The meeting rooms of Lord Rius had seen a lot more traffic lately, though the maid service kept it all clean nonetheless.

Lord Rius had done nothing but eat and sneer. He ate on plates of silver while Farwa arranged to ration food supplies for the populace.

The gates opened, and Tanith was sent to meet a shipment. A very large shipment of grain, brought from elsewhere. They came in great lines of ox carts, and many of the commoners cheered as they did. Tanith met their gaze as they filed in and saw Anborn as the front.

And Lilas behind.

"Tanith!" said Anborn, running up to her with an enthusiastic smile.

Tanith resisted the urge to stab him. You didn't kill family unless they did something really bad. "Anborn, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, um, I ran into William on the way home," said Anborn. "And he convinced me I should take some personal responsibility for my position. So I uh, went talking to a lot of merchants, and it turned out there was a lot of grain stored up.

"Stuff which no one was using.

"So I convinced some people to bring some of the extra food to feed the hungry here. They were holding it."

"It wasn't from the granaries, was it?" asked Tanith, instantly concerned.

"No," said Anborn. "See, a lot of the merchants had been stockpiling it. I guess to sell in case of a famine. But Lilas and Bishops Rundas and Joffrey compensated them. Now they are going to distribute them because I asked them to do it. Lilas is the Archdeacon, you know."

Lilas was the Archdeacon?

Which one of his actions had anything to do with religion?

And there was Lilas and Joffrey with him. He was basking in the cheering because Anborn had run away from his path in the front. No one had notified Tanith, and this was a surprise. So either Lilas had gone behind Rius' back, or Rius was using Anborn as a tool. He was easy to use.

Someone was up to something, and Tanith was going to ruin it for them. This was too good to be true.

"They're really good people when you get to know them," said Anborn. "It's amazing how quickly Lilas got it all together! I mean, everyone he talked to just-"

"Lady Atravain has provided food aid to the people of Ascorn!" said Tanith. "Quickly notify Lady Farwa and the Ranger Aras. They shall distribute it in the name of Lord Rius."

"Um, it is Lilas' grain," said Anborn.

"Grown on Lady Atravain's land and distributed with her permission," said Tanith. "And it's coming from a grainery in Antion, so I credit the noble of the land in question. Unless you have an objection, Lilas?"

Lilas stared and opened in mouth in anger before stopping himself. Obviously, he'd planned to let Rius run this place into the ground. Then when he was deposed, he'd fit naturally in. So his hour of triumph had been ruined.

Ordinarily, Tanith might give him the benefit of the doubt.

But he treated his workers brutally, Tanith had spoken to some of them. And since he'd had lots of grain available from the start, William's initial hopes were dashed. The shortage had been artificial, and Lilas had sought to take control using it.

"None at all, of course," said Lilas, recovering. "So long as starvation is averted, it matters little who gets the credit."

"Actually, it matters a great deal," said Tanith. "I will escort both of you to the House of Lord Rius once Farwa arrives." Then she turned to her men. "Get these people off the streets.

"This isn't a celebration, go. And get Lilas and Joffrey a cloak, so nobody forms a lynch mob."

"I will enter the city in whatever way I-" began Joffrey.

Tanith put a hand to her sword. "Go."

Joffrey turned and fled out of the gates as fast as his legs could carry him. His toadies ran with him. Ham Hawkthorne stood in the crowd and quickly stalked after him, hand on his blade. What was he doing here?

Well it didn't matter, Joffrey was gone.

That left only Lilas.

Soon enough, Farwa did arrive, and Tanith passed things over to her. Then she took Anborn and Lilas through the streets after clearing the crowds. No profits would be made on the side of this serpent. Arriving at the door, Tanith found Rius speaking with many of his well-dressed friends. He had never looked fatter and more decadent than now that the streets were cleaned.

Rius was exactly the same as he had been at the beginning of this mess. He'd run Ascorn into the ground and been saved by circumstances out of his control. So his bloated and disgraceful rule would live a little while longer.

