Heirs of power, p.14
Heirs of Power, page 14
part #1 of Constellation Series
The forges were already fired up for the day; the Guild created its own weapons and it was a lucrative business in itself. Displays of a myriad of deadly implements decorated every spare inch of space. They ranged from practical, everyday work blades to fantastical, purely aesthetic pieces. The workmanship put into every piece was stunning, and it was clear that the reputation of the Cavalliahs preceded them in each aspect of their combat-orientated world.
Kitty and Asher weren’t challenged as they crossed the outer part of the Guild territory, but found themselves constantly being interrupted by different hordes of salesmen. More than once The Archer found herself dissuading The Juggler from stopping to take a look at what was on offer… Apparently he had a soft spot for anything he could use to deadly effect.
“But she’s so pretty- look at these stunning little serrations… The man said they give maximum devastation. Maximum!” He emphasised, waving the third punch dagger he’d been offered a little too close to her face.
“We can come back another time,” She promised, prying the object from his grip and dragging him towards the main building.
Six men guarded the entrance: one either side of the door and four around a nearby table, playing cards. They looked not only strong and intimidating, but sharp and capable too. These were not the usual dumb muscle hired for guard duty, and there was no doubt that each of them had been personally trained by Darias. There was something in their demeanour and in how they moved that proclaimed them different and somehow superior.
It seemed there was no specified uniform for Guild guards, as the men had an array of different armour. The biggest man wore a thick chainmail vest, and most of the others sported plated pieces, with one wearing a leather outfit similar to Kitty’s. They were identifiable by their red-and-silver sashes- the Guild colours- which marked them as official members. The swords of each of the men had red and silver bands on the grip too.
“You two,” The leather-clad man said in a firm, authoritative voice. “What’s your business?”
The Constellations approached. Asher removed the envelope Serena had given them and showed it briefly to the guards.
“We need to see the Guild Master,” The Juggler told them, with no less authority in his own clear directive.
“Names?” The guard asked.
“Ben and Amy Fisher,” The Juggler replied.
“You aren’t the usual ones,” Came the accusation.
“Usual is predictable,” Asher shrugged.
“Who’s it from?”
“Would you like a closer look at the insignia?”
“I mean specifically, which individual sent you?”
Asher turned to Kitty, a look of annoyance just beginning to form on his features, “Amy, what does it say on the envelope?”
“‘For attention of the Guild Master only’,” She quoted.
“That’s the bit,” The Juggler affirmed, returning his attention to the vigilant watchman who stood in their way. “Now unless this is the kind of guild where the Master stands around making sure the door doesn’t get stolen, I’m pretty sure you’re not him.”
“Sorry, pal. I have the obligation and authority to question you until I’m satisfied,” The guard sneered.
“Believe me, my authority comes from a much higher place than yours, and if you don’t get us an audience with the Guild Master soon, I’ll be returning this document to my unnamed employer, along with a description of the small-minded individual who single-handedly ruined their carefully set-up plans of which the aforementioned individual’s brain was too tiny to comprehend the importance.”
Kitty’s heart skipped a beat. Why her colleague found it necessary to infuriate this poor man who was only doing his job- and a job that was beneficial to their cause if he did it well- she would never understand. She looked at the guard, trying to send a wordless apology and silently convince him to let them complete their assignment without any hassle.
“Look, we’ll find out from the Master if he wants anything to do with you,” The guard conceded. “Frank, you go.”
The biggest man opened the door and slipped inside with way more agility than a person of his size had any right to possess. Asher remained stood with his air of nonchalant confidence. If she hadn’t have seen him wear that same mask every day, Kitty would have thought that it was a façade to impress and warn off the watching soldiers.
After a short while, Frank was back with their answer, “He’ll see you.”
The leather-clad man waved them though, hiding his resentment remarkably well.
