* * *
As the carriage started towards home, Aleria glanced at Master Ogima, then turned to her father. “Well, that was the easy part.”
“It was?”
“Yes.” She nodded towards the Battle Arts Master. “Now I have to talk to him.”
Her father glanced at the stoic face across the carriage. “And do you need counsel for that meeting?”
“No, but it might perhaps ease your mind to attend.”
“In that case, perhaps we should make it as soon as possible?”
Ogima nodded. “There is no better time than the present.”
“Then please accept our hospitality. Can this ordeal be accomplished over food?”
Aleria batted her father’s arm. “Oh, stop the fake formality. It’s not going to be that bad. Will you come for lunch, Master?”
“The hospitality of anDalmyn…”
“Yes, yes, I know the proper expression. ‘…not to be passed up’ and all that. Fine. We’ll wait until you have been awed by the grace of my family and overwhelmed by the richness of the food. Maybe then you’ll be easier on me.”
“I am not the one who needs to be hard on you, Aleria.”
“I am quite aware of that.” She leaned back in her seat and stared out the window, wondering what she could possibly say. Finally, she sat up straight.
“Look, why don’t we make this easy? I panicked. Master Ogima, you know that happens to me sometimes, when I am too heavily restrained. When both of them grabbed me, I lost control and performed an act equivalent to that of the boy drawing his dagger. Up until then, nothing in the fight was designed to do permanent damage. After my strike to the eye, the whole level of the fight changed, and whatever happened was caused by my action. My fault. They were just stupid kids and I should have been able to control the situation. If that boy loses his vision, the responsibility is mine. Fair enough?”
Master Ogima glanced over at her father. Both men nodded. “That satisfies me. I could not have stated it more clearly.”
Aleria sat back, lost in thought, until she realized that the carriage had pulled up at the Dalmyn front door.
“Do I gather I am still invited for lunch?”
Her father smiled. “I don’t think we’re going to get much out of Aleria. Come in and keep us company. Perhaps we have other concerns to discuss.”
“I think we do.
27. Resolution
The next day, Aleria took on her tasks with new enthusiasm. She grabbed her bag of training clothes and strode with purpose down the street. It felt good to be out doing something.
As she moved into the lower part of the city, she was surprised to see a rather well dressed figure approaching. Then her heart sank. There was something familiar about the set of those shoulders. She straightened her own and strode forward.
“Hello, Kalmein. What are you doing in this part of town?”
He greeted her with a touch more courtesy than required. “Just taking a short cut. What about you?”
“Master Ogima’s practice rooms are at the end of the block.”
“Of course.”
“Do you have a moment?”
He regarded her with a frown. “Why?”
“Because we have some unfinished business, and I’m tying up loose ends this month.”
“What unfinished business?”
She took him by the arm, steered him towards The Falcon. “Not out in the street. Let’s be a little bit formal.”
He followed, but in the doorway he hung back. “Um… Aleria, I don’t know if this is the type of place to bring a young lady.”
She looked around, noticing the decor for the first time. Scratched tables, broken chairs, torn curtains. “Oh. I suppose it isn’t. We come here for a drink after practice quite often. Don’t bother anyone and no one will bother you.”
He looked dubious, but followed her through the splintered door.
Inside, she directed their steps past the bar. “Just short mugs, Jems.” The bartender nodded, and she led the way to a table by one of the few windows. She waited for Kalmein to sit before she joined him.
He looked around the dim room once, then focused on her. “So what unfinished business do we have that we can complete in a place like this?”
She grinned. “That’s good, Kalmein. Very sharp.” She let her smile fade. “I have some explaining to do.”
“That would be interesting.”
“Are you still angry?”
“Not so much. Still disappointed in you, though.”
“And yourself?”
Another frown. “This seems to be picking up where we left off.”
She shook her head. “Not my intention. I want to explain what happened that day. It may or may not help, but I don’t think it’s right to leave you in the dark.”
“So something was going on. I wondered.”
She made a sour face. “Well, so did I. I just left it too late, that’s all.”
She shifted in her seat, and her eye caught movement up at the bar. She looked again, then muttered a soft curse.
“Look, Kalmein, I want to tell you about this, but there’s something I’ve got to see to, first.”
