The Capital of Sadera
The Holy hill of Vinusa
The holy temple was crowded with people. A group of White hood monks from Avanul hill had arrived in the early of the morning with three carriage and a huge hairy creature look like elephant. The Follower of Great Father came from yesterday and soon all priests, deacons, sharmans from large and small temples throughout the territory of the empire would be presented here. They came to show their loyalty to the royal family and to pray. Praying for what Pina wasnt so sure but she knows quite a lot of people would be glad if tomorrow Gods above let her father rejoin his ancestors.
Emperor Molt Son Augustus wasn't so beloved. This was well known.
"We will be here and pray until our beloved emperor awake" a fat monk firmly said to apostles. "Now is the time for he who need us most."
"We understand, elder brother" the apostles in unison.
"Now, my brothers, please light the best incense of Vizima up." He pointed to a person in the group "Julius, did you bring the kind of incense that I told you?"
"Yes, Elder Brother. In that cart downhill" the man named Julius replied with a nod.
"In a cart? What are you doing, Julius? What ritual doesnt start with incense.? Sacrifice, rain ceremony, exorcism and blessing. All of them do need incense and now you tells me that you have forgotten it in a stupid cart in the middle of praying eremony for the venerable emperor. "
the angry monk took up his baggy sleeve and wiped away the sweat from his face covered with puffiness as red as tomatoes. Today was a hot day. On the way to the Temple, Pina saw city dwellers encircling public fountain and when the pool was too crowded, they immediately headed to the river bank. The women and men seemed not to have dignity anymore, they took off their clothes and immersed themselves in cool blue water of mother. With the position of a princess, the third person on the inheritance list, Pina should have stopped this corrupt act but, well, it would be far better for them to be able to run around naked than gathering in the square and throwing stones at the City Watch.
"Elder Brother, I have not forgotten. At the gate of the city, because you told everyone to perform the walk of redemption so no one could bring the box along."
"So why you don't ask the driver, or someone else? Whoever dares to refuse those carrying out the mission of the gods on this world?"
"I ... didn't think about it, so i ..." The brother faltered. The hood made Pina couldn't see the face of his face, but it was clear that he had a broken nose. "I think I would still be time to…"
"Then why are still you standing there for?"
After the guy Julius left, there was another mess. The White Hoods of Avanul didn't want to sit close to the Hardy followers of Esraling, whom in the eyes of the congregation were all fanatics promoting self-destruction. A group of priests came from small monasteries of Romalia Mountain screamed out that they were being treated unfairly because they had to sit at the back while being the first arrived.
Like the Emperor Molt or Zorzal, she was not a devout type. The religious folks talked too much about the mystery of faith, and that was it. Honestly, she saw magicians and wizards being ten thousand times more useful than them. Diabo was completely different, always appearing to be a pious but Pina knew her brother was just acting.
Diabo is ready to kiss the feet of any priest as long as they stand on his side in the desperate fight to win the throne.
Diabo's ambition raises doubts at the senate. Her brother is the mastermind behind this tragedy. The emperor was poisoned, they whispered to each other's ears in the white stoned hallway of the senate but healers and physician had already swore on their mother's lives that it was just a common disease for people over sixty.
Even Pina herself couldn't believe her father was asassinated. She ordered men to check the wine pot used in the party, every single dish of food and those who cook them were also targeted. Immediately, the Royal Guard had tortured thirty-eight people, ripped open the kitchen and made a list of one hundred suspects but still hadn't found anything yet. Now there is a theory that the perpetrator is an outsider and he uses the secret passage behind the castle walls to escape, therefore for the past three days, the sound of the shovel and sledgehammers had been echoing throughout Palace from the sunrise to sunset. By the fourth day, Pina shut down this these fools before they teared her house apart.
Diabo couldnt be the one did this. Pina believed he had no gut to kill her father and, above all, he had no reason to do so. The one that Diabo wanted to eliminate was Zorzal and Zorzal was sitting legally on the throne as a regent after the Emperor suddenly becomes ill. Diabo was the bright one among them three and doing something so useless like this was definitely not his style. If she was him, Zorzal would be as good as dead right now.
