I apologise for this story, it's only going to be relevent if you've read the
previous three, but unfortuantly I needed some character and plot development.
Next one will be an actual story I promise.
An Aftermath
The room Hale and Krissy shared was a small one, and tended to be further from
anywhere else than it had any right to be. Krissy presumed this was just to
annoy Hale, though had been surprised that it wasn't the guy assigning the
quarters that was to blame but the building itself. It seemed to like her
though, or at least took pity on Kristin, as within a few dozen yards of
corridor she found herself at her front door.
Good thing too as after the bandit raid, the rush back to town to save Jan,
and, of course, another long match through the snow with a caravan, all Krissy
wanted to do was curl into a ball and sleep for the next week. She ducked to
get through the door and ignored Hale sitting on his bed for a moment, but that
was okay because he didn't react to her either, just stayed sitting cross
legged, staring into space.
"Look," Krissy began, then stopped and grumbled to herself, slipping off her
sword and hanging it on a hook on the back of the door.
"I know you're-" She stopped again. Still not right.
There was blood on her hands, and not the metaphorical kind. Krissy had tried
rinsing, scrubbing and even succumbed to using soap but she had a lot of fur.
Tiger stripes covered it up pretty well though.
Krissy shrugged off the remnants of her armour and dropped boneless to the
ground in front of the fire. Who cared if that's just what the animal half of
her would do, it was comfortable, and after so long in the cold a welcome
relief.
The fire crackled, ignorant of the stony silence stretching between the room's
occupants. Krissy broke first.
"I killed a man two days ago," she said, staring into the flames.
Whatever Hale had been expecting it wasn't that. "What?" he exclaimed, leaping
to his feet. "Who, where, when?"
"He's dead Hale, he's not coming after us," Krissy rumbled, rolling onto her
stomach and loosing a bit more humanity as she flowed into a more comfortable
shape.
"Okay then, why?" Hale snapped. "I mean, who was after you?"
"No one was after me," Krissy sighed. "They were bandits, I was escorting a
caravan. Two and two make four."
"But..." Hale protested, his world view spinning. "You won?" That wasn't right.
Without him Krissy was supposed to be vulnerable. He was her protector. That
was what he promised.
"Yeah," Krissy replied, not noticing the mental turmoil going on beside her.
"No need to sound so surprised. It was just a quick whack to the side of the
head with Bloodfall and it was over."
"Bloodfall?" Hale inquired. "Your sword."
"Yep, and you can see where I did it, the bastard wont wash clean." She snarled
at the sword which, not to anyone's surprise, didn't react. The handle still
appeared to be soaked in blood though Krissy knew it was just boasting.
Okay, that was something Hale could deal with, and trying not to look too eager
to reach solid ground he grabbed the sword from its scabbard.
"Ow!" he exclaimed as he cut his finger and dropped the weapon.
"Oh just ignore it, he can't do anything serious," Krissy sighed, stretching.
"You know you shouldn't let magic items get away with murder like that," Hale
continued, picking up the sword with a bit more caution and a moment later
realised what he'd said as the big cat tensed.
"Sorry," he amended, and sat back down on his bed, sword laid across his knees.
"Want me to take a look at this?" he inquired. "Make sure it doesn't have any
nasty curses on ow!"
Hale sucked at another gash and Krissy huffed, the closest she could get to a
laugh in that form.
"Bloodfall, behave," she chided, rolling her eyes.
"I don't think it's that complex," Hale said after a moment, opening his mage
sight and staring into space as his hands ran down the length of the blade.
"Let's see, it's not the most intricate working ever. Spelled to stay sharp,
not to snare in things, there's one here just to make it look creepy... Ah here
we go. It's linked to you and that spells got knotted up with all the others,
probably why it seems to have a bit of personality."
"A link?" Krissy inquired. "That's not good is it?"
"Depends why it's linked really," Hale admitted, pressing down on the hilt as
he tried to unpick the mass of weavings. "Oh cool. That's pretty useful
actually."
"What's use-" Hale swung the sword in a short overhand blow and Krissy's eyes
widened just as the blade rapped her across the nose.
"Argh, Hale!" she protested, leaping to her feet and clutching at her muzzle.
