Guardian of Honor

by Robin D. Owens

  Partis grinned. "Very well, the three of us. Should be interesting."

  "I think that's what the shapeshifter keeps saying. I'd rather a predictable path," Mace murmured.

  "We're losing her—let's go." Thealia pivoted and started down the courtyard.

  Alexa had just reached the end of the straight part of the courtyard and started angling inward to the main gate when she heard the voice.

  "Exotique! Exotique, halt!"

  She'd been half expecting someone to try to stop her, despite Reynardus's encouraging her to go. But she bit her lip and kept walking, telling herself that leaving was the right thing to do. Sinafin ran beside Alexa, but she suspected the little magical being knew Alexa was thinking hard.

  It was true she'd been wronged. But it was also true that she'd listened to the Marshalls' Song and her own heart's yearning and stepped through the gate to this place. She had always wanted to find a home of her own, and had wanted to make a great and visible difference to the world. She just hadn't realized it wouldn't be her world.

  Huge goals, and huge goals came with huge price tags.

  Could she walk away? Even as her steps took her closer and closer to the main entrance of the Castle, Alexa didn't think so. Setting aside the tempting idea of land and a home of her own that one of the Marshalls had offered her that morning, Alexa doubted she would ever be able to forget the wounded woman this morning, the scars on the man last night, or the mounted monsters in the Assayer's Office.

  They were the stuff of nightmares even if she managed to get back to Earth. And who could she talk to on Earth about such horrors?

  But she could have second, even third thoughts about her future in the Town. Time to act, not to react. The Town was even more unknown than the Castle, but she'd landed on her feet often enough before.

  "Exotique, halt!"

  Someone darted around her. Oddly enough, it wasn't any Marshall, any soldier, any Chevalier that stopped her. It was the young, skinny teen from the night before.

  He stood in front of her and stared.

  She stared back, realized that he was taller than she, and frowned. He squared thin shoulders, then lifted his hands in a gesture that matched the plea in his eyes.

  "Exotique, je audio—"

  Alexa, pick me up! Sinafin pawed at Alexa's boots.

  Scowling, Alexa did so. Sinafin slurped a tongue around Alexa's face, then turned her pointy muzzle to the youngster.

  Speak again! Sinafin ordered.

  The boy's eyes rounded and a nervous smile twitched on and off his face as he stepped back a pace.

  "Exotique—" the boy said.

  Exotic, Alexa heard in her mind as Sinafin translated.

  Quick words tumbled from the teenager. "I heard you turned in your baton and are leaving the Castle. Don't go! We need you so badly."

  Alexa flinched. The word need always touched her heart, short-circuiting logic. She raised a hand to stop the boy.

  He shut his lips but watched her intently with large brown eyes full of desperate hope that tugged at her.

  The heavy thump of metal boots came to her ears and she looked up the courtyard to see Thealia, Partis and Reynardus marching toward her, a phalanx of fighters. Unlike her, they didn't keep to the path, but stepped off it to cross the grassy yard.

  She glanced around but didn't see anyone else they might be after. They'd catch up with her shortly. She wondered if she was insane enough to try another superhero flight.

  "I can't stay here in the Castle," she said, and waited a beat for Sinafin to send the mental words to the teenager. "The Marshalls have manipulated and lied to me since I arrived. I can't trust them."

  Colorful tunics flapping around their armor, they proceeded down the yard. Ahead of her were the two big Towers with the large arch between them. She eyed the points of an iron grille near the top—a gate that could descend to block any entrance... or exit.

  The skinny kid stuck out his chin. "The Chevaliers didn't lie to you. You could trust them."

  "I can't be a Chevalier. I don't ride," Alexa said. And though the flying horses were beautiful beyond belief, she had no intention of riding them either.

  "You don't ride?" he squeaked, goggling.

  "No. And I'm not going to learn."

  The Marshalls looped left around the well.

  "Time to go." Alexa turned.

  "I'll take you to the Mayor! He'll help you, make you welcome in Town," the boy blurted.

  Alexa glanced back at him. "The Mayr?" She tried to pronounce it like he did.