But whoever did this wasn't as important as the fact that the image and face of the royal family in the public eye have been seriously damaged. It was a bad thing for a royal member to attempt to assassinate another royal member, even if it was only rumors that people whispered to each other in the narrow, smoky alleys of Sadera. Soon, commodity prices would skyrocket and when people started saying words like "Civil War" "Overthrow" or "Siege" then it was probably too late to lauch any countermeasure
It took her a lot of effort to chase aways the rumor. The first is to try to convince Zorzal to make an official announcement to the people that the great Molt Son Augustus Emperor unfortunately became seriously ill and the royal family would hold a great ceremony to pray for his recover. At first, her brother did not agree, but after hearing her implying that if he did not deal with this baseless suspicion soon then it was only a matter of time before the people pointed their fingers at the dynastic prince, Regent Zorzal immidiately changed his mind. As for the youngest brother, Pina is not worried. Diabo was clever enough to know what to do and how to do in time like these.
"Princess, the Crowned prince has yet to come." Gray, the old knight and the loyal retainer quitely whispered to her. They were standing behind one of ten great pillars of the 600 year old temple, seperated from loudsy crowd at the hall but Confidentiality and privacy must always be given priority "Neither has the Prince"
Pina rolled her eyes and looked around, it was true that her brother was nowhere to be found. She did not expect Zorzal to appear, kicking out her father's confidants and the partying all night long consumed quite lot of time. But what about Diabo? He must have been here now.
"When will the ritual begin?"
"Soon, my Princess" Gray replied, "The High Priests are on their way here and the last representative of the senate has arrived hour ago so I think they will do it before noon. Nno doubt, who on earth could tolerate such a heat?"
Representatives of the senate consisted of people who were still holding top positions of the gorvernment a month ago but now they had returned to nothing but the empty shells of themselves. Pina knows most of their names. Mr. Done Collina, the commander of 6th Legion, Fergus Hayde, the head of treasury, Count Mathias El Deconte, the war secretary and a few more dozen dignitaries; The list would be longer in the coming months. The latest victim is Boros, the commander in chief of the Royal Guards. He refused to mobilize soldiers unless there was orders came directly from Emperor Molt Son Augustus. Zorzal personally went to meet the stubborn old general, and after a few words, Boros was sent straight to the front line of the Niflheim border.
"Gray, please call Bozes or Panache here."
The old knight nodded respectfully then left.
Pina poured herself a glass of liquor from the pot she found nearby then drank it. The sweet posture makes her feel comfortable, while the head was a little lighter than it used to be. She wished she could return to the palace right now , soak herself in hot water, letting the wine carry her to sleep and stay away from these superstitious and noisy people. When the Emperor fell ill, Pina cried till her tear dried out. She cried because the person lying there on the bed was her father and for the dark future of the empire, which she vowed to serve.
Even the most foolish person in Falmart knows well that her brother is not like his father at all. The Molt emperor was ambitious and ruthless but did not waste his life while Zorzal was impatient, thoughtless and violent. The conquest of the northeastern plain three years ago is a good example of how Zorzal rule would look like. Twenty thousand soldiers were killed, hundreds of thousands of thalet had been thrown into the river just for a poor and arid land with a prestigious female slave named Tyuule, Zorzal's favorite pet.
Zorzal would declare a war, she knows it. But on who?
The Japanese was the answer that Pina doesn't want to think about. They would crush the empire under their heels like a bug. From what she had heard and seen from Alnus to Italica, she knew this war would end before it started. The empire has stepped on the tail of Chimera and only due to luck or the mysterious kindness of the monster, the golden eagle flag was still flying.
Niflheim didn't help Pina better either. The archenemy of Saderan Empire had more than one hundred and fifty thousand well-trained, well-paid troops, a considerable number of magi, Wizards and shamans. Zorzal would have to pay a pretty expensive price to declare war on them.
Too much troubles. Most of them she couldn't solve and with each days passed, they just got worse.
"I have to talk to Itami or Sugawara-san about this. Only they can help me."
But where Itami was nowhere to be found while Sugawara-sensei disappeared in the puff of smoke after the fateful party. Pina was now alone in the storm and she was lost. Nothing could warm her heart better except for this fermented apple-flavored wine. After drinking a few more glasses, she began to feel a little dizzy, her mouth was bitter.
"Princess, I didn't expect you to be fond of ."
