The woman and man on the left instantly draw their swords, showing no hesitation while the one on the right doesn't. He steps back to scrutinize me with piercing eyes.
“Who are you?” He asks urgently, clearly to prevent his comrades from directly charging in.
“Who am I?” I repeat with a corner smile. I raise my hand and lower the hood on my head. “A pawn that breaks the rules.” I answer.
At my answer, the man lets go of his weapon's hilt to turn and run while the other two's expressions shift in realization. The three pounce at once, the one on the right runs while the other two attack.
I raise my hand and golden streams lash out. The air in the room grows heavier in moments and turns into a bog. The two attackers struggle against it with lion strikes and air constructs, even a disruption construct, but my unstructured flow isn't affected by the latter while the former attempts lack the energy to succeed.
“You'll be killed for this! And so will your master!” The man who tried to run shouts.
Huhu. Calumny. Huhu. They haven't heard of me yet. Huhuhu. I ignore my boasting sister and lower my hand, causing the air to shift and immobilize the wrists of the two who drew their swords.
Their gazes turn panicked as I pull the long broadsword out of the sheath on my back, the one with chips in the blade from my fight with Vikiana... with my mother-in-law.
“No!” The woman cries.
“Don't!” The third protests.
I swing once, cutting their wrists off their forearms as promised. I then flick the flat of the weapon twice more, knocking the two out by hitting the sides of their heads.
Then, I release the third who tried to run and point down at his unconscious friends with the point of the broadsword to tell him he should stop the bleeding.
The man hesitates but the golden energy still floating in the air convinces him that it would be pointless to try to escape again and it might even cost him a limb. Little does he know I meant exactly what I said when I walked in.
“I need information, you'll not only tell me what I need but convince me you're not lying.” I tell him.
“... We're just watchers.” The man mutters as he hurriedly ties a piece of cloth around the woman's bleeding stump.
“With swords? Please.” I tell him while rolling my eyes. I decide to give the man a minute to bandage his comrades before speaking up. “Someone skilled was sent to Izla Meria with a fake Elizabeth Vil, the impostor is dead. I'm looking for the other one.”
The man glares and holds his tongue. I remain impassible but my gaze falls on his throat, causing his eyebrows to tighten. Yet, he doesn't break so I raise my broadsword.
“There are a couple other groups of watchers, I can always bring them your heads to convince them. The reason I haven't is that it would waste my time. I've given you a chance.” I tell him.
“Wait!” He exclaims while raising his arms defensively. “All I know is that Duchess Roskal took a criminal out of jail when she returned with the King!”
“Man or woman?” I question.
“Man!” He replies.
“Why are you mentioning it?” I ask.
“Because he was in her service, same as we are to the King, and about to be executed for having killed dozens of people in secret without permission over the years!” He exclaims. “It's all I can think of!”
“Okay, what's his name and preferred construct?” I press, not sure whether this fits for the leader.
“He never uses the same name twice, if he even gives one, so I don't know and I haven't even seen his face. Most of us call him Wraith because he's like one of these things that kill and disappear in the stories.” The man stutters.
“What stories?” I ask, blinking. The man opens his mouth to answer. “Don't bother answering that, I assume it's a local superstition.” I wave my hand.
“They're dead that return for vengeance and it isn't superstition, I have a fr...” The man starts with pale cheeks.
“Enough.” I interrupt him.
“How do I find this 'Wraith'?” I ask.
“You don't, he finds you as the monsters always do.” The spy replies with a shaky voice.
“Hm.” I exhale.
This man's obvious fear towards the creatures from these stories gives credence to his words. Besides, it makes sense they would send this 'Wraith' to assassinate people from the Izla.
They can trust him to a point since he worked for Roskal before and they have leverage over him to ensure he won't turn on them. He killed for his own pleasure but in secret which means he can be controlled.
Leomi was right to qualify him as an animal despite it being a reaction of grief. I narrow my eyes to think about others questions but find none so important I can waste time here trying to parse truth from lies.
