*Listen to the Audio*

Corrin shouted, people cried out and began to move but no one was close enough to stop him. Death was never an acceptable end to a duel.

Rill was moving before she realized it as Akerun began to speak. She had trained long to trust her instincts and her instincts moved her body now. She saw the intent in Akerun’s eyes and responded instantly. She reached him just as his sword was starting to fall. Slamming her diamond shield into Akerun with the full power of her legs behind the motion threw him back off his feet. He landed hard on his back, the breath whooshing from his lungs.

“You will not harm him.” She said, enunciating each word with calm certainty. That surprised her a little considering the furious fire that was raging inside her.

Akerun was stunned and unable to reply as he tried to get his wind back..

“I played your scapegoat as you wanted. It held the guild together and that’s all that really mattered to me. As long as I could remain in the guild, unmolested, I was satisfied.” Her heart quavered at the thought of being cut off as would surely be her punishment for her actions today. But her belly burned with fire and the heat of it drove her to speak her mind as she had never done before. It felt good. It felt right.

“But I will not let you kill an innocent man,” She said, her voice ringing out in the shocked silence. Continue reading →

*Listen to the Audio*

Giles was standing beside her in a flash. Everyone pulled out their weapons and readied to defend themselves. Akerun held up his hands. His weapons were sheathed. He was tall and stood with arrogance and an air of confidence that stemmed from the belief in his absolute authority. He wore matching red and black Cerian armor, a rare and expensive combination that no doubt had been subsidized by the guild’s coffers. He had a mocking smile painted across his face and his dark eyes were alight with a thirst for vengeance.

“She came to my officer meeting to confess her sins and beg forgiveness,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I threw her out of the meeting that instant. If it wasn’t for your lover, Bob, arguing so passionately for you, you wouldn’t even still be a member of this guild. He was so convinced you deserved another chance that even when we gave you your just punishment, stripping you of rank and vassals, he gave up all his rank as well to join you. Such a cute couple. All but exiled for your stupidity.”

Rill blushed with embarrassment and fury but she made no response.

“Rill made a mistake but it wasn’t deserving of the punishment you gave her,” Giles spat out. Rill disagreed but said nothing. She had made a small mistake yes, but that error had cost the guild too much. She only ever wanted to help and to know she had betrayed her guild and her monarch’s trust… No, her punishment was exactly right. She had forgiven Giles for what he had done with the information but she could not forgive herself for giving it to him in the first place. She was responsible for all the damage it had caused.

“Oh!” Akerun said, mock surprise on his face, “Have you captured yourself another lover? Someone to defend your precious, non-existent honor?” He pretended to squint at them though Rill knew he was able to see quite well in the darkness. Akerun gasped dramatically.

“Giles? Is that you? Oh my! Have you been under her spell this entire time? If you swear to abandon your lover, I might be willing to bring you back into the guild.”

It was a lie. Akerun would never let Giles rejoin. He was baiting them. Rill flexed her sword hand. She desperately wanted to wipe that smile off his face. He was taking this too far. But, she was not an officer anymore and only officers could bring a challenge the monarch. So she held her tongue and her sword arm in check. Continue reading →

*Listen to the Audio*

Rill stopped.

It was not just to catch her breath. They had come to a dead end. Her companions stopped with her, breathing heavily.

Behind them they could hear the shouts of their pursuers, echoing across the stone floors. Ahead of them was a cavernous empty room with no exit other than the one they just emerged from. Above them the ceiling was lost in blackness. The room was angular, with many nooks and crannies, except for the center of the room where the floor sloped downward to create a square reminiscent of an arena. The arena was surrounded by large pillars. They were deep underground. No windows lighted the room but glowing orbs were set into sconces randomly throughout the room.

They rested only a few moments. It was all the time they had to spare. Rill took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her heart was pounding. She was afraid. Not for herself but for her companions.

“Spread out and try the sconces first. Maybe there’s a secret passage.” She said. Secret passages were not uncommon in a citadel such as this but Rill didn’t think they would find one here.

They obeyed the order immediately even though she was neither their senior nor even a fellow guild mate to most. They simply saw the wisdom of her order. After a few minutes they gathered together again near a pillar in the back corner of the room. No luck.

“Put out this light,” Rill said, gesturing to the orb on the pillar nearest them. “Maybe we can fool them into thinking we are not in here. Hug the shadows.” Continue reading →