She was on her feet before he could question, strolling towards the pair at the bar. The taller of the two leered at her as she approached. His smile broadened as she moved closer, laid her hand over his on the bar. Then his face froze as she forced his little finger back, farther and farther. When she had his complete attention, she spoke calmly.
“I just came in here for a drink with my friend. I didn’t have any plans to see anybody killed today. So what happens is all up to you.”
She let go of his finger and brought her hands together in front of her, allowing her sleeve to fall back, sliding her right hand to caress the dagger hilt that was revealed.
His eyes slid around. “Tough girl, hey?”
“Maybe. I came over to deal with you before anything starts. I figured that way he,” she tossed her head towards Kalmein, sitting regarding them from their table, “won’t get involved. He doesn’t want to have to hurt anybody so early in the afternoon. So you just have your drink, keep your head down, follow the rules, and everything will be peachy-fine.” She gave him a cold smile.
“Rules?”
“You’re new around here, I can tell. Place like this,” she ticked off on her fingers, “you keep to yourself, you don’t bother anybody, and nobody will bother you. Got it?”
Once again, his eyes slid away, and she held her stare until his head dropped. “Yeah, I got it.”
“That would be ‘Yes, Ma’am, I got it,’ don’t you think?”
He glowered at her, muttered. “Yes, Ma’am. I got it.”
She favoured him with a smile. “Well done. You learn real quick. You just might survive around here.”
She turned and walked back to her table, followed by Jems with their drinks. She sat down, paid and winked at the barman, who smiled back. “No trouble from those lads?”
“I don’t think so. If there is, they’ve been warned.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Aleria. You handled that smart. I was just tryin’ to figure out how to wise them up without losin’ a coupla customers.”
“I’d keep an eye on them for a while. They might decide to take it out on somebody else.”
“Don’t worry. Enjoy your drinks.” He nodded to Kalmein, strolled back to his post.
“Sorry about that.” She raised her mug, tapped it against his, and they drank. “They serve good ale here.”
He nodded, took another sip.
She put down her mug, leaned forward. “Now, as I was saying. The girls and I got into an argument one day. About losing our virginity.”
She glanced up to appreciate the look on his face. “Truth. Girls talk about things like that. They were complaining about how hard it was.” She raised her hand. “Don’t even bother. I told them. I said they weren’t trying hard enough. We went around that for a while, a
nd finally we concluded that the problem was losing it on our own terms.”
He grinned. “I can see that. Did you decide what those terms were?”
She shrugged. “Different for different people, but mainly some kind of romantic situation with someone we liked a lot. Nobody was talking about love, but it we all decided it had to be someone special.”
He leaned back. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to start feeling better?”
She smiled, one side of her mouth only. “I hope so. Anyway, as I sometimes do, I made the challenge, and they took me up on it.”
“I see. And I was the lucky subject of your plot?”
She glanced sideways at him. “I was young and foolish in those days. I always sort of thought…you know…”
He snorted. “Yes, well so did I.”
“Right. So you were my choice. I guess you could tell.”
“You were never known for your subtlety, Aleria.”
“I always think that action gets results.”
“Hmm.”
“Right. So everything was going fine until the afternoon of the Ball. Then my father told me he trusted me not to do anything stupid.”
“He said that? Clever man.”
She smiled ruefully. “He is. Started me thinking. That’s why it got all messed up, Kalmein. I wasn’t treating you straight, and I wasn’t sure of myself, and so I kept sending you the wrong signals.”
He took a brief pull from his mug. “I thought the signals were pretty straightforward.”
“That was the problem. I think I kept sending the signals, but inside I had already changed my mind. Then when it came to the actual moment…”
“You just couldn’t go through with it, because you were not treating me fairly?”
She looked up at him. “Don’t be so cynical. That was part of it, yes.”
“I wasn’t concerned about being treated fairly. Honest!”
“You can have your joke. You paid for it.” She leaned forward, touched his hand. “But I messed up, Kalmein, and it’s bothered me ever since. I’m sorry. I just thought if I explained it, you might not feel so bad about it.”
“You mean I might not feel so bad about you.”
She shrugged. “That, too. But that wasn’t the important part. I realized that what I said mattered. I did want it romantic, with someone special. But not a set-up with everybody watching.”
