Chapter 16: Walking Home
I stumbled through the streets with Amy and Fiona supporting me. My legs were refusing to solidify. Instead, they preferred to remain as jell-o when I tried to put weight on them. The sun set behind us as we left the City of Octavo and limped our way towards Castle Octavian. The fading light of the day washed a layer of saffron and pumpkin hues across everything. We walked past the outskirts of the city, beyond the city wall. I was grateful that the streets were cobblestones and not dirt. I didn’t relish the idea of marching through the mud in this condition.
“Is this normal? When you have a vision, is this weakness normal?” Fiona asked.
“Define normal,” I said between labored breaths. The heroine had no status effects after having a vision if the player took the precognitive gift. And since I had never been the rival before this, I had no idea if this was typical. The designers might have decided to ignore this bit of lore from a gameplay standpoint.
“Lady Ren can be off her feet for days after a vision,” Amy said. “If she forces a vision, the effect is less severe. But then the vision is less powerful as well.”
“Then we are lucky that you did not have a vision in the embassy.”
I nodded.
“Amy?” Fiona said, “About your reprimand of me back at the Public House.”
“Oh, I am so sorry, Your Excellency.”
Fiona shook her head, “You should not be sorry. I am sorry. You were correct. I often misjudge appropriate social cues. And that is what I did there. I am impressed that you reprimanded me, despite our difference in rank and status. You were defending your mistress, and it was bewitching to watch. Loyalty is attractive. And I wish to praise you for that.”
“Oh, I don’t deserve all that praise Your Excellency.”
“Fiona.”
“We’re in public. I couldn’t be so familiar.”
Fiona stiffened.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Once more, we are being hunted.” Fiona answered.
“Fiona will need both hands for this.” I said, “Amy, can I put all my weight on you?”
Amy winced, “You’re heavy my lady, and I’m little.”
“Do your best.” I said.
Fiona let go of me and Amy struggled to help me stand on her own. Fiona began walking in a circle with her back always to us.
“Let me down,” I said. “We won’t be able to escape. So, let’s sit.”
Amy set me down as gently as she could manage on her own. The joys of being a big girl were not all created equal. Amy remained standing, her hands holding my wrists. I suspected she was preparing to help me stand in case we needed to flee. But I knew I couldn’t do that. And I suspected that Amy wouldn’t leave me. Which meant everything lay in Fiona’s hands.
“Will we die?” Amy whispered.
I shook my head, “You haven’t seen her fight yet. Relax, enjoy the show. We are two helpless maidens. And our brave knight is going to defend us.
Fiona continued circling, and then she stopped and dropped to one knee. As she did so, I heard a gunshot followed by a sharp ting as something ricocheted off Fiona’s left shoulder. She drew one of her flintlock pistols and fired. I heard a scream in the darkness. She dropped the pistol, and as she did, I noticed that under the leather of her jacket was armor of some sort. Fiona closed her eyes, and then turned to the south. Her eyes opened and she drew her second pistol and fired. Nothing screamed this time, but in the silence, I heard a heavy wet thud. Fiona dropped the second pistol. Another shot rang in the darkness with an accompanying tang sound. I saw a small circle cut in the leather over her heart. And under the missing leather, more armor shone.
I felt my heart rate quicken in the silence that followed. I wasn’t scared. I felt exhilarated. I was being fought over. I’d never thought that somebody protecting me like this could be arousing.
I was wrong.
I heard the repeated crunching of gravel behind me. Somebody was running. Fiona spun. She reached both hands into her jacket. She drew a pair of throwing knives and hurled them into the darkness ahead of the footsteps. Another scream, which trailed into a gurgle. Footsteps sounded in the darkness ahead of me. Fiona spun and launched her third throwing knife. Something heavy crashed into the gravel underfoot. And in the darkness, I heard the sound of choking.
I felt my face flush. I knew this was insane. Fiona was locked in combat, and I was sitting here waiting for her to push me down on the bed and take me.
