by Carl E. Mullin ©2020
“I know what you are,” Dagny hissed.
The swordwoman kept her absinthe-green spectacles onto the shieldmaiden as she considered her options. Then she spread her black-gloved hands, palms up. “Pray tell, what harm have I done to you?”
“You have no business here, in London or elsewhere. You are a Nightwalker,” Dagny spoke through bared teeth.
“I saved your life, shieldmaiden.”
“A dubious gesture from a creature such as you.”
The swordwoman considered. “Commander, if with your permis–”
“Don’t,” she squat a bit on her guard. “I know how to deal with your kind.”
“Do you? Yes, I believe you do.”
“Without a doubt.”
“Commander, if with your per–”
“Shut it! I should have taken your head without my announcing it.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“A moment’s weakness.”
“Perhaps your daimon counseled against it by the will of Zeus.”
“Perhaps.”
A moment’s pause. “Commander, permit me to display my credentials. If you are not satisfied then you have my permission to take my head. Fair?”
Dagny considered. She stepped back while keeping her blade at her target’s neck. She nodded.
The swordwoman moved to unbutton her chest flap.
“Your other hand.”
With a sigh, she used her right hand to unbutton her flap on the right side. Her fingers moved with caution. After the third button was undone, she bent the flap out.
Dagny peeked. It was a pewter silver pin of a circle with a small cast-relief of a flying raven entering its bull’s eye. She looked back at the still face peeking over her spectacles at her. “You’re a Raven.”
“And a loyal subject to our Queen.”
Dagny stared at her, her eyes dark with mistrust, her lips pursed. With a deep humph, she withdrew her sword. “That remains an open question.”
“Thank you,” she said with tight lips.
“Save it.”
“As you wish, Commander.” The Raven stood up and took off her spectacles and studied her with heavily-lidded black eyes.
“You’re a Hindoo.”
“Correct, shieldmaiden. I was. I am Sanaya Nisha Doerakore, at your service.” She made a slight bow.
“Your friendship’s wasted, nightwalker.”
“As you wish.” Sanaya replaced her spectacles and pressed a tiny button on the frame. The absinthe-green lens became luminous as she scanned the thug’s face and searched his pockets.
“What are you looking for, creature?”
“A proof.”
“What proof? Their instruments of ill intent are arrayed about us.”
“You know these men? Have you seen them before?”
“Why should I care for these highwaymen?”
“They’re not.” She held up a syringe.
“What is it?”
The raven uncapped the syringe. She dipped a finger into the container and tasted it. “Poison.”
“What? Why should they bother with a mere solider?”
Sanaya looked at her in disgust, “You’re far too modest, shieldmaiden.”
“Shouldn’t this hurt you, the poison?”
“It won’t. Most toxic substances have little to no effect on my kind or you would have known better.”
“You said most.”
“And I will not enlighten you as to the which, shieldmaiden. State secret you might say.”
“The Royal Service has the right to know if they are to deal with a rogue, loyal servant of the Queen.”
She shot to her feet. “The Raven Guild is loyal to Her Majesty. I’ll thank you for keeping a civil tongue.”
Dagny looked up at the tall girl, “And I’ll thank you for not complaining about a warrior’s honesty. We have no time for equivocal word play when men’s lives are at stake.”
Sanaya’s large chest rose as she bit back her retort. “Fine. I care not for the distrust, only my duty. This poison? Sure to cause an excruciating death. For you.”
“Why? Why the trouble?”
“The Heroine of Nicaragua. Made great by the Queen. A defeat they could tolerate. By a mere girl?” She shook her head. “An insult they cannot abide. What a better way to advertise their power than a murder of a popular heroine on the night of her triumph? I have been tracking these assassins for days since they disembarked in Liverpool off a fishing trawler. I did not guess their purpose until almost too late. Praise Lady Persephone that I aided you in time.”
“How did you know of them?”
“The Ravens have eyes and ears everywhere, my dear. It’s clear that they are assassins sent by the Imperium.”
Dagny said nothing.
“Commander Mark, you are a marked woman. Be on your guard.”
She considered her words. The proof was in front of her. She felt a deep dismay at the thought that out of devotion she had entered an unending war because she lacked her wits at this time. She faced the nightwalker, “I owe you my life, yes. And I ask you to trouble my steps no more. Do not follow me. I can handle myself. Do you understand?”
Sanaya betrayed no emotion. “Perfectly.”
Dagny looked down at the bodies. “You’re a Raven. I leave the reporting to you.” She snatched up her field cap.
“Of course.”
She walked away. She hesitated and faced the Raven, “When you were following me…”
“Yes?”
She didn’t answer. She opened her mouth and then closed it. “It’s probably nothing.” She walked away.
The Raven watched her until she disappeared. Then she pulled out her cane-sword from a luckless wrist. She held the blade up and licked blood from it.
––––––––––
Not trusting the nightwalker, Dagny circled back via a different path to her hotel. Satisfied that no one was following her, she went straightaway home.
On reaching the hotel she walked past the sumptuous lobby full of plush and velvet sofas and demanded her keys. She took the lift to her palatial suite. A few seconds later she got off and climbed five floors of stairs to her suite.
On reaching her floor, she opened the fire door to a crack and peeked. Empty. She stepped in and glanced around, her gun in hand. She creeped toward her door.
She breathed deep and unlocked the doors.
After locking it behind her, she stood to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She saw and heard nothing but for a deep snoring.
She smiled a small smile. That sounded familiar. She stepped in quietude toward the sofa. Hannah was lying face down, her mouth open and her body arranged in a ludicrous position. She watched her with a rueful smile. With care she dropped her field cap and her sword onto the coffee table and turned Hannah onto her back. After uncovering the bed, she returned to pull off her boots. She took off her messy cap and her medal. She sat her up and pulled her belly onto her shoulder. With a slow movement, she lifted her buxom friend up and carried her to her bed. She kneeled beside the bed and rested her on her back. She stood up and stripped her down to her loincloth and lifted her legs onto the bed. Hannah turned to grasp her pillow, still deep in her drunken sleep. Dagny pulled the covers over her and brushed away some stray blond curls to kiss her cheek. Hannah smiled a small smile in the dark.
The Commander stood over her and then she closed the door behind her.
After stripping, she held up her sword. It was a good sword and it had done its duty well tonight. Yet, it weighed like a ton on her hands. She did not want it and wanted it at same time. A terrible and desirable burden. She kissed its quillon like a mother and set it aside on the bed next to her. She secreted her gun under her pillow and closed her eyes.
In a minute she was fast asleep, her finger next to the trigger.