A voice came from behind her. Pina turned around to see an gray hair elderly man in bright Toga.
"Lord Ducan, it was amazing when you came here. Don't tell me that Zorzal had fired you."
"No, no, princess." Ducan shook his head and a bitter smile was on his lip. "Ten years of fighting, fifteen years of trying to stay neutral in the senate house have helped me a lot. Life is full of unexpects don't you think? None could expect that the man who always questioned your father's decisions to keep his seat while men like Mathias El Deconte was about to be out of the game soon. "
"Did you receive this privilege for not being loyal to the emperor?" Said Pina but her voice was grumpy as if it was an accusation. Wine had made her a little more mouthful than usual " And to be honest, I also did not expect that you are power hungry type of person, Ducan."
"I'm loyal," he said with a puzzled smile as he sat down next to her. "But the problem is that my loyalty doesnt belong to the emperor or the prince. I think you are well aware whom it belongs to, Am I right, your Highness ? "
"I don't have time to play puzzles, Ducan." She frowned, "What do you come here for?"
"Can I have cup of wine before we start?" Ducan said "Talking is a thirsty job."
Pina motioned for the maid to bring a bottle of wine and a cup. The gray hair man drank it like water, some drops still clinging to his beard.
"I'm never fond of this kind of liquor since I was a yound man neither do I now. Nothing impressive about the taste but it do have it use, especially in case like this" The Senator stared into the empty cup "Where to start from? Ah, the empire is in grave danger."
Is the empire in grave danger? Impossible. For thousands of years, since Emperor Aurelius Antoninus set the first stone, the Empire had endure countless disasters caused by both Gods and men but still stands firm and proud despite all of them. It turned savage tribes and bloodthirsty gods into captions in history books, subjugated the stubborn states in Viziman and West of Romalia, repelled the Niflheim armies to the islands where they came from. Such a huge force cannot collapse,
"You must be thinking that what I'm saying that is wrong? That this empire is so great that it can't be defeated"
Damn, he was reading my mind. Pina has long heard that Ducan wasn't naïve or an amateur to power struggles in Sadera although he didn't participate in politics as much as other nobles and senators.
"You are a smart, Princess and sometime I have feeling that you are Lorenthar reborn. You had long realized this hurtful truth long time ago but you are just too persistent to admit."
Getting ambused by him so easily, Pina didn't know how to respond properly. With a fox like Ducan, lying was useless.
"I'm not blind, Ducan." She gave him a razor-sharp look. "But what does that have to do with you?"
"Look at these people." The smile on Ducan's grim face disappeared and replaced it was the serious, austere expression of an experienced man "An old bunch of fools surrounded by superstitious con- artist, and out there, the city is on fire both literally and metaphorically. And who is responsible for the situation? "
Zorzal is the first name that Pina thinks of. Her brother was the one who caused chaos in the senate, ordered a blockade of the capital city, causing the price of bread and salt to increase fivefold, and only Gods knew what would happen next. Her father should take the blame too, vassals began to plot against the empire due to crushing defeat at Alnus and the fact that her beloved father sending 100,000 Coalition soldier to their deaths on purpose.
"Such dangerous words should not be spoken, Ducan" Pina pretended to be indifferent "Zorzal never liked being condemned by others. "
"Princess must have misunderstood me. I just want to say that the responsibility belongs to all of us whether you are princess, prince, commoner, Elves or dwarf. As long as you are Empire's subjects, you have a responsiblity to ensure its existence. The empire who sees everyday is not owned by Emperor Molt or Prince Zozral but everyone. Why? It was the Tranvian senator and the craftsmen who built this great temple, and Felon was the first writer of the civil law, and ten years before I was born, Field Marshal Marius and the people of Sachen had scarified their lives to hold the Danto Pass before the invaders from the East. The glory of the empire is made up of the blood and sweat of those people. "
Pina smirked "If you need blood and sweat that much then Zorzal is a great emperor. Sweat may be a little less to your expectation but blood would not be lacking."
"And that will be the blood of the people I faithfully serve. Soldiers, farmers, masons, blacksmiths, miners, mothers and children."
"And what do you want me to do, Ducan? Sneaks into the palace and stabs my sibling on his back or you want me to ask my knights to do it for me?" Pina snapped. She was getting tired of playing game with him. "Don't ever mention this again, I warned you."