  He gave a quick nod, whipped around her and jogged to the gate. Alexa put down Sinafin, then hurried to catch up.

  Posted on one of the towers was a board with notices. Alexa compressed her lips. She couldn't read the papers. No matter; she had brains and hands and a willingness to work hard. And magic. She could survive outside the Castle.

  People streamed in both directions through the arched entry of the Castle, and the boy knew how to weave through them, Alexa noticed approvingly. But the youngster didn't look prepossessing. His pants were of rough brown material and sagged over his skinny behind, where a large patch had been crookedly sewn. They were held up by a hank of rope at his waist. His shirt was afaded red and spotted with unidentifiable stains, with a rip under the right arm. His black hair stuck out in all directions.

  And he was going to introduce her to the Mayor?

  Their footsteps echoed hollowly as they crossed the drawbridge. Looking down, Alexa saw a beautiful, flowing blue stream in the moat. She sniffed. It smelled clean—no refuse or sewage. No monsters or human body parts.

  The road on the other side of the drawbridge was muddy. Tiny blades of grass poked through the earth.

  It was all downhill to the walled Town—no more than a couple of miles. The Town looked as neat and tidy as it had when she'd glimpsed it from her window the day before.

  The Castle towered behind them, and they would have to travel some distance before she'd be able to view the whole thing.

  It was a fortress, and the Lladranans were fighting monsters. Like the one who had nearly skewered her on her way here. Would it be waiting for her when she went back?

  A heavy hand clamped on to her shoulder and spun her around. She faced an irritated Reynardus.

  9

  Alexa glared up at Reynardus, flung a hand toward the Town and said "mari" for mayor.

  The boy giggled high behind her. Reynardus's mouth fell open in shock, and his grip loosened enough for Alexa to slide away and start jogging down the path to the Town, to her new life outside of the Castle, away from the Marshalls. As she waved the boy ahead to show her the way, she got the distinct impression that she'd mangled the word somehow. Unsurprising.

  Thealia whispered urgently behind her and then the woman's husband, Partis, joined Alexa, walking fast. Alexa grumbled inwardly. Even a short man of this race had no trouble keeping up with her at a quick walk. She'd never be able to outrun them.

  "Feycoocu?" Partis asked, and held out his arms to a gleefully bounding Sinafin.

  The little greyhound cocked her head at him as if measuringthe man, looked past him to Thealia and Reynardus, then ahead, ignoring Partis.

  "Feycoocu...fey-coooooo-coooooo." The lilt in Partis's voice plucked a chord inside Alexa.

  She watched him from the corner of her eye as she hurried. A bead of sweat ran down his temple, but his round face glowed with good humor. He clanked beside her, and her own lips widened into a smile as she picked up her pace. The Marshalls following her ran in metallic armor under their tunics. She'd give them a workout.

  Partis continued to croon to Sinafin, modulating his tones until the range made Alexa shiver. The man had a magic voice, for sure.

  Sinafin twitched an ear, then stopped and let Partis scoop her up as they ran. Sinafin barked, and Partis laughed with the same note of pleasure.

  "Mari..."Partis panted.

  Husband, Sinafin said to Alexa.

  Alexa
stumbled, windmilled, but caught herself before she hit the muddy ground. "What?"

  "You are going to Town to meet your husband?" Partis's eyes twinkled at her.

  It was impossible to be irritated with this man. Reynardus could annoy her by just edging into her vision—but Partis? No. A premonition that between Sinafin and the boy and Partis and Thealia, they'd talk her around, descended on Alexa. They had a lot going for them. She was a stranger in a strange land, didn't know the language or the customs, had no money. What she did have was magic she couldn't really control.

  Still, she was outside the Castle now, not completely in their territory, and had an ally in Sinafin. She should be able to negotiate good terms. She was alone and ready to fight with words. That had happened often in her life. Just one more time. Frame it in asituation that she understood so the unknown couldn't freak her out.. .and she could win.

  They were coming up on the Town wall and gate, the wall much lower and the gate much less impressive than the Castle's, but made of the same gray stone blocks.

