The Old Realms - Chapter 117

Grimdux

I. This is the direct sequel to Touch O' Luck

 Touch O' Luck

II) It serves as a prologue to the Old Realms series.

It will be a superior reading experience

to start this story from the beginning

Please give it a good rating if you liked it, it will help the story reach a much bigger audience:)

Chapter specific maps of the realms 

Maps of the Realms

Glen

The soft Spring of War

-Crack on the walls-

Part III

(The bare minimum of knowledge)

Glen patted Outlaw’s mane and the horse snorted in response, bumping his large head on the former thief’s shoulder.

“You’re a beautiful horse,” Glen said warmly and Outlaw returned his stare exhaling loudly. “Yeah, you are. Don’t let anyone tell ya otherwise.”

He looped the reins once at the stall and walked out of the stable, located behind their inn. A woman carrying a basket and holding a small girl’s hand that looked like her younger self, stopped to watch him pass.

“Apologies milord,” The woman said, finding her courage. “Do you know, if there are ships leaving the city?”

Glen paused and looked at them both.

“I heard yer man saying, you were stationed at the docks,” She explained, taking his silence for annoyance.

“Only merchants are still loading, all other ships are private,” Glen replied and watched as the small girl went to hide behind her mother’s dress.

“Will they take passengers, milord? For work?”

The small girl popped her head to look at him all serious. Glen rubbed a hand on his unshaven face and then sighed.

“You’ll need coin, I’m afraid,” He said and the woman nodded, as if she’d expected it.

“Gratitude, milord,” She said and turned to leave.

For what? Glen thought.

“Wait,” He called on her. The woman stopped, now visibly worried. She wasn’t old, he realized, just worn out. “How many are you?”

“Just my Kelly. My husband went out wit Sir Henry, it’s a month now,” She pulled her daughter closer and the small girl hugged her leg. “I don’t expect he’ll be back.”

Yeah.

Glen reached for his purse, pulled a couple of gold coins out, smacked his lips and then added a couple of more. He offered them to the young mother and she grabbed his hand, thanking him intensely and even started kissing it, as if he was a Priest of Uher. Glen had to physically push her away, embarrassed at her histrionics.

“One should be enough for both of you. The rest, help ye make a start,” He said, trying to keep his emotions in check. “Tell the captain, Lord Reeves sent you.”

“Uher keep’s ye, milord,” The woman repeated again and Marcus who’d watched the whole thing intervened.

“Ye better hurry up, lassie,” The hale solder said. “I’m heading back there now. If ye have anything worth taking wit you, we can use my horse.”

Another five minutes of tearful celebration ensued, before the young mother had calmed down enough to get moving. Glen stood at the entrance of King’s Fortune and watched them, until they took the turn and headed towards Rida’s Harbor Gates. Only then did he realize, he hadn’t asked for her name.

Jinx’s door was half opened and Glen pushed it and walked in, pausing, when he found her room empty. Stiles was guarding Sen supposedly, having moved to the upper floor and the others were at the market, or sleeping, with the exception of Liko and Crafton that had work in the Harbor and the dwarfs, no one had seen in days.

There was a large water barrel inside Jinx’s room that wasn’t there, when Stiles occupied it and the floor was drenched, water pooling amidst muddy footsteps, leading to the barrel. Glen looked about him, found a towel, next to Whisper’s stinking vest. He kicked the vest away and grabbing the towel, lobbed it confidently inside the barrel with a loud plop.

If there ever was a tourney of chucking things inside barrels, he’d win first place easy, Glen thought with a smug grin. Jinx’s pink head exploded out of the barrel with a shriek, making an even bigger mess at the floor, but Glen had retreated a step in time and came out of it unscathed.

For fuck’s sake.

“What?” Jinx asked, red-rimmed eyes narrowing. “Uh, I thought it was Alix again.”

Glen didn’t want to hear any details of that encounter.

“Use the towel,” He advised her. “Yer tits are showing.”

“Don’t pretend ye don’t like ‘em,” Whisper retorted, but covered herself up with the soaked towel. She didn’t seem to mind it.

“I do, but I’m kinda pressed for time,” Glen explained honestly.

“I think they’re a bit bigger now,” Jinx said, pressing on them above the towel. “You seem bigger too.”

“I noticed,” Glen grunted. “Have ye seen Fikumin?”

“I haven’t seen ye in days. What the hells happened?”

“Whisper, I was busy working. Where’s Fikumin?”

“Is that the dwarf? Who knows? Hey, what did ye mean working?” She probed, getting out of the barrel, managing to keep the short towel over her chest. Glen walked to her bed, grabbed a pair of leather pants and tossed them to her.

“Do you want to turn around?” Jinx asked raising a brow.