Frank marched them into the entry hall. The inside of the Guild was as functional and sturdy as its exterior. Weapon racks lined the walls, and comprised the only ornamentation in sight. The walls were bare stone lined with simple sconces, and lit all along despite it being daytime; the slim windows seemed to keep natural light at bay as if even that was an enemy.
The two Constellations were shown towards a door directly across from the one through which they had entered. The guard knocked heavily, and the booming sound echoed throughout the cavernous space. The door was opened promptly from inside and they were waved in. Their guide then left them in the hands of the men inside, and headed back to his post. Everything in this place worked slickly and efficiently: the right people in the right places and enough of them to deal easily with any unforeseen disruptions. Five men guarded this room alone- but then again, Kitty thought, it did contain the most important man in the building.
If Kitty had ever imagined a storybook hero, Darias fit the picture. The former Swordsman stood facing them, dwarfing the pair completely. He made even Asher look small, and The Juggler was one of the few people Kitty had to raise her head to speak to.
It wasn’t just Darias’ height that was overbearing, but being built like a small mountain added further to his imposing presence. He was the ideal masculine shape, with arms so big that Kitty doubted she could fit both hands around their width, complemented by his broad shoulders and tapered waist. The full armour only added to the effect, and he wore the solid heavy plates with the same ease that a normal man would bear a vest. His shoulder-length hair was tied back and shone bright blond with not a trace of grey despite being at least fifty years old, and his beard was the same, only with a slight reddish tinge. There was vigour and energy in his sky-blue eyes, with the beginnings of crow’s feet in their corners being the only indicators of his age. The handsome squared features of his youth still remained, and he carried an aura of power and competence along with the five-foot great sword strapped to his back. He stood in front of a large desk with a chair placed behind it that could easily double as a throne.
The original Constellation strode over, barely registering their presence, let alone identifying them as a threat. He took Serena’s letter from Asher’s hand without a remark and tore it open. He then seemed to look at them properly for the first time since they had entered the room, and a recognition flickered in his eyes as he scanned Kitty’s appearance.
“These are my guests,” Darias rumbled. He had the kind of voice that made him sound like it took a great effort to prevent his every word from becoming a bellow, “I’ll see them alone and no-one is to disturb us.”
A chorus of “Yes sir” emanated from the guards that were present, and one of them opened a side door for the Guild Master. It led into a smaller, plusher room containing a massive arm chair, several sofas and some surprisingly soft rugs. Darias ushered them in and placed himself down in the chair, laying his sword across his lap like a favoured pet.
Kitty took the sofa across from him, placing her bow on the floor. Asher sat next to her, slightly closer than was comfortable. She thought that he actually looked a little nervous, and was sitting and staring at his hands as if he was avoiding looking at their host.
“We are free to speak in this place. It is obvious to me that you, girl, are essentially a curvier Zander Fairlow. Well… slightly curvier anyway,” The Guild Master scoffed, and Kitty felt herself flush with embarrassment.
“So I can only assume that you are here for my son. Look at me, boy,” Darias commanded.
Kitty cringed inwardly, preparing herself for a torrent of The Juggler’s acidic wit. She doubted that anyone had got away with calling him boy in a long time. But to her utter astonishment, Asher simply obeyed, lifting his gaze and neutralising his expression.
“Huh, Grey eyes. Look innocent and hide a lot. Am I right?” Darias asked.
“Yes, sir. Quentin Grey was my father,” Asher said, dodging the question.
“Any more of your lot here?” The Guild Master said.
“We left The Dancer and The Astronomer outside,” Kitty informed him. “We wanted to draw as little attention as possible to ourselves.”
“Good. I don’t want to know anything and as soon as Lucian gets back, I want you gone quietly. I’ve built a life, a family and a business here and I don’t want the past coming back to rip it apart. I’ve done my part and I assure you, my son will do his.”
“Gets back? The Astronomer told us that he was here…” Kitty said.
“Lucian went into the city with some friends not long ago. I doubt it’ll be long before his return- a few hours at most.”
