Brovka listened with arched eyebrows and parted lips. “Most interesting,” he said when Astrid finished. “This could be a welcome development.”
“How so?” Astrid asked.
“This challenge sets a precedent. She doesn’t challenge the fact that you took the keep, only that you have it and she wants it. But what are her terms if she wins?”
Astrid gave a toothy grin that didn’t reach her eyes. “To my mind, that isn’t a possibility.”
“So, you don’t consider losing,” Brovka replied with a shrug. “But humor me. What are the full terms?”
“She says that If I lose, she’ll let my people go back to Argan like this never happened. She takes the keep and brings a commissioner back.”
“Again,” Brovka said. “The issue is not that you captured the keep—she just wants another chance to take it back. The part about bringing back a Commissioner also tells me she’s not exactly happy with Protector Lungu.”
“Seems like that’s a theme these days,” Astrid said.
“She is essentially saying that you have a lawful claim to the keep,” Brovka said.
“Well,” Astrid replied. “My understanding is that, by your ‘Charter,’ Lungu wasn’t allowed to summarily dismiss all the commissioners. So, there’s that.”
“Yes,” Brovka replied. “There is that.”
“Look,” Astrid said. “I’ll leave the legal mumbo-jumbo up to you. The only thing I want is for Argan village to be safe. I don’t want to see people being taken advantage of.”
“You want justice,” Brovka said.
“Yes,” Astrid replied, folding her arms across her armored chest. “I want justice.”
“Let me and my fellow commissioners prove to you that this is what we also want,” Brovka replied. He interrupted Astrid as she began to reply. “And I fully acknowledge that we commissioners have fallen short on this. As a profession, we bear no small measure of blame in this situation.”
The admission surprised Astrid. In that moment, she decided to drop her guard. She did not have mental magic, but she did not need it to feel his sincerity.
“I respect that admission a great deal,” she said. “I believe you. Let’s work together to see justice done. But be warned: I will hold you to account.”
“So, you will fight Raluca?” Brovka asked.
Astrid leaned forward and placed her hands on the desk. “She’s a warrior. I’m a warrior. This is what we do.”
On the Road to Keep 17
Protector Lungu rode in his personal covered wagon with his valet and two attendants. He guzzled beet wine and stared through the open tent flap at the rear of the vehicle.
Although covered in furs, the valet and attendant shivered. In his blood red cape and polished steel armor, Lungu sweated profusely in spite of the cold. His steamy breath hung around his head reeking of alcohol.
“My grandfather built Keep 17 with no magic when the hills were still teeming with the remnant.”
His underlings muttered something Lungu didn’t bother to understand. He just assumed it was obedient acknowledgement. Had he thought otherwise, they might not be long for this world.
“They held back the monsters with their bare hands,” Lungu continued as he looked at the road stretching out behind. “Do you know why there are only ten Keeps, but their numbers are so high?” Lungu asked.
“N-no, Great Protector,” the valet said with downcast eyes.
“You never wondered that?” Lungu asked. The valet cringed. “It’s alright,” Lungu said. “That’s my fault for being too good at my job. You don’t have to wonder about this kind of thing. The keeps have high numbers because of how many we lost fighting the remnant.”
“My ancestors didn’t stop building keeps. They didn’t stop protecting the villages. No matter how many times the remnant attacked, they rebuilt. They got better at fighting until they discovered magic. We keep you safe,” Lungu said. “And in exchange, all we ask is for your obedience. And now, you can’t even do that. You peasants are whiny, ungrateful children. It’s time for you to get spanked. The New Ancients had a saying ‘spare the rod, spoil the child.’”
Lungu sneered in disgust at the weaklings who cowered in the back of the wagon. By the time he got to Keep 17, he could barely stand the sight of them.
First Lieutenant Mitca, who was assigned to the Keep, met Lungu at the gate with three of his top Movers.
