Ch 6

Matteo stood gaping as he looked at the Château de Joyeuse. Kiran's eyes were wide as she stared up at the tall stone walls, feeling very small in the presence of the building. Araceli smirked as she watched the duo, "Are we done sightseeing yet?"
"Ah-! Sorry..." Kiran murmured.
"This place is huge!" Matteo declared, gesturing at the building.
"I can see that." Araceli stated, "And so can the people watching you gawk at the building."
Matteo went to make a snappy remark before flushed when he saw people looking at him. He mumbled something under his breath as he pulled his hood farther down over his face. Araceli looked around before suggesting they get something to eat and make a plan. Kiran nodded in agreement when a sound caught her attention. She watched as a man grunted while pushing through a crowd. Something made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She looked at Araceli and Matteo, excusing herself, before running off into the crowd. She zig-zagged through the crowd until she heard a shrill scream. She pushed people aside as she rushed forward, only to find a young man holding the man Kiran had seen earlier at bay with his sword. A young girl hid behind the young man, shaking in fear. Kiran's eyes widened as she saw several other men, dressed like the attacker, step forward from the crowd to surround the young man and girl. Just as one raised their sword to attack them from behind Kiran lunged from the crowd, ramming her hidden blade into his back. She glared at the attackers, stepping in front of the boy and girl, "What is going on here?"
"You bitch!" The man from earlier spat at her, "How dare you-?"
"How dare I? How dare you attack two children?" Kiran snapped back, drawing her own sword.
"None of your damn business!" He shouted.
Kiran arched a brow as she looked them over, "Hired scumbags I take it."
The man grinned darkly, revealing a set of decaying teeth, "Good guess... Not so stupid I see." He chuckled, "We'll be rich hired scumbags by the end of the day."
"Becoming rich by killing these young people?" Kiran laughed, "Ever heard of real work? I mean, I've known some hired hands and they were decent people... But it's scum like you that gives hired hands a bad name."

"Oh, you will regret that." The man grinned as he readied his sword. Kiran motioned for the girl to hide behind a stall before glancing at the young man, "Think you can handle any of these guys?"
"Don't worry about me." He said, standing back to back with Kiran.
Kiran lunged forward, catching one of the oncoming attackers in the shoulder. She stumbled backwards as she tried to avoid two oncoming swords that were aimed at vital points. She glanced around to see that she was surrounded. She took a breath before blocking a stab, plunging her blade into the attacker in front of her, then driving her hidden blade into an attacker that tried to sneak up behind her.
She gasped when she saw the young man get tossed back, his sword flying from his reach, and the leader of the group charge up to deliver a final blow. The girl cried out as she ran from behind the stall to help the young man. "No!" Kiran cried out before slicing down two of the attackers and leaping forward, stabbing the leader in the chest. She pushed away from the body, pulling her sword free and attacking one of the men that was charging up behind the girl. Kiran pushed the young ones behind the stall and told them to stay down before turning to face the attackers again. She had fended off two attackers before another man, the burly one of the group, landed a punch that sent her tumbling across the ground. She struggled to her feet and looked around for her sword. She looked around frantically, trying to figure out what to do as she was surrounded by the armed men while another man stalked towards the stall.
"Assassin! Catch!" A man's voice called out.
Kiran looked up to see a sword fall from the sky. It wasn't her sword. This one had a gold hilt and orante gold pommel, and a slightly different blade. She rammed her hidden blade into one of the attackers and rushed to catch the blade, grabbing it just before it hit the ground. She hit the ground and rolled before jumping to her feet to face the attackers again.
"Help!" The young girl shrieked as the man shoved the stall away.
Kiran's jaw clenched and her pupils narrowed as she lunged forward, cutting down the attackers that stood between her and the man about to strike down the children. She lept forward, driving her blade through the man's back before grabbing him and pulling him to the ground. The man writhed in pain and tried to get away only to find the sword Kiran caught pointed at his throat. He looked at her with wide eyes as she glared down at him.
"Who sent your group?" She demanded.
"I-I-I-" He stammered and tried to get away.
"Answer me!" She shouted.
"The Duke's cousin!" The man yelped.
"The Duke's cousin?" Kiran asked, narrowing her eyes.
"He-He would have been next in line, but then the Duke had a son, and then a daughter-" The man said quickly.

Kiran looked up to see a nobleman and woman rush over and checked the young man and girl. The nobleman looked at his guards and said something quietly, causing half the guards to present to leave. Kiran could venture a guess that today was going to be a very bad day for the Duke's cousin. Kiran saw the nobleman and guards watching Kiran as she stood over the remaining attacker. She looked down and saw the fear in his eyes. She sighed as she pulled the sword away, "You're not worth killing. The guards can take you from here."
"T-thank you." The man said in an almost hysterical voice.