“Not really,” Glen replied, without flinching. “Are all Gish as enamored wit water?”

“I thought ye were gonna ask, if all of us have my color,” Whisper replied, snaking into her pants. A sight worth walking all the way from the docks and back.

Twice.

“I assumed they don’t,” Glen said wryly.

“Hmm. Liars get their pants on fire,” Jinx teased and walked to where she kept her weapons in a pile and plucked a short knife out, she then casually sheathed in a back pocket. “Okay, I’m intrigued, what do ye want the dwarf for?”

“Something serious,” Glen retorted, his patience running out.

“I was worried, Glen,” Whisper protested. “What did she say?”

Glen snorted. “You mean Sen? I haven’t talked to her. What did ye do?”

“Nothing. You know me, I’m enthusiastic,” She played it down.

That sounds serious as fuck.

“Right. Well,” He looked about the room. “Since I don’t believe Fikumin is hiding in here, I’ll leave ye to it.”

“Wait, I’ll come wit you,” Jinx said and stooped to get her bow from the pile.

“Whisper, I’ll check on Sen and then probably return to the harbor. We are organizing a defense there.”

“Bullshit. I don’t believe yer working for the Duke,” Jinx snapped.

“It isn’t a choice, Pretty. This title comes with responsibilities.”

“Hah, ye almost had me convinced,” She shook her head, then noting his solemn expression, she added. “Fine. I’ll come help ye ‘organize’ your soldiers.”

Glen sighed and scratched the right side of his forehead with his thumb. His eyes glanced at the pile of weapons Jinx usually carried in a large sack and then at the large familiar box. He thought about asking her, if it was the same she had him carry inside Hellfort, but the handle of a longsword caught his interest and walking there, bend his knees and pulled it out of the pile.

He took a deep breath, to calm himself down.

“What is it?” Jinx asked.

“Where did you get this?” Glen croaked.

“Ahm, I found it?”

It was like reliving a scene.

Glen flipped the sword in his hand and turned it towards a perplexed Whisper Jinx.

“That’s Emerson’s blade.”

He’d cleaned and sharpened that thing too many times, to ever forget it.

“Nah, it can’t be. Here, give it to me,” She said looking worried now, but Glen raised the point to her chest stopping her from approaching. “Glen… ye don’t have to deal wit this now.”

It doesn’t mean anything, he thought, feeling his arms go numb.

“Where did you find it?” Glen repeated slowly.

Whisper puffed out exasperated.

“A Cataphract had it. The one I killed. Well Zola did technically,” She sighed and seeing him deflate with each passing second, she pushed the blade out of the way to give him a hug. Glen stopped her raising his left hand.

The last thing he wanted, was to break down at this point.

“I’m okay,” He said, with a grimace. “It’s just a sword. It doesn’t mean anything.”

The knight was imprisoned. It wasn’t good, but it could be fixed, he thought and grunted seeing Jinx wiping her eyes.

“Fuck are you doing? Snap out of it!” He barked and Whisper started crying, but at least turned her head away.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it,” She managed to say, between sniffles. “I can feel ye… it’s a Gish thing.”

Glen sucked a deep breath in, then let it out slowly. He waited a couple of extra moments, to get his bearings back, but then stopped himself again, just as he was about to knock on Sen-Iv’s closed door. What in Luthos clogged ears are ye doing?

He turned the knob and pushed the door open, using too much force, the whole thing slamming on the wall and all but coming down its hinges. Iskay who was working on Sen-Iv’s hair, weaving gems in her braids, let out a high pitched scream, turned and seeing him bursting in, more confused, than angry, rushed to prostrate herself before him, her forehead almost banging on the floor.

“Master Reeves! Apologies, it won’t happen again!”

Huh?

Glen blinked, mouth hanging open and then stooped to help the redhead to her feet, but Sen-Iv beat him to it.

“Iskay, leave us.”

“Yes, mistress!” The girl replied getting up and with another deep bow that must have crashed her back, dashed out of their room.

Glen cleared his throat, rattled by the whole incident and Sen-Iv walking slowly, went to the door and closed it, giving him the time to come out of it.

“You should… tell her, not to do that again,” Glen finally said and Sen that had stopped at arm’s length, nodded with her head.

“I will need to beat it out of her,” She said calmly. “But it will be done.”

What?

“No. Are you insane?” Glen snapped, then took another deep breath. “I will tell her myself.”

“As you wish, Glen.”

Right.

“I was… the Duke needs me to hold the bridge and the harbor for him,” He explained and Sen-Iv listened to him carefully. “I had to sleep there.”

“He expects you to fight for him?” Sen-Iv asked.