"You know," said Anborn to a nearby commoner. "Luke Atravain and a lot of nobles had a battle with satyrs at a village near here. Several of them died in battle, but they drove them off.

"And they fought a Blackguard too."

Murmurs of interest and awe came up, and soon Lilas' messianic arrival was forgotten.

"Tanith, why are you doing this," asked Anborn. "Lilas helped us. So did Joffrey, they put a lot of work into this. You can't humiliate people like this."

"What's he going to do?" asked Tanith. "Raise an army from the people he abandoned and abused?"

Here was where Rius took Lilas' side.

"Ah, Lilas, so you've brought the food we had stored up as prepared," said Rius, shaking his hand and smiling. Laughter came from the crowds, turning the thief's triumph into humiliation.

"You've been storing it?" asked Tanith.

"Outside of the city in case of a situation such as this, of course," said Rius. Many of them chuckled at his expense, hoping to do the very same scheme on him.

But Rius would never replace Lilas because he could be controlled.

"How much in tax are you paying to Lady Atravain for this?" asked Anborn with a frown.

"They are in neutral areas laid aside for merchants. They were purchased with her permission," said Rius. "I provide all the security, of course, and the grain is bought from her and stored."

"Is there a particular reason you decided to enslave an entire people?" asked Tanith, feeling disgusted.

"That was entirely the doing of the Kings, Lady Tanith," said Rius with an air of smugness. "They do not ask permission when they make decisions. Prince Bor and Gavin wanted us to provide storage, and I did."

"Is that really something a Lord should say, Lord Rius?" asked Anborn.

"Pretend I did not say it," said Rius, an edge in his tone. Anborn wilted, and this seemed to please Rius. "Anborn, Lilas, we shall dine together with our friends and then discuss matters."

"Anborn, let me go with you," said Tanith.

"With all due respect, Lady Telus, you were not invited," said Lilas.

"Heel, boy," said Tanith. "If a meeting is made pertaining to my house, Lord Rius, I should be involved." No true noble would ever behave like this.

"Anborn is there as a representative," said Rius. "And as Edmund Telus' eldest son, he is far more qualified in negotiations. I gather you have a less sophisticated approach."

Did the man seriously think Tanith would be defeated by public humiliation? Because she was in a city, she was out of her element. Well, she supposed Vanion would want her to try proper channels. "Anborn, a word?"

"Are you detaining my guest?" asked Rius, now openly smug.

Was this a noble, or merely a sack of meat?

"Anborn, I need to speak to you now. This is very important," Anborn was the closest thing to a man among them. At least he was trying.

"We can talk after the dinner," said Anborn.

Oh, that absolute fool.

Was Anborn asking permission from Rius? He should have learned better years ago. But Mother had coddled him, and he'd always dismissed Father as too serious.

"Anborn, you need to consult with someone on this," said Tanith. "You cannot undertake negotiations without an advisor. Father may not know about these."

"Why not let your older brother make his own decisions, Tanith," said Rius. "You owe him respect, as your elder, do you not? I have been lenient so far, but it could endanger relations if you insist on insulting me."

It wasn't Anborn's fault, really.

He'd started too late to try and do his job. So he'd never had a chance to learn as a child should. So now he was a child in a man's body, with a man's responsibilities. And he'd be judged for them as a man.

"Anborn..." said Tanith. "Don't sign or promise anything without consulting Father."

"Okay, sure," said Anborn. But he wasn't listening. He never listened to anything he did not want to hear.

"Rius," said Tanith. "What happened to Reg Hawkthorne?"

Rius halted at the sudden question. One he could not afford to not answer. "We are still awaiting a response from our messages."

"Sent to the domain of House Hawkthorne?" asked Tanith.

"Yes," said Rius. "Naturally."

"Doesn't House Hawkthorne have a trade empire, Tanith?" asked Anborn.

The population laughed. Rius laughed, and the merchants joined in.

Rius laughed because he thought Tanith was the one who did not know the answer. He could do no wrong, so he assumed the disgrace passed to her. He was never responsible. The nobles laughed because they dared not alienate Rius.

