Warrior

by Michelle Magly

  “That’s not even funny.” Senri put down her fork and knife. “They could kill me for that.”

  “Not without evidence of a long term affair,” said Nat. He took another bite from the apple and chewed. He arched an eyebrow. “Has the princess found a new royal plaything?”

  She wanted to look away, but that would be too incriminating. She stood her ground. “I haven’t touched her.”

  Nat laughed. “Well, that doesn’t sound cryptic at all. Don’t worry. The song is harmless. While it mentions you sleeping with scores of people, it never specifies which ones.”

  Senri smiled and patted her friend on the arm. “Thanks, Nat.”

  She had every intention of heading to the training yards after breakfast, but as Senri and Nat exited the barracks a young woman stopped them. “Warriors,” she called out. The two stopped and looked at the cloaked woman. Nin.

  “Hello!” said Nat. He grabbed Senri by the arm and dragged her over to Nin. “What brings you down from the palace?” The maid gave them a mirthless stare. Nat swallowed and straightened his posture. “How can we assist you, ma’am?”

  “You shall accompany me to the council chambers,” she said. “All other duties have been excused for the day.”

  “It’s time, then?” Senri asked.

  Nin nodded. “I’ve sent the other two ahead. They will meet us at the palace entrance.” She glanced at their armor and then their faces. “I’m glad you have the sense to look presentable.” She turned and walked through the crowds. “Come with me,” she called over her shoulder.

  The two Warriors glanced at each other before running after Nin. They caught up and slowed their step to match hers. A sense of dread overtook Senri as they left the Warrior’s stronghold. She did not know whether she feared speaking to the Council more or seeing Alina again.

  Yahn and Lanan waited by the palace steps for them. They fell into stride beside them as Nin led them into the palace and down a series of halls. Their path ended in a large, open room with tall standing marble pillars. Two guards stood on either side of large double doors.

  “Are these the Warriors the Regent spoke of?” asked one.

  “They are,” Nin replied. “Is the Council ready to receive them?”

  A guard shook his head. “Regent Velora will send his page to collect you.”

  They only had to wander the antechamber for a short while. Most of the discussion sounded like mumbled nonsense through the double doors.

  Finally, a young man opened the door a crack. “Regent Velora is ready to receive you.”

  The four Warriors exchanged glances before letting the young man show them into the council chambers. Senri looked around at the men and women sitting in the high-raised seats. Some glared down at them. Some looked relieved at the sight.

  “I present you the Warriors who discovered the enemy encampment while on routine patrol.” Regent Velora spoke. Senri found him seated with the other Councilors. Alina sat next to him. She smiled weakly up at the princess. Alina gave her the barest hint of a grin. She looked like she would be sick. Senri took a deep breath and tried to prepare herself for the worst. After all, they faced worse on the battlefield.

  ***

  Watching Senri walk into the Council chamber proved to be the hardest part of the day for Alina, not the yelling matches. The Warrior looked up at her with such hope, such assurance, and that smile; it hurt Alina to throw someone so genuine and trusting into the animal pit.

  “What is the meaning of this absurdity?” Councilor Gosman demanded. He rose from his chair and pointed at the Warriors. “We never discussed bringing outside testimony into this debate.”

  “They are eye witnesses to the main event,” said Councilor Orwall. “I, for one, would like to hear what they have to say.”

  “We are here to discuss privately—”

  “Is that why the foreign dignitaries from Shedol have been allowed to attend?”

  “Councilors!”

  Alina leaned out of her seat, looking down the rows. Lord Demek stood. He looked between the bickering people, then at Alina.

  “The Warriors of Osota are honorable and brave,” he said, turning his gaze on them. “We would be glad to hear what they have to say of their ordeals.” He sat down, straightening the collar on his jacket. It had received a few more decorations since Alina saw him last. A gold cord across his chest recognized his new rank as ruler alongside the Regent. “Please, speak.” He gestured at the Warriors. They stepped forward.

