I'm a grown woman," she said. "I have the right to make my own way. What about you, Kuri?"
Kuri hesitated. "I'll choose my own path as well. But I'd like to hear from Jakson."
They were pushing the decision to me. A choice that would affect at least two of us, if not more. I glanced at Kuri, then Vimm.
I took a deep breath, then let it out.
"I'm not some hopeless idealist. All of you know what I've gone through growing up." I turned to look back at Kuri. "It doesn't matter where we run. It'll be the same."
I rapped the knuckles of my gauntlet against my chest. "As long as I have this armor, the same old shit will catch up to us. Like Vimm told me, when you stick out, they come for you. But I'm not giving this up. This armor is me."