Zorzal might be a insufferable cunt but he was still her brother. The thought of betraying him disgusted her. Pina wondered how many of these plots had been made since her father acceding the throne. The Senate had already overthrown three emperors and killed one. Jeneasy the Madness collapsed at the breakfast table with a long tear in her throat, put the end to most fifteen chaotic years in history. She would rather die than letting Zorzal become the second one.
"Violence is not what we want." Ducan slowly stood up. "A regime forms on swords sooner or later would ends by swords."
"We?"
So he had already had supporters. Pina felt a little chill on her spine. Ducan did not just talk.
"Those who are loyal to the empire and its people, dear princess" The elder smiled "Those who worry about the future."
Before Ducan turned around to leave the temple, Pina asked him the final question:
"Are you not afraid of me talking to my brother, Ducan? Just one word, your head and your friends will be on the spikes watching sun set on the Romalian. "
" I will not come here without a guarantee "Ducan replied," Princess wont do such things because I know the you and I are on the same front. "
With that, he immersed himself in the crowd and disappeared by the time the High Priests entering the temple.
The ceremony was the same as many ceremonies she had attended before except this time it took the priests for a while to decide who would have the honnor to cut the poor goat's neck. In the end, an old and shaking man named Adrianus was assigned to this responsibility. Pina had to laugh when for some unknown reason, Adrianus had put the blade in instead of the animal's aorta, the male goat squealed, slipping from his hand and ramming his head at a nearby assistant. It also spilled two oil lamps and broke several ceramic pots before running away. And that's the only interesting thing about this ceremony, the rest was all about boring men and women doing boring things as it supposed to be.
After a disappointing performance, they replaced Adrianus with a younger man and of course, a smaller goat. The assistants used a large vase to contain the hot blood from the animal's blood vessels before mix it with alcohol. The heart was cut open before the witness of everyone, the three great priests approached, reached out their hand and touched the intestine and began ... to predict.
In front of the holy statue of the goddess God Hardy in ferocious black armor and Vissko the Justice with his emerald eyes, the future of her father, Emperor Molt Son Augustus would be revealed through blurred dots, a bruise on the liver, heart and intestine of a goat.
Pina didn't understand what they based on to make such prediction. Whether it's just a hoax or a mere trick but the High Priests were really careful in keeping their secret. As usual, among the twelve old men there were only three knew the authentic way of divination and each received just one disciple. When they died, the disciple obviously became a high priest and that how wheel continued to rotate. The reason why they did that was unknown to the public and whenever things werent clear, they got mysterious and people gradually believed magic was real.
A high priest, probably the leader in a group of three, turned to say something to the crowd below in Elvish language. His voice was so soft that Pina could only hear a few words:
Not yet, the signs havent been revealed yet.
A Sound of disappointment echoed throughout the sanctuary. Everyone simultaneously knelt on the floor, praying with their fingers intertwined, and with this momentum, there would be dozens of goats losing their lives before the gods gave the answer they needed.
So frustrated with the bullshit before her eyes, Pina decided to leave, no member of the senate borther to stop her, some even wished her luck on the way out. Like their princess, most of them weren't eager to stay here for hours if not for the duty required. However it was just most of them.
"Princess, the ceremony is just beginning."
Cirius looked at Pina with astonishment when he saw her and entourage standing by the giant carved stone gate.
"I'm sorry, Lord Cirius. I honestly want to stay for a little longer but because of urgent work ..."
" Urgent? " He interrupted her "What's more urgent than your father's heath? Everyone have come here to make sure the emperor will be on the throne again."
Cirius is not quite a devout person. Pina remembered that he looked different before. Controversial and realistic. The loss of his eldest son in the Ember campaign and the wife due to smallpox had broken his mind. The situation was so catastrophic, Cirius kept the youngest child in his own house, not allowing him to do anything that he thought was dangerous, even riding a horse was also prohibited. The child became increasingly ill and after catching a cold in the last winter, he died. After that, it was well known that Cirius got even deeper into the mrntal breakdown but no one understood why he chose to seek conformity in these liars.