Another gunshot, this one missed. Fiona turned in the direction of the shot and raised her forearms to block her face. A second shot sounded. I heard the ting of metal. And I watched a spark flashing off Fiona’s forearm armor. Fiona crouched and then burst into a run, charging into the shadows. I saw a flash of metal in the darkness followed by a scream. Then a knife spun out of the night from the direction Fiona had run. It flew between Amy and me. The knife embedded itself in the eye of a bearded man who had emerged from the darkness with a battle ax. Fiona raced back into view and threw her last throwing knife, which lodged in the man’s shoulder. Fiona’s hands sparkled and she passed us, fists full of brass knuckles. She pounded her right fist into the side of the man’s knee, and I heard a popping sound. The leg crumpled and the man dropped to the ground with a stunned gasp. Fiona drove her left fist down into the man’s nether regions. He gasped and slumped. He tried to straighten. As he did, Fiona hammered her right fist into his temple. She struck him three times in rapid succession, and the man toppled over.
She stood in a wide stance, arms spread, brass knuckles sparkling in the lamp light. If I could have run into her arms at that point, I would have done so immediately.
“I recommend you run.” Fiona roared into the night, “If you are still alive, this is your last chance to remain so. I am the Countess Fiona Myrddhin. I hunt monsters. You are no threat.”
I sighed, and whispered to Amy, “How does it feel to be a damsel?”
Amy didn’t answer immediately. I met her eyes and saw she was blushing. After a moment she whispered, “It feels pretty good.”
After a minute Fiona seemed to decide we were safe. She straightened and walked to us.
“You two remain unharmed, I hope? No stray bullet struck you?”
I shook my head, “No. We’re fine. Thanks to you.”
“You were magnificent.” Amy breathed.
Fiona smiled a small smile, “It was an honor and a pleasure.”
The rest of the trip home was uneventful. At the gates, the guards summoned servants to help me. Manfred called for a sedan chair and kitchen servants carried me to my room in the chair. I had forgotten the rival traveled by sedan chair. And I hadn’t realized that there was a reason for the chair beyond vanity.
Fiona joined me in my room this time. And realizing that this was taboo gave me a thrill. We shouldn’t be doing this. But I’d had a vision, and assassins had attacked as we returned home. We had passed the event off as an attempted robbery gone wrong. And so, the family was willing to overlook certain things. But this was only due to extenuating circumstances. The kitchen staff had seen me to my bed. And so, I sat on the edge of my bed with Amy and Fiona at my side.
Amy left for the smoking room. Smoking a mix of alchemical herbs apparently helped mitigate the weakness my visions caused. As I waited, I wondered why the weakness didn’t happen to the heroine if the player chose the precognition gift. I wondered if Lynn had been able to choose her gift. And if so, what had she chosen?
Left alone with Fiona in my bed chamber had me blushing all on its own. Fiona too was blushing.
“I hope I did not scare you.” Fiona said, breaking the silence.
“Not at all. I felt like a damsel in distress protected by her knight in shining armor. I’ve never felt so safe before.”
“Really?” Fiona said.
I felt my skin getting hot, “Absolutely.”
I saw her flush. She stepped closer. Sitting on the bed as I was, the height difference disappeared. She stared into my eyes.
“You don’t mind a knight this short?” She said, moving until our noses brushed. I could feel her breath on my lips. I could smell her rose water perfume.
I stared into her eyes, “I don’t see a problem.”
Fiona placed a hand on my chest and pressed me back onto the bed. I gasped. She climbed onto the bed and sat on my waist, straddling me, and leaned down to bring her face to mine once more.
“This is why one does not enter a lady’s bedchamber too soon,” Fiona whispered, “It is quite the temptation. And I must say that I have no interest in resisting this temptation.”
The door to my chamber opened and Amy stepped in with a small box and a cigarette holder.
She stared at the sight of Fiona astride me. She regained her composure, and then said, “Have you two started without me?”
Fiona smiled, “You are welcome to join us.”
Amy blushed. I blushed.
“Um. What?” I managed, feeling lightheaded at the thought.
“She’s joking, Lady Ren. Right, Fiona?”
Fiona straightened and slid off the bed, “My apologies Amy. I let the beauty of Lady Ren get the better of me.”
Amy frowned then smiled at Fiona’s comment, “I understand that temptation. But come on. Let’s get Ren her medication and get her to bed.”
Read more in "Daughters of the Digital Empire," Available soon!
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment