by Kory Shen
My helmet was still open, so the surprise on my face must have been obvious. Didn't Lady Dyann usually call me Sir Jakson? I must have missed the first part.
"Expecting someone else?" Lady Dyann asked. "The mage?"
There was no reason to lie. "Actually, yes. Did you happen to see her? What happened? Is everyone else okay?"
Lady Dyann face turned dark. "One Sentinel was injured. Five in the crowd were killed and a dozen more hurt. Lexley's division is scouring the streets looking for any other signs of trouble."
"That's…horrible. Where did those men even get those weapons? Why would they do this?"
Grumbling after too many beers was one thing. Such an open attack was unthinkable.
"Like I told you before, there's more going on than you know." Lady Dyann stepped closer to me. "Leave. Leave the Knight Sentinels now." A startling new urgency was in her voice, one that I hadn't heard before.
"I can't. The king requested to see me in a short while. He has a job for me."
Lady Dyann made an unlady-like noise. "I see."
I waved my hand in exasperation. "But I don't. Can't you fill me in?" Lady Dyann seemed like she had good intentions, but the whole mysterious thing was starting to get on my nerves.
Lady Dyann took a deep breath. "Very well. Follow me." She walked away from the castle.
I jogged to catch up with her. "Where are we going?"
"When's your meeting with the king?" she asked.
"An hour."
"We agreed to duel tonight, did we not?" Lady Dyann asked. "And a true knight always keeps her word. We'll duel and talk for a short time, then."
"Bring it on."
* * *
Lady Dyann stood opposite me on the grassy field. The sun was setting, and the field had an orange hue like it was about to burst forth in flames. Which wasn't wrong.
I shot a fire bolt at Lady Dyann. She didn't block the attack with her shield, like I expected, but instead sidestepped it with a burst of speed. A patch of grass behind her blew up in smoke.
"Windweaver Boots?" I asked. I couldn't tell what her custom armor did based on the more common versions. Gold trimming accented the bleak white suit. I would have to look into getting Mira to tweak my own appearance.
"No," Lady Dyann said. "Anticipation and practiced reflexes." She dashed forward. Since I didn't have any weapons, she had laid her own spear aside, keeping only a shield slung across her back.
She stabbed forward with a metal gauntlet straight for my face. I blocked the blow with my right arm, ducking to avoid a second strike from her other hand.
She was fast. My own armor was more agile than the bulky versions that the others wore, but she was almost as fast as me.
Almost.
I caught her next fist in my hand, tugging sharply forward to pull her off balance while sending a knee to her midsection. She recovered smoothly, spinning around me and delivering a jab with her elbow to the back of my neck.
I rolled away on the ground, not a knightly move, to put space between us. My hand crept up to the spot where she had hit me.
"You're pretty quick," I said.
"You're not too slow, either." Lady Dyann frowned slightly. "Your armor's appearance…"
Mira's trick with the armor's appearance meant it didn't exactly match its true shape. I wasn't surprised someone as skilled as Lady Dyann might have noticed.
She closed the distance between us in the blink of an eye, but this time, I didn't wait for her. I charged forward as well, intending to body slam her into the ground.
We crashed into each other, arms locked around one another. I tried to push her back, and she tried to do the same to me. Neither of us budged.
We wordlessly agreed to ease off at the same moment, backing away from each other.
"Okay, if you're not using Windweaver Boots, then Siege Boots," I said. "There's no way you did that without some kind of stability boost." I wasn't quite sure how I compared to the other Sentinels, but my fight against the Rock Knight had proved that I could more than hold my own in raw strength.
Lady Dyann shook her head. "Nothing as drastic as a Siege Stance. Body positioning and technique."
"Oh, come on. You're the Third Champion. Your suit must be top-of-the-line. You probably have goodies no one else does."
"That may be true, but I haven't relied on them yet. At least not too much." Lady Dyann bore down on me again, this time staying low to lunge for my knees.
I swiped her arms away before she could tackle me.