“Aye. Truth is, I’m looking for a way out, should things turn ugly here. I sent a message to Altarin. I’ll have… my ship brought here.”

“That sounds wise,” Sen-Iv commented. Then with a deliberate pause added. “Especially after the Duke didn’t help you defend your city.”

“Yeah, that’s not why… but it’s a legitimate reason, I suppose.”

“Your reasons, are yours, Glen. What the people know, can be something different.”

“That’s pretty sneaky of you, Sen.”

Sen-Iv smiled, lighting up the room. “Is that good? Being sneaky?”

“Sometimes it is,” Glen replied and touched one of her gold hanging earrings. “Is this a real ruby?”

“It is.”

Damn.

“You know that people might cut that lovely ear off, just to get their hands on it, right?” He told her, with a smile. “Even walking you to the docks, might be a problem.”

Sen-Iv sighed and standing on her toes touched his lips with hers softly.

“Just warn me beforehand,” She said, looking at his blushed face, a little surprised at his reaction. “And I will take everything off.”

Glen waited for Jinx to locate the dwarf in Sen-Iv’s room, the young woman perceptively leaving him to his thoughts. Though she did seat across from him on the small wall table, in front of her bed.

While the young Lord spent those first minutes thinking of her last proposal, his mind slowly drifted on matters that were troubling him these past days, since Victor had tried to have him killed.

Probably not the first time, Glen decided. He reached and finding the handle, unsheathed the ancient dagger, the silvery metal shaped in the body of a wyvern, gleaming in the light coming from the open window. The blade black, but glassy, looking nothing like bone.

It’s a magic dagger, he’d told Emerson back then.

But the truth was, he didn’t know.

Lith had told him once that a witch had made it as a gift and not an ancient weapon smith.

Another Zilan, knew it wasn’t his right away.

One more truth of course was, the fact that since he’d gotten it, Glen hadn’t always been himself.

It was subtle, but he could feel it.

It came and went.

Like the voice and the dreams.

But were they the same?

Now’s yer fuckin’ time to speak, Glen thought, but of course he got no answer back. He was slowly turning insane.

He turned the dagger around, flipped it once in the air, caught it and then stabbed it in one fluid move on the surface of the table, Sen-Iv’s scared gasp, bringing him back to the present.

“Apologies,” He said and flashed her one of his patent grins.

“This looks ancient,” Sen-Iv commented, recovering remarkably fast. “Was this what you used that night?”

“I found it in some ruins,” Glen told her. He intended to have this talk with Fikumin, since he was the one most concerned about it from the start, but he wanted to talk to someone about it. Could he trust Sen-Iv? The simple answer was no. Then again…

“The Blasted Lands. Lady Jinx told me about your adventures in the Lazuli Peninsula,” Sen-Iv said.

“Whatever brought that up?” Glen asked curious.

“She thought the Duke might betray you.”

“The Chamberlain did, and he was family no less.”

“What did he do?”

Glen pouted his mouth, unsure whether to say or not. Oh, what the hell, she’s for all intends and purposes my wife. Just the bare minimum though. Ye never know. “He tried to kill me. Two of his men.”

Damn this woman can’t be surprised by anything, he thought, watching her mulling it over in her head, maintaining her serene expression.

“Was it his idea?” She asked him finally.

“You think… someone put him up to it?”

“The Prince’s spouse…” Sen-Iv started, this time appearing a little stressed.

“Is here,” Glen interrupted her. “I’ve met her.”

Sen-Iv stood back on her chair, a little paler in the face.

Well, that’s strange.

“People say, she’s a witch,” Sen-Iv replied. “Prince Sahand had two other wives before her. They are both dead now. It happened this year.”

“Were they… older women?” Glen probed, not sure how this made the Prince’s current spouse a practitioner of magic.

“They were not. Younger than me at least…” She paused, the matter thorny for some reason. Glen had no problem with her age. The young Lord barely knew how old he was exactly. “Rumor is, the moment it was learned they were with child, they both collapsed within a day.”

“Childbirth can be tricky—”

“They didn’t die at childbirth,” Sen-Iv interrupted him, sounding a little spooked. “They just died, when the news broke. Tragedy strikes once, it’s strange and unfortunate. Twice in a year, had people talking.”

“I see,” Glen said, staring at the dagger still stuck on the table. “You were to be the Prince’s third spouse. Is that why you’re interested in her?”

Sen-Iv sighed and looked at him.

“You talked with her.”

“I did.”

“What do you think?”

Glen thought back to the meeting. He was preoccupied with the murderous voice in his head for starters. Then he had a case of the shakes… or something. He stared at the dagger again.

“What is it?” Sen-Iv asked. “You keep staring at it. Why?”

A witch.