He gave them food in their troughs like well-dressed pigs. The population laughed at Rius and the nobles in general because they were ridiculous.

And it was Harlenor itself made the court jester.

Tanith's eyes focused then on Anborn, who had a nervous smile but was not laughing. As if he was trying to figure out the joke. Then she turned her gaze to Lilas, who was not laughing either. He was calculating, and she met his gaze in sheer hatred.

There stood a new kind of noble.

An aristocracy who stole as much money as possible and did nothing to earn it. An invisible hand robbed as many people as possible and gave nothing back. A race of spoiled man-children who thought handling money the ultimate deed. And all other manful deeds mere yardwork for their glory.

Lilas, meanwhile, saw in her a mirror. A brutal savage who was the manifestation of everything he had hated. Everything he never had the courage to be. An irredeemable attack dog in possession only of base cunning. This man was no warrior, and he'd known he'd been no warrior. But where other men had tried to adapt to their society, he had tried to outmaneuver it.

William would have felt sympathy for Lilas after understanding him.

For her part, Tanith only hated him all the more. She had done what her country wanted. She'd fulfilled her duty and followed orders without question. This thing in front of her was unworthy of her attention.

She turned away in disgust.

She had a job to do. Payment was only put off.

And Reg was either dead or imprisoned by Neral Dinis to be eaten by vampires.

How did she deal with this? She'd already written up and sent reports to Duke Vanion by Amenos.

Finding Kata on the docks, she was looking out to sea as the sun set in a bloody red. A wind of cold shot through them. Sokar was speaking with a number of his lieutenants.

"Tanith?" asked Kata, looking back

"Don't make any deals," said Tanith. "And put everybody on guard. If you see Lilas, seize him at once. Throw him in a cell and keep him there.

"Things are about to get bloody again."

There was no other outcome.

Kata nodded. "I understand." And she offered Tanith a stone. "Take this. It'll prove you're trusted to enter."

Tanith nodded. "Thanks. You're pretty good at this."

"Don't remind me," said Kata before hugging her. "Thanks, Tanith."

Tanith felt her warmth against her and almost choked up for a moment. Then it was over as soon as it began. Turning, she walked toward the beached ship. Scaling up the steps, she opened the door and walked into the darkness. It had been well cleaned up, and there was straw all over the floor.

"Lady Telus, you're here," said Sokar, who must have gotten ahead.

"Yes," said Tanith. "I'm here with Kata's authorization."

"Do you have the runestone?" asked Sokar.

Tanith raised it up. "Yes. What does that rune mean anyway?"

"'One who may enter,'" said Sokar. "We use them to identify people, and it corresponds to her clan." He paused. "Well, actually it can mean 'One who supplants.' But that translation is part of an older dialect. Same words, different meaning."

"Great," said Tanith. "So these are the prisoners."

The prisoners had lost a bit of weight, or at least the fatter ones had. Those who had been thinner were much the same and looked livid, stalking back and forth. The fatter ones looked sullen, and their clothes were tainted by dirt. Though most had been given better ones. It was no more than they deserved.

"Next time," said Tanith to them. "Behave as a Harlenorian ought."

"Yes," said Sokar. "Kata commands that they be fed and kept as comfortable as is reasonable. We clean the cells regularly, though we've had several escape attempts. Some have tried to take their own lives, as well.

"We've stopped all of them."

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Why so much concern for your hated enemy, Sokar?" asked Tanith, not understanding him. "This cell is a paradise compared to what they did to you."

"Don't remind me," said Sokar. "But, she insists that we must not become our enemies. It's William. Kata really admires him."

"Don't tell him that," said Tanith. "He does his best work when he's bitter and angry.

"...You're the one who's really in charge here, aren't you?"

"Basically, yes," said Sokar. "I figured it'd be better for everyone to think Kata was making all the decisions. That way, I'd have a free hand.

"Very old Furbearer trick. Neral Dinis did it all the time in one way or another."

"Can I talk to some of them," said Tanith.

"I'm sorry, Tanith," said Sokar. "But no one meets with any of the prisoners. If they were to arrange an escape through a visitor, we would lose our bargaining power.