“Where? We need to find him,” Asher said.
“You can stay here until he arrives. We’re on good terms with Gilder Rose and I won’t have any incidents there that include members of my family,” Darias insisted firmly.
The Guild Master went over to a different door than the one through which they had entered, opened it and said something to yet another of his ever-present guardsmen.
“Up, you two,” He beckoned them over. “This is Charles, go with him. I have business to attend to.”
And without a backwards glance, let alone a goodbye, Darias Cavalliah left them in his halls and returned to his throne.
This was not how Kitty had expected the exchange to go. The Baybrooks had welcomed them with smiles and open arms. Other than her own father, Martin was the only original Constellation she had met and she had assumed that they would all have a certain amount of fondness for their successors. Then again, Zander hadn’t exactly been overjoyed to relive his days fighting the Tenebri, and so maybe some of the originals were just happy that that part of their life was over. Bringing it up probably hurt, especially knowing that it was their child who would be endangered next.
Then it suddenly struck her. My first child will have the same experience. Not that the thought had completely evaded her so far, but seeing the way in which each original had dealt with their child going off to fight in what was effectively a well-concealed war had made her consider what lay ahead for her too. It would be heart-wrenching when the day came that the next-generation of Constellations turned up at her door to take her and Luke’s child, with no knowledge of when or if they’d ever come back to her. Maybe the current Constellations would be able to conquer the enemy once and for all. Kitty was certainly willing to give all that she had in order to bring a permanent end to the conflict, and the idea of her children being able to live a normal life provided even more of an incentive.
“Come on then,” Said their new guard. He was more of a house guard, and was better polished and more refined than the men they’d seen outside. But he still had the same air of an individual who could kill an intruder without breaking a sweat.
Kitty looked briefly to Asher, wishing she could ask him what he thought about their host. Better to wait until strangers were out of earshot, though.
“Later,” He affirmed, as if he had read her mind. “Let’s just go with it.”
“The Master has informed me that you are both very special guests- almost family,” The guard said. “I am to deliver you to mistress Mianna, who will entertain you presently.”
The guard had the demeanour of a butler, but one who just so happened to be wearing a suit of armour instead of his tuxedo. Kitty wondered if Darias made his kitchen staff cook in full plate mail too.
As soon as they left the meeting room, it was like stepping into another world. Where the face of the guild had been stark and practical, the portion that was the Cavalliah’s home was opulent, grand and luxurious. The pastel colours and abundance of fresh-cut flowers gave the illusion of light and open space in corridors that were just as dingy as the rest through which they had come.
The guard marched up to a door and stopped abruptly, knocking loudly.
“What?” Came a bored-sounding feminine voice from within.
“Mistress, it’s Charles. Your father has requested your services,” The guard said, hesitant but polite.
“What?” The voice came back quizzical, almost shocked.
“Your father. A request,” Charles repeated.
The door swung inward slowly, revealing a girl. She was, by Kitty’s estimation, sixteen or so and very definitely Darias’ daughter. She had the same glinting blonde hair, pinned up in long, loose curls, and his sky-blue eyes. She was tall as well, but with the type of sleek body that came with exercise designed to tone muscle attractively. The girl had a cute snub nose and a few freckles that were so beautifully placed that Kitty was not convinced they were natural. She wore a white and silver sleeveless dress that hugged her figure and just grazed the top of her knees, and Kitty noted that it would have been deemed unfit if she were a noblewoman. But the Cavalliahs weren’t a noble family- they just looked and lived as though they were.
“Mistress,” Charles bowed, and something in his voice made it sound as though he desired to call her ‘Lady’. “These are your father’s honoured guests. It would please him if you were to entertain them while he conducts his business. They are two of the Constellations who await the return of your brother.”
