Unsung

Chapter 4

Myrella

Mira was freaking out. She had seen two people die in ten minutes. Your last name won't get you piss in the downs, my lady. She remembered the words the boy had said and now she knew he was right. She was the Crown Daughter, the future Empress, yet she couldn't do anything to stop what just happened.

She looked at the situation in disbelief. On the ground lay two corpses. Standing in front of her was a bloodied thief and Two-Knives, the man Lorelai used to tell her stories about to keep her from going out alone.

"Thanks, Nic, But I'm leaving," The man named Slick said as he started walking off.

"You're just gonna leave your lady friend in the middle of the Downs? A gentlemen would escort her home," Nicolo said.

Slick stopped, turning around slowly. "I ain't a gentleman, She ain't my friend, and I ain't tell her to follow me here."

Mira was starting to get irritated. "He's right. We're not friends and he's anything but a gentleman."

"Come now, Slick. Take the little miss home. A noble lady isn't safe around these parts," Nicolo said.

"Nah, man. Piss off. If you're so worried, you take her," Slick said.

"She didn't save my life," Nicolo said with a shrug.

"I don't need an escort. I can protect myself," Mira said.

Slick snorted. "Like you protected yourself against Midi?"

"She's here, I can feel it!" A voice shouted down the alley.

Nicolo and Slick both swore and started running down the alley. Mira ran after them as well and froze when she turned the corner. There were five men blocking the alley way. All except one wore leather brigandine with the likeness of a gold eagle embroidered onto the chest. The symbol of the police of Meridia. The other one wore a set of golden armor with a wolf on the chest piece and Mira recognized him as one of the Empress' Knyghts. The Knyght had a steel sword drawn and the police had their crossbows in the air. All were focused on the two bandits who had their arms up in surrender.

Mira ran up in front of Nicolo and Slick and yelled, "Stop!" She spread her arms in front of the two bandits. "They are not to be harmed. They saved my life."

The soldier's immediately lowered their weapons. The Knyght ran forward and dropped to his knee. He pulled off his helm before speaking and gray hair tumbled down his head. "Are you hurt, my lady?"

Mira immediately recognized him. "Rise, Sir Bastian. Thank you for assisting me, but these men have not harmed me. They saved me from the bandits whose bodies lay in the alley." Her stomach churned as she remembered the murders and she tried hard not to vomit.

Bastian rose and Mira felt something she hadn't felt for a while now; safety. Bastian used to just be a soldier in the army but, due to his accomplishments in the Distro wars, Empress Thyra, known then as Queen Thyra, had bestowed upon him the title of queen's blade. That was years ago, before Mira had even been born. The old man had been by her side forever. She finally noticed Eddy as he walked up to her.

He pulled her into a crushing embrace. "I was so worried about you. Dummy, I told you so many times not to wander off alone."

Mira started smiling and pulled him tight. "Thanks, Eddy. Sorry, it won't happen again, I promise."

"Yeah, right," Eddy said with a laugh as he pulled away. "What happened, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll tell you about it all later," Mira promised.

"So... does this mean I can go?" Nicolo asked.

She had forgotten all about the bandits and turned to see that they still had their hands up. Slick looked at her with a perplexed expression. She remembered how adamant he was on her not being the crown daughter and she shot him a smirk of victory.

Bastian got in between Nicolo and Mira and unsheathed his sword, as if protecting her. "You're Nicolo Dyre aren't you?" Bastian said.

Nicolo sighed. "Being infamous is such a bother."

"Stop it, Sir Bastian," Mira said.

Bastian stiffened for a moment, looking Nicolo in the eyes before sheathing his blade. Nicolo smirked and put his hands down, as did Slick. "The Empress will want to talk to you two," said Bastian.

"What if we don't want to talk to the Empress?" said Slick.

"You don't have a choice," said Bastian, hand on his sword.

"Lighten up old man, jeez. Can't we all just get along?" Nicolo asked.

"I don't get along with cut-throats," Bastian growled. He spoke as if the very thought mortified him.

Nicolo, to Mira's surprise, laughed. "Well let's go, wouldn't want to keep her imperial majesty waiting." Slick shot him a questioning look. So did Mira. Remembering how he dispatched that bandit would haunt her dreams for nights to come. She shuddered just thinking about it. This was a man to be feared. She watched Eddy step up to Slick and a river of dread flowed through her entire body.

He looked him straight in the eyes before throwing a fist at Slick's jaw. It connected with a thud and Slick staggered back a moment before lunging back. It seemed to Mira like time slowed for a moment. A flashback hit her like a tidal wave. She remembered the look he gave her after Nicolo killed that bandit. It was... relief. He was happy a man died and knowing that filled Mira with something in between fear and contempt.

Just before Slick rushed Eddy, Nicolo grabbed him by his collar and pulled him down to the concrete. "Whoa there, mate. No need for that, let's save it for another day."

"You bastard. If anything worse had happened to her, I would've killed you on the spot," Eddy growled.

Mira gingerly grabbed his shoulder. "Leave it, Eddy."

Nicolo looked up at Eddy as he held Slick back and what Mira saw in his eyes made her shiver. "Best listen to her, Eddy."

Eddy was about to say something but seemed to think better of it before spinning on his heels. "Let's go, Mira. I have a carriage ready for us."

Mira just nodded, happy to be going home after her long day. She remembered how much she wanted to get out of the palace. Now she wanted nothing more than to return. Her little adventure had worn her out more than she thought and she felt the fatigue hit all at once.