"And I know you've been playing both sides. You're looking after House Gabriel's interests. Which means you could move against us for Rius."

"Rius is weak," said Tanith with a sigh. "He's lost control of his own operations and he's too stupid to realize it. He even openly scoffs at the King."

"Don't I know it," said Sokar. "Kata tells me that virtually everyone is sick of him. Some have been very public about talking about how good Lilas is as an administrator. But I think they've been paid to do it.

"The problem is that there isn't anyone other than you."

"You could claim Ascorn as weregild," said Tanith. "Kill Rius off and hand it to a Furbearer lieutenant."

"I don't want to run this place," said Sokar.

"General Sokar?" said a voice.

General?

"What is it?" asked Sokar.

"Tavish Kern is here with many armed men," said a Furbearer, clad in chain mail. "He's at the gates of the smuggler's cave."

"Send word to Kata, only Kata," said Sokar. "Don't tell anyone else about this without her orders. I'll head down there and do what I can. Tanith, is this your doing?"

"No," said Tanith. "Either he's here to settle the score, or he's switching sides."

"Why would he do that?" asked Sokar. "And why should I care? We should kill him."

"...Have you ever heard the story of Nendas the Wise?" asked Tanith suddenly. Furbearers often gave advice through stories, or so she had read.

"What?" said Sokar. "No."

"Nendas was one of the greatest swordsmen of Tarasif," said Tanith. "He was loyal to his uncle Munsuf, and to his King, and to his Goddess equally. But his uncle Munsuf was a worthless layabout. He delegated everything to his younger brother, Vandias.

"Now, King Samrasa saw a chance to destroy the Hasafa Clan. And he incited jealousy in Munsuf and convinced him to swear Nendas to Samrasa's service. Then, playing a fatherly role to Nendas, he arranged for Vandias' murder. Samrasa tried to pretend like Vandias' had been murdered by his own political enemies.

"But Nendas was wise.

"He knew his Uncle; he knew Samrasa wanted to use him. But he also knew that King Samrasa and his Uncle were too strong. So, Nendas played the role of the perfect, illiterate, stupid servant. He believed in King Samrasa, he stayed out of politics, and he defeated the enemies of Tarasif. And he waited for the chance to destroy each enemy with perfect moral superiority.

"His Father's murderer, Samrasa ordered him to kill his enemy Ralign, and he did. Munsuf was dragged down to hell when the gods could no longer abide him. And Samrasa, he allowed to live long to shred his reputation completely. Before killing them in one stroke, defending his Kingdom from his own King.

"Now, once he finished his revenge, he married his childhood sweetheart. Then he became an invaluable asset to a benevolent King. And he lived happily ever after. Until the end of his days."

Sokar nodded. "...Alright, we'll play the servant.

Sokar was smart.

Tavish Kern they found leaning against a tree, spinning his knife with one finger. There was a ring at the base of the knife he'd slipped a finger through. Several other armed men were present with drawn swords, and Tanith stepped forward.

"So you're the attack dog, huh?" asked Tavish, blowing a bang of dark hair from his face. "Cuter than I thought."

Tanith flushed, and her hands went to her swords. "Call me cute again, and I'll snap your neck."

"Has a lot of spirit, though," said Tavish.

"Are you here to parley or just let your hair fly in the wind?" asked Sokar. "Though I don't see why these rights should apply to you, Tavish.

"You are a liar and an assassin. And honorless cur that brings curses down on your countrymen. What rights remain to you that you have not burned?"

"I'd prefer to think of myself as an exceptional thief," said Tavish, with the air of one who has heard it all before. "Either way, I'm just the messenger. You and I have a common cause."

"No, we really don't," said Sokar.

Tavish laughed. "Both of us hate the planters.

"They are the only reason I ended up selling you people for slaves, and now they've backstabbed me."

"Good," said Sokar. "You went into business with slavers, and you're surprised it backfired? Father was right about you. And I took your part; we welcomed you into our home!"

