This is my first chapter of a new fanfic! It will probably be shorter chapters than my main one, but it will be featuring many of the same characters. This is pretty much what Marthus does for work, apart from the machinists shop. Hope you enjoy.
A candle flickered on the table. By its dim light, shadowy figures could be seen sitting in rickety chairs. The rafters above were covered in cobwebs, and creaked with the shifting of the old house. Finally, one of the figures spoke.
"So, we have the plan. When do we do this?" The voice was deep and gravelly, likely male.
"We do this soon. I say within the week." Another speaker rose. This voice was undoubtedly female.
"Is this the majority's wish?" The first speaker gestured to the group around the table in the flickering light.
"All in favor raise hands." The woman snapped.
Four figures raised their hands, while two kept their hands in their laps. The first speaker looked at the woman, and nodded.
"Then it is decided. We begin within the week. Everyone knows their roles?"
A chorus of 'yes's and 'aye's came from around the table. As one, they rose, donned cloaks and jackets, and filed out a low doorway, into the night.
Marthus stood at the gate of Minx Castle. He was reporting for his first day of work, and he could already tell he would be late. A sleepy looking guard briefly examined his papers, and then motioned for the doors to be opened. Marthus walked into the Castle. He took his time on the way to the Queen's chambers, given that the last time he was here he was fighting for his life. The Castle was quite large, at least compared to what he was used to, so it took him a while to make his way up to the chambers.
Marthus approached the door and knocked hesitantly. "Hello? Your Majesties? You summoned me here, I'm Marthus."
Marthus was surprised when Queen Krism opened the door. Her red eye glowed as she smiled. "Oh! Come in, we've been waiting for you. My wife was worried you weren't coming."
"I couldn't disobey a direct summons from Her Majesty, now could I?"
"I suppose not, but it's good to see you all the same."
She opened the door, and Marthus saw that a table had been set up with tea and biscuits, and that Queen Minx was already seated. He immediately dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty."
"You may rise. Would you like some tea or biscuits? We have things to discuss."
The room was decently sized, and the main furnishing was the table in the middle and a pair of armchairs near a stout oak door, probably leading to the bedrooms. There was a large window looking out over an incredible view of the city, and a portrait of Minx and Krism hanging on the wall. A glass vase of roses and violets sat on a small table in the corner.
"Pardon me for asking, but why am I here?"
"Ah, the question of the hour. Krism and I have been thinking, after various… issues, that it might be time to hire an escort of some kind."
Marthus reddened. "Um, your majesty?" Krism hid her mouth with her hand and laughed silently.
"NOT THAT KIND! What I meant to say, is that we may want some kind of protection, and from what I hear, your abilities are quite extraordinary."
I mean, I'm running the shop currently, but a little extra money would always come in handy. I'm sure I could handle it. "Well, are you really giving me the choice?"
"Well, I could command you to do it I suppose, but neither Krism nor I would like to."
"I suppose I co-" Marthus was interrupted by the window shattering. Not rising from his chair, a pink barrier formed in front of the table. There was a dull thunk, and a crossbow bolt fell to the floor.
"Get down!" Marthus yelled, leaping across the room to the door, hearing sounds of fighting outside. He drew his sword and approached the door to the hallway. Minx and Krism were standing in a corner, out of the main lines of fire.
There was a brief gurgle from the hall, and it was silent. Marthus held up a hand, and the door exploded into splinters, bursting into the hallway beyond. He could hear a grunt of pain. Outside, two men were awaiting the attack they knew was coming. They were completely unprepared for Marthus to launch himself upwards through the door, releasing a lightning bolt in their direction, knocking the first man to the floor.
The second man raised his sword, only to be disarmed almost instantly, and then again a moment later. Marthus walked over to the second man, stepping over the first man's limbs that were now on the floor, separate from the rest of the man. The second man attempted to crawl away. He was larger than the first man, and had an eyepatch.
"Please! Spare me! I'll tell you all I know!"
"We don't need to know anything from you."
A brief flash of light, and a burning smell followed Marthus back into the chambers. Krism was bashing a man into the floor with a red spirit mace, and as Marthus watched, she turned and whacked another man in the stomach, slamming him to the floor.
"Well, you guys seem to be doing just fine. You sure you wanna hire me?"
Minx was glowing purple, likely purple spirits. She turned and squarely punched another would-be assassin in the face that had just come in the window, dropping him cold. Marthus could hear the thud from across the room.
"You… Will do nicely." The Queen panted.
"Well, what should we do with our survivors here? And how did they get in?"
"They came in through the window. Thank you for dealing with the hallway. I'll need to investigate this breach in security, it's worrying. Also, you're hired."
So what did you think? This is gonna be a little side series. It's likely gonna be a lot of fighting, given that Marthus is now a bodyguard and all. Thanks for reading, and leave a review if you liked it!