  The Councilors remained silent for the duration of the story. The eldest Warrior did most of the talking, again. He seemed to be the self-proclaimed leader of their group, the best-spoken out of all of them. Alina tried not to dwell on the disaster Senri might have caused when explaining the events. She spoke bluntly, something Alina enjoyed about her, but the Councilors would have torn her apart for it.

  At the end of the tale, Councilor Tarish spoke first. “That is a fascinating account. But the fact remains that nothing ties this band of mercenaries to the Kingdom of Shedol.”

  Regent Velora rose from his chair. “Actually, I have with me a certain emblem.” He pulled from his pocket the scrap of metal that bore the symbol of Shedol’s army on it. “Ambassador.” He addressed a cloaked man standing at the far side of the room. “Would you agree this is the symbol of your nation?” The man strode forward and examined the symbol. It looked exactly like the insignia on his robes, the seven-pointed sun lowering into the ocean.

  “It is similar,” he said. He turned and walked back to his position.

  “It is an exact match!” said Orwall.

  “Warriors,” said Velora, ignoring the outcry. “Would you say the army’s weapon and armor bore this symbol?”

  All four of them nodded.

  The ambassador huffed. “This is insulting! We speak honestly when we say no troops have been dispatched to your shore. How do you know these men are not just a group of deserters? I assure you we are as eager to investigate the matter and resolve it. But if you pursue aggressive actions against us, we will defend ourselves.”

  “No one has taken an aggressive action against you or your people, Ambassador,” said an older woman. Calna, if Alina remembered Velora’s lesson correctly. “We only wish to protect our people.”

  “By throwing around false accusations?” asked the ambassador. Alina had to admit he played a convincing part. “And what disturbs me most are these rumors your princess spreads of enslaving Osotan farmhands.”

  “Didn’t you listen to anything he just said?”

  The outcry had come from Senri. She stepped forward into the center of the room.

  Senri glared up at the ambassador. “They had an armory. They took slaves, hundreds of them! Where is a band of rogue mercenaries taking hundreds of slaves to? If they were bandits, they would not be bothering.”

  “You dare accuse my people of illegal slave trade?” The ambassador took a step toward Senri before another pulled him back.

  “There was an encampment of men moving slaves along the western shore,” said Orwall. “Where else would they move them to?”

  The meeting dissolved into a mess of shouts from there. Alina buried her face in her hands, trying to drown out the yelling. She had been foolish to think the Councilors would simply see the truth. And exposing Gosman’s ties to the army seemed out at the moment. Clearly, some of them had decided an alliance with Shedol was better than any other alternative and worth any cost. No amount of proof would change that. She shook her head. She could think of only one thing to do.

  She stood and cleared her throat. “I believe there is only one option at hand.”

  The Councilors nearest heard her and quieted. The rest of the room followed.

  “We are divided.” Alina looked at the Councilors one by one. “I am sure everyone here feels they are doing what is best for Osota.” Her eyes locked with Demek’s for a moment. “But we cannot allow ourselves to argue like this. We must stay united. Otherwise, this
threat, regardless of who orchestrates it, will dismantle us. I propose a compromise.”

  Everyone stared at her. Alina felt both exhilarated and terrified. She had never spoken so openly before, or so loudly. Like a ruler.

  “All right,” said Lord Demek. “What is your compromise, Princess?”

  Alina wanted to slap him. Of course Demek would rub her inferiority in her face. All she wanted was to end the fighting. “While the kingdom of Shedol conducts its investigation, I recommend a thorough reinforcement of Osota’s borders. In my time away from the capital, I was able to observe the kingdom’s defenses. Fortresses lay empty and patrol units are far too sparse. This lax in security can be expected when negotiating the line of succession.” She paused. No one looked outraged. “However, we have witnessed the repercussions. We cannot do nothing, yet we cannot go to war.”

  She waited for someone to speak up, to give her a word of encouragement.