Kill the witch, the strange voice had suggested.

No.

No way.

This is ridiculous.

“It’s nothing,” Glen decided. “She’s strange. But I know why. Don’t worry about her.”

“You know why,” Sen-Iv droned, keeping her opal eyes on him.

“Yeah, I do,” Glen said and reaching, he pulled the dagger out and sheathed it again. “I’ll head back to my post, but I will keep you informed.”

The young Lord got up, although he would have preferred to jump into bed with her. He would have done it without a second thought, but for the army camped outside the city’s walls, building their machines without a pause, every day and every fucking night.

“I remembered where I’ve seen it before,” Sen-Iv told him, just as he was about to get out. “The blade.”

“You’ve seen it before?” Glen asked and turned to look at her. The woman’s beauty gave him pause again. Damn. “You mean the craftsmanship?”

“No, I mean the blade,” Sen-Iv replied. “The material. Not on a weapon, but on charms.”

“Is that like pendants? Are they valuable?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Merchants bring them back from time to time, from the Plague Isles. This is what I learned.”

“Where’s that?” Glen queried perturbed.

“Beyond the Haze Sea,” Sen-Iv replied. “Usually they are made into small charms, people carry around to honor their God there. A merchant will buy anything at least once, to gauge its selling potential. I thought it a volcanic stone at first. But seeing yours, I don’t know, it’s too hard and strangely cut for a stone. Glassy, but light doesn’t reflect on it.”

Yeah, probably because it is not, according to Lith.

“What’s the name of their God?” Glen asked, thinking of Gimoss.

Sen-Iv shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I just remember seeing them in the palace at Rin An-Pour. I found it strange, but as I said, not valuable.”

The Khan’s army finished constructing three trebuchets in less than a week, along with half a dozen catapults. Making use of Nout’s engineers, had considerably sped up the whole process. The first of these big siege engines was pushed up the gentle slope, to within four hundred meters from the west gates and then fired a sixty kilos rock on the walls, producing a lot of noise, but causing little damage. It also traveled backwards killing two of men operating it and injuring another. It kept going gaining momentum and smashed two carts carrying ammunition up the slope, until finally it stopped, leaving a path of destruction behind.

The Prince wasn’t pleased at the attempt, but despite his fury, his men secured the other machines better, fixed their counterweights and fired again and again, trying to find the range. The first shot making any meaningful damage destroyed a parapet and dropped just behind the wall. Ten shots after that a sixty kilos boulder –or a hundred- flew clean over the walls of Rida, traveled true for half a kilometer, although that is heavily disputed and squashed to a pulp, a boy riding atop a brown goat, or a girl, in the middle of a street. Again the story appears fanciful, not because it could have been a small-bodied man, or a like-sized woman atop that hapless goat, but for the reason that the man claiming he witnessed the whole thing, was reportedly a known blind bard.

Despite the many controversies in the accounts, huge projectiles did hit Rida’s walls and caused much damage, with some probably spilling inside the city.

Back to the barracks, Glen thought gloomy, staring in Outlaw’s earnest face.

“Stiles, has Jinx returned?” He asked the former pirate.

“Ahm, she hasn’t milord,” Stiles replied. He’d shaved his face, leaving a large curling mustache on it. It made him look weird and more shifty than usual. Although that hadn’t been his intention probably, Glen thought.

“Well, tell her—”

KA-BOOM

The sound was sudden and traveled over the city, stopping people on their tracks confused and scared. A silence followed it, everyone looking about them, while a few of the merchants stopped working and started gathering their produce immediately.

KA-BOOM

That sound again, this time louder, birds shot up from the rooftops and the people at last reacting screaming. Panic broke out. Most run to their houses, others hoofed it for the docks, or towards the East Gates, as it was obvious the explosion-like ruckus was coming from the other side.

Oh, that’s just great.

“They started?” Glen asked and watched the panic spreading out all around them, in disbelief. “I thought the machines weren’t finished!”

“They probably use whatever is available, milord,” Stiles said, looking worried himself.

“We’re on the other side of the walls Stiles,” Glen snapped at him. “Get yerself together!”

“Aye, Milord,” Stiles replied and four blocks of houses away and at the start of the street, where they were standing, a large two storied building shook violently, the loud volume bursting their ears, its wooden rooftop exploding outwards and then the whole structure caved in itself, turning into rumple. The whole affair over in less than a minute. Almost immediately a huge plume of smoke had risen, hiding much of the street from their eyes.

“Abrakas helps us,” Stiles mumbled, looking pale.

“Tell Sen to get ready to leave,” Glen ordered him, snapping out of the shock, while the panic around them turned into an uproar of epic proportions. “Inform Jinx, she’s hired and her job is to protect her.”