Eyes wide, Kitty’s whole body tensed while awaiting the man’s next move. She had her bow close to hand and would silence him in an instant if necessary. The slight frown on Asher’s usually self-assured face justified Kitty’s concern.
“I am trustworthy, you can be certain,” The man insisted. “My family holds one of the Urns, and I have been in the Master’s close confidence for many years.”
“You can go, Charlie,” The girl shooed him. “I’ll look after them.”
The guard nodded and disappeared the way they had come. Kitty was a little frustrated, as she had wanted to find out more about him and his family. Maybe she would see him again on the way out.
“I’m Mianna Cavalliah, how do you do?” The blonde announced with a curtsey.
Asher just stood, his frown deepening, and ran his fingers through his hair. Kitty could see that he was thinking, considering their next move. Mianna looked wary of him.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Kitty smiled. “I’m sorry if we’ve interrupted anything. Don’t worry about us, we can just sit and wait until Lucian gets home.”
“Is this the day that my father has been going on about forever? Lucian gets to go save the world, fight some baddies and come home a hero. Do you both do that Lucimian thing that makes him Not just a swordsman, but The Swordsman?” Mianna quoted, in gruff resemblance of Darias.
“So your brother’s good with a blade?” Asher diverted.
“Basically the best,” She replied matter-of-factly. “He wins all the competitions. It gives him callouses on his hands though. Kind of gross. Anyway, I was just about to go to the steam room. We have a massive pool, amazingly heated and you could just soak in it forever… Well, if it didn’t give you wrinkles. It’s super relaxing and it has this scent stuff in it so when you breathe it in it opens all your lungs and you feel so great.”
“That does sound good,” Kitty agreed- a muscle soak would be beneficial after such a long journey, and with such punishing training sessions on a daily basis. “I didn’t think to bring swimwear to a sword-fighting guild though.”
“Oh, not many people do. There’s plenty spare, I’ll find you both some,” The girl said.
“No,” Asher flat-out stated. “We aren’t doing that.”
“Come on!” Kitty begged him. “It’ll be fun and it’s not like we have any other pressing arrangements.”
“It won’t be fun. It’ll be a waste of time.”
“No, it’ll be good for us. You heard her- it’s relaxing and I think that’s something we need and deserve,” Kitty declared triumphantly, sure that he couldn’t refute such logic. Anyway, she had never seen him without a shirt and she had a theory that anyone who moved as quickly and powerfully as The Juggler had to have some attractive muscle hiding away. Of course she was taken, but she couldn’t be blamed for just looking, surely?
“I’m going to find someone to train with. You should come with me,” Asher shrugged.
“I have a bruise the size of an apple on my thigh from training yesterday- I think I’ve earned a break.”
A haze of anger appeared in The Juggler’s eyes, “Are you serious? We’re at the combat training capital of the kingdom and you want to sit around in water nursing your little bruise? Do you understand how pathetic that is?”
“Pathetic? You know what’s pathetic? Someone who can’t wind down for a few minutes. How about for the next couple of hours you stop picking fights and just calm down?” Kitty didn’t feel very calm herself anymore. It wasn’t fair that he tried to make her feel bad for accepting their host’s hospitality. Besides, they barely got the chance for a warm bath, let alone a dip in a hot pool.
He gave her one of his infuriating smirks, and although it initially seemed to be the only expression he had, she was beginning to learn how to discern between their subtle differences. When he tilted his chin a little, it meant that he was having a laugh at her expense; when it was accompanied by a slight nod, he was actually happy with her progress. This one she hadn’t encountered before, but decided that he was no doubt just enjoying finally get a reaction out of her like he did with Serena.
“You go recover from your terrible wound, love. I’ve got a job to do,” He finally scoffed, rolling his eyes and stalking off.
Kitty decided that she didn’t care. She would go and enjoy herself for an hour or two, and it would be more peaceful without him anyway. The miserable man would probably just bump into a guard and get carted off to whatever Darias used as a prison until she went to fetch him anyway.
