The Reluctant Champion

Colden

"I tell you that we are a mission from the Temple of the Hidden God and we have free pass throughout this realm!" Sanessa repeated imperiously.

"You don't say," replied the soldier, bored. "That's nice. It's not in my orders, though, so you're out of luck."

"There's never been a barrier on this road!"

"Tch. But there is one now." The soldier hitched his elbows on the gate that stretched across the turnpike and leaned back against it comfortably. "Listen, ducks, you're going about this all wrong. You screech at me, you remind me of my wife, understand? You don't want that, now do you? Puts me in a terrible mood."

Lidah, in the wagon, was ready to scream with impatience. They had been traveling as fast as the horses could stand for two days, and were—if Sanessa was correct—no more than an hour or two from the city now. But here on this final stretch of road, they had met a checkpoint. The road was blocked, and the soldiers were allowing none but those with official passes through. Even the farmer ahead of them, carrying cabbages to market, had been allowed through only after showing a pass and having it and his load inspected.

They, of course, had no pass, and no amount of argument or explanation could convince the guard that he should make an exception for them. And every minute's delay grated over Lidah's skin like sandpaper. The Abbess' impatience had entered her—she could imagine the conferences, the intrigues, that were going forward in the king's palace now. And she was kept here, helpless to intervene.

Impulsively, she jumped down from the wagon and strode over to the soldier, depending on a lifetime of acting the princess to give her assurance.

"Corporal!" she said, casting a quick eye over his armor, making a guess at his rank, and increasing it a grade. "We have urgent business in the capital and even now it may be too late. Come now: all orders require the interpretation of intelligent men or the state cannot function." (This was one of her father's favorite sayings.) "Act on your judgment and let us pass. We pledge to register with your superiors as soon as we reach the city." Seeking an audience with the king would fulfill that pledge.

The soldier did not show any marked evidence of intelligence, but his manner softened and he leered at her.

"Now ducks, see how the little lady does it," he said to Sanessa. And to her, "Aren't you a charmer? You should have come asking yourself from the first."

"Then you'll let us through? I thank you."

"Let you through? Oh, I don't know." The soldier leered again, this time at her. "That's a terrible danger you're asking me to put myself in. And for what? What little favor might you give me for such trouble?"

Lidah curled a nostril involuntarily as she stared at the man. "You would help a traveler in need," she replied. "Is that not enough?"

"Cold comfort, lovey, when you're cleaning out latrines," replied the soldier. "Come, give me a kiss to remember you by and we'll see about the gate."

Lidah took a step backwards.

"Oh, no getting away!" said the man, stepping forward quickly. "One kiss you owe me."

Lidah knew she was being foolish, even while she acted. Had she been less tired, worried, frustrated, and impatient she would certainly have done differently; she might even have given the soldier his kiss as the fastest way through the gate. But she was tired, and she had gone through much, and she had little patience at any time for other people's games.

The soldier stepped forward, reaching to grab her shoulders and pull her to him, lowering his head to press his mouth to hers. She stepped forward into his embrace. And he froze in mid-motion, ludicrously, head at an awkward angle and arms outstretched, eyes crossing in their attempt to get a good look at the dagger she pressed to his neck. She pressed hard, flat side on, to be sure he felt it. The point jabbed into the soft skin at the corner of his jaw.