Several minutes passed before a couple of likely punters entered cautiously. They stopped in the doorway and looked about. I waved at Molly and moved further behind the door. There was a brief pause, then I heard her speak. "Please come in.", "Anreta, Gedra, why don't you find these gents a seat and an ale on the house.". I caught the flurry of dresses as the girls moved in and escorted the two into the room.
They were followed over the next few minutes by nine more. The room settled down and I moved from my position to allow the girls to use the table. With nothing better to do I went outside. The two bodies had gone and there were half a dozen goons standing off to one side in a huddle. I walked up the street, passing alleyways on the left and right. After about 70 feet I emerged on to another street. From the level of traffic this was a heavily used thorough fair. It struck me as odd that I'd not be drawn to come in this way when searching for the place last night. I moved aside as a carriage made the turn, and noticed two things, the pair of goons loitering down the street a little on the far side, and the group of city watch coming up the street. Its always the same, there's never a cop about when you need one, but a full swat team arrives long after the events are over. I turned and walked back the way I had come. The goons had vanished, and the carriage was in the process of being turned around. A couple of officious looking types stood to the right of the door. I guessed they were waiting for the watch. I changed tack and headed for them. They shuffled nervously at my approach, one of them placing his hand on the pommel of his sword. I pretended not to notice.
"Good morning. Why don't you come inside. Your men will be along in a minute, although why you brought them I don't know. They're going to get here, all hot and sweaty and all out of breath, only to have to march all the way back to their barracks.". I continued past them and went inside. The punters were doing their best to hide amongst their drinks. Another official stood next to Molly. Khegrin was off to one side being restrained by Younta. I walked over to where he was standing. Like the one outside, his hand had gone to his sword at my approach.
"I have a warrant for the arrest of a woman fitting your description"
"I thought you might. On what charge"
"Unlawfully killing four citizens of Tullbranich on the morning of 21 Apanal outside the Velvet Rest"
"Four you say. Then its not me your looking for. There were a number of thugs trying to break down the door this morning. They were advised to desist. When I opened the door, two of them rushed in with knives drawn and I evicted them. Two more then tried to impale me on their knives, which resulted in them losing their hands and their ability to breathe through their wind pipes. They were very much alive at the point I returned inside"
He opened then shut his mouth much like a fish gulping air. "I'm still going to have to take you in. You'll have to stand trial"
"Really. I think that the following will happen. You will go outside and send your soldiers back to their barracks. You will then go back to your boss and explain that there has been a misunderstanding. You will then suggest that he comes here himself so he can hear my story for himself. Whilst you and he are here, you will have a couple of drinks, make use of the facilities for and hour or so, and then retire to your wives or girl friends or what ever, and forget that anything ever happened. The alternative is your boss will have to send another detachment of watch down here to find out why you haven't returned, and then make suitable arrangements for the burial of your bodies. Your wife and children will then most likely end up on the streets, being unable to pay their bills with no wage coming in. Is she pretty your wife?"
He moved to draw his sword, but I was much to quick for him, and he found himself flat on his back with my foot on his sword arm. "Very silly." I pulled him to his feet and brushed him down. "Now run along before you do something you'll regret." I half turned offering him a clean target. He managed to get the sword half out of the scabbard before my foot implanted itself in his genitals. He went out like a light. Two shapes appeared in the doorway, one with a sword drawn. "Are IQ's really that low round here. Put that away before you hurt yourself. I strongly suggest you pick your boss up and leave before I get really cross. You're disrupting business."
"You're coming with us. We have a warrant"
"Really? Show me and I'll come quietly" They looked at each other. "We have a .."
"If you can't show me a warrant then I suggest you leave"
"We're taking you in!"
"Really. Haven't we just had this conversation. No, silly me. That was the one I had with your boss. What you're actually going to do is pick him up and take him outside before he regains consciousness and vomits on my floor. Then you're going to run along back to his boss, tell him there's been a misunderstanding, and invite him down here personally to clear the matter up" The tavern had gone quiet and clients and girls alike had moved back out of harms way.
The one with the sword charged. It was a simple matter to avoid the thrust, grab his arm, turn him, then break his arm as I had done with Molly last night. This time however I added a quick chop to the back of the neck to ensure he stayed down for a while. The other one vanished out the door. I heard shouting and the sound of running feet. Three soldiers rushed in swords in hand.
When they saw me standing calmly over the two bodies they stopped. "Now you have a choice. You can either put those away and go back outside, taking these two with you, or you can force me to draw mine. If you do the latter I can guarantee that none of you will leave here alive. I reached to my right and pulled a chair in front of me."
They edged forward so that a couple more could get in. I drew the sword from its scabbard. Now the general difference between grunts and officers in medieval armies is that the grunts come from the streets which makes them smart and the officers buy their positions which makes most of them stupid. When I drew the blade I saw a flicker of recognition cross the sergeants face. I set myself ready for the first strike all the while watching the sergeant as he was watching me. Seconds ticked by. "Put your blades away. She may not kill us all but I'm not going to find out."
I stepped back dropping the tip of the blade until it rested on the floor.