“Go where, milord?” Stiles asked, looking worried at the sky.

“Stiles snap out of it!” Glen barked. “It was a fluke, they are aiming at the wall for fuck’s sake! You will bring everyone at the docks.”

“The docks,” Stiles droned, appearing not convinced, the screaming and panic of the people running around them, rubbing off him.

“Get Sen-Iv ready first and then meet me at the docks,” Glen repeated and jumped on Outlaw. The horse neighed once, a little spooked at all the commotion, but kept Glen on the saddle. It would have made for a terrible exit, if the young Lord tumbled over and went down.

“What do you hope to do, milord?” Stiles asked.

“Find us a big escort,” Glen replied and clicked his tongue to get the horse moving.

And get myself on a ship, even I have to take it by force.

Grimdux I. This is the direct sequel to Touch O' Luck Touch O' Luck II It serves as a prologue to the Old Realms series. It will be a superior reading experience to start this story from the beginning Please give it a good rating if you liked it, it will help the story reach a much bigger audience: Chapter specific maps of the realms Maps of the Realms Glen The soft Spring of War -Crack on the walls- Part III The bare minimum of knowledge Glen patted Outlaw's mane and the horse snorted in response, bumping his large head on the former thief's shoulder. You're a beautiful horse, Glen said warmly and Outlaw returned his stare exhaling loudly. Yeah, you are. Don't let anyone tell ya otherwise. He looped the reins once at the stall and walked out of the stable, located behind their inn. A woman carrying a basket and holding a small girl's hand that looked like her younger self, stopped to watch him pass. Apologies milord, The woman said, finding her courage. Do you know, if there are ships leaving the city? Glen paused and looked at them both. I heard yer man saying, you were stationed at the docks, She explained, taking his silence for annoyance. Only merchants are still loading, all other ships are private, Glen replied and watched as the small girl went to hide behind her mother's dress. Will they take passengers, milord? For work? The small girl popped her head to look at him all serious. Glen rubbed a hand on his unshaven face and then sighed. You'll need coin, I'm afraid, He said and the woman nodded, as if she'd expected it. Gratitude, milord, She said and turned to leave. For what? Glen thought. Wait, He called on her. The woman stopped, now visibly worried. She wasn't old, he realized, just worn out. How many are you? Just my Kelly. My husband went out wit Sir Henry, it's a month now, She pulled her daughter closer and the small girl hugged her leg. I don't expect he'll be back. Yeah. Glen reached for his purse, pulled a couple of gold coins out, smacked his lips and then added a couple of more. He offered them to the young mother and she grabbed his hand, thanking him intensely and even started kissing it, as if he was a Priest of Uher. Glen had to physically push her away, embarrassed at her histrionics. One should be enough for both of you. The rest, help ye make a start, He said, trying to keep his emotions in check. Tell the captain, Lord Reeves sent you. Uher keep's ye, milord, The woman repeated again and Marcus who'd watched the whole thing intervened. Ye better hurry up, lassie, The hale solder said. I'm heading back there now. If ye have anything worth taking wit you, we can use my horse. Another five minutes of tearful celebration ensued, before the young mother had calmed down enough to get moving. Glen stood at the entrance of King's Fortune and watched them, until they took the turn and headed towards Rida's Harbor Gates. Only then did he realize, he hadn't asked for her name. Jinx's door was half opened and Glen pushed it and walked in, pausing, when he found her room empty. Stiles was guarding Sen supposedly, having moved to the upper floor and the others were at the market, or sleeping, with the exception of Liko and Crafton that had work in the Harbor and the dwarfs, no one had seen in days. There was a large water barrel inside Jinx's room that wasn't there, when Stiles occupied it and the floor was drenched, water pooling amidst muddy footsteps, leading to the barrel. Glen looked about him, found a towel, next to Whisper's stinking vest. He kicked the vest away and grabbing the towel, lobbed it confidently inside the barrel with a loud plop. If there ever was a tourney of chucking things inside barrels, he'd win first place easy, Glen thought with a smug grin. Jinx's pink head exploded out of the barrel with a shriek, making an even bigger mess at the floor, but Glen had retreated a step in time and came out of it unscathed. For fuck's sake. What? Jinx asked, red-rimmed eyes narrowing. Uh, I thought it was Alix again. Glen didn't want to hear any details of that encounter. Use the towel, He advised her. Yer tits are showing. Don't pretend ye don't like em, Whisper retorted, but covered herself up with the soaked towel. She didn't seem to mind it. I do, but I'm kinda pressed for time, Glen explained honestly. I think they're a bit bigger now, Jinx said, pressing on them above the towel. You seem bigger too. I noticed, Glen grunted. Have ye seen Fikumin? I haven't seen ye in days. What the hells happened? Whisper, I