"Do you think my network only carries slaves?" asked Tavish. "And it didn't take years; it took three months. I just pieced together all the operations, talked to the right people. All it took was running a couple of messages and getting the muscle.

"I built this thing to bypass taxes. So when I say that what I did was nothing personal, you can believe it."

"Nothing personal?!" said Sokar.

"You were doomed anyway," said Tavish. "Someone would have done it eventually. I figured out the best way to exploit it, and you paid the price for your sins."

"What sins?!" said Sokar.

"Stupidity for a start," said Tavish calmly. "You were stupid enough to not be prepared for an invasion. And Harlenorians despise stupidity.

"Your kind-hearted little village mocked me."

"Kata had thought you'd changed," said Sokar.

"Oh, you ignorant little slave!" said Tavish in a rage. "I'm a Harlenorian! I've built an Empire from the dispossessed and the needy and used their labor to serve my nation! They rely on me to keep business flowing, and I rely on my Father!

"And I'm not going to sell all of them up the river because your Father was too stupid to make an alliance with House Kern! I gave you a lifeline, and you shut it down!

"Nobody is going to stick their neck out for you if you don't bring anything to the table. Now, do you want to hear my offer or not?"

Silence.

"Tell me your offer," said Sokar, expressionless.

It was amazing how quickly Tavish changed his appearance. He went from enraged to suave in an instant.

"Well, there's a strange story behind that," said Tavish Kern. "See, I run into William Gabriel accidentally on purpose by the roadside, and he informs me that Lord Rius is back. He's also said that I'm the guy everyone is using as a scapegoat."

"Why would he work with you?" asked Sokar.

"He made me aware of an opportunity," said Tavish. "I need to work with you to get Atravain off my back. You need me if you want to get your people back."

"And what do you want me to do?" asked Sokar.

"I just need you to keep this little cave open," said Tavish. "All my systems are tailored to run to it anyway. Do that, and I'll free all the slaves throughout the plantations and bring them back here."

"Why?" asked Sokar, surprised. "Why do you care?"

"Because doing that will decrease Atravain's bargaining power," said Tavish. "If she doesn't have any workforce at all, she will have to give a better deal. On the other hand, if she keeps the slaves, she can stall until people out here have no choice.

"I'm denying these people the chance to make a big show of their mercy. Atravain doesn't get to play hero at my expense."

"Funny, I could say something similar about you," said Sokar.

"Do and think what you want," said Tavish with a shrug. "I don't care. If this place stays open, I'll be sending a lot of Furbearers and slaves through here. If it doesn't, I'll find some other place to send them. And people there might be willing to pay me. It's your choice, Sokar."

"What do you want for this favor?" asked Sokar. "Or is this goodwill?"

"Call it balancing the books," said Tavish. "I owe you for backstabbing, so I'm giving you a lifeline. I'm doing it because you are now a threat, and I can get back at an enemy by paying you back. There's no difference between the two. One gesture expects another.

"If you want it to be a favor, put me in contact with Rius. He's holding a shipment I need to verify."

Tanith nodded. "...I could get in contact with Farwa and Kata. Hiding something like this from him would be acting in bad faith. But Rius is done. Lilas has probably already left the city by now, and Rius doesn't get it."

"Fine," said Tavish. "Then I'll work directly with Farwa. I've had more out of this than I bargained for already. Good luck."

Tavish turned and walked off. Tanith and Sokar moved back.

"We're done with Rius," said Tanith.

"You're done with Rius, Tanith; I can't afford to pick a fight," said Sokar.

"I don't need you for this," said Tanith.

Then she drew up an amulet she had at her neck. It was a hammer, a symbol of Kreshlak Kusher had given her. She'd carried it all through Khasmir, though she wasn't sure why. Elranor was her god.

Well, it didn't matter anymore. Kusher would like what came next.

Both of them would want the same thing here.

So Tanith talked out of the former slaver compound, not bothering to put on her armor. Taking her swords, she walked straight to Lord Rius' house and halted outside.

"Lord Rius," said Tanith. "Is no longer Lord of Ascorn.