  Lord Demek spoke first. “A sound plan of action, your Highness. However, our military means are stretched far too thin for a total reinforcement. We lack the reserves of iron and other metals to forge the necessary defenses. We cannot deploy troops to garrisons without armor.” He looked over at the ambassadors. “The current trade negotiation with Shedol is to remedy that. This breach in our defenses is most troubling. There is no easy solution to it, Highness.”

  “Lord Demek.” Velora spoke up. “You stated in a previous meeting that negotiations should hold until we have determined the candidness of our potential ally. Does this conflict not call for investigation?”

  At first, Alina thought Velora had somehow outwitted Demek, or that he had struck a particularly sore point, because the life momentarily drained from Demek’s face. His eyes unfocused and he blinked several times, looking around as if he had not seen the Council chambers before. “I said what?” he asked, brow furrowed. He sounded confused. Velora repeated himself and Demek nodded. “Yes, and while this normally would require a delay, summer is ending and with it the travel time needed to conduct a proper investigation. I suggest that we move forward with a limited, short-term agreement that can be reassessed later.” He stared across the room at Velora the whole time he spoke. Alina glanced back and forth between the two, wondering what sort of unspoken threat lay between them. Demek had power, power that went beyond anyone else in that room.

  Regent Velora proceeded to adjourn the meeting. Alina felt his hand on her shoulder, but she did not move. She needed to sit. She needed to block out the memory of her vision, the one of her people enslaved and of Demek drinking with the enemy. No matter how she struggled or schemed, she could not seem to outwit her gift from the Almighty. She saw the future. Who was she to think she could alter it?

  ***

  Senri charged at the training dummy, roaring. She raised her sword high over her head and screamed as she swung down for the first blow. The blade bit deep into the wood. She tugged it free and hacked at the post once more. She hit it from every direction, knocking it a little looser every time. She did not stop until she had hacked halfway through the dummy’s torso and splintered off most of its left flank. She yelled one last time and sank the sword into its head. Senri release the grip, letting it stay embedded in the skull. Her own rage startled her. Before arriving at the capital, she had thought little of Osota or its safety. She always assumed it would remain that way. Seeing those prisoners changed that. Watching the leaders of the kingdom fail to act solidified it.

  “I think it looks better that way,” said Lanan. The Warrior stood at the entrance to the training court and leaned against a rack of swords. She smiled, something Senri had not seen in a while.

  “Why are you happy?” asked Senri. She walked over to the rack and fetched a spear. The weight seemed fairly balanced as she hefted the pole arm. Winding her arm back, Senri threw the deadly weapon at the target. The spearhead sank into the dummy’s chest, knocking the post back even more.

  “I’m not,” said Lanan. “I’m as angry as you. I just don’t show it by ruining training equipment.”

  Senri scoffed, pacing the length of the courtyard. “They’ll make another. Or this whole place will burn to the ground when the Shedol armies march in.”

  “They won’t destroy us, just make us a subjugated territory and drain us for our resources.”

  “If we fought back, they—”

  “We’re not fighting back though,” said Lanan. Her tone darkened. Senri stopped pacing and looked at her. Lanan scowled. “You think I don’t know what’s happening? We don’t have the resources to take on that army. They’re going to take Osota and suck it dry. They’re going to keep stealing poor farmers and enslaving them. They’re going to cut more throats, like the children they threatened me with when I wouldn’t help them.” Lanan’s eyes shone with tears. Senri tried to respond, but found nothing to say. “Everyone else wants to do nothing. I think we should change that.”

  “And how do we?” Senri glanced around the training ground to make sure they were alone.

  “We can’t. But her Highness can most likely stir up some trouble.” Lanan looked more like her old self. The fire flared back to life in her eyes. She blinked away the tears. “I think she needs some encouragement though.”

  Senri walked to the training dummy and yanked out the spear. “From who?”

  “You.”

  The spear almost slipped from her grasp as she twirled around. “Me? Why me?”

  Lanan’s smile broadened and she shrugged. “She seems to prefer talking to you. You tell me.”