I slash out and sever the man's left hand at the wrist before he can react. His eyes grow so huge from surprise and pain the eyeballs seem about to fall off. I knock him out with a backhanded flick of my weapon before a scream can leave his lips.
“I said I would if you made a move, not if you drew your weapon but you answered so I'll leave your dominant hand.” I inform the unconscious man with a cold tone.
I then sheathe my weapon and take a few tens of seconds to rip his sleeve off to use the cloth to cut off his blood circulation. With that done, I put my hood back over my head and make my way across the street towards the small mansion that the dozen women I got out of the institute have chosen to live in together with their newborn children.
About a dozen people, some in pairs, are watching me with worried expressions, having no doubt spotted or heard me break the door. I ignore them but do accelerate my pace because it's likely the guard has been called and the other spies may decide to intercept me.
Two men, who had been watching until now, suddenly throw looks over their shoulders towards my destination. And then my bad luck stacks as two adolescents, a boy and girl, let out shrieks behind me.
I have no need to glance back to figure out that they got curious as to what I did inside. The two men move side by side to block my way in spite of their nervousness at the hilt visible over my fake left shoulder.
“The guard was called already.” The lean one warns me.
“We're not letting you anywhere near them.” The bearded overly tall one says with a threatening tone.
Sock 'em, we don't have time. No, they'll hinder those that chase us later. As if I'd allow anyone to get close. Ah, well, if you'll be fighting then... What? No, I just mean I'll clean up your mess if necessary. Then let me handle it. Hmph.
“Those I took out were spies for Cenwalh.” I directly tell these two with a loud enough voice for the others to hear. “I don't have time to argue or explain. Step out of my way or I'll remove you.”
With that said, I barrel forward. Shocked, by whatever information they picked out of my words, they part just slightly. Enough for me to use my right shoulder to force my way between theirs.
I hear them stumble a little behind me but I've reached the small mansion's front door so I tense my left leg and propel my right heel at the handle. Thud. The panel of wood doesn't even shake.
I shape a sundering construct as I swiftly pull my broadsword out and strike down with the same movement, causing the door to be shred in two long halves. The left side with the handle drops backward to the ground with one half of the iron deadbolt.
I step in a wide lobby and encounter three women holding kitchen knives. I blink and hesitate because I recognize them despite their previously huge bellies now being relatively flat.
One has a nasty scar on her neck and hard traits even for a thirty-year-old woman, she seems ready to use her weapon. Another is a brunette posturing with bravado that's in her mid-twenties, her traits aren't really remarkable but somehow appear motherly. The last is a young attractive redhead with straight traits and breasts not quite as perfectly small as Le... as my fiancee's.
“Liz... The woman with the mask insisted I take you away. Meiridin isn't going to stay safe for you very long.” I explain awkwardly.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Elizabeth Vil?” The young one asks, her voice much more confident than the last time we spoke.
“You were to be twenty-two right?” I return, hoping that piece of knowledge will reassure them.
“How do you know that?!” She explodes while brandishing her knife instead.
“Hey, hold off! You told Liz!” I hurriedly explain.
“You did.” The elder brunette confirms, placing her hand on the redhead's forearm to make her lower the knife. “But that's not enough to trust you.” She returns while turning her gaze to me.
I hear a small commotion behind with a voice that has a timber of authority which means the guard likely arrived. I hear steps from the two men I bypassed. I grit my teeth.
“I just took out three of Cenwalh's spies and came here. Whether you like it or not, whether you trust me or not, you have to leave now because they'll use this against you.” I hurriedly explain. “Roskal, a Duchess, has been using assassins and someone wearing a mask like Elizabeth's. It won't be long until they see you as leverage to use so as to avoid being defeated.”
My words stun the three women but the one with the ugly scar on her neck recovers the quickest, she throws a glance behind me. I turn to check the two men's reaction.
They hold their hands out as if to say they don't know if what I'm saying is true. I spot four city guards talking to the people, a pair of them takes off towards the spies' house.
“Seems like she did take out some people, Marie.” The woman utters suspiciously.
“Then we have to leave, regardless of why, Hilda.” Marie, the brunette, declares with a firm voice.