  Alexa slowed to a walk on the path that was packed hard enough that even the recent rain hadn't stirred up much mud. A slurping sound caught her attention. Sinafin was licking Partis's perspiring face.

  Four guards in blue and green, the colors of the shield over the arch of the Town gate, drew aside as she and Partis came near. They seemed torn between staring at her, the Exotique, Sinafin or Partis. They didn't even seem to notice the boy.

  Then they looked up the wide path. As one, the four seemed to melt into the shadows of the gate. Obviously they would be no help against even three Marshalls.

  Squaring her shoulders, Alexa pinned the boy with a look. "Mayr," she enunciated, hoping it was right this time.

  The boy chewed at his lower lip. Alexa sucked in a breath, ready to demand, when Sinafin barked and sent a mental command that rang in Alexa's ears. Nom de Nom!

  The teenager nodded hastily and turned to lead again.

  Sinafin broadcasted, The Exotique has left the Castle. Those wishing to meet her, including the Mayr, may join us in the back room of the Nom de Nom for consultation.

  From the reverberation in Alexa's head, she thought everyone in the whole Town had heard Sinafin. The shapeshifter hopped down from Partis's arms, and Alexa skipped to keep up with the youth and the dog. As she passed through the gate the road widened into a small, cobblestone square. She heard the clomp of many boots following her and saw two of the guards separate from the shadows to join the little parade.

  Heat crept up Alexa's face. All she needed was a baton to lead this—Suddenly her Jade Baton hovered before her.

  She heard gasps. Sinafin made a sound like a gleeful doggy gurgle. Alexa set her teeth and gestured to the young man to continue on.

  All the streets opened into squares. The way she followed was a street large enough for two carts, though sometimes narrow passages branched off. The buildings against the city walls were usually three stories high and made of stone. As they went deeper into the Town, the buildings became two or three stories, and were sometimes of plaster. The plaster ones were multihued, showing the Lladranan love for color. The more elegant, newer buildings flaunted bow windows.

  There was no shade of purple in sight. Must be reserved for Exotiques. Too bad.

  Finally they came to a three-story stone building that leaned a little. Alexa blinked. Something creaked overhead, and she looked up to see a square sign with a black-and-white circle. As she watched, the circle spun and changed colors. First it was white lettering on black, then black lettering on white. Nom de Nom. Nom de Nom. She blinked, but felt a little dizzy. She couldn't figure out how the sign worked. Must be magic.

  Reynardus's snicker broke into her thoughts. No doubt she looked like a perfect fool, staring at something they all knew was simple and standard in their world. She wished she could turn the man into a toad.

  Finally the press of the stares prodded her to enter the inn. Not only had the three Marshalls come down from the Castle, but others had too. Reynardus's son Luthan, Marwey's soldier, even some fliers. They all watched her and waited.

  Straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, Alexa strodein as if it were the diner where all the law students hung out and she was about to announce she'd been named valedictorian.

  It was smokey, but from open fireplaces, not cigarettes. The light was as dim as the Temple, but the inn exuded a totally different ambience. Pretty different from the diner hangout too, except... Except the conversations held the same note of exhaustion after trials, of conviviality, of desperate living before more Testing. The similarity stopped her for a second before she moved on in.

  The inn reminded her of her undergraduate years—scarred wooden booths with worn cushions, a long bar—Then she saw the heads on the walls. Her mouth turned down. She supposed now she should be grateful that there had been no heads gracing her suite of rooms in the Castle.

  There have never been heads in that room. This is where the Chevaliers gather, Sinafin said. Of course there will be trophies.

  Alexa grimaced. She greatly preferred diplomas. Sinafin snickered, jumped from her arms and trotted through the room, taking a right at the end of the bar and scratching a demand that the closed door be opened.

  The boy that had led them there looked at the bar man, lifted his shoulders as high as his chin in a shrug, and hurried to do the greyhound's bidding.

  Keeping her steps and expression steady, Alexa walked into the room. Serving women and the barkeep followed, opening indoor shutters to the fading afternoon light, whisking dustcovers off deep chairs, and wiping down the large round table that dominated the room.

