An hour later, Yuzuruha had successfully brought me to the Travelers’ District. Yuzuruha took me to a tavern near the market towers frequented by mercenaries, which was getting pretty lively based on the large crowd inside. The tavern had no wall between the interior and exterior seating areas, nor windows. There were cloth-draped tables with cushions that required one to be kneeling or sitting cross-legged throughout the interior.
Alverd and the others were sitting at one of the indoor tables with plates of food, and when they saw us, Alicia got up and ran over.
“You wand-waving whacko, do you have any idea how worried we were?” She punched me in the shoulder, and it did hurt a little. I was about to make a retort when I could see that her eyes were somewhat red. Dear gods, had she been crying over me?
Alverd de-escalated the situation in his usual manner by exerting calmness and putting his hands on both of our shoulders. “Now, now, Alicia. I’m sure Kuro has a good explanation for why he’s been missing for the last three hours.” He gave me a neutral yet meaningful look. “Alicia was very concerned, Kuro. We’re aware there are Legionnaires in the city, and when she found out she ran out to look for you.”
She stared at the floor, wringing her hands. “I-It wasn’t like I was worried. Kuro can take care of himself. I-I just know that Legionnaires fight dirty, so I wanted to make sure you weren’t getting your arse beat in an alleyway or something.” She finally folded her arms in a huff.
Real convincing. You got me completely fooled. Alverd ran his hand through her hair, and her cheeks turned bright red. Her expression melted into one of smug self-satisfaction as she nearly purred like a kitten. “I just know that if you lost your best friend, it would hurt a lot, Alverd. So I wanted to make sure he was still kicking, that's all.”
I rolled my eyes mentally. I don’t know what’s weirder, that she did this to get brownie points with him, or if she was really worried that I’d get gutted by a Legionnaire. Honestly? I’d bet the latter. She’s not Sheena. I guess I should still be grateful though.
“Thanks, Alicia. I appreciate it.” She blinked at me seemingly in disbelief, but when she saw that I was giving her a chance to get out of the discussion, she cleared her throat loudly. “Ahem. Where were you anyway?”
After we had seated ourselves at the table, Yuzuruha spoke up. “Oh, I found yer friend in the Red Lantern District about to get thumped by some of those punk Legionnaires.” She laughed then swatted me on the back hard enough for me to nearly lose my footing. “Lucky fer him, he ended up near Fei’s house. Even if I hadn’t come along, she woulda taken ya in long enough ta help ya out.”
“Fei?” I asked. “The cat woman who was hittin’ ya up. A lot of the guys in my merc outfit go to her place when they’re not on the job. The Cradle. I figured I’d go ask her if she’d seen you around, let some of the other girls in the District know to keep an eye out fer ya. Also, Fei don’t take shit from nobody, as you saw. She probably woulda scratched that tin man’s eyes out if she thought you were really in trouble.”
“Good to know.” At that point, Alverd finally addressed the elephant in the room. “Kuro, how did you end up in the Red Lantern District in the first place?” I swear the way Alicia and Sheena’s eyes turned into lifeless lumps of coal when he said that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Yes, Kuro. How did that happen?” Sheena asked, her voice sweet when her face was anything but.
“Look,” I started, but then Yuzuruha leaned on the table. “Hell, poor kid probably lost his way and started following the signs. Believe it or not, most of the streets here are designed to funnel people one way or another. Some hoohah about the way the city was built. Somebody smarter ‘an me once told me that the city was built outward from the Standin’ Stone, by architects who knew what they were doin’. Wouldn’t surprise me if they also built it ta make sure people found their way to the brothels easily enough.”
Taking the opening she’d given me, I built upon it. “I got distracted by some of the scenery and when I turned around, you guys were gone. I went down a few streets, but didn’t find you. I tried to ask for directions, but ended up getting lost anyway. Eventually, I saw the red lanterns and figured I could ask someone there for help.” I looked at everyone’s faces to gauge whether they thought I was being truthful or not.