"I acknowledge their sincerity, Cirius, but as you can see, prophesies like knives cut into my heart. I can't bear if that is death. Women are created to be more emotional than men and which girl does not fear the death of her father? The Emperor's life is now completely in the hands of the gods and if they assert that this is the way it should be, then we have no other choice except obeying. Please don't misunderstand my intention dear Cirius, I just want to find a place where I can gnaw at this pain. "
She hoped the tired face from the heat and lethargic eyes due to alcohol were enough to convince the devout man. Even such an ass like Cirius would bothered a girl who was dying in her fear of losing her loved one.
"Don't worried too much, your highness. I believe the gods are always on our side." He comforted her "The high priest Adrianus says the chances of success are still very high, about seven-tenths."
Yes, the chance of success was also high for Pina's three baby brothers.
"That's great to hear." She gave him a false smile. "The god blesses the emperor and those who serve him faithfuly, my lord."
So that how she tricked the old fool Cirius to lower his head and let her leave the temple.
The atmosphere outside was much more appreciated. At least there was no smell of fishy blood, of cattle and of the blinding smoke from burning incense which was about to turned anyone presented into sausage. Pina hated seeing blood since the time she had witnessed Norma's head lying on the side of his body at Italica. An awful experience for her and for the Knights of Rose in their very first battle.
"Do you need your palanquin, your Highness?" The maid named Hiri asked her as she looked down at the two thousand steps leading to the foot of Vinusa hill
It must be more than that number if someone took their time counting. For the record Vinusa was the highest hill in the city. In Sadera, people wasn't fond of using carriage cause the roads were too narrow for them, meanwhile the palanquin was more compact and stylish. Basically they were gorgeous beds with a pretty colorful curtain and four slaves to carry. However, going down a hill in a palanquin was a very bad idea. Pina suddenly recalled the last experience when she struggled to cling to the edge of the bed.
"No need for that. I can walk."
At the foot of the hill, Bozes and Gray were standing next to two jet-black war horses. Bozes looked grumpy with her long hair cut short, a thing which beautiful Knight once declared would never touch even though it caused her lots of trouble in battle. It seems that being in charge of keeping the capital order for two weeks had made Bozes change her mind.
"Bozes, what's the situation? Pina asked."
"Last night there were three horse races on Donio street, two more rape cases yesterday and we also put the end to six brawl in pubs around the city. Stealing and robbery were beyond counting your Highness." Bozes drop on one knee, her cloak gently kissed the reddish-brown soil at the foot of the hill, and the armor had some very new scratches. "Nothing can be done with the troop we have now."
The Knights under her command were not suitable to be City Watch. They were trained to charge the enemy ranks with their utmost pride, not get in the fight with common criminals in the dark narrow alleys. It was a waste, but she had no other choice. Two-thirds of the city guards were sent to block all roads leading to the Imperial capital on Zorzal's order, and with the Royal Guard was keen on defending in the royal palace despite Zorzal's wrath and Pina's request, she had to do something before the whole city started eating each other.
"We need more people." Bozes insisted. "I had asked the 3rd Legion and the commander of militia forces in 3 three mile around the city but they told the soldiers arent allowed to enter the capital while the militia did not dare to do anything without Prince Zorzal's permission. "
"You must advice the Prince canceled the blockade immediately" Gray said with a voice that could not be more gloomy. "People are angry. Every night, I hear them whispering in the basement, behind the closed doorway and the sound of knife sharpening. If thing continue like this, there will be riots."
You assume I wasnt aware of that? Pina get annoyed, What you want me to do? I'm not Lorenthar who "single hand" saved the empire in the time of need.
But Grey and Ducan were right when saying the whole city was on fire. Zorzal hoped that the blockade would lead the Japanese into starvation and it was a foolish move she ever saw. Men in green only need a week to destroy the ten legions of the empire and hundred of thousand allies soldiers. And they even killed the legendary fire dragon, an victory that would echo through ages to come. Zorzal's brain was probably not enough to cook half of the fried egg if he thought he could settle the scorce with this kind of enemy.
"Gray, please go to Lord Lucius and ask for fifty swords," Pina ordered. "If not enough, you can go to every squares and post the recruitment notices. Anyone knows how to use weapons can join the City Guard, raise the salary a little higher than usual to encourage them. "
"Forgive me your Highness but I don't agree with that." Bozes bit her lips. "Recruiting people like that and we will have a army of thieves and thugs"
"Then the number of thieves and thugs will be less and the number of soldiers will increase." Pina said "Two birds with one stone."
