by L. Fergus
“You don’t have a choice,” said the clan elder speaking for Zidin. “The ritual dictates that it should begin as soon as possible to keep the challenger’s honor from escaping forever.”
“Yes, let’s talk about this ritual,” hummed Kita. “My mother said we may use any weapon, armor, and form the fighters wish?”
“Correct, as long as they are judged honorable. Yours have been judged acceptable, honorable is another matter.”
Kita scowled. She wished it was this clan elder she would be fighting instead of Zidin. He’d been trouble all night for the duchess and seemed more than willing to continue. “I’ll take winning over honor.”
The clan elder glared. “Yes, we know. You will shame the Guild of the Rose. I regret letting the chieftess talk us into this.”
“Well, I’ll have to work on the rose part, but you have to admit, I have the thorns down. Isn’t that right, Zidin?”
“This time it will be different,” Zidin said in a stone-cold voice. “I’ll not hold back, and you will die with honor, even if you don’t wish to do so.”
“You’re right. I don’t wish to die. I guess I’ll have to give you what you want. What flowers would you like at your funeral? A rose? Or maybe a dozen? I think I want your sword.”
Zidin’s personal sword was larger than the one he’d used in the Proving Ritual. The blue blade, with white inlays in the flat of the blade, had shark’s teeth set into the blade’s edge. The hilt was constructed of coral, and the pommel was the skull of a shark.
Zidin drew his sword and held it in front of her. “You will never take my sword. It was given to me by the original Lady Rose and shall go with me to the sea.”
“Little touchy aren’t we? I wouldn’t keep it. I’d sell it to some junk merchant.”
“No!” Zidin roared.
“Zidin! Enough! You shall always have your sword,” the duchess proclaimed as she arrived. “Kita, return to your end.”
“Not until I get one detail straight.”
“Which is?”
“There won’t be any outside help.”
“That is already an unwritten rule.”
“I want it to be explicit. I don’t trust any of these old women farther than I can spit.”
“Enough, Kita,” ordered the duchess. “There is no need for insults. I’m sure they will agree to your request.”
Like the bloody moons there isn’t. I haven’t started.
“That would tarnish our honor, Kita. The battle is between you and Zidin,” said Kita’s clan elder.
“She should apologize,” the clan elder speaking for Zidin demanded.
“There have been enough insults from both sides,” said the duchess. “Now, everyone return to your ends and await the command.”
“Yes Chieftess, but it must start immediately,” said the clan elder speaking for Zidin. “We may have delayed too long. Zidin’s honor may have already left.”
“We shall start in a hundred count after the fighters arrive at their ends, agreed?”
The elder nodded and left.
The duchess caught up to Kita. “Why is Sabatha here? Jeffrey said you sent for her. Is there something I need to be concerned about?”
“She’s not for me.”
“She can’t bring him back from the dead.”
“I don’t plan on killing him. Though he may wish he were dead.”
Arriving at her side, Jeffrey stood with the duke and Sabatha.
“Kita, I’ve brought you something to help you,” said the duchess.
“What is it, Mother?” Kita asked, annoyed.
“I brought you Dusk and Dawn.”
Kita squealed in delight and gave the duchess a kiss on the cheek.
“What’s wrong with her?” said Jeffrey to his father. “I’ve never heard her squeal like that.”
The duke shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her this happy since she was a little girl.”
“Some girls want gems and fine silks—Kita wants funny-named swords?”
“Heavens knows why the Arconians name things the way they do.”
Ignoring her father and brother, Kita sheathed the swords and stepped up, signaling she was ready.
The duchess looked on with trepidation. She prayed nothing would happen to Kita, but she also worried what Kita would do to Zidin. Kill him quickly…
She couldn’t help admire how striking Kita looked with the black leather armor, her creamy skin, and blonde hair. How odd it is that a demon could be so beautiful. Kita let out a long giggle as if she could hear what her mother was thinking. What have I let loose on the world? Maybe I shouldn’t have done this and just let Angus take her, maybe these demons would have remained buried. No. Being free of the curse is worth losing all my honor.
