Crane

Crane looked up just in time to block a swing from her attacker. She couldn’t make out the face, but that, of course, was a lesser concern than surviving. She darted out of the knife range, dancing on her heels, ready to dodge at the slightest movement.

“I’m not here to fight you,” Crane said, slowly circling the attacker. If she could avoid a fight, that would be best.

“You’re here for Ambassador Jasa, and thus I am here for her sake.”

Crane felt surprise stab her like a knife point. They knew. Somehow, someway. She forced her face to remain blank and smothered the surprise to dwell on later.

The less I give away, the better.

The attacker let out a laugh. It sounded like a woman, but Crane couldn’t tell because of the mask over her nose. “You Lowlanders are all the same. Telling me that they don’t have a quarrel with me. You must be slow to learn. Whenever you mess with a royal, you mess with me.”

“Pardon me if I’m wrong, but Ambassador Jasa isn’t a royal, is she?” Crane raised an eyebrow, trying to appear nonchalant. Inside, her heart nearly burst from her chest.

“No, but she-“

“Well then, since I’m not messing with royal, how about you leave?” Crane knew she shouldn’t bait the attacker like that, but she couldn’t help it. All her frustration and questions were pouring out into her attack.

The attacker- definitely a woman- laughed again, but the laugh was not a pleasant one. “I don’t think you should’ve gone down that path.”

Crane blocked another swing with her own long knife and attacked. The woman seemed surprised at Crane’s skill, a fact that Crane used to her advantage. She pressed harder, ears straining all the while for the sound of the carriage approaching.

Crane knocked the knife from the woman’s hand in one quick turn, snagging the second one from its sheath. She tossed them into the bushes and faced the woman again.

The woman’s eyes- all that Crane could see of her face- narrowed angrily. Crane was playing with fire, and she knew it. One wrong step and she was dead. She had to be absolutely perfect in her timing.

The woman threw a hook in her direction, but Crane easily avoided it, stepping out of range and backing the attacker up against a tree. Crane seized the chance and leaped forward, holding her knife against the attacker’s throat.

“Now-“ the rest of what she was going to say was lost in a blinding pain in her leg. She buckled, losing the grip on her knife, and fell to one knee, feeling blood run down her leg. No doubt the attacker had another knife hidden somewhere that she had pulled out.

Crane groped for her other knife as the attacker kicked hers into the bushes to join the others. She attacked in a blur of metal, and Crane barely got her blade up in time.

Why wouldn’t you expect that she had another one? She berated herself, blocking a slash. Vensgone royal wannabe.

Rysind protested loudly in her mind. She had flown to a tree, still camouflaged, and now begged to help.

No, if she sees you, I’m dead.

Rysind squawked, saying something about being dead anyways if she didn’t help.

Rysind, I said no.

Her concentration nearly broke as she talked to Rysind, and she ducked a slice that screamed over her head, probably meant to slit her throat.

This was pointless. If she hadn’t miscalculated, it’d be long over. Crane pressed forward in merciless strokes, gritting her teeth against the pain in her leg. She grabbed the woman’s wrist as she tried to bring her knife down and brought her knee up into the woman’s stomach, making her double over and gasp for breath.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Crane swung her fist, intending to deliver a knock out punch and finish the fight, but the woman- actually, Crane was starting to think it was a girl more her own age- managed to avoid it, and all Crane’s power left her open. The girl attacked with renewed vigor, pressing with all of her skill. Rysind trilled out warnings, and Crane managed to keep up with the fury of the attack somehow.

Finally they both stopped, panting, and stepped back.

“It’s no use,” Crane panted. “We’re evenly matched.”

The girl seemed flustered. “Maybe you know your way around a knife, but what about a sword?”

Crane felt cold fear pour through her, coating her insides with ice, even as red-hot adrenaline surged.

She had trained for this. She could do this.

“How like a traitorous royal,” she taunted. Let her get upset. She was more likely to make a mistake if she was acting on anger. “You use a sword against a knife.”