The grimace look on Bozes face made Pina had a feeling that she had just made a terrible decision. But as mentioned before, she was runing short of option right now. It would be better to have an army of old man than to have no soldiers.
Pina ordered the two to escort her to the palace. However, before she could get on the horse, a loud scream suddenly rang up a few blocks away. Without waiting for her to react, Bozes and Gray immediately launched their horses and ride like the wind to the place where scream originated from. Pina chased after them but "Coquetterie" disappointed her. The white horse with the silver mane had the same personality as its name, haughty and headstrong. Coquetterie only likes to go on a trot and she must made an effort if she wants it to go faster. It is not wrong to tell Coquetterie to be a worthy rider for the princesses.
Bozes and Gray disappeared in the cramped alleys of Petroian District, a area famous for wine and prostitutes. It is not difficult to catch a few shadows lying on the steps of the shabby buildings or under the bridge. Although it was just past noon, nearly half of the population was in a drunken state. The city might lack sugar, flour and salt but surprisingly never ran out of wine. Now Pina suddenly noticed that no taverns had been closed since the blockade.
Prostitutes were everywhere to be seen. They put on themselves all kinds of cheap jewelry and the seductive outfits then gathered in small groups at the crossroad or taverns. Pina always had strange interest in those who were in plessure bussiness , especially their perfume. A strong fragrance, different from the usual type that high – born ladies used. Some prostitutes bowed their heads when Pina passed by because they were well aware of who she was but some of them didn't even bother to hide their challenging looks also because they knew who she was.
Before deciding that she would die on the battlefield, she had dreamed of becoming a physician. The image of Saint Amery in a long white dress made Pina's heart flutter when she thought that one day she would stand under the shadow of the magnificent Mivara temple, surrounded by a group of sick and hungry people, stretching their hands in despair, waiting for help from her. After that, within a few months, to the astonishment of Sadera residents, eight hospice camps sprouted thanks to Pina's persuasion and financial support from members of the senate. Zorzal laughed at her face, Dialo ignored her and the Emperor just coldly said,
"People will thank you, treat you as a saint but they would never be afraid of you and Once they are not afraid, they will never treat you like a true monarch "
"Glory to the emperor and the crown prince," a prostitute wearing a flower skirt said with a playful tone, "Oh. I almost forgot. Good day to you Princess."
Seeing Pina not responding to her provocation, she laughed even louder which encouraged others to start giggling. Her father's words somewhat had the truth in it. Pina was certain that these girls didn't dare to look up at Zorzal, let alone open their mouths to mock him. And she always hated it when he was right.
The noise in front of Pina interrupted her thoughts. In a street that looks wider than the rest of the Petroian district, a crowd stands in a circle in front of the shabby brothel which had a very amusing name "Brown fairy". Pina wondered if the owner was implying that the strong liquor he had have color like brown sugar or it was sweet honey skin of the waitress who serve them?
The curious crowd got bigger and bigger, Pina hurriedly pushed her horse forward. Coquetterie got annoyed when geing surrounded by the smell of sweat, the smell of yeast and the pungent scentbut the whip that she held in her hand gave the horse the necessary motivation that it need.
In the middle of the circle were eight people stood under the harsh sun. Bozes and Gray looked radiant in silver armor and red robe with a blond haired Harpy kneeling next to them and cursing something in her own language. On the opposite side were five men wearing black padded armor and chainmail. Their face was fierce and threating as their swords, especially a bald man with a long scar on his cheek. By the look of it, Pina could tell what was going on here. These five men had just assaulted a prostitute before her knights put the stop to that. Giving that Harpy was famous for the job, so she wasn't afraid of being bias toward her and her people.
"I think we should stop here!"
Pina heard Bozes' voice loud and clear in the noisy crowd, her was sharp and full of anger. The skinhead guy looked at the blond knight from head to toe but instead of talking to Bozes, he turned to Gray:
"And I think you should drag the old ass to somewhere else." Said the man. By the accent, she could tell that he was from somewhere in the East "Don't put your nose in someone else's business."