“But, Joah hasn't given birth yet!” The redhead protests.
“Go pack if you've decided, there isn't any time to waste.” I cut in.
“We're already prepared.” Hilda dismisses while staring at me and rubbing her scar. Perhaps a nervous sign because she's considering fighting me.
“What do you want to know to trust me?” I ask because Liz is pressuring me to.
“What did...” Hilda hesitates and doesn't continue, likely realizing that it's difficult to find something I could have been told that others couldn't find out.
“What do you think Elizabeth Vil's attitude was when she rescued us?” The redhead questions suddenly.
“She didn't tell me that.” I reply, blinking.
“Leah asked your opinion, answer.” Marie presses with an illuminated expression. Strong, epic, confident, tall.
“I don't... Angry? Confident? A bit awkward.” I say, half-asking because Liz is being silly and all I really remember is how furious we were at Suxen.
“She was distraught, if maybe somewhat angry indeed, but not confident.” Marie instantly denies and the other two nod fervently. No way! I'm never distraught!
“That's difficult to imagine.” I grunt with difficulty because Liz is making a mess inside our head. “But fine, I guess she was shocked. We need to go and this doesn't help.”
“Indeed, no one would imagine so after hearing the stories going around.” Marie confirms with a glimmer in her eyes as she looks at me. “But, on the contrary, your response and reaction to ours do help because you accepted it so quickly and your opinion is more realistic than a liar's would be.”
“Great, now go get the others and the kids. I can protect you but only if you hurry.” I tell them.
“Can you, though?” Hilda asks with a look of suspicion. Seriously? I complain inside at the waste of time. These women doubted me, of course they'd doubt...
“She looks and sounds more reliable than Dame Vil did back then.” Leah comments. Wh... Kh, kh, kh, kh. I cackle inside my mind to Liz' fury.
“If that is an indication of her skill compared to Elizabeth Vil's, then she may as well be the Emperor in disguise.” Marie dismisses. “What's your name?” She asks me.
“Jessica Freepath.” I tell them.
“Haven't heard of you.” Hilda says, still with her wary expression.
“You will.” I reply confidently. Hard steps approach from behind and the two men scamper aside. “Now, go.” I urge them while turning around. “I'll catch up.”
There is a patrol of city guards headed for the entrance with their spears lowered. I don't draw my broadsword so as not to appear to be the aggressor but prepare a perception construct with three portions that'll last me half a minute.
“Where?” Marie asks tensely.
“Doesn't matter but the East may be less guarded because it isn't in the direction of Izla Meria or Hetlan.” I reply. “Just get out of Meiridin and go to an inn called the 'Merry Wanderer' where three people should arrive there with a letter from me to tell you where to go next. Rowland, Uhla, and Nahl.”
It sucks that I had to reach for their help but they're available and I needed people I could trust on short notice... well not trust but rely on. Either way, I don't tell these women about going to Hetlan or trying to get to Ruth's ship.
While the latter is the best option, it isn't certain she'll still be there and it might not be possible to go south-west once the city is on alert especially if they have to go around the city by going east first.
“You there!” A bulky sergeant yells at me as she approaches. “Are you the one who broke in that house and cut their hands off?”
“They drew first, I defended myself.” I respond confidently.
“Who are you?” She asks more reservedly.
“She's not a Noble!” A man with a sword at his waist accompanied by another intervenes. They have no crests on them to mark their identities yet are getting involved without hesitation, definitely spies.
“Then that's it! Arrest her, and all those in that mansion!” The sergeant barks at the city guards, likely following instructions given previously to cause trouble to these women if given the slightest excuse.
“I don't get to introduce myself?” I ask with a corner smile that makes them hesitate.
“... go ahead.” The sergeant says as she throws a slightly suspicious glance at the two spies.
Yea, she definitely hesitated earlier because she can smell trouble here. Despicable little thing that she is likely wouldn't do a thing if I had a title or support in Meiridin even if I had murdered these three. All I would have to do is claim self-defense. Preemptive retaliation might work as an argument too. Liz, seriously...
