Midori walked out of the back of the inn into the courtyard of
'The Drunken Bard', her short black hair swept back from her face
casually. She wore simple cotton garb, loose, comfortable clothes
perfect for the morning's work. With a soft hiss she drew her sword from
the black sheath, standing there on the rain dampened stones.
'The city smells clean,' Midori found herself thinking to
herself sadly, 'too bad it won't last.'
Sword raised she began, moving gracefully through the stylized
poses of her style of combat. Midori battled silently against an
invisible opponent, footing sure and eyes clear, her speed increasing as
she continued on. In the end her sword was a silver blur, real danger in
her motions before she came to a halt in the same pose she had begun in.
Softly clapping her hands a blonde emerged from the shadows, the
elegant woman smiling slightly if a bit coldly. "I should come by here
more mornings," Lady Jane noted, her fine gown swirling around her legs,
"to see such a thing."
Midori slid the sword away, calmly noting the lady's bodyguard
who was standing nearby in the concealment of the shadows. "I'm sorry
you had to leave so quickly last night," she said dryly, "it was all
quite entertaining."
A bit of a flush appeared on Jane's cheeks but she met Midori's
eyes steadily. "I wanted to apologize to you for leaving like that," she
said, "and I hope you didn't get into too much trouble."
"No trouble," Midori shook her head with a slight smile, "I had
a bard as well as the master of the bar to speak for me."
"Then I'm glad," Jane flashed her a warmer smile, the
unobtrusive bodyguard waiting patiently for her to finish.
'The boy's a professional,' Midori found herself noting and
wondering again who this young noblewoman was. "If you'll excuse me, I
haven't breakfasted yet," Midori said crisply, and with that she turned
and walked away.
"You just left her there?" Garrison blurted out, dishing her up
a bowl of the thick morning porridge he made for all the guests. "She
even came by when you were not at work, there's obviously interest
there," he grumbled.
Midori smiled wryly, taking in the heavily muscled man who was
sitting down across from her. Despite his tough exterior the bar's owner
really reminded her of one of the old grandmothers from back home, a
unapologetic gossip.
"I'm sure that she had her own reasons to be out here," Midori
calmly answered him, eating some of the steaming porridge.
"Oh come on," Garrison protested.
"And even if she sought me out," Midori pointed out, "it may not
be for the reasons you think." She frowned thoughtfully, "This is not
the part of town that a noble lady like that should be visiting and I
don't like the smell of it."
"You really don't want that pretty little blonde attracted to
you?" Garrison asked with an impish little smile.
Midori felt herself blush slightly and decided to change the
subject. "Commander Hudson asked me to visit the barracks today," she
said, "when do you think you'll need me back here?"
"You in trouble?" Garrison asked with a frown.
"Na," Midori shook her head firmly, "from what he said last
night I think he's just curious about me." She smiled, "I figure I
should go satisfy that curiosity before he starts asking around with
inconvenient questions."
"Just watch yourself," Garrison said seriously, "he's not just
some political appointee. That man knows his business."
"Think he wants to recruit me?" Midori raised an eyebrow. She
had been thinking just that earlier, but she'd like to hear Garrison's
opinion on the older officer.
"More than possible," Garrison agreed. He smiled wryly as he
looked at her, "I won't be pleased if he snatches away the best bouncer
I've had in ages."
"There's not much he can offer me that I'd join the army,"
Midori said seriously, "I much prefer being a free sword, thanks."
Garrison looked around the room, noticing the early risers
finally stirring from their beds. "I've got to get to work," he said,
"watch yourself, all right?"
"I always do," Midori gave him a half salute as he walked off to
get the maids to work.
She finished up eating Garrison's porridge in a few moments,
slipping away to go to her room under the roof. It was a bit too small
for guests but Midori found it comfortable enough. Her things were
mostly packed away in a small trunk at the end of the bed, a few items
of clothes handing from the tilted roof. She stripped her light clothes
off, grabbing a robe before heading down into the baths for a quick
morning wash.
"Oh," one of the working girls from last night moved to get out
of the steaming wooden tub but Midori waved her back to her seat. She
took a soap sliver and rag and scrubbed herself clean, then Midori
smoothly climbed into the water.
"Yes?" Midori asked, feeling the girl's gaze on her.
"Seeing you at work in the bar," the redheaded girl was blushing
faintly, looking at Midori's smaller but well shaped breasts, "I
sometimes forget you're a woman."
