Sammy watched the two men leave with mixed feelings. She muttered, “So, I wonder who that interloper was anyway.” She angled a look at her companion, but Gypsa just stared at the ground a short distance in front of her. She decided to ignore the matter, just like she was actively ignoring a lot of other important stuff. “Anyway, Gypsa.” Sammy waited for the girl to glance at her. “Do you know why I’m helping you?”
The girl stiffened, but then shook her head, her eyes returning to the ground in front of her.
Sammy let out a big sigh and stared back up at the stars. A lot of them had disappeared as the dawn approached, but there were still a few. “Me neither.”
Gypsa gasped, straightening her slumped shoulders and staring hard at Sammy.
Sammy leaned her face towards the girl, though still kept her head angled back. “That got your attention, huh.” She grinned. “Well, it is partly true, partly not so true. The way that bastard was treating you ticks me off. Plus, it’s clear that the inn belongs to you. It is totally not happy with having him in charge.”
Sammy stood up abruptly and rounded on Gypsa. Planting her hands on her hips while standing directly in front of the startled girl, she said, “Okay, I guess I have to accept things and do my best, or people like you will continue to suffer needlessly.” Sammy glared at Gypsa, who shrank back a little. “I shall now introduce myself, but you are forbidden from calling me anything other than Sammy, got it?”
Gypsa stared at the strangely intense girl standing in front of her with her hands on her hips as if arguing. “Um, o, okay?”
“You better remember that.” Sammy took a deep breath, and then another one. “I am the new contracted no, nob, er, dammit, curse jar, damn. I am the ar, arch . . . . Saying it is way hard. Anyway, I can and will light your common flame for the Redoubt if you will promise that you will care for the inn, its employees, customers and such, and promise to be my friend.”
Gypsa blinked, her confused expression very confused looking. “What are you talking about?”
Sammy slumped a little. She looked away and said in a pouty voice, “I’m saying that I’m Count Iona’s replacement. I contracted with all of his lands at the very least.”
Gypsa’s mouth fell open, then she barked a laugh, but then choked on it, her eyes going big. “Really?” Even though it was the most ludicrous thing she had ever heard, for some reason the girl was unreasonably sure Sammy was telling the truth. “That’s impossible.”
Sammy sighed and moved to sit next to the astonished girl. She then began retelling the events of the near past. “That stupid jerk tricked me,” Sammy growled as she spoke of the Count, but then continuing her tale of events inside the castle.
Hawk charged up to them breathing hard. He stared first at Gypsa, then at Sammy, then at Gypsa again before he spoke. “Gypsa, the inn’s going crazy. You have to come right now.”
Both girls stood up, but Sammy caught Gypsa’s arm. “Hold on for a moment. Please tell us what happened.”
“You caused this, didn’t you?” Hawk demanded, an ugly look crossing his face.
“Not really, but sorta?” Sammy shrugged. “You can say I allowed it, but the cause is more fairly traced to those who have wronged Gypsa here.” Sammy leaned forward. “Now, tell us what happened as we walk calmly back to the Redoubt.”
“We have to hurry,” Hawk began.
“No, we do not,” Sammy countered, “nor will we. And the longer you argue with me while we stand here, the longer it will be before we get back. Let’s walk.” Still keeping a firm hand on Gypsa’s arm, Sammy began walking calmly toward the inn. Hawk hesitated, but then fell in beside Gypsa, telling the two what he had witnessed.
Cries of fear came from the closed front doors to the Redoubt. Smoke billowed out of partially open windows. Banging thundered from the door and windows both as people tried to get out.
Sammy stopped several yards in front of the building and turned to Gypsa. “So, what is your answer?”
“Girl,” Hawk began, near the end of his patience.
“I will swear the oath,” Gypsa said. “I don’t know why, but I really do believe you.”