"It's never considered as a virture to bully a girl like that." Gray calmly replied to him with a stern look. "You and your friends should let this go this before anyone gets hurt."
"Let it go?" A a small bearded man roar then pointing at the scratch that was still very new on his face. "See what the whore has just done to me? I must make her pay for it."
"And she had already done it." Gray glanced at the streak of blood dropping from the corner of her lip and nose, "Her nose is broken."
"Aye! But her neck isnt and it would be your if you still try to stand in our way."
"Why did he hit you?" He ignored him.
"He won't pay," she hissed. "When I ask him to, he hits me."
"Liar! I paid you the five Denarii, you lecherous bitch."
"It is payment for serving you" She retorted "You have three people, it must be fifteen denarii."
"You didn't mention it before spearding your legs for us" He laughed haughtily "It's your fault."
"Yes! It's my fault" she smirked. "I didn't expect you to be that stupid.
"Damn you, whore!" He drew his sword and rush forward. Gray, as fast as a squirrel, blocked his way to the Harpy with a long sword in his right hand.
"Get out of my way." The short man roar "Or you will kill you then fuck your old ass."
"Easy now, buddy."
He swung his sword, aiming for unprotected part on the knight's shoulder. Gray gently locked the attack and pushed him backwards. The crowd cheered in delight, Pina was just as surprised as they were. Gray was an excellent swordsman, but she rarely saw him in a real fight. After years of earning glory in many campains and Tournaments, the old knight only spent the whole day and night in the palace, devotedly teaching the noble children, including her how to hold the sword hilt, how to fight and die like a true warrior but his swordmanship didn't get old. At the age of fifty, Gray was able to win any of his the disciples in every duel. Even when Pina, Bozes and Panache worked together, the result was not much better.
"The old man is pretty good though." The bald head laughed, "Rats, Karls, Rouge, what are you fuckers waiting for?"
The other three guys took out their weapons. Rats used a gladius with brass handle, Karls had a scary spike mace and Rouge armed himself with short spear in. The skinhead leader with Rats and Rouge circled Gray while Bozes, a target they consider to be easier had to deal with the other two.
And the fight began in thunderous cheers.
Bozes deflect the little bearded man's thrust and swung her sword at Karl. With a mace, Karl couldn't do much but blocking two blows before the cold steel blade ripped a line from his shoulder to the hip. Karl cried out in pain and collapsed. The little man panicked and launched a straight stab aiming at Bozes's chest but committing a terrible mistake. He missed the target. The tip of the blade just grazed the shoulder guard, causing no harm except a scratch on the thin steel plate. Without hesitation, Bozes gave him punch on ugly his face with her gauntlet, causing the man to immediately fall to the ground and go fainted.
The skinhead also soon realized he had made a terrible desicion. Rouge's spear was cut off before it could reach the breast plate of the silver-headed knight and just after a swing of the sword, Rouge's head left his neck and rolled on the yellow dusty ground. Rats didn't fair any better, his life ended with strike piercing through his chest. To everyone's amazement, the old knight seemed to not even moved but there were two bodies lying on the ground
"You ... You !"
The leader was trying to say something but Pina couldn't hear clearly. The panic and astonishment probably caused his throat to harden.
"I told you to let this go before someone got hurt."
The leader hold the sword on the top of his head, ready to lauch a slash from above aiming at Gray's neck. The knight didn't step back nor did intended to lock the incoming attack, he gently bent down and cut his enemy like a slice of bread from the ball to head.
The crowd was disappointed because the fight didn't happen in a way they expect. Too short and overwhelming. The cold sound of the torn cheap chainmail armor signaled to the women that it was time to close the window, and the men should go back inside and drank the wine until they couldn't feel their legs
"Is that it?"
Pina heard someone say in the crowd of people walking away. It's hard to expect an different outcome when two armed knights only have to deal with a group of random thugs.
"I surrender!" The little guy now crawled up. Everyone almost left so no one noticed that he was still alive. "Here! Your money here, girl."
He threw at the Harpy girl a small leather bag before running away with his bloody broken nose. Gray and Bozes picked up their weapons into piles while the prostitute was busy counting her earnings.
"Call the City Guard, Bozes," Gray said as she pulled the heavy body of the leader into the shade. He was a heavy ones "And watch out for Vultures."