“I am Jessica Freepath, a peasant, and I've done no wrong so I'll have to ask you not to try to arrest me.” I tell them with a cheerful tone. “Your enthusiasm to involve these innocents makes me question your impartiality in the matter.”
“That's it! Take the wench down!” She barks while taking a step back to let her subordinates go first.
“Well, that was rude.” I utter coldly while drawing my single-edged blade.
I use one of the techniques Vikiana wrote down in her manual to lion's step with but a thought and far less speed than she claimed. I let flow stream out of my reserve and fall into the grooves of a lion's step.
My perception of time slows down. A shredding construct makes my blade glow golden. I leap forth and swing my broadsword at the two spears moments before I hit them with my torso.
Splinters explode out, sharp iron tips are flung aside. I take another step, twisting my foot to angle my body and make it past two other spears slowly being brought around to block me.
I land in front of the sergeant and slam the pommel of my weapon on her forehead. The bulky woman crumbles like a sack of potatoes. I send energy into more practiced lion strike grooves, strengthening my arm and a few sets of muscles in my back.
I spin on myself while bending my knees, destroying four rigid spears in a single go. I notice a few silver flickers behind myself. As I am now crouching with crossed shins, the last three armed opponents no doubt believe me vulnerable.
I smirk. I could let their weapons vainly hit the cuirass hidden by my cloak but I would rather not expose it so glaringly even though they will report it when they wake up.
I unwind my body in one go, sending myself flying over the sharp points to knee one of the armed city guards in the face. Those that were disarmed try to pile on me but I dance out of their grasps and swing the flat of my weapon to knock another out.
It doesn't take much effort for me to deal with the other seven, their movements are simplistic and I would consider their teamwork nonexistent if their attempts to work together weren't crippling them.
Once eight are down, the last two try to run. Unwilling to spend energy on them, I send out two tiny kinetic cubes at the back of their heads, knocking them out while using very little energy.
Doing so shouldn't be possible, I'm very aware of that, but apparently the more I use constructs the more I acquire instincts on the way flow manipulates these forces. While I have some understanding, it doesn't match my level of skill.
While I believe I have a knack for using flow, I don't think I'm responsible for all my achievements in the matter. There is something odd about my ability to handle unstructured energy and alter constructs, I'm too good.
Now isn't the time, and apart from asking Celyz or Suxen about what they did to us in more detail there are no answers, so start dealing with the current threats. You're really attached to them. Jess, I would rather rest than break our arm because I punched someone too hard.
I flick my gaze to the two spies who're trying to run away. I ignore them despite Liz' desire to deal with them because it is evidently too late to stop news from spreading.
If the spies are in groups of three, then the other one is already gone to report. Not to mention there were three groups and I only saw five of nine. I deactivate my perception construct only to find a deafening silence.
Some are staring with wide eyes at the unconscious city guards while others are watching me with disbelief and not a little fear. Leah's head is poking out from the entrance with a gaping jaw.
Marie, on the other hand, is whispering urgently to the two who tried to block my way. My turning to the mansion, and the two women, causes the crowd of spectators to tighten up around the brunette rather protectively.
“She's here to help... maybe.” Marie speaks up.
“This is too much trouble, Miss Marie.” One of the elders tells her.
“That's why I said maybe.” She grumbles. “But, if what she said is true, then trouble would have come for us anyway. We have no choice but to leave now.”
“I'm sure the King would understand you didn't cause this.” The elder tells her reassuringly.
“But the King is not in Meiridin.” Marie responds with an awkward smile.
The elder nods hesitantly and says no more but does throw me a glare. I ignore it because I'm busy counting to assess how much time I have left until more city guards show up than I can handle.
“Whiiiuuin!” A sharp cry pierces my ears.
A pregnant woman is giving a tiny baby to a radiant Leah in the lobby. My legs melt into a puddle of sweetness. Doesn't matter how many come, I'll lay waste to Meiridin if needed. Hey, back to rest old woman! I'm not kidding. I know, and I'll protect them so don't worry. You better, sis.