The Diaries of Cordelia Chan

Gara-Ult Manor Port Hygria - 6^th Apavich PF5

The following morning I was awake early and somewhat shocked the maid when she entered to find me exercising naked. I breakfasted, thanked Mincheza for her hospitality and took a cab down to the harbor. I arrived in time to find my cargo being loaded ready for sailing on the late morning tide.

The problem was  I didn't actually know where to go next. I needed somewhere in the direction of Amber, that was a trading sea port, where I supposed that was another merchant known to the family who dealt in the remaining half dozen items on my list. I would have to try and keep these in mind and shadow walk or hell ride towards them.

Shadow Riding - 6/7 ^th Apavich PF5

I started much as Random had done by shifting us towards a storm. Random had made it look easy but in actuality it was much harder. In the end I settled for a howling winds, dark skies, and high seas and dispensed with the rain and lightening. Brining my parameters to mind I started to shift shadow parameters. The first couple of shifts were a disaster and we ended up somewhere completely alien with no covering storm. Whilst the crew fended off greeblies I started again pushing us into a storm. By the time the storm was well established  the greeblies were gone, but one of the crew had been severely injured. I tried again this time making less significant changes. The ship lurched a little but it appeared to be working.

Six hours later I was completely exhausted. I stopped shifting shadow directly and abated the storm. We were going to have to sail normally for a few hours whilst I got some rest. This pattern repeated itself over the next 60 hours. I'd hell ride for 6 hours, grab something to eat, sleep for 6 hours, grab something to eat, and then return to the hell riding. With each session the hell riding was becoming less tiring and I was becoming better in my manipulations.

Tullbranich - 8 ^th Apavich PF5

On the third morning after we left, Hygria, we sighted land, and which a few hours later brought us in sight of a port. The Captain headed in and we docked about mid afternoon. I had no idea how long this was going to take when the Captain asked so I guessed at two days. Now all I needed to do was locate the merchant. 

I disembarked onto a busy dockside and made my way to the harbor masters office. Having paid our dock fees and arranged for fresh supplies and water  I inquired about inns. Three were recommended with one being the most popular choice of owner/captains. I picked the second choice, less popular due to being slightly further up town and more expensive. I left  the office and hailed a trap.

Having taken a room for a couple of nights it was time to go looking for the merchant. I focused my thoughts and started walking.

After about 40 minutes I had returned to an area close to the docks in what was  most likely the slum district. I loosened my sword in its scabbard and continued on. Another few minutes and I was turning down an alley darkening in the fading light.

I'd gone about 50 feet when a pair of figures stepped from a recess ahead of me, blocking the alley. They both had long knives in their belts but neither had drawn them yet. If this was a mugging then there had to be one or two more behind me. I stopped and turned so I was side on to the pair and looked back the way I'd come. Sure enough there were a pair coming up behind me. I drew my sword, ran a quick Kata and waited.

They'd obviously not expected this. The two ahead had their knives drawn now and were approaching slowly, giving the other pair a chance to close. Logic dictated that I should take this pair out and then go after the other two, but I wasn't really in the mood for chasing people so I'd have to use a different tactic, one that relied on the toughness of my sword blade and the restrictions imposed by the width of the alley.

They closed until they were about 5 feet away, then one of them spoke marking him as the leader. He was the one from ahead lagging slightly back. He delivered his ultimatum "There are four of us and one of you give us your money and we'll let you live". I said nothing. He repeated his ultimatum and I still said nothing. Then I moved the sword, just a fraction, but it triggered the response I was hoping for. The rearward of the rear pair lunged forward. I flicked the sword up taking him through the hand . As I did so I spun so I was now against the opposite alley wall and then struck down taking the second of the rear pair through the upper arm. The one whose hand I'd cleaved had continued his charge and now had a knife sticking out his leg where he'd stumbled into the path of the one to my left. I kicked him  in the leg causing him to go down and take his buddy with him, He screamed as the knife was pushed home. The leader dithered between fighting and fleeing and found the tip of my sword at his throat. "Drop the knife and you live" . His gaze flicked to the uninjured of the pair on the floor who was getting up. I pushed a little harder drawing blood. The knife fell from his grasp. I stepped forward, slashed then delivered a back elbow strike to the wind pipe. That left just the pair bleeding to death still alive. I checked the leader's body. He had a couple of rings, a few silver coins, and a nice eating knife, the sum total of which would not cover the cost of a new dress. 