"He has forfeit that privilege by his crimes against the King and the people! He has publically shown scorn for Harlenor and the Gods! He works with foreigners and insults and belittles loyal allies!

"He has allowed the plague to spread through the streets. As of this moment, I declare Lord Rius under arrest!"

Dead silence and Farwa rushed up, looking very beautiful and panicked. "Tanith, you're deranged! You can't make this kind of statement in front of a crowd. And you don't have the authority-"

"I don't care if a crowd is present," said Tanith. "Rius is their enemy, as he is mine. And he is yours if you are really a Paladin.

"We've been trying to piece this place together. And Rius has done nothing but undercut us!

"Not once has he gone on a ship and attacked the enemies of Harlenor! Not once has he aided in the recruitment. All he's done is meet with merchants, plotting how to feast on one corpse or another. He and every other spoiled, entitled brat who dares to call themselves a noble!

"This is unworthy of nobility. Fighting men are thrown onto the streets and forced to serve common criminals. The priests of the temples cared nothing for their flock. They are delegating to mercenaries. A common, fat imbecile like Reg Hawkthorne took Antion's most important port. And yet, the nobility has done nothing.

"This is a disgrace!"

"Tanith, stop this!" said Kata coming.

None of the people were defending him, and murmurs of agreement could be heard.

"Stop what?!" roared Tanith. "The plague that has spread to Haldren by Rius' merchant friends while he refuses to honor his pledge to you? The bandits who stalk the roadways bearing seals of royal approval?!

"The spread of foreign gods in blatant violation of the God Triumvirate?"

"You're wearing a symbol of Kreshlak at your neck," said Farwa.

Tanith looked down and saw it glowing. "What of it? A symbol of Coinfurth is all around us!" said Tanith. "Symbols of Zigildrazia dance as prostitutes in every bar! It's too late to stop any of it!" And she saw Rius with Suran at his side and many armed men. It was Rius' personal guard. "And it's all because of you, you selfish, self-serving bastard!"

Dead silence.

"Who rules here?" asked Rius with a smile. "Tanith Telus? Or Lord Rius?"

Rius seemed disappointed when no one said anything.

"No one!" said Tanith in return. "Satyrs are stalking the roadways and mobilizing near the Black Mountain! Criminals warrant personal meetings with royalty! And loyal servants are left on the street to die! Great warriors are scorned in favor of merchants who play tyrant to better men than them!"

"You have no authority here, Tanith," said Farwa. "Rius' authority comes from King Andoa."

"King Andoa would agree with me," said Tanith, the laughter in her head fading. "King Andoa loves his people! Apparently, he is the only one. Tell me, Farwa, has Lord Rius told you about his arrangement with Baron Hawkthorne?

"The one involving Reg."

"There was no such arrangement," said Suran suddenly. "I was at the Castle of Lady Atravain, where we discussed our response. Baron Hawkthorne had received no such arrangement and did not intend to ask for them. He deemed it impossible.

"I remember William tried to convince Hawkthorne to soften his viewpoint. But he said that Reg had already been sent to Neral Dinis to end the feud." He looked to Rius, who cringed. "Lord Rius, you must forgive her. She is manic, overworked from strain; I have seen many such men in this state of late.

"Lord Rius." The laughter continued. Laughter from all around while the amulet blazed.

Dead silence.

"You lying bastard," said Farwa. "You sent a captive noble into the hands of a vampire!"

"He was a disgrace to his rank!" said Rius.

"So are you," said Farwa hotly. "You have now all but paid tribute to one of the darkest powers in this world. I cannot defend this, not on top of everything the Lady Telus has cited."

"It does not matter what you defend," said Rius. "My power derives from the King and is absolute. You have no authority! You serve at my beck and call, and I order you out of my city at once!"

No. Not this time.

"Vendetta," said Tanith, raising a hand to point. "I invoke the right of vendetta.

"Lord Rius, you have betrayed your people to foreign influences. You have given the enemies of Harlenor free reign. You used your Master as a shield to pursue personal profit. You have left your post on the battlefield vacant.