Zidin’s elders gave the ready signal.
“Fighters, on your honor and to the death…Fight!”
So, it begins. I only hope I have done the right thing. I pray this demon brings light to the world.
Kita ran down the lane, threw herself into a cartwheel, and performed backward handsprings toward Zidin. She back flipped into the air, caught a rafter, and swung onto the next rafter.
Zidin tried to follow under her, but the flickering light hid her movement. He stopped under the last rafter. “Come out and face me!”
From the other direction, the lights went out as Kita ran along the rafters slashing the lamp wicks. Dusk and Dawn lived up to their sharp reputation. She left one lamp lit at either end of the lane, just enough for her to see by and to give flickering shadows to confuse Zidin. Now, the fun can begin. She dropped behind him as he searched where the last light went out and with a flurry, stabbed at different parts of his legs to aggravate him.
Zidin yelled in rage. When he turned Kita was gone, vanished like the wind. He swung at a flickering shadow. From the opposite direction, she gave him a series of slashes up his exposed side. He brought his sword around in a low arc but Kita was gone.
“Does it hurt, Zidin? I’m just getting started,” Kita said in a haunting voice. Stagecraft and pageantry were important elements of being an assassin. Sarah taught her to throw her voice and to use her environment to make it appear she was everywhere and nowhere. These skills, mixed with some psychology, could disorient and drive fear into an enemy.
Kita flipped off a rafter and struck Zidin with a flurry of stabs to his back. She struck painful spots and disabled one of his arms. The giant sword hit the ground. She dropped to a knee and slashed the tops of his feet and along the center of the anklebones. That should do it. She rolled to the side into a deep shadow as Zidin reached down and picked up his sword. I can’t believe he can wield that monster sword with one hand. She leaped back into the rafters. In a loud whisper, she threw her voice around the stable.
“Zidin, where am I?”
“Am I here?”
“Or over here?”
“Maybe here?”
A few of the horses whinnied, adding to the effect. Zidin spun toward each voice.
Kita tormented him by letting him see flashes as she moved around the stable.
“Come on, Zidin, what happened to the great and honorable warrior? You’re getting beat by a little girl.”
“Stand and fight like a warrior on the field of battle,” Zidin yelled.
“Oh, but Zidin, we tried that already, didn’t we?” Kita mocked as she felt a surge of hate and anger. The world slowed down. “And look what it brought me: broken bones and a scarred tummy,” she screamed with malice. “I learned I couldn’t beat you…not like that. I had to bring you off your battlefield and onto mine.” Kita let out a long, maniacal giggle. “Welcome to the back alleys of New London and the wharves of Leedings. There is a simple code here—kill or be killed.” Her voice fell, becoming dark and sinister. “There is no honor. One can’t afford such luxuries.”
Kita ran behind him and thrust her swords into his lower back. Zidin let out a yelp. Kita flipped into the rafters with an evil laugh.
“Sometimes you face opponents on all sides,” she roared. Zidin spun looking for her as she dropped down and twirled around him, slashing like a whirlwind. Giggling, she vanished.
“Stop this!” Zidin yelled. “Act like you’re supposed to.”
Kita spoke again with raw fury. “And sometimes they don’t want to kill you or steal your money. They want to rape a defenseless little girl who did nothing to them.”
Kita slid on the stone floor between his legs, slashing at his thighs, then sprang to her feet and sprinted a few steps to jump into the rafters.
The duke took a few strides down the lane. “Kita, I order you to stop this. I didn’t raise you to be a hoodlum or to live in the back alleys of New London. This is unbecoming of a lady of your stature. You want to be a soldier; you must act like one.”
Everyone jumped when Kita appeared in front of him, hanging from a rafter by her knees, with her weapons crossed, his head between the blades. “Oh, Daddy, I’m a soldier now?” She said in a creepy little girl voice. “I thought I was a little girl with a stick, pretending.” Kita glared at Jeffrey. “Jeffrey’s right, Daddy. I was a little girl playing at being a soldier. I didn’t do a good job, now did I?”