Sammy nodded. “Then let’s end this.” She paused and then grinned big, “Or perhaps better said, let’s get this started. I can hear the land’s desire for you, Gypsa.” Sammy turned to face the door, her hand coming up in front of her. A few moments later a light glyph blazed in bright glory. Striding forward, she slammed the door open and shouted in a mighty voice that shook the entire building, that quaked the very ground the foundation sat upon, “SILENCE.”
Abruptly the cries and pounding noises all stopped. Still in a loud voice, but not nearly as overpowering, Sammy continued, “Stand away from the doors.” Waiting but a brief moment, she sent her light glyph high into the room as she stepped through the doorway. “You will all return to your seats, now.”
The crowd in the dining room stared at Sammy with gaping mouths. As her gaze swept them to make eye contact, the disheveled customers and employees all began to sit where they were, whether on benches, tables or the floor.
“Gypsa,” Sammy said, holding out her left hand a little behind her. The inn girl stepped forward, grasping the offered hand. Sammy strode into the dining room, the seated people scooting out of her way desperately. Hawk followed behind several steps.
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Sammy stopped in front of Danas. “Mr. Danas, it has clearly been shown that this place, the Redoubt, has rejected you. I hereby sever any rights you have here.”
“You bitch,” the injured man snarled. “Hawk.”
“Hawk wont obey you,” Sammy said. “He lost the bet and will now stand against anyone who opposes me in what happens next.” Sammy walked away from the man who once controlled the inn, dragging Gypsa over to the large, unlit fire pit next to the dance floor. She stepped onto the pit wall, Gypsa obediently following. Sammy guided her to stand in the fire pit.
Sammy faced the girl and put her hands on her hips. She stared hard at Gypsa and said, “Gypsa, will you swear the oath?”
“I will,” Gypsa affirmed, the crowd beginning to murmur. “I Gypsa swear to care for this, the Redoubt, its customers and employees to the best of my abilities. I will be your friend forever, my lady Sammy.”
Sammy frowned. Why did they always slip in stuff like ‘my lady?’ She sighed, fairly certain of a sudden that she was fighting a losing battle in that arena.
Count Iona’s successor once more traced the simple pattern over her heart. New lines of power roared, sinking into her chest as they had done the first time. A small, lavender flame in front of Gypsa and she instinctively cupped it in both hands. As with the lighting of the five stones in the forest, Sammy’s full land contract lit in all its glory, even shining through her clothing. Her hair billowed, the pattern there as bright as the rest.
Sammy took a deep breath. She dreaded what she was about to do, but this was a time to act confident if there ever was one. “I, Sammy Micaea, Arch Duchess and successor of Count Iona’s contract, do accept your oath, Common Gypsa. From this day forward, this the Redoubt belongs to you and none shall have right or authority over you or it. In return for your oath, I return this oath - I shall strive to do right by you and yours. I shall be your friend to the end of time. If ever you need my help, you have but to ask.”
Sammy stepped down from the fire pit. “Okay Gypsa, now you need to choose its receptacle. The flame should tell you what’s best.” Even before Sammy finished, Gypsa was moving toward the kitchen door.
Danas moved to block the doorway, a broken bottle in his right hand. “Stop this right now,” he growled. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but.”
Sammy charged. Before the man could finish his sentence, she struck his right forearm, snapping it in two. Before he could register his injury, Sammy swept his feet from under him while grabbing his shirt and smashing him bodily into the floor. Still holding onto his shirt, she raised him over her head on the bounce and threw him across the room where he slammed sideways on the wall to fall to the floor with a thud.
Sammy blinked as she stared at the man’s crumpled body. Wow, so Dista was serious about that boost from the land. Scary . . . but seriously cool, right? She grinned for a split second, but then hopped onto the bar next to the kitchen door and scanned the room, her knife in hand. She dropped into a ready stance and growled, “Anyone else going to interfere with Common Gypsa?”
The room stared at her, eyes huge, mouths ajar. Not a sound did any make.
Tane stood at this moment, those around him flinching away as if just noticing him. Three others also stood, a man and two women, each armed with sword and pistol. Those three wore different styles of uniform, though the man’s matched the city guard’s garb.