"But worst of all, you have refused to allow me to attend meetings that concern my house. Meetings with merchants from Haldren. Even as you cite the danger of the spreading the plague to cheat my friends, Kata and Sokar, of their rightful due.

"I challenge you to single combat."

"Tanith," said Suran. "The laws of Antion-"

"No longer exist," said Tanith. "This man has destroyed them. Him and those like him."

"By whose authority?" asked Rius with a smirk.

"The people are my authority," said Tanith.

Absolute silence.

"The people?!" said Rius, staring at them.

"Are they not more than empty vessels for your profit!" said Tanith. "You are a coward!"

"This is absurd," said Rius. Then he turned to the armored men of his personal guard. "I am the Lord of this place. Kill her."

"You cannot murder nobility!" said Farwa.

Men with spears moved forward en mass, and Farwa went for her blade. But Tanith raised a hand for her to stop. On came the spears, and then Tanith stepped aside, grabbed his spear under one armpit, and threw them to one side. Then, smashing one of the armored men aside, she moved aside from another. Then she caught the man through the visor. The blade pierced right through, and she pulled the spear from the next.

Turning, she stabbed it through the two who had fallen. Then she ducked under a stab and drew a dagger from her opponent's belt. Jabbing it through her enemy's visor, she watched blood pour out. Spinning away, she feigned to grasp her swords as they attacked her.

Kicking off the wall, she leaped over them. Then she snapped the neck of one and slashed another with his own dagger. Grabbing a corpse before it fell, she hurled it at another enemy, who fell back with a crunch and lay still. One man came at her with a sword, but Tanith moved aside from him, backing away. Finally, he struck, but Tanith stepped aside, and his sword was broken on the wall. Pulling it out, she jammed the blade into his visor and let him fall. Two men were hanging back, and one hurled his spear. Catching it in midair, Tanith turned around and hurled it back. It went between the gap in his helmet as the last one stared in horror.

Throwing down his sword, he ran away, screaming at the top of his lungs. Tanith got him in the back with a dagger.

"That's for cowardice," said Tanith. And she turned to Rius, who tried to flee but found the crowd before him. "Face me, Rius."

"Champion!" said Rius. "I need a champion!"

The people laughed and jeered at him, and some threw things.

Suran stepped forward. "I will face her in the name of the King."

"Stand down, Suran," said Farwa. "That is an order."

"Lady Farwa," said Suran. "Someone must stand for Lord Rius in this. This action is illegal. I cannot allow a Lord of Ascorn to be killed."

Suran drew his swords.

Now, this was what Tanith had been waiting for. Her blades were out in an instant, and they squared off.

"You would face her in armor," said Farwa. "She without? I will not-"

Tanith sprang forward toward Suran, relishing the challenge, and they dueled. They fought back and forth and around, swords glinting as they moved in a blur. Suran proved the more methodical fighter, but Tanith's mania was on her. Fighting faster and faster, she attacked, and he matched her.

He was good.

Very good.

Tanith drove him back, but he maneuvered around, and she realized she'd found an equal at last. Raynald had always been too far above her, and William had always been a bit behind. Now, however, she fought with mania and relish, as Suran appreciated the battle in turn.

He was amazing.

By a long shot, his skill with a blade was like nothing she'd seen. Yet, no one said a word as the crowd stared at the duel between them.

"You missed your calling, Suran," said Tanith. "You should have been a berserker of Kreshlak. You could have gone far."

"My calling is here," said Suran. "Serving the laws of Antion." And passing one another, Tanith felt a wound open on her arm. Turning, her blade rang against Suran's arm, and he fell to one knee. Another blow caught him on the helm, but he got her across the leg. A slight, faint wound, but Tanith smiled.

This was a new experience for both of them.

And then Suran lunged forward and shoved her aside. "Lord Rius-"

A crossbow bolt passed over his shoulder and bounced off the cobblestones. "Get out of my way, Suran! I'm going to finish this hound!"

"The rules of single combat-" began Suran.