“Great Protector,” Mitca said. “You honor us with your presence. May I present—”
Lungu swept past them through the gates and into the courtyard of the small, walled keep. “Come with me. Bring your Movers,” he said, not bothering to look at Mitca.
Lungu paused in the courtyard and surveyed the scene. The Keep had a single warehouse and a small, one-story administrative building with a tall, peaked roof. In a small courtyard in front of the admin building, a group of twenty soldiers formed up for drills.
Lungu whirled on Mitca and his officers. “Bring them,” Lungu said, pointing to the twenty soldiers. “Follow my wagon to Keep 52.”
Just like that, Lungu marched back through the gates. “Turn my wagon around!” he shouted.
Behind the Protector, chaos erupted. Mitca screamed orders at everyone in sight, making officers and underlings alike scramble to implement Lungu’s order. The five minutes it took for two wagons worth of Mitca’s troops to get ready set Lungu’s blood on fire. He managed to restrain himself as he headed out from Keep 17.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Outside Keep 52
Astrid sent a simple note back to Raluca that said, “I accept.” She spent the rest of the afternoon making sure Keep 52 was secure and that all the people who needed killing were killed.
Astrid had turned the expansive lobby of the large, sandstone administration building into an infirmary. It was the only space large enough to accommodate about fifty wounded fighters.
There were a few prisoners from the other side who were wounded but had surrendered. Some of them were loyalist guards and a few were from Raluca’s army. Most of Raluca’s people, however, fought to the death. None of them were Movers. The ones who remained now laid morosely in their beds, looking ashamed they hadn’t died. Astrid ordered them kept in an area separate from the others, just in case they got any ideas.
She slept well that night, secure in the knowledge that the keep was hers, that it was locked down and fully under her control. She bunked in a small library off the main room of the admin building with Moxy standing guard all night just in case.
Astrid woke before dawn to meditate. She had removed her armor to sleep. She sat cross legged on the polished, marble floor in a billowy nightshirt Vinnie had brought along. It was the big scientist mage who convinced her to sleep without her armor. She hesitated then, but as she relaxed into her meditation, she was grateful she had taken the advice.
As the first red stripes of light crossed her face through the library windows, Astrid rose. Moxy climbed down from some shelves she had used as her perch.
“Ready for your armor?” Moxy asked.
Astrid nodded an enthusiastic affirmation as she disrobed and slipped into the one-piece suit.
As Moxy laced up the side, Astrid remarked, “This is the best suit of armor I’ve ever had. It’s light, strong, and fits perfectly.”
“You think this is good,” Moxy replied as she tied up the last stretch of lacing, “wait until we give you the new version.”
“New version?” Astrid asked, dumbfounded.
Moxy laughed her tinkling laugh and replied, “Of course. This one needs to be washed, eventually.” She made a crinkle-nosed expression.
“Is it that bad?” Astrid asked.
“Almost,” Moxy replied. “Let’s put it this way: after this fight, we should wash the damn thing.”
“I’d rather stink,” Astrid said, “than give up this suit.” She rapped her knuckles on the black chestpiece, then picked up her rope weapon. “Let’s go.”
&nb
sp; She strode through the atrium as the wounded slept on blankets. A few of them stirred. One of the overnight attendants nudged her partner. Whispers followed Astrid as she pushed through the ancient doors and into the courtyard.
Moxy, Vinnie, and Tarkon moved in from their various posts in the keep and flanked her as she walked towards the gates.
Astrid cut them off before they could start talking all at once. “When this is over,” she said. “You all see to it that the rest of Raluca’s people leave peacefully. I expect there to be some objections.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Vinnie asked nervously.
Astrid didn’t take her eyes off the gate as she replied. “I probably won’t be in very good shape after I defeat Raluca.”
Vinnie started to say something, but Tarkon gave him a sharp look. He clamped down on his tongue, not wanting to color Astrid with his worry. Astrid knew him well enough to know this was true.
“Just be ready,” Astrid said.