was busy working. Where's Fikumin? Is that the dwarf? Who knows? Hey, what did ye mean working? She probed, getting out of the barrel, managing to keep the short towel over her chest. Glen walked to her bed, grabbed a pair of leather pants and tossed them to her. Do you want to turn around? Jinx asked raising a brow. Not really, Glen replied, without flinching. Are all Gish as enamored wit water? I thought ye were gonna ask, if all of us have my color, Whisper replied, snaking into her pants. A sight worth walking all the way from the docks and back. Twice. I assumed they don't, Glen said wryly. Hmm. Liars get their pants on fire, Jinx teased and walked to where she kept her weapons in a pile and plucked a short knife out, she then casually sheathed in a back pocket. Okay, I'm intrigued, what do ye want the dwarf for? Something serious, Glen retorted, his patience running out. I was worried, Glen, Whisper protested. What did she say? Glen snorted. You mean Sen? I haven't talked to her. What did ye do? Nothing. You know me, I'm enthusiastic, She played it down. That sounds serious as fuck. Right. Well, He looked about the room. Since I don't believe Fikumin is hiding in here, I'll leave ye to it. Wait, I'll come wit you, Jinx said and stooped to get her bow from the pile. Whisper, I'll check on Sen and then probably return to the harbor. We are organizing a defense there. Bullshit. I don't believe yer working for the Duke, Jinx snapped. It isn't a choice, Pretty. This title comes with responsibilities. Hah, ye almost had me convinced, She shook her head, then noting his solemn expression, she added. Fine. I'll come help ye organize' your soldiers. Glen sighed and scratched the right side of his forehead with his thumb. His eyes glanced at the pile of weapons Jinx usually carried in a large sack and then at the large familiar box. He thought about asking her, if it was the same she had him carry inside Hellfort, but the handle of a longsword caught his interest and walking there, bend his knees and pulled it out of the pile. He took a deep breath, to calm himself down. What is it? Jinx asked. Where did you get this? Glen croaked. Ahm, I found it? It was like reliving a scene. Glen flipped the sword in his hand and turned it towards a perplexed Whisper Jinx. That's Emerson's blade. He'd cleaned and sharpened that thing too many times, to ever forget it. Nah, it can't be. Here, give it to me, She said looking worried now, but Glen raised the point to her chest stopping her from approaching. Glen ye don't have to deal wit this now. It doesn't mean anything, he thought, feeling his arms go numb. Where did you find it? Glen repeated slowly. Whisper puffed out exasperated. A Cataphract had it. The one I killed. Well Zola did technically, She sighed and seeing him deflate with each passing second, she pushed the blade out of the way to give him a hug. Glen stopped her raising his left hand. The last thing he wanted, was to break down at this point. I'm okay, He said, with a grimace. It's just a sword. It doesn't mean anything. The knight was imprisoned. It wasn't good, but it could be fixed, he thought and grunted seeing Jinx wiping her eyes. Fuck are you doing? Snap out of it! He barked and Whisper started crying, but at least turned her head away. I'm sorry, I can't help it, She managed to say, between sniffles. I can feel ye it's a Gish thing. Glen sucked a deep breath in, then let it out slowly. He waited a couple of extra moments, to get his bearings back, but then stopped himself again, just as he was about to knock on Sen-Iv's closed door. What in Luthos clogged ears are ye doing? He turned the knob and pushed the door open, using too much force, the whole thing slamming on the wall and all but coming down its hinges. Iskay who was working on Sen-Iv's hair, weaving gems in her braids, let out a high pitched scream, turned and seeing him bursting in, more confused, than angry, rushed to prostrate herself before him, her forehead almost banging on the floor. Master Reeves! Apologies, it won't happen again! Huh? Glen blinked, mouth hanging open and then stooped to help the redhead to her feet, but Sen-Iv beat him to it. Iskay, leave us. Yes, mistress! The girl replied getting up and with another deep bow that must have crashed her back, dashed out of their room. Glen cleared his throat, rattled by the whole incident and Sen-Iv walking slowly, went to the door and closed it, giving him the time to come out of it. You should tell her, not to do that again, Glen finally said and Sen that had stopped at arm's length, nodded with her head. I will need to beat it out of her, She said calmly. But it will be done. What? No. Are you insane? Glen snapped, then took another deep breath. I will tell her myself. As you wish, Glen. Right. I was the Duke needs me to hold the bridge and the harbor for him, He explained and Sen-Iv listened to him carefully. I had to sleep there. He expects you to fight for him? Sen-Iv asked. Aye. Truth is, I'm looking for a way out, should things turn ugly here. I sent a message to Altarin. I'll have my ship brought here. That sounds wise, Sen-Iv commented. Then with a deliberate pause added. Especially after the Duke didn't help you defend your city. Yeah, that's not why but it's a legitimate