The Vultures weren't exactly birds. That was the names given to opportunities that poke around quarrels, knife fights between hostile guilds and waiting for the end. A ring, earrings, armor, or boots all had prices as long as you was fast enough and there was people willing to buy. As Pina observed, there were three potential candidates here. Two lousy men and a dirty boy. It seemed these vultures got younger years after years
"This will find its owner if the golden cloaks appear" Bozes waved the Rats' shiny Gladius in front of the boy "Understand what I mean?"
The boy nodded his head and ran towards the Blood gate, the two men turned to look at each other in shock. That sword alone could be enough for them to be full till next week. Bozes plugs Gladius into the ground and spoke loudly :
"If you touch anything with your hands, it will be the last time you have a hand."
The two vultures jerked away and quietly walked away. They know they shouldn't mess with two knights, especially Bozes. Even when she was only ten, Bozes' ferociousness had already made people scared to death. She snatched hair of any girls said bad things and jump into the fight with any boy who dared to tease her. Like the proud lion on the Co Palesti family's crest, she likes submission from smaller creatures and was willing to use violence if they disobey. Gray refused to hold the position of vice commander of the Knights order and gave it to Bozes, though he was better than his student at swordsmanship and had more experience.
"My father was a shoemaker at Gin Alley, and my mother sold embroidery at the foot of the bridge. People will never follow the son of the shoemaker and sell the embroidery at the bottom of the bridge. But the words of the heir of the Co Palesti family will be like from Hardy himself "
" Thirteen!? Fucking bastard! "The girl Harpy walked over to check the leader's pocket and began to rant" A bastard and four empty guys. "
"Perhaps all the money had been thrown into dice and wine. " Said Gray "It could be the reason why they tried to scoop up your money."
"What about these ? I can sell them. "
" No way! "Bozes snarled." They're now possession of the city guard, lady. "
" Is the City Watch became Vulture these day? You two are too noble to be good vultures as well as a damn Golden Cloak. "
"We arent men of the Watch!" Bozes gritted her teeth. "We are the Knights of Rose."
"A fancy name for the butchers." Pina felt like the Harpy was laughing inside "Tell me, Knight. When a people like you gutted someone, would it make you any different than these idiot?"
"Swinging the sword with good reason is not murder. That's justice, lady."
"Whoever doesn't try to rationalize his actions. And don't call me a lady again. I'm a harpy, a prostitute and under the shadow of the rules set up by your kind, I am never a lady, never wanted anyways. "
Pina had had to tried her besr to not laugh out loud. Witnessing Bozes Co Palesti got owned by a prostitute was a rare occasion. When was the last time her friend was that angry? Pina can't remember. Probably never.
If you look closely, the Harpy girl was pretty and has a similar look to Bozes. Blond hair with high cheekbones. The bold makeup and rough feature of people soon living the street made she looked a bit older than her real age but Pina was quite sure that the Harpy was about her age.
"That nose won't heal itself," Gray said. "You need a good healer."
"Kurokawa can fix everything. Back when a guy punched me in the ..."
"What !?" Pina interrupted. She hurriedly dismounted from the horse, grabbed the two Harpy shoulders "Do you know Kurokawa?"
"Of course!" She rolled her eyes in shock. "Hey! Let go of me!"
"If you talk to the princess again with that attitude, I will show no quarter." Bozes Touch the grip of the dagger on her belt. "You must call Princess or your Highness."
"We don't have time for this, Bozes," Pina ordered. She removed her hand from the Harpy's shoulder. "What's your name?"
"Mizari ..." She hesitated when seeing a murderous look of Bozes Co Palesti "Mizari, your Highness."
"Very well, I have a job for you. Of course the wages will be very generous, do you want to take it?"
She looked a little hesitant. When a noble offers a job with generous remuneration, There was a big fat chance that the greedy idiot wouldn't have the opportunity to spend them. Sometimes, generosity was always accompanied by danger and people gradually understand that the rich didn't become richer by giving wheath aways.
"I just need you to send a letter for me" Pina reassures Mizari "After sunset, go to Athenian Square and wait. My people will bring a letter to you."
"Send to whom, Princess?"
"Take it to the Japanese representative office in Akusho and give it to Lord Sugawara."