"The fuck?" I cried out.
Lady Dyann backed away. "Is something wrong?"
"Sorry," I mumbled. "It's just…you don't fight like a knight. At least not like most knights. You fight like a brawler."
"I can wield my spear and shield as well as any other knight," Lady Dyann said. "Better, really, and that's no empty boast. But no weapon or armor defines me. What do you think armor is?"
"Armor?" I launched a counterattack of my own, two quick punches high, another low one, then an uppercut. Lady Dyann blocked the first three with ease, then stepped out of the way of my final blow.
I paused. Armor was everything. It was my ticket to become something more. To protect those I needed to. My birthright, even. I shot a lightning bolt. This time Lady Dyann pivoted to take the blast on the shield across her back. "Power," I said. "Armor is power."
"Does your armor give you power, or do you give your armor power?" Lady Dyann asked.
"Why not both?" I asked. Mira would have been rusting away in Grandpa's shop if I hadn't come along. It worked both ways, although I wasn't ready to reveal Mira to Lady Dyann.
"Why not, indeed. But a suit of armor is like a lover. Lovers give to each other, but rarely equally. One always gives more, and the other takes more."
I grinned. I couldn't help wondering if Lady Dyann was a maiden. I had always assumed she was one of those holy maiden warriors who drew power from some vow of chastity. Or something like that. Maybe I had been wrong.
"Well, if we're talking about lovers, technically the man does give more—"
Lady Dyann ignored me and reached up to remove her helmet. "Fight me without your armor." She began stripping off the rest of her suit.
I had only seen Lady Dyann before in Sentinel tunics or her armor. I hadn't realized that underneath her armor, she wore a very snug, thin pair of pants and long shirt that did little to hide her generous curves. I gawked for a moment, before biting my tongue to regain my focus. Fucking Yora, I had seen plenty of gorgeous women before, naked even. One more was nothing special. Except when it was the Third Champion.
I bit harder on my tongue.
"Mira, open up," I said quietly.
"She is a prime female specimen, is she not?" Mira asked. "I would not mind having her inside me, either. It would be interesting to scan a peak—"
"Mira, shut up and open up."
My armor flowered open as usual. Lady Dyann's eyes widened slightly, but she held her composure.
"Pretty neat, isn't it?" I said as I stepped out of my suit.
"An interesting design," Lady Dyann said. "I'll have to ask about it later."
With that, she leaped forward.
We were on the ground in a second, vying for a superior position. We rolled twice, reversing positions. She was initially on top of me, trying to pin me in place, then I was on top. Then, she was back on top.
We twisted again, and I was behind her, my arm wrapped around her neck in a choke. Her face turned bright red as she tried to break my hold. I thought briefly about letting go before a sharp pain stabbed my arm.
I yelled and released her, backing away. I had gone easy with the choke, giving her enough room to bite me.
She really did fight like a fucking brawler.
She pounced and was on top of me again, her strong, muscled body straining against mine. Iron thighs gripped my body, and I was too keenly aware of her chest pressed into mine. A faint smile flashed across her face.
; "I can do this all day," Lady Dyann said. "How about you?"
"I prefer the night," I replied.
I didn't hold back, sending two jabs into her side. She didn't make a sound, but her grip on me loosened. I flipped her off me.
She was on her stomach now, and I straddled her back, forcing her right arm into an uncomfortable position behind her back.
"Got you," I said with some satisfaction.
Lady Dyann grunted in response before flicking her head back to catch me in my mouth. Despite the pain, I didn't let go.
"Still got you," I spit out with a bloody grin.
She twisted her trapped arm, and to my horror, I heard something pop. I immediately let go and jumped away.
"Oh shit, oh shit. I didn't mean to hurt you," I said. "I'm so sorry."
Lady Dyann coolly gazed back at me without a word. Her right arm was hanging weirdly at a limp angle. She placed her right palm on the ground, then leaned on the arm with her entire body weight. I looked away as something popped.
