Mira climbed atop the prison and sat patiently on the tiled roof. She scanned the other rooftops until she saw a dark, slim woman climb down a chimney a few streets over. Mira pulled up her hood and watched her. The woman looked across the street before she walked over to the side of the prison. She climbed up conveniently placed crates and barrels. She gripped the bars of a window. The soft voice whispered in a broken elven language to the grunting man inside. After she nodded at her new instructions, the woman hopped to the ground and scurried away.
Mira waited a few moments before she climbed off the roof. She untied the ribbon at the top of her tunic to show off more of her small amount of cleavage. Her hand dipped into a bag at her side and she pulled out a jar. She lathered the ointment inside and slicked it in her hair. With that, her red curls turned into black, damp hair. She rubbed her hands on her pants to get rid of the ink. She slapped herself a few times to bring up redness. She summoned a knife and stabbed her side. She let the blood run down the borrowed tunic. Then, she dismissed the knife and entered the building.
“Help!” Mira forced tears to her eyes, “Someone outside just attacked me!”
The few guards at this time of night stood from the table of their card game, “Who was it?”
“He had these—” She fake hyperventilated, “The eyes were so scary. It couldn’t have been a man.”
Mira grabbed the bloody wound and one of the guards ran to comfort her. She sniffled as the man wrapped his arms around her like a she was a hurt child. She leaned against him and sobbed dramatically. The bruises along her body helped with her story of being attacked.
“We will find him, wait right here,” The guard holding her said.
“Wait! There’s only three of us. We can’t leave –”
“Do you really think this girl is going to let out any of those monsters?” Another scoffed, “Look at her. We need a healer!”
Mira found it entirely too convincing to play a distressed damsel that men wanted to save. If she ever maintained a position of power, that would be the first thing she would warn against.
“Sweetheart, just wait right here. Someone will be outside. Don’t worry about anyone else. They’re locked up tight, okay?” The worried old guard patted her back, “Sit right here and we’ll bring someone back to help you.”
Mira sat in the chair he pushed against her legs. She waited until the men fled the room and turned to the keys sat on the table. She grabbed the keyring and walked into the corridor filled with barred cells. She walked silently as she approached her target.
Only the flicking of keys echoed down the hall as the other prisoners quieted with her passing steps.
“Well, it seems I have a guest,” A grizzled voice chuckled.
“Bragnoun,” Mira stood before his cell and looked to him, “You’ve aged terribly.”
“So young, so full of power,” Bragnoun scratched his thin beard, “The mouse knows to fear the cat. The hunter knows to fear the bear. But nobody expects a mouse that can kill a bear. Has my time come, little mouse?”
The older dwarf leaned against the stone wall behind him and sized her up. He wore all black leather in contrast to his light grey skin and pale brown hair. His hair was thinned by scarred skin and one eye was milky from a cut across the left side of his face.
“Black hair doesn’t suit you, little mouse.”
As he grinned, Mira saw a few of his teeth missing. The most notable feature was the green tear drop tattooed under his left, milky eye. She smiled coldly at his friendly expression.
“You know why I’m here, then,” She played with the keys in her hand, “I assume, at least.”
“Aye. In a sense,” He ran his fingers through his beard, “You were just a wee babe when he hired me to train or kill you. You even knocked out my eye.”
“I thought you were dead,” She smirked.
“I tried very hard to seem dead so we wouldn’t meet again,” He grunted, “Looks like it didn’t work.”
Mira smirked and he chuckled. The rowdy prisoners quieted after Bragnoun hollered at them to quit. She waited a moment before she looked back to him.
“I see,” Her fingers ran over a key as she inspected the lock on his cell, “Has he come to you since then?”
“No,” Bragnoun shook his head, “He knows I would kill him if he did. Especially after what he did to my daughter.”
The memory of a burning house came to her mind and caused her to hesitate, “Aya didn’t make it?”
“No,” He said flatly, “Now what do you want? Did he send you to finish the job? Gotta tie up all the loose ends for that devil?”