reason, I suppose. Your reasons, are yours, Glen. What the people know, can be something different. That's pretty sneaky of you, Sen. Sen-Iv smiled, lighting up the room. Is that good? Being sneaky? Sometimes it is, Glen replied and touched one of her gold hanging earrings. Is this a real ruby? It is. Damn. You know that people might cut that lovely ear off, just to get their hands on it, right? He told her, with a smile. Even walking you to the docks, might be a problem. Sen-Iv sighed and standing on her toes touched his lips with hers softly. Just warn me beforehand, She said, looking at his blushed face, a little surprised at his reaction. And I will take everything off. Glen waited for Jinx to locate the dwarf in Sen-Iv's room, the young woman perceptively leaving him to his thoughts. Though she did seat across from him on the small wall table, in front of her bed. While the young Lord spent those first minutes thinking of her last proposal, his mind slowly drifted on matters that were troubling him these past days, since Victor had tried to have him killed. Probably not the first time, Glen decided. He reached and finding the handle, unsheathed the ancient dagger, the silvery metal shaped in the body of a wyvern, gleaming in the light coming from the open window. The blade black, but glassy, looking nothing like bone. It's a magic dagger, he'd told Emerson back then. But the truth was, he didn't know. Lith had told him once that a witch had made it as a gift and not an ancient weapon smith. Another Zilan, knew it wasn't his right away. One more truth of course was, the fact that since he'd gotten it, Glen hadn't always been himself. It was subtle, but he could feel it. It came and went. Like the voice and the dreams. But were they the same? Now's yer fuckin' time to speak, Glen thought, but of course he got no answer back. He was slowly turning insane. He turned the dagger around, flipped it once in the air, caught it and then stabbed it in one fluid move on the surface of the table, Sen-Iv's scared gasp, bringing him back to the present. Apologies, He said and flashed her one of his patent grins. This looks ancient, Sen-Iv commented, recovering remarkably fast. Was this what you used that night? I found it in some ruins, Glen told her. He intended to have this talk with Fikumin, since he was the one most concerned about it from the start, but he wanted to talk to someone about it. Could he trust Sen-Iv? The simple answer was no. Then again The Blasted Lands. Lady Jinx told me about your adventures in the Lazuli Peninsula, Sen-Iv said. Whatever brought that up? Glen asked curious. She thought the Duke might betray you. The Chamberlain did, and he was family no less. What did he do? Glen pouted his mouth, unsure whether to say or not. Oh, what the hell, she's for all intends and purposes my wife. Just the bare minimum though. Ye never know. He tried to kill me. Two of his men. Damn this woman can't be surprised by anything, he thought, watching her mulling it over in her head, maintaining her serene expression. Was it his idea? She asked him finally. You think someone put him up to it? The Prince's spouse Sen-Iv started, this time appearing a little stressed. Is here, Glen interrupted her. I've met her. Sen-Iv stood back on her chair, a little paler in the face. Well, that's strange. People say, she's a witch, Sen-Iv replied. Prince Sahand had two other wives before her. They are both dead now. It happened this year. Were they older women? Glen probed, not sure how this made the Prince's current spouse a practitioner of magic. They were not. Younger than me at least She paused, the matter thorny for some reason. Glen had no problem with her age. The young Lord barely knew how old he was exactly. Rumor is, the moment it was learned they were with child, they both collapsed within a day. Childbirth can be tricky They didn't die at childbirth, Sen-Iv interrupted him, sounding a little spooked. They just died, when the news broke. Tragedy strikes once, it's strange and unfortunate. Twice in a year, had people talking. I see, Glen said, staring at the dagger still stuck on the table. You were to be the Prince's third spouse. Is that why you're interested in her? Sen-Iv sighed and looked at him. You talked with her. I did. What do you think? Glen thought back to the meeting. He was preoccupied with the murderous voice in his head for starters. Then he had a case of the shakes or something. He stared at the dagger again. What is it? Sen-Iv asked. You keep staring at it. Why? A witch. Kill the witch, the strange voice had suggested. No. No way. This is ridiculous. It's nothing, Glen decided. She's strange. But I know why. Don't worry about her. You know why, Sen-Iv droned, keeping her opal eyes on him. Yeah, I do, Glen said and reaching, he pulled the dagger out and sheathed it again. I'll head back to my post, but I will keep you informed. The young Lord got up, although he would have preferred to jump into bed with her. He would have done it without a second thought, but for the army camped outside the city's walls, building their machines without a pause, every day and every fucking night. I remembered where I've seen it before, Sen-Iv told him, just as he was about to get out. The blade. You've seen it before? Glen