  As they bustled, lights came on from faceted crystals that looked like huge hunks of quartz set in the walls.

  Send energy to one, Sinafin said.

  Narrowing her eyes, Alexa concentrated on the nearest quartz.

  A brighter spark appeared within it, then it glowed white, while the others in the room showed yellow.

  Silence.

  Alexa looked around to find everyone staring at her again. She smiled. The inn people rushed from the chamber. The Marshalls and the man Sinafin had named Luthan marched in, along with an older woman in gear that looked like the fighting clothes that the riders of the flying horses wore.

  Sinafin whined and Alexa picked her up.

  Go to the biggest chair, she advised.

  Alexa frowned. It was wise strategy, but the chair would dwarf her. She sighed and went to the chair, drew it close to the table. Then she laid her baton down on the table, discreetly climbed on the chair, scooted until her butt hit the back and crossed her legs. Who from Lladrana would know that she didn't usually sit in a chair like this? It sure beat sitting on the very edge and letting her feet dangle.

  Sinafin curled on Alexa's lap. No heads here. See the banners? They are those of the Chevaliers fallen to the Invaders in the past two years.

  The banners crowded the rafters; most were tattered. Some showed stains that were probably mud. Some had huge swaths of a dark red-brown—dried blood? Some had holes that looked like they'd been made from claws—or worse, acid. The scariest ones had lots of blotches: red-brown blood, greenish old-slime stuff, thick black ichor blobs. There were even a few puckered tentacle marks like those that had shown on the body of the man she'd saved from the pool. Pretty evident that would be from a soul-sucker.

  See how many there are? You can't see the ceiling. We need you!

  "I get it already," Alexa grumbled as the Marshalls scraped back chairs to sit around the table.

  Reynardus sat opposite her at the round table, his usual sneer on his face. Thealia sat to his right at ten o'clock in relation to Alexa. Partis was between Thealia and Alexa, on her left.

  That sneer really got on Alexa's nerves, setting her temper simmering again. She leaned back in her chair, back straight, composed her expression and petted the shape-changing dog. Tension and anticipation coiled in her. This discussion would be
all about her future. She wasn't going to be manipulated or steamrollered. She was going to play it cautious, and canny—and win. What concessions she could get, she didn't know. But Sinafin would be able to keep score and tell her.

  She did know that the first one who dickered would lose, and she was ready to sit silent until the inn closed and the bartender threw her out.

  The inn does not close, Sinafin said. It is open all day and night, every day.

  "Twenty-four, seven," Alexa murmured.

  What does that mean? The little dog pushed a warm, curious nose into Alexa's palm.

  "Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week." Alexa wondered if the days were the same.

  Yes, answered Sinafin. But we go by moon-months.

  Before she could say more, the older woman clomped forward and bowed to Alexa.

  Lady Hallard, a major landowner, now the Representative of the Chevaliers to the Castle. And Luthan—Sinafin pointed her nose at the man sitting at three o'clock in relation to Alexa—was the Chevalier Representative before you came and now represents the Singer. He offered the Chevalier position to his brother, Bastien, the man you saved from drowning in the jerir. He refused.

  Alexa had heard this before in her dreams, but Sinafin's recitation helped ground her, get her mind around the players again and put names to faces. Reynardus and his sons, one of whom was a flawed black-and-white. The Marshalls...

  "On behalf of the Chevaliers, we thank you for healing ourmembers, Farentha and Dema. Here is our offering for your fee," Lady Hallard said, placing a worn leather drawstring pouch on the table before Alexa.

  Money! Alexa exulted. Oh, she was better off now. She didn't have to depend on the Marshalls for everything.

  Enough money, "zhiv" to house you in Town for two years. Little enough JOT two lives, but the two you helped heal are independents, and all the Chevaliers took up a pool for them.

  Alexa had contributed to enough pools, and been the recipient of one or two when she'd been down on her luck, to understand how they worked. She frowned. She couldn't possibly take it all.

  "Tell me, what is enough for one year of middle-class living?" she asked Sinafin.