Fraud Queen

Chapter 1

The cloak of an old ranger's title lingered around the girl's back with its cowl covering her every facial feature. Perched on top of the low rooftop, she watched the knights of the town, one closest to the castle of Dalen, enter the streets. The glint of two swords appeared by her sides as she leapt down behind them with practiced grace. Foolish, are such beings- allowing themselves to be puppets for nobles, she thought with a smirk as she stabbed her swords into the throats of two. Soundless. They collapsed into a metal armored heap as she drew her swords out of their fleshy necks. The color of crimson blood began to stain the steel armor they wore as their killer looked away. She stepped away from them, disliking the smell of soiled armor and fresh blood. Along with the clattering, the four others turned to face her as she shook her hood off, revealing the unnatural, dark shade of blue hair. Smirking, she watched them grasp the hilt of their swords in preparation to attack. She adjusted her stance, more stable and agile to strike back before they could. Her swords quickly slashed towards them, but they had quicker reflexes than she thought humanely possible. In an instant, she had lost her swords amongst the battle and had blades pointed at her throat, gut, heart, and skull. In the dark, her hair covered the majority of her left eye as she glared at them. Then she laughed mockingly, moving so her hair moved away from her face, her gold and blue eyes looking at his with a challenge.

"Are you afraid?" She asked calmly, amused at the sight of two of the men hesitating. One knight pressed the point of his sword against her throat gently with care. Hot, boiling blood trickled down the girl's throat as she laughed again, hiding fear, and her tone dark. "Amusing."

He growled at her, looking at her eyes. Before anything could happen, the sound of weaponry flew through the air. Choo-om! Choo-om! Choo-om! Choo-om! The swords fell to the ground along with a grand total of six corpses. The girl adjusted her cloak and stepped over the knights, looking at where arrows had pierced them in the neck and below the skull. (One of the few weak spots in the armor nowadays.) Retrieving her weapons, she called out with a sigh.

"Ze, what sort of aim was that?!" Just then, a boy, nor more than the age of twelve, came forth with a cherubic grin. He slung the bow over his shoulder, the quiver of arrows keeping it from falling over. His coppery hair was hidden in a pale grey part of a hood, the shadows cascading over his colorless eyes. His youthful features held the strength of a full grown man, though it was through his scrawny shape he shrugged.

"I tried," he complained. "Staris, you would've been dead had I taken any longer, alright?"

She rolled her eyes and slid her bloodied blades back into their sheaths. I could care less and I should've killed the knights faster. Staris stood up tall and began to stride into the streets. Her gaze looked around the busy town streets and waited, trying to see if Ze was following. He appeared by her side as they walked among the townspeople. They kept their weapons hidden, as well as possible, for they could- and would- raise suspicion.

"My goodness," she sighed. "How much slower can people walk?" She moved through the crowd and heard a shrill scream. Staris smirked as Ze had flinched. She kept walking in thought. They must've seen the dead knights. Ze glanced around in hesitation as Staris rolled her eyes once again. She went inside a tavern with Ze behind her.

It was full of people, laughing with sly grins, and many who lingered along the edge of the streets. She took a seat near the bar; Ze sitting obediently beside her. Staris ordered a drink, non-alcoholic of course (but what did it matter?), as she glanced around. Ze spoke freely amongst the crowd, giving a sweet smile. She crossed her legs and caught her drink as it skidded down the bar table. Taking the glass to her lips, she listened around, though nothing seemed to interest her. It seemed as if her mind wandered freely. The shouts of laughter and surprise filled the air, but Staris didn't seem to notice. She twirled the now empty glass in her hand as she closed her eyes for

a moment. She rolled her shoulders back in thought.

Tonight, we head to the Dalen Castle once more, only a few more days till I get revenge for what they have done. They will give me the answ-

Staris' thoughts didn't last longer than a few moments. Her train of thought broke when she watched Ze get punched in the face by a girl her age. Hard.

Ze let out a large swear and cradled his bottom jaw in surprise. He glared at the girl in front of him as Staris watched in simple amusement. The girl had mostly short red hair as her hazel eyes looked at him blankly. Armored in silver steel and chain mail, the red fabric she wore underneath barely visible, and her hair up in a regal style. She looked at Ze as if he were a lower being.

"Why'd ya' punch me?" He mumbled through his swelling jaw in anger. Around them, the noise had seemed to die out, the people within the tavern leaning closer to hear what is going on.

"You guys have blood all over you. I'm no idiot," she began as Staris stood up.

"Ah, who doesn't?" Staris smirked slyly. "Plus, pawns are simply pawns. Soldiers die and that's it."

Ze looked at Staris. I really wonder what side you are on, he thought.

"That's cold, but I should expect that from a foolish minor," the girl said. Staris chuckled and leaned forward a bit. Around her, the noise seemed to fade out as Staris said.

"You're less than a minor- wearing cheap armor and pretending to be a knight of the new, wretched Dalen is useless. I, however, can beat you to a pulp in seconds." The tavern gasped in surprise and awe due to her ignorance. Staris ignored them, she didn't need to know who her opponent was other than it was an opponent. She stood back up as she looked at the tavern. "Get on with your daily lives. I don't need people watching my every move."

Immediately, people returned to their conversations as she allowed herself a smile. The girl in front of them became enraged as she stepped forward. "Do not test me, lowlife."

Staris chuckled and pointed a fork she grabbed from a random plate at her throat. "I don't give a care."

And so, fighting commenced.

_________________________________________________________________________________

The redhead grabbed Staris's wrist and twisted it behind her. A feeling of pain shot through her as Staris made a low growling sound and yanked her arm quickly away. Staris turned sharply to face her and took a step forward, kicking her heel into the back of the girl's knee. Immediately, roars and bets were being shouted through the tavern as the so-said knight fell to her knees.

"So, Mighty Knight of Dalen," Staris started mockingly. "Who is the lowlife?" The person before her, crumpled on her knees didn't utter a word. Her hands curled up into fists as her knuckles grew white. The strands of deep red hair covered her features as Staris began to frown. "Hey, ya' listenin'?"

A dark aura temporarily appeared around the girl as she let out a cruel laugh.

"Is this supposed to be painful?" She asked calmly and got to her feet. Staris blinked just as a fist met her jaw, causing her to stagger back in surprise. The girl grasped the side of Staris's cloak and yanked her forward as a punch met her gut. Staris made a small grunt of irritation and ducked her head out of the cloak, the fabric deeming itself useless. The fist battle raged on, until, of course, one fell. The opponent of Staris fell to her knees as Staris wiped a drop of blood from a cut on her cheek.

"Simple," she stated as she turned to leave. "Ze, let's get going!" Her hand grabbed her cloak from the floor as she turned away from the knight. She opened the tavern doors and headed down the streets with a calm stroll.

Her eyes darted around the streets as she hastily made way to a path leading out of the town they were into another, this one closer to the castle, but longer. Ze trailed after her, his jaw bruising slightly.

"Who the heck was that?" Staris asked with a scowl.

"How should I know, Star?" He asked and skipped ahead. Staris followed with a sigh. So simple is a fight, Staris thought. Most are pointless.