"Disappointed?" Midori asked casually, feeling the gentle heat
of the water ease the pain of the old scars that covered much of her
slim body.
She rose from the water, the liquid cascading down her slim but
beautiful form. "No, I'm not disappointed at all," she said with a
smile, climbing out so that she passed Midori. She stood beside the
great tub, a bit of her gentle scent remaining despite the water as she
said, "If you ever want company, ask around for Angela."
Midori watched her go, for once struck silent. 'If I ever tell
Garrison about this,' she thought as she settled back with a sigh, 'I'll
never hear the end of it.' She stayed in the waters for a bit, then rose
to dry herself off and pull her rose back around her.
Dressing in her room Midori chose her clothes with care. She
didn't want to be too formal, but she didn't want to disrespect the
commander, either. Finally she pulled on her work clothes, the heavy
wool shirt, leather pants and tough vest, reasoning that it was as close
to a uniform as she had. She hesitated over her sword a moment then
belted it around her waist, feeling oddly comforted by the weight of the
bastard sword on her hip.
Garrison returned her wave with a grave nod as she headed out
the front door of the inn out onto the street. The clean scent of this
morning had already begun to give way to the day, horse shit, food and
other odors all mixing in the city air.
Midori nodded her greetings to nearby businesses as she
navigated the cobblestone streets, the wooden buildings rising up on
either side of her. The bread maker, wine merchant and others had come
to know her pretty well over the past several months. She made her way
from the docks in to the city, angling towards the walls that shielded
the land side of this port town.
The castle rose up to the side of her and Midori paused for a
moment to take it in with a wry smile. Back home such things were
thought to be a waste of time, ultimately undefendable against a
determined adversary. Still, it was lovely to look at, the central
building with spires rising up on either side, bright flags flying.
The new Queen resided there, but how long she'd stay was
anyone's guess. Inheriting the throne from her brother was bad enough
but there was a list of nobles as long as her arm looking at this
kingdom longingly. The betting pools on the docks were popular, but
Midori hadn't placed any bets. Not out of any sense of loyalty, of
course, but simply because she didn't know if the armies would stand
behind the girl.
'Not that any of it's my business,' Midori firmly reminded
herself. The barracks weren't far from the castle, also not far from the
outer walls. 'At least they didn't build them right up against the
wall,' Midori mused, 'someone knocks that down they'd have been dead.'
In front of the large barracks buildings a group of young men
cleaned the streets, heavy brushes and soapy water being used to scrub
the stones clean. One looked up as she neared and she recognized him as
one of the fools from last night.
Obviously he recognized her, too, as he growled, "You!"
"Good morrow," Midori nodded, giving him a dangerous smile. The
boy quieted almost immediately, all three noticing the sword she wore at
her side.
"Welcome," a soldier stood guard by the building's entrance,
looking her over thoughtfully. He obviously found it odd to see a woman
carrying a sword, but the blonde boy didn't comment on it as he said,
"How can I help you?"
"My name is Midori, Commander Hudson asked to see me," Midori
said to the guard crisply, meeting his gaze defiantly.
The young man stood straighter, slightly, as he said, "Yes
ma'am, he left word." He waved to a page crossing the hall and ordered,
"Escort her to the Commander's office."
"Sir," the page nodded, his red hair sweaty from exertion. The
boy was barely out of his teens, slim, but he moved with a gentle grace
as he said, "Come with me, ma'am."
The place was busy with noises, in one section she could hear
sword drills going on, another lectures to young men, and in another the
sound of heavy physical labor. The office wasn't that far in, the boy
announcing their presence as they reached the wooden door.
"Come in," the Commander sighed and Midori headed in. The office
was mostly empty, a chair in front of the desk that the Commander sat
behind. He sorted papers, a fierce frown on his face as he worked.
"Welcome," he looked up, setting the sheets aside.
"You wanted to see me?" Midori asked, standing there calmly as
the page left.
"Attention!" Hudson snapped, command in his voice.
Midori jerked up in reflex, tossing off her people's flat handed
salute even before she realized what she was doing. She scowled,
bringing her hand down as she barked at him, "What in the hells was all
that about?!"
"I thought you were a soldier once," Hudson nodded thoughtfully.
Midori turned to leave as she snarled, "Not any more."
Before she was out the door Hudson quietly said, "I need your
help."
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