  “I…we…it’s nothing like you’re implying.” Senri placed the spear back on the rack and returned to the dummy for her sword. “Besides, what are four Warriors and a princess supposed to do?”

  “That will be for her Highness to decide. She’s quite the planner. I’m sure she’s putting something into motion right now.”

  “You can’t know that,” said Senri. She sheathed her sword and made to leave the training grounds. Lanan blocked her way. “How am I even supposed to reach her?”

  Lanan raised an eyebrow. “I think you know how.”

  Senri shook her head. “You’re insane.” Lanan did not move. Senri looked away and swore. “I’ll be back, if the palace guards don’t kill me.”

  As she passed, Lanan pressed something into her hand. “A lock pick. Nin might have said you’d need one.”

  The small copper wire looked as useful as a rock. Senri had never picked locks before. “I’ll refrain from melting door handles.”

  She pocketed the wire and left the training ground. Twilight had fallen over the kingdom during her attack of the dummy. She had started by setting fire to the field then extinguishing it all with a breath. The exercise had been therapeutic and reckless, both things she needed after the Council released them. She had only switched to the training dummy when Graus came outside and ordered her to stop before she burned down the entire plains.

  The sewer entrance lay unguarded, as usual. Did the palace staff even know of its existence? She heated the iron bars and bent them aside. She did not feel like picking the lock to them. Once through, she reheated them and put them back into place, carefully smoothing out the metal to not leave marks from her grip. The hidden door proved more obstinate, however. She ran her hand along the surface, looking for the invisible seam. It took her a quarter hour to locate the correct groove on the pockmarked surface. Once inside the tunnel, she found herself in complete darkness. She blinked rapidly.

  At first, Senri tried moving along the tunnel without the help of sight. After clanging against the stone walls too many times, she removed her weapons and armor. The straps evaded her grasp as she tugged the plates free. She set her armor by the door and set off once more. Her hands reached in front of her, skimming the rough surface of the tunnel. Reaching stairs, she climbed onward, cursing Lanan and whoever else put the idea into her head. Nin, that’s who gave her the lock pick.

  Senri reached a dead end. She felt along the wooden wal
l until she found the small door handle. Nearly dropping the lock pick, she attempted to bypass the door. She almost gave up, but finally moved the copper wire up and out. She heard the tumblers fall into place and the handle lurched down under her grasp. Behind that, a false wall rested in place. Faint beams of light seeped in through the seams. She pushed it aside and winced from the sudden flood of light. She crawled forward through the opening and stood. Something clattered to the floor. Senri glanced toward the sound. Alina stood by her vanity in nothing but a thin, white shift. Senri’s gaze moved to Alina’s exposed collarbone, then up along the neck until she noticed Alina’s completely shocked expression.

  “Senri!” Alina said.

  She gulped and realized she had been staring. She turned away, covering her eyes. “Your Highness, I’m sorry! The others made me do it. I’ll just leave now.” She stooped to retreat back into the dark tunnel once more, but the princess rushed forward and slammed the hidden door back into place.

  “Oh, don’t do that,” Alina said, positioning herself in front of the doorway. Senri looked away once more. “By the Almighty, what is wrong?”

  Senri’s heart leapt. The whole plan seemed horribly flawed now that she stood in Alina’s bedchambers. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor. “You’re indecent, your Highness,” she mumbled. I’m going to get my head chopped off.

  “Am I really that terrible to look upon?”

  Senri turned back to Alina. “No.” But she still stood in nothing but a shift, so Senri turned away again. The room felt uncomfortably hot. “I mean, it’s not proper for a Warrior, or anyone, to look upon a lady in a state of undress.”

  “Did your parents tell you that?” asked Alina. Senri heard the false wall panel move back into place and Alina’s footsteps.

  Just look at the floor.

  “I’m putting on a robe,” said Alina. “You can look now.”

  Senri looked up. Alina tied a blue silk robe around her waist. It covered most of her body sufficiently. “I’m sorry, your Highness. I shouldn’t have come.”