For the most part, everyone seemed to buy it. When I looked over at Yuzuruha, however, her eyes were sharp and looking straight through me. I gulped. Alverd’s made that face before. It means you-and-I-are-going-to-talk-later. Problem is I think Yuzuruha wouldn’t hesitate to beat it out of me if she thought I was withholding anything from her.
Then her face lightened up and she waved at a barmaid in a stained red robe trying to make her way in between a pair of tables packed with mercenaries. “Hey, another round for my friends here! Put it on the Noble Wolves’ tab.” There was a raucous round of laughs and whistles from the gathered mercs, and the poor waitress nodded and made her way back towards the bar.
Alverd watched the girl maneuver through a crowd of drunk merrymakers before turning back to Yuzuruha. “So you’re still with the Noble Wolves? I thought you were going to strike out on your own.”
She leaned back in her chair, a somber look on her face. “Y’all remember my younger siblings, Alverd? All five of them?” He nodded. “They left. The eldest of them decided she was tired of me makin’ all the decisions, so she took the kids and skedaddled.”
Oh, shit. I put my hand on her shoulder. “That’s horrible. How long ago was that?” She sniffled, trying not to show how it was affecting her. “A year back. I did the only damn thing that made sense after they left. I dove headfirst down a bottle and tried ta’ figure out what I did to make them wanna leave.” She grabbed her flagon and downed it, which was impressive seeing as how it was filled with whiskey so strong I could almost feel it burning my stomach from just watching her. “Took a while. And a lot of bottles.”
She finished, belched, and then slammed the flagon back on the table. “Anyway, one day I stumble into the guild headquarters in Blossom City lookin’ fer a job, an’ I trip on goddamn somethin’. An’ when I looked up, there was this white-haired angel and his younger sister lookin’ down at me, and they helped me up.” Her eyes went a little dreamy for a second. “Roland and Alouette. Used to be riflemen in the Margloomian Forgeborn Army. Now they’re part of the Wolves. Me an’ Roland are together too, for just under a year.” She gave a very deep and contented sigh, like someone smitten at first sight.
Then she shook her head and broke out of her little daze. “So, it weren’t in the cards fer me ta’ uproot myself. The three of us have been livin’ in my home in Blossom City, and we’re trying ta’ do the best we can, given everythin’. Not so easy given what’s been happenin’ lately.”
Alicia scowled. “Indeed. The presence of Legionnaires says that something is very wrong, or that it’s about to be. Death follows them wherever they go, and no Legionnaire was ever known for keeping a measured hand on his blade.” Yuzuruha huffed. “Yeah, but thing is, trouble came ta’ our neck o’ tha’ woods before those maniacs showed up. Group callin’ themselves the Divernian Swords.”
Something sparked in the back of my mind, an old feeling that usually heralded bad news. Where have I heard that name before? I wracked my brain furiously. In a flash, I recalled the knowledge.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“It’s a reference to the Five Kings, isn’t it?” A few mercs at some of the nearby tables stopped their conversations and were openly staring in our direction after Yuzuruha name dropped the Swords. A quick glance at their guild affiliations, worn openly on their armor, however, confirmed they were also Noble Wolves like her. The emblem of a seated wolf howling at a crescent moon was present somewhere on every single merc in the tavern, which actually made me feel better. Good. These are her people. If there’s trouble, they’ll rally with us.
Sheena adjusted her glasses. “Divernia was the name of the temple the Ishratans built at the command of the King of Fire, correct? And then later, where the ritual was conducted by the Five Kings to bring about the end of the world?”
Yuzuruha nodded. “Yup. That’s how the old records say it went down. The guards who stood watch over the temple were known as Swords, so the name is a pretty obvious tip o’ the hat to those bastards. These modern Swords, they’re bastards in their own right.”
The waitress returned, placing our drinks on the table from a precariously balanced tray she had propped against her shoulder. “Here you go. Try not to spill anything, it doesn’t wash out.” Judging by the many brown colored stains on her robe, I decided to take her word for it. I took a flagon of mead (the honey would mask the taste of the alcohol) and took a sip. Alicia took her drink and downed it in one go. When she put the flagon down, a white stripe was left on her lips. She looked at me grumpily.