“You did a fine job, I—”
“My tummy tells me different!” she shrieked. “Well, Daddy, you’ll be happy to know I won’t be playing soldier anymore. I think I’ll be what I am, a big girl trained as an assassin. Lucky for you, Angus also takes criminals.”
“Assassin? Kita, you’re not an assassin. You’re my little girl.”
Kita let out a long giggle and then kissed the duke on both cheeks.
“You know something, Daddy? Have you wondered why I haven’t killed you?”
“No,” the duke whispered in a shaky voice.
“Because no one’s paid me to.” Kita pulled her weapons away. “Now if there are no more interruptions, I have to go flay a fish.” Laughing, she disappeared into the rafters. After a few seconds, the sound stopped.
“Is she possessed? Do we need to get her to a temple?” said Jeffrey.
“No,” said Angus in a hushed tone. “She’s berserking and will be fine when it’s over. Until then, do not do anything to upset her, or you may not live to regret it.”
“Come out and face me,” Zidin yelled. “Die with honor!”
Kita dropped from the rafters behind him. She sprinted toward him in another tumbling run, then unrolled from a somersault with both weapons drawn and flew at him. The flicker of the flames made her a figment that Zidin either ignored or didn’t see. Kita thrust both blades through him. Zidin toppled backward taking Kita with him, landing with a loud thud.
Zidin’s glassy eyes stared up at her. “Please, make it quick. I’ve suffered enough for my honor.”
Kita slammed her swords into the ground on either side of his head. She lay down on him, bent her knees up, and crossed her ankles. She placed her arms on either side of his neck, leaned in, and kissed him.
“I always wondered what kissing a man would be like. Now I know.” She giggled. “I’m not going to kill you. Your honor is mine. You’re bound to me until I give it back to you or until your death. If I die before you it’s gone forever, understood?” Zidin grimaced as his eyes closed. What are you willing to do for your honor? Does your honor permit you to serve a girl gone mad?
Zidin’s eyes closed, and his mouth tightened. “Yes. I’ll serve you.”
Kita leaned in and hissed, “I don’t want you to serve me. I want you to fight for me. Got it?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Kita’s previous jubilation returned. “Call me Kita, for now. Let’s not make things weird between us.”
“Yes, Kita.”
“Good. You wait here, and I’ll go find someone to patch you up.”
“Yes, Kita.”
Kita pushed off him and walked toward her end. She now understood why some girls liked big guys. Still, ew and no.
“Kita, are you alright? We heard a thump. Is Zidin…dead?” the duchess asked in a melancholy tone as Kita emerged from the darkness.
“Yes and no.” Kita turned to the elders and Sabatha. “He’s still alive, but you had better get moving. Sabatha, the elders are going to need more than their balm for this one.”
“Yes, my lady,” said Sabatha.
“Oh, and Sabatha, some of these friends of his may try to kill him, so be careful.” Kita took the lamp off the wall and handed it to her.
Sabatha took the lamp, hiding a grimace, and hurried on her way. The remaining group was plunged into darkness.
The duke spoke, sounding nervous. “Jeffrey, open the doors and let some light in.”
Before the doors opened, Kita jumped into the rafters. Running across the beams, she went to the hayloft. There she found a quiet spot, sat down, drew her legs to her, and cried.
“How did we go from the monster downstairs to an eight-year-old sobbing like her cat died?” whispered Jeffrey.
“It’s all part of berserking, Lord Jeffrey. You can’t have one without the other,” said Angus.
He and the duchess knelt next to Kita. The duchess put her arm around her.
“Are you alright, Kita? Do you need anything?” said Angus.
Kita looked up at him, tears streaming from her eyes. “I’m sorry, Angus. I’m so sorry,” she choked out.
“Sorry for what? You did superbly. You did everything we talked about before and then some. The use of psychological warfare to unhinge your opponent was excellent.”
“What about what she did to us?” Jeffrey injected. “She scared the spirits out of us and threatened Father,”
Kita was overtaken by sobs. All three elders gave Jeffrey nasty looks.
