The Reformation Wars: Countdown to Catastrophe

Chapter 2

Deté 38th, 995 A.D.

The vivid red door to an Innutukian tavern flung open to reveal the tall, handsome form of Captain Andre Feliz, champion swordsman of the Empire. He sported full black hair that ended at his strong jawline, and his skin, already tan due to his Marcocian ancestry, was even more so given his greater exposure to the sun. Unlike the other Innutukian military officers, who tended to maintain as much beard as they could while still keeping it groomed, he settled for a simple mustache and a line of hair descending to his chin.

Andre's lesser facial hair did nothing to diminish his masculinity, however. He strolled into the establishment with piercing brown eyes that caused men to avert their gazes out of intimidation and women to do the same for fear of their interest being discovered. His golden-hilted sword swung at his hip in its scabbard and his maroon cape flared out behind him as he wove around the full tables.

He approached the bartender with an intense gaze and leaned on the counter. "I'll have whatever my contact ordered. Speaking of which, where is he?"

"She ordered nothing, Captain." the wiry man replied. He pointed a slender finger into a shadowy corner on the other end of the tavern. "But she sat down there."

"I'll have a whiskey, then." Andre produced a handful of red elliptical coins. He slid them across the counter, and the bartender eagerly took them.

"You've been away for some time, Captain. I was beginning to wonder if my service had fallen beneath your standards."

Andre watched with serious eyes as the bartender found the whiskey bottle and a goblet. "I've been rather busy. A noose is being prepared for Monterayne's neck."

"I see. And I assume your peculiar guest here is a component of that weapon?"

"Precisely. Though I must confess some confusion over you declaring her feminine. She writes like a man."

The bartender snorted. "She fights like one, too. But I tell you, she speaks like a woman and walks like one too. Now, handle your business. You're holding up the line."

Andre nodded and took the goblet of whiskey. He made his way to the table the bartender had indicated, where his contact sat in a shadow so deep he could barely make out even her silhouette, let alone any details. Once he set his whiskey down on the table with a clunk, she leaned forward, revealing a feminine form covered in a black cloak. The garment's hood concealed all but the very tip of her pale nose. A few dozen arrows peeked out from behind her left shoulder.

"I've anticipated this meeting for some time now, Black Crow." Andre said cautiously as he took a seat. He folded his hands and propped his elbows up on the table. "I hope wading through all your mysteries will prove a profitable gamble on my part."

"My reputation is well earned." the cloaked woman replied simply. Her Danlashian accent, quickly identifiable by her elongation of all E's, caused Andre to raise an eyebrow.

"Well, I assume you would prefer to get straight to business, and so would I. I have some military operations in the works that could finally turn the tide in Innutuk's warfare with Monterayne. But I foresee their knights getting in my way, and I can't have that."

"So you want them killed. And you're hiring me to do it."

Andre took a swig of his whiskey down with a grimace. "You're a perceptive one. Yes, I need them out of the way."

"How many of them are there?"

"Well, of course Monterayne wouldn't provide us with numbers, but with all the changes they made in the knightly order, many departed. I estimate something around eighty men, give or take."