"Hagman, Jentin, Orial retrieve the Captain and Justicar. The rest of you out"
"Thankyou sergeant. Anytime you want to drop by when you're not on duty, you can have one of the girls on the house"
They picked up the bodies and left. So unfortunately did most of the clients. I told Molly not to worry. This would all be resolved by this evening. She wanted to know what right I had to offer the girls around like cheap ale. I said the one that went with ensuring she remained open and in charge. There were mutterings amongst the girls that I was bad for business. I told Simone to go up to my luggage and bring down the plain iron bound box, with the curved lid from the trunk.
When she returned I opened it and removed the gem bag from which I extracted a ruby about the size of a quails egg. I placed it on the bar. As I did so the room fell silent, the girls all looking at one another in astonishment. "It's beautiful isn't it. It'd be a shame to smash it into little pieces wouldn't it, but that's exactly what I shall do if I here any more arguments or griping. Do as you're told and stay out of the way and I'll give it to Molly to sell when I leave. The proceeds should keep you all in dresses for a few years."
I picked up the gem and put it back in the box, which I locked again. "Now it's been a busy morning and I haven't had any breakfast. All this activity is also playing havoc with my side so I'm going to go and lie down. If somebody could organize something to eat I'd be grateful. Molly I shall be in my room if you need me."
It was late afternoon by the time I returned to the bar. I'd eaten and then slept for several hours. I'd then checked in on Kiona, who was frothing at the mouth about being confined to her room and none too happy at what she'd been hearing from the girls who popped in an out every so often. Her wounds appeared to be healing okay and there was no sign of infection.
The bar itself was fairly quiet. There were a couple of the girls, including Kendra sitting in one corner, and a few clients occupying a couple of the tables. Younta was behind the bar. "Hows it been?"
"Quiet, very quiet. They come in for a quick tankard of ale then leave. Since the three first thing, none of the girls have had anything to do. If this keeps up we'll be starving by the end of the week"
"Don't worry. Things will pick up again in a few days. Where's Molly?"
"She went out with Simone and Marsa. She's gone to see someone about some of the things on your list. Don't worry she took Kengrin with her."
"Anything I can do here?"
"Not really, unless you want to wait tables"
I chose to pass. I poured myself a goblet of wine and retired to the table by the door, tucking myself into the corner. Kendra came over. "Is it true you used to be like us, the other girls I mean" . I laughed. She made to get up as if she'd been offended.
"No I have never been like you. Where I grew up we were reasonably well off my mother and I, although I only found out later what she did for a living - she worked for very powerful people, who lent her out to entertain important guests, not the sort of clients you currently get in here."
"And you were forced to do the same"
"Heaven's no. As a kid I used to get into fights with all the local boys. I beat one up so badly when I was 5 that my mother decided that something needed to be done and sent me to a teacher. He taught me to control myself. Later I found another teacher who taught me other things, like how to fight with weapons and how to meditate."
"Is that where you got your sword?"
"No. I found this in the attic of my father's house when I was about your age. He'd been missing for a couple of years and somebody had broken in. My mother and I had gone over to see what had been taken. I'd gone into the attic and found the sword. It had felt odd to the touch and always gave me the creeps, but I never threw it away. Then a few weeks ago an aunt I didn't know I had found me and took me to meet the rest of the family I didn't know I had. They all carry swords virtually all the time, except Fiona that is. Anyway after I walked the Pattern, I returned home to collect a few things. Somehow I knew it was time to take the sword out of the case it had been kept in all those years and put it to use."
She'd glazed over and had that frightened animal look in her eyes again. "Kendra, what's wrong? Kendra look at me"
"I can't, I can't. I'm not worthy. It's been months since I went to church. This is all a punishment. Please don't punish me"
"Kenda what are you on about. I'm not here to punish you. I don't care whether you go to church or not."
"But you're an Amberite. a servant of the Unicorn sent to punish the wicked and unfaithful."
I laughed again. "Yes I'm an Amberite, but how do you know about Amber?"
Molly had appeared around the door. "The same way we all do. Its written in the scriptures, the teachings of Dworkin, and the Book of the Unicorn. Whilst most of us don't go regularly, we all attend church on the big festival days. Compared to the other religions the Unicorn only has a small following, perhaps as many as 300 city wide. Outside of the church limits this probably the biggest congregation of believers in the city. Look closely next time you come in through the main door. This whole building is protected by the Unicorns seal. Why don't you come through to the office and we can discuss your list." I picked up my drink and followed her upstairs.
When we reached Torvald's office he was lounging on the sofa in the corner. He was obviously still in a little discomfort as he was dressed only in a loose gown. "I take it you were successful."
"Yes , but it took our combined efforts to persuade him to deal. We'll go see the other two tomorrow."
"You'd best leave Trinkam to me."
"No. I'm running things now. I'll find a way. There's always a way. What ever dirt you have on him I don't want to know about. Why don't you go down to the lounge. Cordelia and I want to talk"
"Don't mind me"
I moved over to the sofa , and pulled my dress up onto my thighs as I crouched down. I then took my finger and started to run it up his leg. He winced and tried to grab me. Feint movement under the gown indicated I'd achieved the desired result.
"Bitch"
"Interesting when the boot is on the other foot isn't it. Now I suggest you be a good boy and do as you're told otherwise I'll get Genivive to come up here for another riding lesson"
"Remind me not to get on the wrong side of you , you have a real vindictive streak"
I smiled. "So Molly. What did you really want to talk about"
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