He nodded. “I can see that. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about that night as well. I never figured out what was going on, because I didn’t think you would treat me like that. It didn’t seem like your way.”
“Please believe me, it isn’t. I can’t stand women like that.”
“So I’ve been going over it for a while, now, and I’ve changed my mind a bit.”
“From what to what?”
“Well, something you said bothered me. About taking my share of the blame. At first, I couldn’t see that. I was just doing what I was expected to do, and you were the one that threw everything into a mess.”
“But…?”
“Well, I’ve been living a different life since I left school, and it opened my eyes to a lot of things. I realize I never should have pushed you. A lady has to have the right to change her mind, at any time, no matter what. You know why?”
“I know why I think so. Why do you?”
He grinned. “Because a man has to have the right to change his mind, too. At any time, no matter what.”
She laughed out loud. “Some day you’ve got to tell me that story!”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think I ever will.” Then he became serious. “But the fact remains. We were neither of us sober, we weren’t playing straight with each other, and we acted like a couple of silly kids.”
“And we both got hurt.”
“I think so.”
“But, to set the record straight, you were the innocent party at the beginning. It was more my fault than yours.”
He met her eyes. “But you paid more, didn’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
His eyes dropped.
“No, go ahead. Say what you meant.”
“Well, it was your chance. Romance and all that. I…I heard what happened last summer, Aleria. I’m truly sorry.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged, rolled his shoulders. “Well, you know, what happened to you in that rebellion, and all.”
“And just what happened in that rebellion?”
“I don’t know much, Aleria, but there’s all sorts of stories going around, and it sounds as if you had rough time.” He took up his courage and looked her in the eye. “A very rough time, maybe.”
‘Oh. Oh, I see.” She thought a moment. “Kalmein, can you be trusted to keep your mouth shut?”
“Of course. About…your…uh…”
“No, more important than that. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but most of what’s going around is based on the story the Royal Army put out to cover some of the things that happened during the rebellion that they don’t want any other rebels to hear about. Do you understand what I mean?”
She watched the light dawn. “Of course. Some people were saying that Slathe got wiped up pretty easily, and maybe he wasn’t such a threat as they made him out to be.”
“Don’t worry. He was that bad, and worse. He just came up against someone smarter. And that’s all you want to know. Got me?”
“And you were there, and lived through it all. It must have been horrible for you. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, Kalmein. I’m sure you mean that with all your heart. It’s good to have friends who understand. But you’re wrong about two things.”
“I am?”
“You are. In the first place, I didn’t get raped. I had a tough time, and I was beaten and humiliated, but not that. Does that make you feel better?”
“Not as much as I bet it made you feel. What was the other thing?”
She grinned at him. “I didn’t miss my chance.”
“You didn’t?”
“No.”
“You mean…before…” She could see his cheeks redden.
She nodded.
“Oh.” He looked up at her. “Wow! You had a really busy summer!”
“Kalmein!”
He held up his hands in helpless defence. “I’m sorry, Aleria, please don’t take it wrong, but…” His speech dissolved in laughter.
“All right, all right. Don’t let’s make a spectacle of ourselves.” She glanced around. “Look what you’ve attracted now.”
The approach of the two men from the bar brought instant gravity. Kalmein leaned forward to speak softly. “What did you tell them before?”
“I said I dealt with them because you didn’t want to.”
“I didn’t want to? You told that right!”
“I didn’t tell them why.”
“Oh.”
And then it was too late. Aleria looked up as the two approached.
“Excuse us, Miss,” in the clearer light from the window, she could see that he was much younger than she had first thought. “The bartender…he told us who you were, Miss…”
“Oh. And now you’re afraid my father’s going to be upset with you?”
Genuine puzzlement crossed the lad’s face. “Who’s your father?”
It was Aleria’s turn to be unsure. “Just what did Jems tell you?”
“About…about last summer, Miss, and what…happened to you. I mean, we all heard the story, but I never thought I’d actually meet the lady what did it!”
“Did what?”
“Fought in the rebellion. We heard about you, Miss, ‘n’ how they treated you, and how you survived and beat them all at the end.”
“Oh. I see.”