"Do not apply!" said Rius. "I am above the law! My power over this city is absolute! I cannot be prosecuted, questioned, or countermanded in any way! No god or King or lawman has the right to put me on trial!

"Not a trial by arms or a trial by my peers! You dare to speak to me, you ill-born brat! You are my property!"

"Lord Rius," said Suran. "No one is above the law. Especially the nobility-"

Without a word, Rius shot him through the heart. Then, kicking him down, he drew his own sword and moved toward Tanith, who was getting up. "You will not take my power from me!"

And brought the sword down. But Tanith lunged up and caught his hands, turning the sword in midair and stabbing it into the ground. And for the first time, she thought she might have gone a little far. "Lord Rius, calm yourself.

"You are no match for a trained fighter-"

Rius spat in her face and drew a dagger to plunge it at her heart. Tanith knocked the blade, but he drew it out and slashed at her throat. Tanith stepped back and raised one of her swords, though her blood was flowing copiously.

Looking out at the bodies of the men she had killed, she wondered if Lord Rius had cared about them. What of it? Tanith had killed many men, most of them Calishan. And these men were Rius' personal guard. They were as much responsible for this as he was, yet they were still Harlenorian.

How had it come to this?

"Ill bred bitch! Breeding mongrel of the uncouth Haldrenians!" said Rius. "Your violent and useless heritage is nothing to me!"

Throwing aside her weapon, Tanith knew she would not need it. "Stand down, Rius. You only disgrace yourself."

It was all too late now.

However, as Rius came forward, Sokar leaped before him and grabbed the knife. He turned the knife around. Rius' gaze became terrified, screaming and howling. Little by little, Sokar turned the blade to him, and Tanith almost raised a hand to stop him.

No.

This was Sokar's choice and moment. If ever there would be an occasion to kill nobility, now was it.

The blade sank deep, and Rius howled screaming and blubbing like the immature child he was, as Sokar pressed him to the dirt. Sokar forced him down, pressing him low as Rius' breathed his last in terror. Tanith found herself sick, even as Farwa finished healing Suran and did the same to her.

The crowd went wild. Surging forward, they grabbed Rius' corpses and began to rip it apart with glee as though devils grasping his soul. A similar scene was likely playing out in hell.

"I have killed Harlenorians," said Tanith to herself as cheers echoed from the crowds.

"I have killed Harlenorians," said Tanith as Farwa healed Suran and then her.

"I have killed Harlenorians," said Tanith as drinks were handed out.

Rius had deserved it; she was defending herself from his men. They had attacked her many at a time, and then he'd cheated in the duel. Why did she care?

Did she feel sorry for Rius?

No.

Soon Tanith found herself nursing a drink. Why could not enjoy this as others? So she wondered as she drank, thinking to herself.

"Because we're not any better than him in the end," said Suran, looking depressed.

"No, we are better than him," said Tanith. "It's an objective fact. We have tried to do something about all this. Rius never did."

Suran paused. "So why?"

"I think I'm at peace," realized Tanith. "For the first time in my life, I feel... good."

"Are you going to stop killing people?" asked Farwa.

"It's my job," said Tanith. "And really, it's what I'm good at and what I enjoy. I guess I'll try to become more selective in my violence. I've got time, maybe get married to William or something."

"It's the logical match," said Farwa. "Judging from the celebrations, the people of this town were as frustrated with him as you. I planned to write a very negative report to Lord Dunmoore and King Andoa.

"Some sort of action would have been taken. King Andoa has stripped men of their titles before. Oh, Lilas and Anborn both departed about an hour ago. The meeting was brief indeed."

"So what happens now?" asked Tanith.

"Rius had no children," said Farwa. "And he spent almost no time with women. Ascorn will have to be awarded to someone who distinguished themselves."

"No hard feelings then?" asked Tanith.

"A few," said Farwa. "But there has been a rumor that his grace King Andoa is soft. The execution of Rius should quell those rumors."

At that moment, Imogen appeared. "Hey, it's me. Imogen.

"Suran, how'd you like to work for the High Priest."

That was over quick.