The large, full-timber gates parted as she neared. Astrid adjusted her rope weapon as she stepped through the gap. The gates began closing again as soon as she stepped through. Apparently, the smaller doors were damaged in the fight and had to be sealed to maintain the keep’s integrity.
“Stay here,” Astrid ordered after a few paces.
Raluca stood about a hundred feet away and about fifty feet from what looked to be four of her top officers.
“You’re in my way, stranger,” Raluca challenged, putting fists to hips.
“That’s because you’re on the wrong side,” Astrid replied, standing tall and still. She did not blink.
“I disagree,” Raluca countered as if she was involved in a casual debate. “I’m here to take what’s rightfully mine.”
“And I’m here to serve what belongs to everyone,” Astrid declared.
Raluca threw her head back and laughed with a sneer. “You’re so full of yourself. I wipe my ass with your cheap sentiment.”
Astrid frowned. “You make me sad. You show signs of true leadership. You could have done so much more with your strengths. Instead, you play Lungu’s petty games.”
Raluca clenched her jaw, glared, and began to tremble with anger.
“You brought magic users,” Raluca hissed. “Is that how you intend to beat me?”
“They’re just witnesses,” Astrid replied. “Looks like you brought mages, too.”
“They’re also witnesses,” Raluca said. “They won’t interfere.”
“Same with my people,” Astrid stated.
Raluca nodded her head gravely, then slowly drew her sword. “Let’s get this over with.” Her eyes turned black as coal.
Astrid said nothing, but let her legs relax as she took the silksteel rope in her hand, letting the weight drop towards the ground. Her eyes also turned to the deepest black as Raluca approached.
The touchless strike nearly shattered Astrid’s jaw. She saw it coming, but Raluca was brutally fast. The strike dazed Astrid as she danced to the right. Another remote strike missed her right arm as she swung the rope dart above her head. Raluca was trying to end the fight quickly.
Astrid jumped high, letting the dart’s momentum bring her into a spin. As she fell, she kicked out, catching the rope. The steel ball of her weapon struck out straight in the direction of her kick. The force of its flight made the air hum.
Raluca charged in straight, adjusting her path so that the dart barely missed her forehead. She slashed down with her sword as Astrid landed. Without the new armor, Astrid would have lost her arm at the left shoulder.
A backhand sword strike forced Astrid to dance back and let the rope circle her waist again. She took the time to get both ends of the weapon spinning with both hands. Astrid slowly advanced on Raluca, bringing the darts across her body in an X pattern. She lashed out twice, then again with the darts, barely missing Raluca each time.
The strategy wasn’t working. Astrid was just about to change tactics when a surprise touchless strike caught her squarely in the chest. She flew back, dropping to one knee and the darts both hammered into the hard, cold ground. Ice and snow flew up in great plumes.
Raluca charged again, and Astrid kicked out and around. The Mover jumped over the leg sweep at the last second. Astrid had to shoulder-roll away as the short sword cleaved the air where her shoulders were a split second before.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Damn, you’re good,” Astrid exclaimed.
Back on her feet with the darts whirling again, Astrid advanced hard. She caught Raluca in the left shoulder, causing the Mover to stagger. Astrid followed up with a strike from the opposite dart, but Raluca dodged that, too.
The match was too even. Astrid needed to seize some kind of advantage. She had to be smart about it. But she wasn’t.
Astrid took a major risk by changing the direction of the spinning darts. She charged in, thinking that would win the fight, but that’s just what Raluca wanted her to think.
The Mover danced to the left, letting the dart glance off her right bicep. She lunged forward as Astrid’s right side was exposed. The tip of the sword didn’t break the silksteel cloth, but it did break the skin between her seventh and eighth ribs.
Astrid saw stars. Something inside was broken. Her abdomen felt warm. She staggered, then brought her arm up as the sword came down towards her head.
It was Raluca’s turn to make an unlucky move. Astrid called on the Well for strength, and swept Raluca’s leg from beneath her with a powerful swing of the rope.