I stepped over the bodies and continued down the alley. At the end was obviously the building I was looking for, although I'd obviously approached it from the rear. I turned right, walked the 20 feet to the entrance and went in.

"Currently occupied", A woman of middle age had appeared from a corridor leading off the main room. The lug tried to move and I increase the pressure. "Move again and I'll break your neck. And you are?"

"I might ask the same question. Thats an interesting blade you have there. Its not local is it"

"I've already answered that question. If you're stalling for time for more of your goons to arrive then forget it. I shall count to 5 at which point I shall start removing the heads of the young ladies starting with this one here" - I swung the sword round to rest on the neck of the one cowering to my right."

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

"Four"

"Molly. Go and get Torvald now. Tell him the new girl can wait and to get down here"

An average looking girl who couldn't have been more than 17 dashed up the stairs and disappeared  down the equivalent corridor to the one the woman had appeared from. I put the sword back in its scabbard and took my foot off the lugs neck.

Whilst all this had been going on the woman had been sidling towards the bar. I took a step back so that I was now against the table by the door. As she ducked down I picked up the bottle and threw it, rolling towards the bar as I did so. The bottle hit her in the left shoulder as she bobbed up causing her to loose her grip on the crossbow and sending the first bolt  into the wall by the door. I continued to roll,  a second bolt hitting the floor when I'd been. As I rolled past the empty chair I flung it over the bar, which had the desired effect. She was now one side of the bar and I was the other. She would do one of two things, either circle to the end or lean over the top. I rolled to my right kicking the closest chair as I passed. There was a twang, and another bolt embedded itself in the floor, grazing my leg as it passed.. I now knew where she was. I concentrated, forming the gate and then rolled, impacting with her legs,  bringing her down in a heap, and sending another bolt into the ceiling. An elbow in the kidneys allowed me to put her in an arm lock and bring her to her feet where I added a head lock to ensure compliance.  I could now hear footsteps on the balcony above. 

"I don't know who you are but wrecking my bar and killing my staff will have a serious detriment on your continued health, now come out where I can see you"

I spoke into the womans ear "Tell your boss he's in no position to make threats or dictate terms, then get him down here where I can see him."

She tried to break free so I tightened the choke hold a little making her gurgle. "Any funny business and I'll snap your neck. You'll make almost as good a shield dead as you do alive, now get him down here"

I released my grip slightly. "Torvald. She wants you down here. She says if you don't come down she'll break my neck"

"No deal. There are more than enough candidates here to fill your shoes"

I looked about. Most of the girls and remaining clients were doing their best to remain hidden. The  balcony was supported by a number of wooden braces. Taking the braces out would bring  it down.

"Torvald, if thats you're name. My opinion of you is currently going down hill rapidly. In fact I can't see any reason whilst I shouldn't take my custom elsewhere. It may take a bit longer to find but I'm not in a hurry. Should I have to do that I can ensure that this place will not be in a fit state to use for some time. For instance, the balcony you're standing on is supported on wood braces which it won't take me much effort to break. The choice is yours."

I released the strangle hold, and arm lock, grabbed the sleeves of the dress at the shoulder and pulled downwards. There was the sound of tearing fabric but the womans arms were now pinned by her dress. The fact that her ample cleavage was now on display was not my concern. I pushed her out into the middle of the bar. As I did so a pair of crossbow bolts exited the corridor and buried themselves in her back. There were a number of screams and she went down. I pulled my sword from its scabbard.

There was a anguished shout from  above then the sound of running feet. The girl who'd gone to get Torvald's came flying down the stairs, tears in her eyes, and rushed to the woman, throwing herself down next to her. 

"Stop  firing. I didn't tell anybody to fire. I'm sorry Molly. I didn't mean this to happen. Who ever you are I'm coming down"

"Tell your men to throw out their weapons and then come out  where I can see them" I stepped away from the entrance to the corridor.

"Okay. All of you do as she says - there's been enough damage done tonight"

Two crossbows came sliding out. "Now the knives and whatever else you're carrying". Two long knives, an pair of saps, and a dagger were tossed out. I heard the corresponding sound of weapons being divested upstairs. A figure appeared in the entrance to the corridor. I waved the sword indicating he should proceed. A second figure appeared and followed suit. 

