CHAPTER 94

When Sasaki stepped off the gangplank onto the docks of Aston, the Port Authority guards eyed her with suspicion.

"Don’t worry; I paid the fare this time." She spat sardonically. They met this sally with a heft of their spears and a hard-eyed glare before turning away.

Sasaki looked up at the port city of Aston and her mouth twisted. The city didn’t have many good memories for her. The last time she was here, she’d been caught trying to stow away aboard one of the ships bound for the Yamato islands and was subsequently jailed.

Katarina had gotten her out of jail, but... she hadn’t been happy about it. Everything about this city was tainted with the memory of her disappointment and self-loathing; getting caught by dock guards was one thing; getting released by the Witch Hunter only deepened her sense of shame.

Katarina. Casually headstrong, noble, unwavering loyalty to those she considered her friends; utterly indifferent and ignorant of the shame she'd forced on Sasaki.

Sasaki fetched a sigh that seemed to begin below her sandals.

"Haven’t you corrected me for such behavior?" A young woman asked curiously from behind her. Sasaki turned and eyed her interlocutor, who was gracefully and delicately stepping down from the gangplank with all the poise of someone that had been raised at court.

"I have a long road ahead of me, Kuroyuki." Sasaki replied simply. "I’m not looking forward to it."

Kuroyuki, looking only a few years younger than Sasaki herself, settled herself beside the cranky swordswoman. Kuroyuki’s robes were immaculate black, with a black on yellow sash. Sasaki herself wore her gray kimono and black hakama. Where Kuroyuki’s dress would have been fine at any Imperial court, Sasaki wore her clothes loosely, reminiscent of a street tough.

"Besides," Sasaki added, "I don’t have fond memories of this place."

"Perhaps then it would be best to secure allies, mother." Kuroyuki replied. Sasaki’s mouth twisted at this appellation. Mother.

"Here? How?" Sasaki asked, and shouldered her sword. She still hadn’t had the thing finished. In a way though, she was glad it was unfinished. It seemed to fit her style of doing things. A Yamato blade was forged carefully, the scabbard lacquered and adorned with clan regalia. Her own scabbard was plain wood, undecorated. Her blade didn’t even have a proper handguard. Fitting, since she no longer had a family or a nation to return to. Hanging from a hole drilled into the wooden pommel was a long chitinous spine, a trophy from a small adventure she’d shared with Katarina not far from here.

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"Let’s go."

Sasaki adjusted her bundles, glanced at Kuroyuki, and moved down the dock. As she approached the jumbled mess of inns, shops, whores cribs, and hells typical of any dock, a carriage with four guards on horseback pulled up. The curtains were drawn, so neither Sasaki nor Kuroyuki could see the passenger. The carriage door opened into darkness, and a voice called out to Sasaki, strangely familiar.

"Come inside, Sasaki. I’ll take you to the church."

Sasaki eyed Kuroyuki, who inclined her chin just slightly. Taking that as acceptance, Sasaki approached the carriage. The voice then addressed the guards.

"Help them with their luggage, if you please. Sasaki can keep her sword."

Sasaki and Kuroyuki stepped inside the carriage, where a young Yamato woman in a silvery-white kimono rested.

"It’s been some time, Sasaki." The girl offered. Her eyes were red and seemed to catch the light and glow like coals.

"I don’t think I know you." Sasaki replied. The carriage lurched into motion, and Sasaki steadied herself with a hand against the side of the carriage.

"You barely passed each other last time. Katarina freed you, and I lent you the use of my bath." The Yamato girl offered. "I am Hasegawa Araya, by the way."

"Sasaki." The Yamato swordswoman offered by way of introduction, and then added, "Apprentice Witch Hunter to Katarina."

Araya smiled at that. "You'll definitely need allies, then. Katarina is dear to me; I will extend you the same courtesy." the seer offered, and then eyed Kuroyuki, a faint line appeared between Araya’s brows. "What are you?"

Kuroyuki raised an eyebrow. "I’m Sasaki’s daughter, Kuroyuki."

Araya glanced at Sasaki, and then back at Kuroyuki. "If... you say so." She replied simply, and then turned to Sasaki. "You're new to this, so you should be prepared for..." Araya trailed off for a moment, her eyes going back to Kuroyuki. "Bureaucratic resistance."

"I'll bite: What sort of resistance are we talking about?" Sasaki offered.

"It's good that you're so quick. First, your should present yourself before Gared Grimaldus. He's the representative of the Arm of the Sword here in Aston. Win him over, and you've secured ..." She trailed off for a moment, "the claim that you're Justicar Witch Hunter Katarina's Apprentice." She stressed the word slightly.

"Claim." Sasaki repeated flatly.

"A great deal has happened while you were away from Hesperia, Sasaki." Araya replied. "You see, Katarina has been declared Annointed, Blessed, and an Apostle of the Golden Lady." She paused for a moment, "And she is dead."