“I just want you to know, Miss, that I think you did the right thing. I mean, no woman should be treated like that!” He seemed to think for a moment. “I hope you didn’t think…I mean, I like lookin’ at a pretty lady as much
as the next man, but…I mean…I hope you don’t think I’d ever treat a woman like that. I mean…”
She smiled up at him. “No, lad, I don’t think that.”
“Oh. Good. I mean…” A sudden thought seemed to strike him. “Will you do me a favour, Miss?”
“What kind of favour?”
“Well…if you’d just…stand up?”
“Stand up? That’s all?”
He gulped, nodded.
She glanced at Kalmein, shrugged, and stood. The boy moved closer to her, turning towards his friend. “See! I told ya. She don’t come up to my shoulder.” He turned back to Aleria. “There you go, Miss. I told my friend, here. You don’t even come up to my shoulder, and you had me shakin’ in my boots a while back.”
She grinned. “Well, maybe you were shaking in your boots because you deserved to.”
“Oh, no, Miss. I told you. I wouldn’t ever treat a lady like that.”
“Well, see that you don’t.”
“Sure thing. Say, Miss…”
She shot another glance at Kalmein, who was trying to keep a straight face. “Yes?”
“Could my partner and me…well…could we buy you a drink? You and your friend, of course.”
She shook her head. “Sorry, but my friend and I were just on our way out. I’m on my way to Battle Arts practice, so we’ll thank you and take our leave.” She moved forward, and they stumbled over each other giving her room. “Nice meeting you, boys.”
She held out her hand, and after a moment’s hesitation they each took it briefly then released, not sure exactly what was expected. Then she started towards the exit, Kalmein behind her. They followed, calling out farewells, rushing ahead to open the door for her, waving as she passed down the street.
“Oh! Aleria…Miss!”
“Yes?”
“I’m Geran. My name’s Geran.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Geran.” She turned into the doorway of Master Ogima’s gymnasium and Kalmein followed, collapsing against the wall as soon as they were out of sight of the street.
“I have never…”
“Don’t worry, Kalmein, neither have I.”
Then Kalmein’s face grew serious. “You have changed, Aleria.”
“Don’t we all?”
“I’m serious. How you handled those two. They were afraid of you, weren’t they?”
She shrugged. “Nothing surprising about that. I suppose I have a reputation, unearned though it might be. I’ll do my best to live up to it.”
His grin returned. “Well, I’m glad you’re my friend, then.”
She grasped his arm. “We still are, aren’t we? Friends.”
He nodded, serious now. “We are.” He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “All that, last year…”
“A mistake.”
“On both sides.”
“Fair enough.” There was a moment’s pause. “Well…”
“Yes. I was going…somewhere. You have your practice.”
“See you again, then.”
“Certainly.”
He leaned forward and they touched cheeks. Then he spun away and strolled off down the street, kicking a stone ahead of him. A glow in her heart, she turned into the training rooms.
She was going to learn that circular riposte if she had to work at it until her arm fell off.
Epilogue
It was a beautiful fall day, and Aleria was glad to be on the road again. Her horses were also ready for exercise, and she took pride in her driving skills. This trip had held all sorts of unexpected bonuses.
She glanced back over her shoulder. Nobody. So much for her vaunted escort. She snorted. No wonder Lord Fauvée is having trouble with bandits. Complete ineptitude. My two protectors forgetting their duty and haring off after some rabbit or other. She reached down and patted the hilt of her sword, tucked close to hand under the wagon seat. I can take care of myself.
Then the two men stepped onto the road in front of her. Both hands busy with the reins, she had no time to reach for her sword before the smothering folds of blanket engulfed her from above.
Follow Aleria’s progress “Into Trouble,” Book Two in the “World of Change” series, coming this fall.
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About the Author
Brought up in a logging camp with no electricity, Gordon Long learned his storytelling in the traditional way: at his father’s knee. He spends his time editing, publishing, travelling, and writing fantasy and social commentary, although sometimes the boundaries blur.
Gordon lives in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, with his wife, Linda, and their Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Josh.
A Sword Called…Kitten? Romantic comedy with an edge
The Cat with Many Claws Book 2 of the “Kitten” series.
Why Are People So Stupid? Social Commentary with a point
Check out his books, selected reviews, and other writing at airbornpress.ca
Check out his opinions at the Are We Stupid? blog.
Check out all his reviews and his ideas on writing at Renaissance Writer blog.
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