The girl’s eyes grew dark. “How like a Lowlander to taunt me.”

Crane spun and kicked with no warning, her foot connecting at the girl’s wrist, sending her sword flying and throwing the girl off balance.

Too late Crane realized her mistake. She came back around from the spin and buckled. She’d put all her weight on her bad leg. She hit the forest floor and tried to stop the dots that swam in her vision.

I’ve got to get up before-

But the girl was already on top of her, knife in hand.

Game over.

●●●

Creel

The girl was good, and Creel would be the first to admit it. She could respect an enemy who put up a fight. But she didn’t let her guard down as she lifted her knife to the girl’s throat.

Seeing her face had been a shock at first. It had to be a coincidence, right?

Right…

The girl struggled, then stilled, seeming to be listening to something, or someone.

That was weird…

Focus!

“I need your information,” Creel snapped. “And I suggest you cooperate.”

The girl winced and sucked in a breath, still winded from the fight. “You’re not going to get any information.”

“Oh, I think so.” Creel replied smoothly. Let her think she was good at this.

The girl’s face, looking so much like her own, frowned in concentration. Who was she listening to? And why can’t I hear it?

“What’s your name?” Creel demanded, somewhat unsettled by the girl’s behavior. The sooner this was done, the better.

The girl rolled her eyes. “Crane.”

Chances were, she was lying, but Creel didn’t push it. “Okay then, Crane. You are violating the law by attacking someone who is under the designated protection of the royals, order of Lord Fordenathrain Sorynna.”

“I didn’t violate anything,” Crane retorted.

“You-“ Creel hesitated. She was right, actually. Ambassador Jasa wasn’t even here, yet, and Creel had attacked first.

Way to go, Creel. You’re blowing it.

“You acknowledged to the fact that you were going after Ambassador Jasa, did you not?”

“Did I?” Crane challenged. “You inferred it and then attacked me. I never admitted anything.”

“But you-“

“Maybe I just took what you said and rolled with it.”

She had a point there.

What a wonderful spy you’re turning out to be! Creel berated herself.

The boy, something prodded. Find out who he is.

“Two days ago, a Lowlander boy attacked Lady Sheena at my banquet, the royal that I am charged fo protect. He escaped over the balcony railing and seemingly vanished into the garden.”

Crane shrugged. “So?”

Creel shoved her knife harder against Crane’s throat, making her flinch. “Who is he?” she demanded, half pleading. “He knew my name. There’s no way he could’ve known my name!”

“How should I know who a random Lowlander is? There’s hundreds of us.”

“Because you must. There’s no good reason for you not to know.”

Crane nodded. “True… but maybe I’m just a healer in a secluded place who doesn’t get out much.”

“And maybe you’re not. So who is he?” Creel clenched the knife hilt so hard that her knuckles went white. “If you don’t tell me, I will personally go through the Lowlands, person by person, until I find him and get answers.”

For the first time, Creel saw fear flash through Crane’s eyes, though she quickly hid it. It couldn’t be for herself.

Of course…

“Perhaps you know this boy?” Creel asked smoothly. “Maybe you’re his friend? A relative perhaps? Maybe even… family?”

The next thing she knew, she was on the ground.

Crane stood over her.

●●●

Crane

Crane felt very real fear twist her stomach as the girl continued to talk. Not for her, but for Cadrin.

If that girl found him…

Desperation lent her strength as she grabbed the girl’s knife arm, twisting it around and flipping the girl to the ground.

The girl let out a noise- probably trying to get air back into her lungs. Crane raise a fist as she gasped in.

“Look,” the girl said, sounding strained. “Let’s just leave it. We can’t beat each other.”

Crane let out a shocked laugh, more of an expelled breath of air. “You think I’ll just let you walk away?”

“Yes.” The girl yanked her mask down.

Crane blinked in astonishment at what she saw.

“What in the Seven Cities?!”