“What? It’s milk. You really want me to drink something that will make it harder for me to control my temper?” She wiped her face petulantly as I stifled a snicker.
A loud hiccup across the table drew everyone’s attention. Sheena had her hand held up to her mouth. “Sorry.” She hiccuped again. “This might be a bit too strong for my constitution.” She pushed the half full flagon across the table. Based on the smell, it was probably ale. She made a crude sound that was a mixture of burp and hiccup, and her face turned slightly green. “It might be some time before I can drink something like that with any kind of gusto.”
Alverd took his flagon of ale and drained half with a steady, paced gulp. “With many things, the key is moderation. You needn’t push yourself.” He took some silver coins out of his pocket, but Yuzuruha shook her head.
“Don’t even think about it. Tonight’s my treat. And I’m more n’ happy ta’ put ya up in my place fer a bit when we get back. I’ll introduce ya’ to Roland and Lou.”
She took another swig of her whiskey. “Right, so about a few months ago this group of shady sorts comes in from out of nowhere. Start hittin’ caravans and traders passin’ in between the cities here in Kierhai. Gets to be a real problem, so all of a sudden mercs like me are in high demand. We got hit during a job to bring some weapons and medical supplies to Standing Stone, and during the fight we managed to take one of these idiots alive.”
“Goddamn cultists is what they are. Spoutin’ off about how the Kings aren’t dead, just waitin’ fer their chance to come back and rule the world they almost destroyed. Gotta be messed in the head if ya wanna help bring back the nutjobs that nearly killed everyone in the world jus’ cause they all wanted ta’ have a giant staff measuring contest with the universe at stake.” Sheena blushed heavily across the table, obviously put off by Yuzuruha’s colorful language.
“So I’m beating this guy over the head and he tells us everythin’. Mostly about some heist his group is plannin’ in the near future. Apparently his little book club wants this artifact that’s currently holed up in Blossom City. Somethin’ about killin’ gods or crap like that. As if things like that actually exist.”
Alarms started ringing in my head. “You mean like a weapon?” I ventured.
“I dunno, after that the guy bit his goddamn tongue off and refused to talk. Lunatics, every one of ‘em. My squad turned that guy over ta’ the authorities and that was the end of it. Next thing I knew, we had Legionnaires demanding entry to our city.”
Alicia chimed in. “When did that happen?”
Yuzuruha scratched her chin, deep in thought. “Think it was about a month and a half ago. Whole group of these dragon riders landed outside and wanted to speak to the man in charge of Standin’ Stone, the Steadfast. Took three hours of tense negotiation before a select group of Legionnaires were allowed in to accompany their general.”
Alicia leaned forward. “A general? There were only three active officers with that rank when I… I mean, last time I heard about it. Did you catch a name?”
Yuzuruha took a deep breath. “Uhhh, hm. Think it was Guun? No, too short. Oh, Guunzel! General Guunzel. Big scary bastard who looked like he’d turn his own momma in for a pat on the head from his king if he thought the old bitch had magic.”
I watched as the color drained from Alicia’s face. That’s something I’ve never seen before. Normally she’s not the type to let fear show. Alverd nudged Alicia. “Who’s General Guunzel?”
She swallowed, then answered nervously. “Somebody my father didn’t want anywhere but on the eastern front where he could slaughter mages by the dozens. His name isn’t well known because my father didn’t want the other countries to know the kind of atrocities he was committing. Anything you’ve heard the Legion accused of doing? He’s not the one who established the doctrines, but he did write a series of treatises on how to execute them to the fullest extent.”
Great, a mass murderer who fancies himself a philosopher. Next you’ll tell me he’s a poet, too. Sheena lifted her head out of her hands for a second to chime in, her face still the picture of sickness. “I’ve heard of him. He was practically the bogeyman among the noble elite of Algrustos. He’s the quintessential picture of what we thought was the typical Ishmarian. His methodology was the reason why Algrustos has spent so long circulating propaganda across Selarune regarding the Legion.”
Alicia’s head swiveled to face her. “You really did that?”