"What the hell are you..." She petered out as she took a paw from her face and
found it clean of blood. "Okay," she said, frowning as she realised that she
was uninjured. "What the hell?"
"It doesn't cut its owner," Hale explained, handing Bloodfall back to Krissy.
"Nice, no?"
Krissy sighed. "Great, that means it's valuable. Now I'm going to have to learn
a new sword."
"It's not that special," Hale said, shrugging. "And they did give it to you to
use anyway. Besides half the swords in the keep are enchanted and some much
better than that hack joargh!"
Hale leapt back as the sword leapt from Krissy's grip and took a thin slice out
of his hand.
"Bastard piece of scrap metal!" Hale exclaimed, clutching his hand as Krissy
grabbed the sword out of mid air.
"I don't think he likes you," Krissy said, rolling her eyes and went to put
Bloodfall back in its scabbard.
"Who, me or the sword?" Hale snapped.
"Works either way," she replied, and sighed again. "So there weren't any mind
control spells on him?"
Hale shrugged. "Sorry. It may have been a little eager, but whatever you did
was all you. Sorry."
Krissy sank onto her own bed and let out a sad rumble and Hale went to sit next
to her.
"Look," he began, after watching Krissy absentmindedly toying with the fur on
her arm for too long. "I've been there. The first guy I killed so had it
coming, but even so I couldn't look at myself for a week."
Hale reached up and draped an arm round his sister's shoulders; he could only
just reach, and for a moment entertained the notion of scratching her between
the ears. His survival instincts stopped him. Humanity hadn't survived by
cuddling up to predators.
"I just want to say what you feel is normal," he continued as Krissy remained
as unresponsive as a rock. "Everyone feels guilty when they kill someone, even
if they didn't have a choice. You just have too-"
"I'm not guilty," Krissy interrupted. "Well, I am, but not because I killed
him. We both went into that fight knowing one of us would die. We were both
good fighters. We both wanted to be the one standing at the end. There was no
other way it was going to end."
"Sounds like you're having a better time than my first then," Hale admitted.
"Who was the first person?" Krissy asked, taking Hale by surprise.
"Lordling," Hale muttered after a long moment.
"Ah, well that explains why we left home in such a rush," Krissy sighed.
"Remind me of that when we go..." She looked back down at her paws. "Back.
Bugger."
"Look," Hale said, trying to distract her. "If you say you don't feel guilty
that's great and if you had a nice honourable fight to appease your conscience
that's even better. The nobles talk a load of crap about fair fights but I hear
they're good for letting you sleep at night."
"I just can't stop feeling that it's not right that I'm fine with this," Krissy
sighed. "And on the other hand I keep wondering if I'm fine with it because I'm
a predator now."
"You thought humans weren't predators?" Hale inquired, and was the picture of
innocence when Krissy shot him a nasty look. "On a more serious note, it sounds
like you're feeling guilty about not feeling guilty about killing someone."
"No," she protested, then thought about that for a moment. "Maybe. I don't
know. I never expected to grow up to be a half tiger monster."
"If you had, I would be worried," Hale admitted, and Krissy gave him a playful
punch that sent him sprawling.
"Anyway," he continued, when he'd dusted himself off. "I've only got the advice
that Dad gave to me after my first kill. 'I'm glad that you lived'."
Krissy huffed again. "Yep, that sounds like Dad."
"Well the old guy knows his stuff," Hale said, shrugging and they descended
into an uneasy silence.
"I miss them," Krissy said, sighing.
"Me too."
There was a sudden knock on the door and both of them jumped.
"Hale Ridgeway?" a currier enquired, letting herself in. "I have a summons from
the Duke."
"What?" the man and tiger exclaimed.
"He requests your presence," she elaborated. "With all speed if you can, he is
a busy man." And with that the currier left.
"Oh Haley, what did you do this time?" Krissy sighed, dropping her head into
her hands.
"Tried to save someone's life," Hale admitted, not meeting her eye, and Krissy
looked up in surprise. That was new. Hale's usual pattern was showing off, or
being light fingered, or punching people in the back of the head. It depended
on which one he got the opportunity to do first.
"Did you manage-?" she began.
"No," Hale snapped.
"Okay, how bad a reveal was it?" Krissy pressed, gripping the bridge of her
nose. A task made much easier these days.