asked and turned to look at her. The woman's beauty gave him pause again. Damn. You mean the craftsmanship? No, I mean the blade, Sen-Iv replied. The material. Not on a weapon, but on charms. Is that like pendants? Are they valuable? I don't know. I don't think so. Merchants bring them back from time to time, from the Plague Isles. This is what I learned. Where's that? Glen queried perturbed. Beyond the Haze Sea, Sen-Iv replied. Usually they are made into small charms, people carry around to honor their God there. A merchant will buy anything at least once, to gauge its selling potential. I thought it a volcanic stone at first. But seeing yours, I don't know, it's too hard and strangely cut for a stone. Glassy, but light doesn't reflect on it. Yeah, probably because it is not, according to Lith. What's the name of their God? Glen asked, thinking of Gimoss. Sen-Iv shrugged her shoulders. I don't know. I just remember seeing them in the palace at Rin An-Pour. I found it strange, but as I said, not valuable. The Khan's army finished constructing three trebuchets in less than a week, along with half a dozen catapults. Making use of Nout's engineers, had considerably sped up the whole process. The first of these big siege engines was pushed up the gentle slope, to within four hundred meters from the west gates and then fired a sixty kilos rock on the walls, producing a lot of noise, but causing little damage. It also traveled backwards killing two of men operating it and injuring another. It kept going gaining momentum and smashed two carts carrying ammunition up the slope, until finally it stopped, leaving a path of destruction behind. The Prince wasn't pleased at the attempt, but despite his fury, his men secured the other machines better, fixed their counterweights and fired again and again, trying to find the range. The first shot making any meaningful damage destroyed a parapet and dropped just behind the wall. Ten shots after that a sixty kilos boulder or a hundred- flew clean over the walls of Rida, traveled true for half a kilometer, although that is heavily disputed and squashed to a pulp, a boy riding atop a brown goat, or a girl, in the middle of a street. Again the story appears fanciful, not because it could have been a small-bodied man, or a like-sized woman atop that hapless goat, but for the reason that the man claiming he witnessed the whole thing, was reportedly a known blind bard. Despite the many controversies in the accounts, huge projectiles did hit Rida's walls and caused much damage, with some probably spilling inside the city. Back to the barracks, Glen thought gloomy, staring in Outlaw's earnest face. Stiles, has Jinx returned? He asked the former pirate. Ahm, she hasn't milord, Stiles replied. He'd shaved his face, leaving a large curling mustache on it. It made him look weird and more shifty than usual. Although that hadn't been his intention probably, Glen thought. Well, tell her KA-BOOM The sound was sudden and traveled over the city, stopping people on their tracks confused and scared. A silence followed it, everyone looking about them, while a few of the merchants stopped working and started gathering their produce immediately. KA-BOOM That sound again, this time louder, birds shot up from the rooftops and the people at last reacting screaming. Panic broke out. Most run to their houses, others hoofed it for the docks, or towards the East Gates, as it was obvious the explosion-like ruckus was coming from the other side. Oh, that's just great. They started? Glen asked and watched the panic spreading out all around them, in disbelief. I thought the machines weren't finished! They probably use whatever is available, milord, Stiles said, looking worried himself. We're on the other side of the walls Stiles, Glen snapped at him. Get yerself together! Aye, Milord, Stiles replied and four blocks of houses away and at the start of the street, where they were standing, a large two storied building shook violently, the loud volume bursting their ears, its wooden rooftop exploding outwards and then the whole structure caved in itself, turning into rumple. The whole affair over in less than a minute. Almost immediately a huge plume of smoke had risen, hiding much of the street from their eyes. Abrakas helps us, Stiles mumbled, looking pale. Tell Sen to get ready to leave, Glen ordered him, snapping out of the shock, while the panic around them turned into an uproar of epic proportions. Inform Jinx, she's hired and her job is to protect her. Go where, milord? Stiles asked, looking worried at the sky. Stiles snap out of it! Glen barked. It was a fluke, they are aiming at the wall for fuck's sake! You will bring everyone at the docks. The docks, Stiles droned, appearing not convinced, the screaming and panic of the people running around them, rubbing off him. Get Sen-Iv ready first and then meet me at the docks, Glen repeated and jumped on Outlaw. The horse neighed once, a little spooked at all the commotion, but kept Glen on the saddle. It would have made for a terrible exit, if the young Lord tumbled over and went down. What do you hope to do, milord? Stiles asked. Find us a big escort, Glen replied and clicked his tongue to get the horse moving. And get myself on a ship, even I have to take it by force.