Sheena shook her head, slowly. “The Magisters’ idea. Best way to build popular support for your cause is to dehumanize your enemy. The idea that your enemy was one that threatened you because they didn’t understand concepts like empathy or compassion has a great way of uniting people behind a singular thought, like ‘Ishmarians are all mindless barbarians’. The Magisters started the practice before I was old enough to crawl.”
There was the sound of a throat clearing. “As I was sayin’, big scary black armor guy comes into the city and wants to meet with the Emperor. The Steadfast agrees to arrange a meetin’, but only if the bulk of Guunzel’s men stay here in Standin’ Stone and behave themselves. It’s been a few weeks since the General left his soldiers here, and in the time since they’ve made asses of themselves with the populace.”
“They pick fights with everyone around. Idiots seem ta’ think diplomatic immunity extends ta’ them too. It don’t. They also think they’re so tough nobody will mess with them. There have already been a few standoffs with the local authorities and some mercs. Nobody has been killed but a few people got roughed up on both sides. Worst was when a Legionnaire started beatin’ a mage in the street. Six mercs jumped on him to save the mage and left the lizard boy near death.”
She waved to the waitress for another drink. “Legionnaires wanted blood for that. The Steadfast proclaimed that the Legion was out of line and that any further tomfoolery would have them expelled from Standin’ Stone. Yer lucky I came along when I did, Kuro. Those guys probably remember what happened to that other schmuck and were gonna take it out on ya.”
They can get in the bloody queue with all the other people who want a go at me. “I guess it would be in our best interest to move on to Blossom City at first light, then. No need to stick around when the Legionnaires know my face.” Typical. I haven’t been in the city for a day and already I’ve got people who want to kill me. Same shit, different country I guess.
Sheena made another hiccup-burp sound and went facedown on the table. “Urrrrgh. How do you people live like this?” She mumbled. “I don’t like this. It’s like I have butterflies in my stomach, but made of fire that wants to come out my mouth.”
Yuzuruha laughed. “Well excuse us, princess. Next time we’ll pull out the lace doilies fer’ ya and serve champagne. Y’all are okay to come back with me and my gang. We can make room fer’ ya on my wagon. I don’t like leaving ya alone on the road after what happened.”
Alverd again tried to bring out his coin pouch. “We’re grateful, Yuzuruha. If there’s anything we can do to repay you…”
She pushed his hand away. “Stow that, yer gonna need it. Y’all can make it up ta’ me by doin’ some housework or sumthin’.” Her drink was put down on the table by the overworked waitress, and she scooped it up. “Might be best if you bunk in the Noble Wolves’ encampment tonight. Don’t like the idea of you out in the wind with all these tin men walkin’ around.”
I sighed in relief. “Thanks. I know my bones appreciate it.” I took another draw from my own flagon, finishing the rest of my mead. “Now, some grub and unwinding and then I think I’m ready for bed. It’s been a long day.” I leaned back, stretching my arms. When I leaned forward again, however, Alicia was looking past me toward the tavern entrance.
“Sorry, Kuro. But it looks like that day isn’t over yet.”
Cautiously, I followed her eyes. Standing at the entrance to the tavern were two Legionnaires. They were scanning the crowd who were looking back at them. One of the Legionnaires spied Yuzuruha, and pointed at her. I saw that he was one of the men she’d left in the street back in the Red Lantern District, only now he had an ugly purplish black mark on his face where her club had impacted it. “There’s the bitch! I’m gonna tan your hide when I get over there!”
He moved forward, but the three Wolves sitting at the table closest to him stood up in unison with a motion so fluid that their silver-colored iron armor didn’t even make a sound. A second later, every other Wolf in the establishment was on their feet, thirteen armored men and women now ready to throw hands. The bartender and waitress looked at each other and ducked behind the bar.
Yuzuruha leaned back in her chair, a gigantic shit-eating grin on her face. “Oh yeah? You and what army, lizard boy?”
The second Legionnaire who had a crude brace around his neck fashioned from overlaid strips of thick cloth whistled. A total of fifteen Legionnaires shuffled into view on the street outside, their polished black armor on full display in the low light of the paper lanterns hanging over them. Yuzuruha and I had the same thought at the same time, voicing it simultaneously.
“Well, shit.”