A large well dressed man appeared at the top of the stairs and indicated that the three goons should precede him. 

I rolled across the corridor and then into it. It was devoid of goons. I moved to exit the corridor. There was a scream and a small figure flung herself at me. I managed to half block her and felt the knife dig into my side. I brought up my knee and broke her arm. I then pulled out the knife.

Torvald was watching me. "Who are you?"

"Cordelia of Amber. Daughter of Corwin. Senschal to King Random. I was informed that you would be able to supply a number of items  that we require as in the past, although at the moment I can't think why I shouldn't go elsewhere"

"Why didn't you say that when you first arrived?"

"I did but nobody was listening"

"Look there has been a misunderstanding. I can supply what you need, but first could you put that pig sticker of your's away?"

I put the sword back in its scabbard, although the effort made me wince. The knife wound must be deeper than I thought. Torvald indicated the goons should retire. Two of the girls moved to collect Molly from where she has passed out. I moved towards where the woman was lying. One of the bolts had been snapped off, by Molly's earlier actions. 

"May I"

Torvald nodded. I bent down. One bolt had gone in high, just above the shoulder blade. This was the one that had been snapped off. The second was much lower, approximately where Molly had caught me with the knife. This was the more serious wound as indicated by the growing blood stain on her dress. I felt under her body and found the point of the bolt sticking through. Carefully I grasped the bolt and snapped it a hand span above the body. 

"I need her moved onto that table. I also need boiling water, clean linen, needle and thread, a bottle of the strongest spirit you've got, a blacksmiths poker, and a pair of small tongs or similar"

Nobody moved.

"She'll live but only if you get a move on and do as I say" 

Torvald indicated that people should comply.I pulled out the knife I'd acquired in the alley and cut off the dress. "Where'd you get that?" 

"I acquired it from somebody who wasn't needing it any longer"

"Is that why your dress is covered in blood?"

"Yes. Four gentlemen decide that they were going to attempt to extract a toll for my traversal of an alley not far from here. Unfortunately for them I don't pay tolls."

"Hmm.. So what is it exactly that brings you to my door?"

I pulled a list from my sash and handed it to him. He scanned it. "That's going to be expensive. I don't have all of it on hand. It'll take me a  few days to gather what I don't have. Where are you staying?"

"The Black Eagle. Now whats her name?"

"Kiona"

"Kiona. This is Cordelia. I know you can hear me. I'm going to have to push the bolt in your side through. It'll do less damage that way but its going to hurt like hell. I'm going to put a gag in your mouth to stop you biting your tounge. Once the bolt is out I'm going to clean the wound and the cauterize it, which will hurt considerably more"

She groaned as if in acknowledgment. I washed my hands and the knife and then  poured alcohol over both.  "Turn her on her side and hold her still"

Holding the bolt in my left hand I used the dagger to increase the size of the cut  where the head was protruding through. I tore off a strip of linen doubled it over and then pushed it into the wound. I could feel my side aching now. I managed to get the linen behind the head  and round the shaft. I applied some tension, held her side with my left hand and pulled sharply. Thankfully the bolt came free, along with a fresh flow of blood. I grabbed the alcohol and poured it into the wound, then grabbed the poker from the fire. I wasn't sure what further damage I was going to do but if I couldn't stop the bleeding  it would be irrelevant. I plunged the poker into the wound and nearly vomited from the smell. I pulled it out and dumped it back in the fire. The bleeding had stopped but she was now unconscious. I removed the gag and put her in the recovery position. Now all I had to do was remove the second bolt.

This one was going to have to come out the same way as it went in, except I had virtually no shaft with which to grip it. I also suspected it was stuck in the bone and would require prising loose. I poured more of the alcohol into a dish, placed the dagger and the tongs above it then set light to it. Once the flames had died down I used the dagger to open up the wound in the shoulder until I could see the head. I had been right. The shoulder bone was broken and the head was buried half in it. I picked up the tongs and gripped the head. It didn't want to come free. I tried twisting it but again no joy. There was only one thing left . I was going to have to flex it out and hope it wasn't close to the artery. By the time it came free, my side was really complaining, and I was beginning to feel weak. I must be losing more blood that I thought.  I applied another dose of alcohol to the wound and then began to stitch it closed. 

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