When I looked back, she was flexing her right hand and swinging the arm in a slow, wide circle.
"Alright. You win. I'm done," I said, shaking my head.
Lady Dyann frowned. "We were only warming up." She shrugged. "But my original question remains. What is armor?"
I bent over, catching my breath. Armor? That was all about armor? I was going to write her off as a crazed warrior, but her question made me stop. No, Lady Dyann didn't seem like the crazy type. Well, only when she fought.
"You wanted to point out that the person inside the armor is more important than the armor itself. So what?" I asked. It seemed like a pretty heavy-handed way to make the point.
"Armor is a tool. It amplifies the wearer's will. Nothing more," Lady Dyann said.
"Well, I wouldn't say nothing more. We slaughtered the invaders at Holden because they couldn't stand up to our Sentinel-class armor. If our armor was reversed, the outcome could have been flipped."
"Would it? Doesn't that say more about the wearer than the armor? I'm surprised to hear you of all people would say that. There are colorful stories about your past, Sir Jakson. About how you foiled many a Sentinel with little more than a scoundrel's tricks."
So she had heard of me. "Scoundrel?" I made a face. But she had a point.
Lady Dyann smirked. Then, her expression grew serious. "The Knight Sentinels are the same. They are but a tool, an extension of their user's will."
"The king," I said. This was about my father and Holden. There had to be a connection. "What happened in Holden?" I asked.
"Finally. We arrive at the key question." Lady Dyann rubbed her temples. "I don't know, exactly. What we do know is that some in Holden were grumbling against the king—complaining about the yearly tribute, printing posters. Matters of that kind."
It took several seconds for my brain to make the connections. The realization scared me more than anything Lexley had done.
"And now they're all dead," I said.
"And their land handed out to pacify those in the capital," Lady Dyann added.
No. My father wouldn't murder his own citizens. Innocent families dead. The entire town burned down. Because of some political rabble-rousers?
I glanced at Lady Dyann's somber face. Maybe he would. I didn't know him that well.
"Then, who were the invaders?" A sham? Paid mercenaries? It didn't matter. "No, that's crazy. That can't be possible." I shook my head, trying to make the sick sensation in my gut disappear.
"But what about the attack this evening?" I asked. "Surely my father wouldn't hire people to attack himself?"
"I don't know," Lady Dyann said. "But I do know that honor rots in the Elderlands, and I would tread lightly where the king's interests are concerned. Where power is concerned."
"That's why you want me to leave."
Lady Dyann didn't reply.
"But what about you?" I asked. "Why don't you leave? Give up your title as Third Champion?"
"I ask myself that every day," Lady Dyann said softly.
I blinked in surprise. I had asked the question as a defensive retort, not expecting her to take it seriously.
"The people need me," Lady Dyann said. "I can do more good in my position."
"Well, maybe I can, too," I said.
Lady Dyann mouth grew tight. She stepped closer and set her hands on my shoulders. "I pray to Yora that you are right."
CHAPTER 20
I was back to my father's throne room. He had sent his guards away, leaving only me, and to my chagrin, Lexley.
Lexley and I were in tunics, although his was made of richly embroidered blue fabric, while mine were a dull gray. My father sat on his throne and looked back and forth between the two of us. Finally, he rested his gaze on me.
"Your task," my father said.
"My task," I echoed.
"Over the last few months, we've had scattered reports of traders dealing in rogue Sentinel equipment. I think it's time we paid them a visit."
I was to be an angel of vengeance, then. Payback for what had happened. "I understand, your Majesty."
"Do you?" My father leaned forward slightly, and he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone. "Today, an attack was made on the crown itself. Do you know the punishment for that?"
"Death," I whispered.
"Wrong!" my father thundered. "I want utter annihilation, complete eradication!"
I nodded without saying a word.
"You have experience killing men, don't you?" Lexley asked. "You're not going to hold back, like you did at Holden?"
I started frowning, but forced myself to maintain a neutral expression. "I didn't hold back. I was trying to question the prisoner."
