chapter eleven

Kiera approached the mansion. If it weren't for the gardens, it would have been pushing it to call this place a mansion. More like, very nice house with an excellent garden. This Dame Allistari person certainly liked her garden. It looked like she'd imported a variety of flowers and herbs from across the empire. The expense would probably explain why the house was so small by comparison to those of other low nobility.
Three in front, just like Tressa said. And she could see one of the patrollers on the second floor. The front wasn't an option then. She slipped around to the western side of the house; it was evening the sun would help her a little if the patrols spotted her.

She decided to risk it, and started climbing a trellis on the side of the house. There was one outside of her own bedroom; so she was quite used to climbing quietly. She wondered if there was some sort of universal law that princesses had to have very sturdy, attractive trellises outside their windows, because it seemed unlikely her father would have knowingly put something so convenient for climbing right next to her window.
The patrol had made it past her window when she came in. She quickly drew her sword and ran him through. Then moved across the hall to the stairwell. THe other patroller must have caught her scent because as she reached the door he flung it open. She slashed him across the chest as he reached for his weapon. Seven more, she thought as she silenced him with a stab to the throat.
She dashed down stairs, weaving a hasty spell. She turned into the kitchen; three of them were facing her weapons ready. A fourth was behind them still focused on the barricade. She threw her bolt of energy across the room; catching the center one across the chest and flinging him into the archer. The two toppled over the barricade, falling down the stairs with a clang of armor. The remaining two charged her. She began franticly parrying and blocking there blows; unlike the ones outside these two seemed to know how to fight together.

A bloodied figure came bareling out of the cellar with a loud cry. Behind him a Nieldic guard was following, sword in hand. Her assailants turned and tried to defend themselves. The screamer appeared to be a chef or cook of some sort, He had a butchers knife inverted in one hand and in the other he sported a large pot lid as a makeshift buckler. He slammed the first warior across the muzzle with his buckler and drew himself against his opponents body; stabbing him mercillesly in the back with the knife. The guard wasted no time in dispatching his warrior either, Kiera watched a familiar parry-bladeslip combo performed with military precision.

She heard the front door burst open behind her and turned. The remaining three warriors were facing them. One of them fired an arrow before she could react; and she watched in surprise as it was deflected in mid-flight.
"Pee on my herbs will you!"
A middle aged woman was standing, no, hovering over the barricade. Dame Allistari thrust her staff at the warriors, knocking them to the ground. The chef pounced upon the nearest warrior with his knife, and the guard rushed to finish his warrior. Kiera, not to be outdone by Allistari's magical display, began channeling away her opponents strength. The battle for this town had been quite tiresome and she needed the energy to make it through the day.

As her adversaries life faded under her spell, Dame Allistari walked up and touched her on the shoulder.
"That's enough child. We aren't trying to disintegrate him."
Kiera broke off the spell and sheathed her sword.
"We need to leave town, now."
"Princess, be a dear and help Caswick and Gesen bring the wounded out to the truck. Gina and I need to gather a few things from the garden."

Kiera moved to follow the two men. There was no mistakig it, she'd found the local witch. She was just glad this one hadn't asked for an apprentinceship.