Hale sighed. "I leapt leagues in a single bound. Then I did it a couple more
times. Then I transported a dead body back here."
"Why?" Kristin groaned.
"Tied to save someone's life," he echoed. "I'm not very good at it."
"Me neither," Krissy sighed, and stood. "Okay, I'll get packing. Maybe this guy
hasn't already alerted the guards.
"No," Hale murmured, and Krissy froze mid step.
"Hale, last time you did something this big we had the King's Own regiment
after us," Krissy replied.
"We can't run," Hale said in a deadpan tone. "We gave up that option when we
stayed in this bloody valley."
"Look Hale," Krissy said, grabbing her sister, now brother, by the shoulders.
"I said that when we could still hide. Let's go, before they close the gates."
"No, I need to do something," he murmured, pushing her away and standing.
"Let's see what this guy wants."
The Duke's study was down the hall and on the left and the keep seemed to be in
a bit of a hurry as within three turns they came across the Duke's guards.
After a brief exchange where Krissy handed over her great sword and Hale handed
over the more obvious of his weapons then we let inside.
"Hale Ridgeway isn't it?" the Duke inquired from his seat behind an old oak
desk, pilled high with books and scrolls. "And Kristin Ridgeway, I hear you're
to be commended on you defence of our caravan. Do take a seat."
Hale rolled his eyes, snorted and slouched into one of the low chairs in front
of the desk. Krissy followed, curtsying as she approached, and took a much more
reserved posture.
"Thank you sir," she murmured.
"You are most welcome," he continued, smiling. It was quite a large smile, but
that was too be expected from a horse morph. "Now, Hale," he began, rounding on
the boy who did his best not to scowl. "You didn't tell us you were a mage."
"I am not a mage," Hale snapped. Krissy slapped herself on the forehead as the
Duke frowned. That did not bode well.
"Sorry," Hale amended, not looking it. "Touched a nerve."
"Well, did you or did you not teleport the body of scout Lesley back to the
keep?"
Hale's eye's flickered for a moment before he locked down on his guarded scowl.
"Yes I did," he muttered. "And in answer to the next battery of questions. No,
I have no idea how I do it. No, I can not transport people, though blasted
corpses seem to be fine. And no, I am not willing to undergo six months of very
learned men pouring over my aura for the faintest hit as to why I can ignore
wards."
There was a long pause, and Krissy glanced over her shoulder to see the two
guards had taken a couple of steps forwards during Hale's tirade. She didn't
blame them.
"You've done this before," the Duke observed.
"Enough that we usually just skip this stage and start running," Krissy sighed.
"You have a pattern?" he asked, surprised.
"I think we've pissed off every land owner on the continent," Krissy admitted.
"Well, by proxy at least."
"Yeah, and if they couldn't figure me out, what chance does this backwater
have?" Hale snapped.
There was a half second's pause while everyone realised what he'd just said and
Krissy groaned. Well, it was better than last time Hale had tried to negotiate
with a noble. He'd managed to stay respectful for over ten seconds this time.
"I wonder why you haven't left yet," the Duke mused.
"Your curse is quite an effective trap," Hale admitted, leaning back in his
chair. Krissy sighed again. Now he was just trying to get a rise.
"Well, if you won't let us examine you, will you at least let us use your
power?" the stallion pressed. "I'm sure George could use someone who can travel
instantly."
"I already have a job," Hale shot back.
"No, you don't," the Duke corrected. "You in fact don't do anything around
here. So I'm ordering you to report to the master of scouts."
"Take the deal, take the deal," Krissy thought to herself, hoping that maybe
Hale would read her thoughts or come to his senses. Neither looked likely.
"On whose authority?" Hale said, leaning on the desk and grinning.
A mailed glove landed hard on his shoulder but Hale didn't even flinch.
"These are my lands," the Duke warned. "The authority is mine."
"The stick's only impressive if yours is bigger," Hale explained, and
flickered. A moment later he was leaning on the door as casual as man waiting
for a stagecoach. "Are you quite sure about that?"
"Hale!" Kristin roared, holding out an arm as the startled boy popped out of
existence and she snatched his arm, dragging him close, as he re-materialised
right beside her. "We. Have. Nowhere. To. Run."
