The King's Knights

Chapter Two: Shakedown

In a dream, Kiyora saw the ocean lapping against the shores of a dockyard. Beyond it was a great, flat-roofed city. And on the piers walked a beautiful redhead with a spear and shield. Kiyora saw from her perspective.

The city of Ascorn had changed hands way too much lately.

Once filthy, the streets were much cleaner, and the city watch intervened in violence. Several new healing houses had been set up that tended to the poor freely. What expenses they had were paid for by the church, whose priests actually did their jobs. Best of all, no corpses.

Way to clean house.

Who was even running this place right now?

She walked along a street, spear and shield on her back, hips swaying side to side to distract those who gazed at her. Her spiked red mane flowed behind her as she flexed her bare shoulders.

Tayuya was walking ahead, nice hips swaying and knife in hand. Last time, she'd wore her hair long and loose with a headband. Now, it was tied behind her neck. She wore a brown shirt and loose, baggy pants tied with a sash. The shirt, loose or not, couldn't hide a bosom equal to any amazon.

 Ahead, Red could see the ships waiting.

"So, who are these guys, Tayuya?" asked Red, adjusting a studded gauntlet.

"Adavor and Torban," said Tayuya. "They run one of the piers out here in Ascorn. Couple of street punks who think just cause they made a bit of dough, they're owed something."

"What, you mean the leftovers after Lamech lost his place in things?" asked Red.

Lamech was...

He was a professional—not someone you wanted to cross. Arkan Lantan had been able to channel him well, but he was gone. And what was worse, some of Lamech's people were even more bloodthirsty. Warrior women who behaved like Lamech were generally killed off by the others.

But Lamech had somehow managed to survive. All that with a passion for throwing people off buildings.

'Professional?' asked Kiyora. 'Lamech is a psycho. I don't care how convinced William is the guy is his shadow or whatever. They have nothing in common.

'Well, aside from wielding swords and wearing skull armor.'

"It's a yin and yang thing," said Red, stretching her neck.

"More or less," said Tayuya, pulling up one shoulder of her black dress as it slumped. Why did she pick something that bared her shoulders like that? Then again, Red wasn't one to talk.

"The new leader isn't isn't satisfied with taking orders."

"Want me to scare em back into line?" asked Red.

"We are nearly past that point," said Tayuya.

Red agreed.

"Adavor," said Tayuya. "You wanna talk nice before I fuck you up?"

"The pet Jashinite?" asked Adavor. "What are you doing out here?"

"Tavish wants a sketch of these docks," said Tayuys.

"Tavish is out," said Adavor. "Just because Lamech liked him doesn't mean I do. He can come here if that little boy wants to sketch the docks.

"Let's see him get it."

"Tavish wants a fucking sketch you prick," said Tayuya, voice hard.

"Get this witch out of my face," said Adavor. And he motioned to the others.

Red sprang forward, and then they saw her as her spear lanced forward toward the thugs coming forward. It pierced straight through a heart and caught the one behind in the throat. Pulling it out, she smashed another with the rim of her shield, cleaving part of his head off.