The dwarf spat and looked to her in disgust. She ignored his display of anger and continued to click the keys along the keyring.
“I figured his plan’s coming together just fine if you’re riding some orc pirate’s dick.”
“Now, Bragnoun,” Mira tsked, “Let’s remember who you are talking to.”
“You may have been a child when I last saw you,” He snarled, “But I saw what you can turn into. When you started killing all the people Isaan knew, I knew I needed to hide. I’m too old to run. Now, finish me off and be done with it.”
“On the contrary,” She examined another key, “I’m here for a peace offering. I’m taking over the less desirable aspects of the city.”
“Oh really?”
“I would like you and your men to join me,” Her amber eyes sparkled at the thought.
“You don’t need me for that,” His face contorted in confusion, “There’s already a new leader by now. I’m old news. Go bother that poor sucker. I’m sure you saw her come here.”
“I know you only allowed yourself to be caught because I came into town,” She smirked, “You weren’t a bad assassin, Braggy. You just didn’t stand a chance.”
“I hate that nickname.”
“You were the only one of my trainers that lived,” She placed the key into the cell’s lock, “You, apparently, got away in time because you broke my leg in that trap. I still thought you died after I ripped out your eye and gutted you.”
“Nearly did.”
Mira smirked, “Care to join me, Braggy?”
“What are your plans?” He asked as the cell unlocked.
“Isaan Naybellos will die by my hand,” Her voice darkened, “Besides that, I only want the people I care for to survive.”
“What of my men?” He watched as she opened the door.
“The Jade Tears will join my order. They will just be the chapter in Hangral,” She stood on the other side of the cell door, “If that is acceptable, then leave me something where we met. If it is not, then I will find you again before I leave. We’ll finish our business then.”
“I appreciate you allowing me to sleep on it,” He grunted.
“Braggy,” She clicked her tongue and dropped the keys between them, “I do not think you will sleep on it. I’m giving you time to prepare your men to kneel or die.”
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
The old dwarf watched as the floor covered in the black mist. Mira imagined herself as the weapon she was. If she was truly a weapons summoner, then this spell would work. They practiced it together once before. The fog swirled around her for a moment and engulfed her. When he stepped out of the cell and the mist dissipated, she was gone.
Mira gasped as the mist carried her out of the building. Terrible memories replayed in her mind. Her body convulsed as the dark energy bubbled beneath her skin. She had not tried that spell enough to be comfortable with it. The magic surging through her body threatened to rip her to shreds. She gripped her chest and grunted through the pain.
“I’ve got you,” A man whispered to her, “You’re okay. Breathe.”
Mira felt her heightened sense and tensed muscles relax as she recognized him. Seth patted her back. She allowed herself to be vulnerable when she remembered he would be dead if he meant her harm. She blinked the stars from her eyes and studied his face.
“Is it done?” She whispered.
“Yes,” He held her shoulders as she steadied, “Do you need me to carry you?”
Mira nodded as the man threw a cloak over her shoulders. She raised the hood and climbed onto his back. He carried her a few steps back into the main streets of Hangral. Her muscles were tense, and her breaths were shallow as she tried to recover her strength.
“Seth, how did you become a thrall?”
“I was knee high when my family was taken from our home,” He grunted, “I’m not sure from where. That was nearly six years ago. My mind isn’t what it used to be.”
“Did your masters treat you kindly?”
“Not as bad as yours, my lady. Bobabano is one of the better ones. Most of the thralls for their tribe try to get on his ship or work at the palaces.”
“It did not seem as if he treated you kindly,” She brushed the flaking skin from the sunburn on his head.
“Captain Bo did not expect more from us than what we could do,” The man nodded, “We got regular breaks. He kept us well fed. If we got sick, he’d pay for us to get better. It’s more than a lot of other masters would do.”
“Were you surprised when he freed you?”
“Yes,” He smiled, “I don’t know how he plans to get back to Agrowl if you don’t go. I doubt many would readily sail back if you weren’t there to protect them.”
“Is that the only reason you chose to serve me, Seth?” She coughed and black sludge speckled the back of his pale shirt.
“No, my lady,” He untied the handkerchief from his wrist and handed it to her, “You were a thrall too. You know how we can be treated. If Captain Bo just gifted us to you, we would’ve gladly volunteered.”
“Do you have family in Agrowl, Seth?”
“A wife and a few kids sprinkled about,” The man grunted and adjusted her weight on his back, “I haven’t seen them in some time since Queen Yteva sold them to another tribe.”
Mira coughed into his shoulder again. After her rattling wheezes passed, he looked over his shoulder at her. She simply nodded to acknowledge his worry.
“I will try to reunite you, if I can,” She wiped her mouth with the handkerchief.
“Really? I would appreciate that. My kids never learned to read so I haven’t been able to find anything about them since they left their mother.”
“They got separated from her?”
“Aye. Once kids get old enough to work on their own, the orcs generally split us up, so we don’t get to attached.”
“How much does it cost to purchase a thrall like that?”
“Men my size and background are usually ten gold,” His head wiggled back and forth as he thought, “Some of the smaller ones on the ship are down to eight. My wife was seven because of she’s a seamstress. Kids under a certain age only cost a few silver. Besides that, most are three gold.”
“Bobabano gave you all ten gold. Will that be enough for you to buy your families?”
“Some of us,” Seth dipped his head, “Others may need to dip into their meager savings. But, we have hope we can. Those without families are chipping in to bring everyone together. Wherever you plan to go, we will bring our families there.”
“Then, I shall make my final destination worthy.”
“What about you, my lady? Will you bring your family?”
Instead of answering, her hands tensed on his shoulders. He grunted.
“I see. Pardon the question.”
They travelled along the streets until they reached the final location for her makeshift crew. She thought of all the people Isaan had hired to train her as they journeyed along the bricked road. Mira remembered many faces and far fewer names of those that honed her skills to the razor-sharp weapon she became.
That’s what she was trained to be – a weapon of extermination for Isaan.
Now, she was her own weapon. Her wrath would cleanse the world of her former master and all that opposed her.
Once they reached their destination, Seth slid Mira from his shoulders and helped her stand. She stared at the sigil in front of her and knew that the time for those horrible days were burning behind her.
Three long armed weapons were staked into the ground. The first was a halberd that chopped into Jenny’s severed head. On the other side of the axe head of the weapon a silver necklace with the Sword Serpent’s logo dangled harmlessly. The second weapon was a simple spear, with the blade piercing two gnarled hands with scarlet bands over the knuckles. Mira almost chuckled at the vicious grin on Val’s face as she inspected her work. The last weapon was a glaive, similar to the wraith and Mira’s preferred weapon. It was empty and free from carnage unlike the other ones.
Mira walked towards the grim display with an unnaturally cheerful smile on her face.
“What happened with Bragnoun?” Amethyst peered at Mira’s empty hands.
“He has yet to decide.”
“Why are you giving him time to?”
“He has larger decisions to make,” Mira admired the weapon in front of her, “He will let me know what he thinks.”
“How do you know?” Val asked.
“He met me here, once,” She looked around, “Under my master’s request.”
Their eyes examined the space more critically. It was a mossy and overgrown, crumpled building. A charred building on the other side of the wraith’s memorial belonged to Bragnoun at one time. On the brick wall behind the weapons, the Wilted Rose mark was painted in blood.
“I thought this place may have been special,” She nodded.
“If I were a betting woman,” Mira nodded to the bare weapon, “We will see an offering by the time this is found in the morning. Until then, we should leave.”
“Let me walk you back to your room,” Val offered.
“No, I have to sneak back into the palace,” Mira shook her head, “If I do not appear with Bobabano in the morning, they may be suspicious that I didn’t stay with him. I should be found with him after our display is found.”
“Do you want help getting back?” Amethyst looked at her, “You are pale.”
“I just need to breath. I just overexerted myself again with my last spell. I can sneak into a palace with no problem.”
“Let’s at least walk together,” The orc grunted, “You do not allow people to carry you unless you are injured.”
“Fine,” Mira acquiesced, “But someone needs to get me something to eat.”
Val gripped her shoulder and shook jovially, “Yeah! Got to get some more energy in you to enjoy being in his bed.”
“Val, please” She growled, “I’m too tired to scold you.”
The group of them laughed as Amethyst and Mira walked away. She coughed and more of the black ooze sprayed from her lips. The orc reached over to grab her shoulders and hold her steady as they walked.
“You need to rest the next few days,” She frowned, “You cannot heal properly if you keep pushing yourself.”
“If I do not push myself, then I will not get what I need.”
“You have multiple people you can task with silly errands,” She scoffed, “Now is not the time to argue. You barely look like you’re standing. You let that man carry you. I know you wouldn’t do that unless you thought you couldn’t walk.”
“Then, give me blood,” Her amber eyes burrowed into the concerned woman’s face.
“Gladly,” Amethyst sliced her hand and placed it against Mira’s arm, “You need to eat more meat, too. That will help. Remember, I’ve been a blood mage longer than you’ve been alive.”
Mira rolled her eyes as her skin drank in the energy from the orc. It fizzled in her veins as it rejuvenated her energy. She sighed after Amethyst’s skin healed and the last bits of her blood were absorbed.
“Can you at least sneak back into Bobabano’s room?”
“His windows face a hedge line. It was easier to sneak out than expected,” Mira shrugged, “Come gather me in the morning and we can talk about the outcome of tonight.”
“I’ll wait for Bobabano to call me,” Amethyst chuckled, “I wouldn’t want to ruin the honeymoon.”
Mira paced along the shadows of the royal palace. She waited behind shrubbery for patrolling guards to walk on and trailed silently behind them. If she avoided major windows and walkways, then she would make it back undetected. As another set of guards turned around the corner, she ducked into the bushes and listen to them gossip about the ruckus in the guest suites.
“Poor girl is probably going to need an ice pack from how much he’s hammering her,” One of the dwarves laughed, “It’s still going on!”
“I don’t know. Marjorie said she watched them wrestle and it seemed she enjoyed it.”
“All these diplomats come and ruin the wing,” Another scoffed, “You think they’d stop redecorating.”
“And the crown come off as inhospitable? No, they’ll just redecorate after the orcs leave.”
A cat stepped into her view and titled its head at her. Mira waited for the cadence of their words to pick up before she slipped past them. She walked along the outer wall of the guest wing. The cat followed as she ducked behind the short bushes and crawled down the wall. She shooed the feline as it pawed at her. It followed until she found a small cloth tied to the branches at her eye level. She peaked her head up and searched for any observers. When she found none, she pressed her hands against the glass and slid it open. The cat meowed and skittered away.
“Back so soon?” Bobabano stopped pushing the bedframe, “I thought it’d be another hour at least.”
He pulled the covers back for her. Mira crawled into the bed and waited for him to lay beside her. He pulled her against him, and she treasured his warmth. After she coughed again, his thumb wiped the black muck from her lips.
“You over did it again,” He frowned, “Are you still hurting?”
“No,” She mumbled, “I am still conscious.”
“You know the nightmares are worse when you weaken yourself,” He pulled the blankets over them, “I can only do so much without any magic.”
Bobabano’s hand rubbed her back as she closed her eyes. His body heat and soothing motions calmed her. Her muscles ached after cycling between her form and the wraith so often. She could feel the cracks of her bones fuse, her torn muscles weaving back together, and her skin stitch where it had torn. Mira pulled herself into a ball against him and waited for him to comfort her.
“Come now, my mermiana,” He smooched the top of her head lightly as she snuggled against him, “It’s time to rest.”
“Can you tell me another story?” She yawned, “It may help me sleep.”
“If you wish,” His fingers combed her hair, “Once, off the shores of Vanora, I found a treasure map that led towards a small island treasure trove—”