Raluca went down flat on her back. Astrid let the left half of the rope wrap her waist again. She tried to bring the other half down on Raluca’s chest, but the Mover rolled away and returned to her feet again using her telekinetic magic.
But Astrid was advancing, even as blood filled her belly from the wrong side. She knew she didn’t have long. Raluca had pierced something. Like an animal sensing weakness, Raluca moved in with greater fury.
A sword glanced off the armor plate on Astrid’s right arm as she brought it up in defense. A touchless strike slammed into her wounded midsection. The pain was intense, but Astrid was perfectly calm.
She saw the strikes coming and blocked them all. As tired and wounded as she was, she knew Raluca was running out of energy. She could feel it. The touchless strike that broke another rib might have shattered two more and ended Astrid’s life.
She didn’t want it to come to this, but Astrid was down to her ability to take damage. The sword nearly sliced open her neck as she jumped back and brought the rope dart around. Finally, Astrid scored a solid hit on Raluca’s side.
She wanted to shout, “How the fuck does that feel,” but did not want to waste the energy. She was fighting for her life.
Astrid brought out the second half of the rope dart and brought it around just before Raluca used her non-sword hand to try another touchless strike. The rope wrapped around her arm. Astrid pulled as hard as she could.
Raluca’s arm nearly came off as her body flew towards Astrid. The follow-through with the opposite dart crushed the left side of Raluca’s skull. The fight ended in a gory mess. Raluca fell lifeless into the snow on what was left of her face.
Blood dribbled from Astrid’s mouth. It was all she could do to remain standing. She spat into the snow, then lifted her hand to halt the footsteps that rushed up behind her.
Astrid found her voice. To Raluca’s troops, she shouted, “Leave this place, as we agreed. I am true to my word.”
But shouts from the top of the wall interrupted. “Riders approaching!” shouted the guards.
Raluca’s troops, who were ready to leave, stopped and assumed defensive positions. Her officers were about to pick up the dead body of their leader. They, too, turned towards the fast-approaching riders.
Three horsemen ran ahead of a large, covered wagon pulled by four stout horses. The lead riders wore full armor emblazoned with estate symbols Astrid didn’t recognize. Everyone else, though, seemed to know who the riders were
and who was in the wagon.
To Astrid, it didn’t matter. She leveled her accusation at the nearest officer with a pointed finger. “We had an agreement,” Astrid sneered.
“And we will honor that agreement as the dying wish of our Lieutenant,” Raluca’s First Charge replied. “We had no part in this.” He turned to the rest and shouted, “You are all released from service. You are on your own!”
“Not so fast!” shouted the lead rider. “Only Protector Lungu can release you from service!”
To Astrid’s surprise, Raluca’s former First Charge was defiant. “We act under the final word of a blood contract. That is the authority here.”
The little argument ate up enough time for the heavy wagon to draw near. Its drivers pulled back on the reins, and the steaming horses clattered to a slushy stop. Astrid held firm, drawing more energy from the Well, although she was exhausted. Down the road, behind the horses, the way was filled with approaching troops marching in tight formation.
Astrid readied her weapon.
The whole procession stopped about twenty feet from Raluca’s body that still leaked steaming blood into the snow.
The lead rider called from his horse, “The one called Astrid! Surrender now, and the Protector might have mercy on you!” By the look of his short, black cape and polished armor, he was also a First Lieutenant. Astrid realized he must be from some nearby keep.
So much for the snow keeping them from the march, Astrid thought. The wagon jostled on its springs, and Astrid saw a pair of legs in the gap between the wheels. She watched as a tall figure walked into view. Her mouth dropped open for a second, then she drew even more energy from the Well.
That had to be Protector Lungu himself. He looked like shit. She thought he might have been handsome once, maybe days ago. But now, his skin was gray, and his eyes were wild. She could see those details even from this distance.
Astrid loosened her neck and shoulders. Her eyes looked like two black marbles, and her muscles hummed.
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