Hale's jaw worked in silent fury as he faced down his sister.
"You are getting the same treatment any resident of the keep would receive in
this situation," the Duke interjected, having calmed down somewhat.
"Then treat me as I deserve," Hale shot back, and left the tiger clasping at
nothing but air. Kristin swore.
"The arrogance of that man," the Duke murmured, as Krissy slumped.
"Okay guys, I'll come quietly," she sighed, holding out her wrists for the
manacles.
"Part of the pattern again?" the Duke asked, as none of the guards made a move.
"What happens next?"
"I get arrested, get held under custody in various conditions," she explained,
listing off the steps on her fingers. "Hale figures out a way in, cuts a bloody
swathe through the guards and we escape into the moonlight, possibly starting a
fire on our way if things go badly."
"Well we don't want that to happen," he said waving the guards away. "Come sit,
I'll order us some tea."
Somewhat bemused Krissy sat and waited in silence while a servant brought in a
tea set and poured each of them a cup.
"So," the Duke began, sipping at his drink. "Do you think your brother will see
reason?"
"He's already reached his version of reason," Krissy sighed. "But he'll make a
deal. He won't abandon me."
"So sure?"
"Hey," the tiger snapped. "She's been looking out for me since before I was
born, from village bullies to emperors."
"No offence implied I'm sure," he said. "But it occurs to me, that if Hale has
been protecting you for that long then he had to have been using that power of
his for the same length of time."
Krissy frowned at him. "Sharp," she muttered, taking a cup in an oversized paw
and sipping.
"You don't last long as a noble without being observant," he replied.
"I've met a few that would argue different," Krissy sighed. "But yeah, Hale's
being popping around since he was about four."
"That makes it inherent then," the Duke mused.
"Um..."
"He was born with it," he explained. "He's not just learned a spell. Which
really just raises further questions."
"Dad was an adventurer," Kirssy began after a long moment. They needed the
trust, and spilling the beans would buy them at least some, she hoped. "A good
one too because he actually retired. And he was a real sword and sorcery hero,
reckons he got hit by more magic in his career than a high wizard, so it had a
bit of a side effect when he finally had kids."
"Which gave rise to Hale, correct?"
"Yep, and then you get a kid who doesn't even realise the world may hurt her,"
Krissy muttered, chewing her lip. "Of course, the fact that it actually doesn't
just adds insult to injury. Sorry, I'm kind of whittering on aren't I?"
"It's no problem," he replied, finishing his tea. "I've just got a few more
questions if I might."
"Eh, your interrogation method beats the last Duke I met." She hid a shudder
with a hasty shrug. That guy's method of getting people to do what he wanted
was beating up defenceless girls. Well, he'd thought they were defenceless.
"Ask away."
"What can you do?" he pressed, and let loose a toothy grin as Krissy blanched.
"I didn't think Hale would be the only one to get something strange."
"I, make magic break," Krissy admitted, then glanced down at her paws. "Some
magic break."
"How so?"
"Not a clue," she sighed. "The local hedgewitch managed to turn every sheep in
the village green when she tried to cast a fever cure on me, and I defeated the
Mad Mage of Migglesworth by accident. Just, don't try magic on me. I'm a danger
to myself and everyone around me."
"Noted," he replied.
Krissy hoped he'd take her seriously. She didn't need another thousand or so
people caught in a sorcerous wildfire on her conscience.
"One last question then. Do you want to stay at Metamor?"
"Honest answer?" Krissy inquired.
"I'd prefer it," the Duke admitted, leaning back in his chair.
"No," she replied, crossing her arms. "I'd leave in a minute if it wasn't for
the curse. But unless something comes along to change that, I'm stuck." She
rumbled in annoyance, ignoring the guards who took a step closer. "Now, do you
need anything else?"
"No that should be all," the Duke replied, smiling despite the large predator
sitting opposite him. "Now if you don’t mind, I have another engagement."
"No problem," Krissy said, standing and rolling her shoulders. "I'd better find
Hale before he does anything rash."
"We wouldn't want that," the Duke agreed. "Thank you for your time."
"Thank you for listening," Krissy said, and left.
"Hmm, I think we may need to keep an eye on them," the Duke murmured, after the
door had been shut, then went back to approving requisition forms.
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