“Kita, you’ve done nothing wrong,” said the duchess. “You even brought a healer to take care of your opponent. That is a true act of compassion.”
Kita sobbed harder. “It wasn’t for him. It was for me.”
Everyone recoiled in shock.
“You were afraid you’d lose?” said Angus.
Kita sniffed. “No. I asked for her because I wanted him to stay alive after I was finished with him.”
“So, you could keep killing him?” asked Jeffrey.
“No!” Kita shouted and sobbed.
The duke grabbed Jeffrey by the arm and led him away, beginning an angry lecture on keeping one’s mouth shut in delicate situations.
“Kita, did you know your braids and ribbons are still in?” said the duchess.
Kita looked up at her with a small smile. “They are?” She ran her hands over her hair. Her mother was right.
For a moment, Kita felt better, but then looked at Angus, and her tears returned.
The duchess frowned and looked at Angus. “It was worth a try,” she whispered. “I think whatever is bothering her has to do with you. Maybe you should try.”
“Kita what do you think you’ve done wrong? No one is upset with you.”
Kita, still sobbing, tried to answer. “I should have checked with you first before I kept him alive.”
“With me? I’m pleased you didn’t kill him even though the ritual demanded it.”
“Yeah, well, screw the ritual. He was too good a fighter to die in a stable.”
“That is true, but it doesn’t explain why you’re upset.”
“When I brought him down, I didn’t kill him. I made him swear an oath binding him to me until his death or I release him. I should have checked with you first.”
Angus and the duchess looked at each other.
“Kita, dear, are you saying that Zidin is now honor-bound to you?” said the duchess.
Kita nodded.
“I’ll admit this is unprecedented,” said Angus. “The Legion hasn’t had a situation like this in my lifetime. At the same time, I don’t see a problem. The Legion often works with non-legionnaires. I will say, I’m impressed. You’re already learning lessons I’ve yet to teach you. Evaluating and recruiting talent is a hard thing to do
.”
Kita stopped sobbing while Angus spoke. She looked up at him, listening intently. “So, I’m not in trouble? You’re not angry with me?”
“Of course not. Zidin will be a powerful ally for you in the future. I’m pleased you recognized this and took steps to obtain his talents. You’re showing a promising start as the new Legion commander.”
Kita smiled and leaned against her mother.
“If you’re ready, dear, we should be going. We’re not done yet,” said the duchess.
Kita nodded. Angus and her mother helped her to her feet. She wiped her eyes and gave a shy wave to her father and Jeffrey.
Downstairs, they found Sabatha and the elders had Zidin sitting up and sipping water, while the rest of the elders went about relighting the lamps.
“Sabatha, how is he?” said the duchess.
“Very well, my lady. His injuries were extensive, but none of the wounds hit anything vital. Not even those that went all the way through. He should be walking soon. That healing balm your clansmen have is remarkable. Would it be possible to obtain the recipe, my lady?”
“It requires some unusual ingredients. I’ll have to see if I can import them. I’m happy he will recover.”
The duchess knelt next to Zidin. “How are you?”
“I’m feeling better, Chieftess. Your healer was most kind.”
“Yes, she is excellent. Do you remember much of what happened?”
“If you’re referring to me being honor-bound to Kita, yes, I remember.”
“I just wanted to make sure.”
“I’ll be her sword,” he said with a growl.
Ah, don’t be like that. Imagine how badly I’d kick a regular guy’s ass…
“I know you will do an excellent job of protecting her for me.”
“Thank you, Chieftess.”
Two of the clan elders helped Zidin to his feet.
“That feels much better, thank you. Is Kita here? I’d like to see her,” said Zidin.
“Yes, she is,” said the duchess. “I warn you; her emotional state is unbalanced due to her berserking. I don’t know how she’ll react to you.”
Zidin raised an eyebrow. “I see.”
Angus waved Kita over.
Kita came slowly, feeling shy and skittish. She stopped in front of Zidin and looked up. “Hello, Zidin. How are you feeling?”