Tane said, “I will not interfere, but I will witness the completion of this Common contract.” He smiled at Sammy, “If you will permit, of course, Arch Duchess.”
Sammy grimaced. She wanted to tell him not to call her that, but she had just stupidly spouted the title herself so could not quite make the words come out. Instead, she said, “I have no objections if you are not going to interfere.” She shifted her eyes to the threesome, curious who they were.
They in turn exchanged wary glances with Tane before saying anything, but then answered Sammy’s gaze. The shorter of the two women said “We will also witness the completion as well.”
Sammy cocked her head a little to the left and then shrugged. “Just don’t interfere. Gypsa, please hurry.”
The girl swallowed, clearly more nervous than she had been a moment previous. “Y, yes my lady.” She stepped carefully through broken glass and spilled liquor as she moved into the kitchen.
Sammy sighed to herself wearily as she hopped off the bar where the floor was still dry before following her newest common. Tane and the three city guardsmen followed her a moment later.
The Redoubt’s Common went straight to the ovens. Opening the bottom one, she inserted her hands into the opening. A moment later, flames flashed in the heating compartments of the stoves and ovens all. A startled cry came from the dining room at the same time as flames roared in the fire pit again, visible through the open door.
“Nice,” Sammy said. She could sense the change in the atmosphere. “Can you feel the difference?” she asked Gypsa with a grin.
Gypsa nodded, her eyes wide with wonder. Little chills and thrills raced up and down her spine making her want to burst into laughter. That sense of laughter colored her next words. “It’s exciting.”
Sammy laughed. “Good luck with it. That jerk cousin of yours won’t be able to steal this place now unless you bend over backwards to let him. Stand up for your rights, girl.” Sammy turned to the four witnesses, pointing at the man in the guardsman uniform. “You’re city guard, right?”
The man smiled uncertainly. “I am Captain Ulthic. This little lady is Admiral Valanse and she is Captain Thema.” He first indicated the smaller woman and then the taller one.
Sammy blinked. She pointed at each in turn, “Captain Ulthic in charge of the dogs, Admiral Valanse in charge of the wyrms, and Captain Thema in charge of the gulls?” Then she muttered more to herself than them, “Damn, why did it have to be the commanders? Ugh, shoot, curse jar again?”
The admiral actually laughed. “It seems you know of us already then.”
Sammy ran a hand through her hair nervously as she looked up at the ceiling for a moment. “Not specifically. Someone told me about you guys recently is all.”
“I see,” the admiral said, still smiling. “You have made an interesting claim, young woman.”
“Ah,” Tane said, inserting himself in the tiny pause after the admiral’s words. “And we can say provided quite the impressive proof of same.”
The admiral sighed and nodded. “That is true, Sir Tane. Miss Micaels, I believe?” She paused for a moment and Sammy nodded. “Miss Micaels, I humbly request that you come with us. I am quite certain the mayor would like to speak with you.”
Sammy nodded again. “I understand.” She moved over to the back door and opened it. Before anyone realized her intent she vanished into the back alley.
“Hey,” the admiral said, though she and everyone else remain planted in place, completely caught off guard.
Tane suddenly burst into laughter, slapping his knee. “I love it,” he managed to wheeze out.
The admiral clicked her tongue in irritation. “Will you assist us, Sir Tane?”
The man straightened, sobering some though amusement still danced in his eyes. “I decline. It is quite clear the girl is contracted with this land. I could tell that before I ever laid eyes on her. The land is downright giddy for fathoms and furlongs in all directions. As to whether she really is an arch duchess or something else does not matter at all. I have no intention of antagonizing the newly contracted successor of Count Iona.”
Tane turned to Gypsa. “Girl, you have many customers out there. Are you going to leave them hungry and thirsty?
Gypsa shook her head. After a moment’s more hesitation, she ran out into the dining room, excited for the first time since her parents had died and her nightmare had begun. In moments the Redoubt’s staff caught her excitement and began getting their customers settled and retaking orders.