Kiran watched as two guards grabbed the man and hauled him away. She turned to the nobleman and woman, "Are you children all right? Are they hurt?"
"No. Thanks to you they are safe." The woman smiled, thanks radiating from her glance as she held her children, "We can never thank you enough."
"It was nothing." Kiran said before looking at the Duke, "I take it this is your sword?"
"It is the sword of Charlamange actually." He said, "It's been in my family for ages."
Kiran handed it over, "Thank you. It saved not only the lives of your children, but my own as well."

Kiran looked up to see Araceli and Matteo run over to her. Araceli looked at the bloody scene, then at Kiran, "I take it we missed one hell of a party."
Kiran chuckled before looking back at the Duke, "You knew I was an Assassin?"
"You have a hidden blade, the same as the Assassins here have." The Duke chuckled, "And how you fight. It was hard to miss, and quite a show."
"I aim to please." Kiran laughed, "But in all honesty, I am just glad your children are safe."
"My family is in your debt, Assassin. If there is anything we can do for you..." The Duke began before glancing at the crowd, "Perhaps we should discuss this back at the Château."

The trio sat in a lounge room with the Duke, his wife, and his children. The young girl sat beside Kiran holding her arm. The Duchess smiled, "I'm sorry, it seems my daughter has become quite attached to you."
"Oh, I don't mind it. I love kids." Kiran said as she patted the girl's head, "She's a sweetie."
"Now, about your repayment." The Duke began.
"Actually, sir..." Kiran began, "We came here looking for your sword, Joyeuse." She paused before meeting his eyes, "Our home is in danger. Templars seek control of it and were willing to kill innocent people. Our city was fine without the Templars. The guards did their job and kept the citizens safe, and the Assassins and our associates rarely had to intervene within the city... But then some of the guards turned against us and a number of their own and tried to bring the Templars back into power..." She shook her head, "We don't want to control the people, we want to protect them and be there if they need us. We won't tell them what to do, that's for them to decide. The Templars though... They think the only way to free people is by controlling them and telling them what freedom is... Freedom is unique. Freedom means making your own decisions, not doing what people tell you to in the name of 'freedom'."
"You wish to protect your home." The Duke said.
"I would give my life to protect my home." Kiran said, "If we don't stop them back home, what will stop them trying to do the same to other places? If we can stop them from taking control of our home, maybe it will rally others and give the Templars something to think about."

"You truly think they are wrong?" He asked.
"Their goal is a good one, and it's a goal the Assassins share... But their means... At least we let the people choose what they want to do... How they want to use their freedom, how they wish to keep it or not..." She looked at the Duke and Duchess, "The people all sent the Templars fleeing from the city, but they will return... And if we aren't ready when they come back..."
"But how does Joyeuse play into this?" The Duke asked.
"The sword holds great power... I cannot explain it... But it is a powerful blade that can bring about great good." Kiran said, "I know it would be hard to part with... But we could really use it to protect our home and its people."
The Duke nodded at Matteo's hip, "That's Durendal, isn't it?"
"The woman at the Temple in Rocamadour gave it to me. I am its keeper." Matteo stated.
"Is that so..." The Duke murmured and scratched his beard in thought, "And what you say is true?"
"We have no reason to lie to you." Kiran said.
The Duke nodded and hummed in thought. He looked at Kiran again, "You wield the sword very efficiently."
"Thank you, sir." Kiran bowed her head.
"And I'm sure Durendal would be lonely if Joyeuse was left behind." He chuckled, "Do you truly believe you have what it takes to be the keeper of Joyeuse?"
"I would never raise it against an innocent life, I would use it to protect those in need and right injustice." Kiran said.
The Duke chuckled, "I caught wind of a certain Ange des Ombres who helped a farming family, and after seeing how you defended my children..." He handed over the sheathed Joyeuse to Kiran, "I believe it would be in good hands."
"Thank you, my lord." Kiran said as she took the blade, "I will wield it with valor, justice, and mercy."
"Perfect. I would expect no less." The Duke said before looking up as a guard entered the room, "Now, if you would excuse me, I have a cousin to deal with."

Kiran, Araceli, and Matteo left the Château soon after, thanking the Duke's family for their offer to let them all stay the night but admitting that they had quite a ways to go until they reached their next destination. The Duke's family bid them a fond fairwell and blessings. The group travelled for a few hours until it started to get dark. They decided to rest the night in a tavern they had come across.
Araceli had purchased some food from the main room and brought it up to the bed room where she and her companions had supper. Kiran admired Joyeuse before sheathing it. Araceli smiled, "Good job today."
"Thanks." Kiran smiled as she set the sword down on the table beside her bed. She paused before looking at Matteo and Araceli, "Do you think we could stop by my parents' home on the way to Cornwall?"
"I don't see why not." Araceli shrugged, "We could stop by for a short time before heading out again."
"Thanks." Kiran grinned broadly.