"But you have killed before?" Lexley asked.
Idiot. I didn't bother reminding Lexley that I had done so to save my father. "I will carry out the king's will. I promise."
"Very good," my father said. "Lexley's men have discovered a camp of these rogue traders. Your task is to deliver my retribution."
"How many men?" I asked, glancing at Lexley. Why was Lexley involved? This sounded more like the type of mission Sir Hurik might undertake.
"A dozen or so. Why, are you afraid that you can't handle them?" Lexley sneered to my face.
"No, but I'd like to know what I'm going up against. It's called planning. Who else will be joining me for the attack?"
"The honor is yours, and yours alone," my father said.
Honor? Right, honor. That thing knights did. The others would probably kill, literally, to take my place and curry favor with my father.
My father looked from me to Lexley, then back to me again. "You understand why, don't you? They attacked me! Came for my blood. Well, they will have it. They will have my blood."
"Your Majesty," I said, bowing. That was the closest he had come to acknowledging me after my mother's death. It was a personal message, then. I supposed I would take it personally, too, if someone tried to murder me.
"What about his whore, I mean mage?" Lexley asked. "She could add a nice bit of theatrics. Burning men alive, no?"
This time, I didn't hide my scowl. My father tilted his head to one side.
"Yes," he said. "I like the sound of that. Burned alive." He turned to me again. "Are you willing to share the honor?"
I bowed again. "As your Majesty wishes."
"Excellent," my father said. "Tomorrow, show the world the wrath of the Ironflames."
I took that as my cue to leave, but my father grunted to catch my attention.
"Jakson," my father said. "Remember. The kingdom comes first. Serve her well, and you will earn your reward."
I bowed again and left.
* * *
"I don't like it." Kuri sat on her bed, kicking her legs back and forth like a teenager. Which she might have been, for all I knew. I wasn't sure how elves aged.
A messenger had dropped by, giving us our instructions to meet Lexley at dawn.
"Yeah, I'm not thrilled about waking up
early, either," I said.
"No, that's not what I meant," Kuri said. "Why us? Why would the king want us to be involved?"
I shook my head. "I've been wondering the same thing. I suppose it's an honor to be singled out by the king, even for a task like this." Or maybe not. There was a reason a headsman wore a mask to carry out his task. I wasn't sure if I completely bought my father's reasoning.
"Why not send a large, punitive force?" Kuri asked.
Was it to send a political statement? This is what the least of mine can do?
"I have no idea," I said.
"What does Lady Dyann think?" Kuri asked.
"What?"
"You met with her, didn't you?"
"Before I talked to the king," I said. "We shared private words."
"Intimate words?" Kuri asked.
I caught Kuri's golden eyes. "Wait…you're not jealous, are you?"
"Jeal—" Kuri pulled up her legs and turned around, presenting her back to me. "That's ridiculous."
I sighed. Yeah, like a teenager. "Nothing like that." Well, not really, although the memory of rolling around on the ground with Lady Dyann did bring back a certain tingling sensation. "She would never do that, anyway," I whispered to myself.
"What did she tell you?" Kuri asked, still facing the wall.
I hesitated for only a moment. Kuri and I were in this together, from what I could tell. Lexley had made an effort to send us both on my father's mission.
"She asked me to leave the Knight Sentinels. She thinks it's too dangerous. Politics, power—there's a lot going on."
"And what do you think?" Kuri turned sideways so she could catch my eyes.
"I…"
My father had taken some interest in me, at least. Could I eventually rise to the rank of Champion? With good knights like Lady Dyann and Sir Hurik, could we counterbalance Lexley and his dark idiocy?
Or at least be important enough for me to be left alone, along with anyone in my care?
"I'm not a wide-eyed youth. I've seen this city's ugly underside. Hell, I was part of that if I'm being honest." I leaned against an open section of the wall behind me. "And I knew Evercrown's upper crust would be even worse. It's the game we all have to play, and I'm still playing. For now."
