Daughter of Discord
The countdown to the publication of my dark space fantasy, Daughter of Discord, continues! Here’s a slice of chapter two.
Carina pushed herself away from the wall and continued on. Ordinarily, she had few problems defending herself but at that moment she wasn’t feeling her best. She had no friends or family and there was no enforcement agency to call upon. If you weren’t a friend of the Sherrerrs, you were on your own. The only people who would give a damn about her if she died that night would be the ones who had to remove her body the next morning.
She put one hand on her dagger and rested the other above the pouch in her pocket. She would happily kill with one to protect the other. Hurrying her pace as well as she could, Carina went on.
The footsteps of the stranger grew faster and nearer. “You,” a voice called. “You with the black hair. Stop a moment.”
You with the black hair? Considering the street was empty but for the two of them, the definition was overkill. Maybe her pursuer was as drunk as she was. That would be useful.
“Don’t be afraid,” the person continued. “I just want to talk to you.”
Ha! That’s what they called it on Ithiya, is it? Carina didn’t slow her pace. Triggered by the threatening situation, a rush of adrenaline was running through her veins, sweeping away the numb alcoholic fog. She wasn’t about to answer the stranger. Answering only gave encouragement.
“Hey, come on. Stop, won’t you?” The footsteps were running, and before Carina could get away, the person had caught up. She gripped her dagger’s handle in a fist, and as she spun around she drew it. Bringing up her other elbow under her pursuer’s throat, she pushed him up against a wall and held the tip of her knife below his breastbone.
“Whoa,” said the man, the quick pallor of his face noticeable even under the sparse streetlights. He held up his hands.
“What,” Carina said between her teeth, “did you want to talk to me about?”
“I only…” He swallowed. “I only wanted to…”
They stood frozen in their positions, eyes locked.
“You aren’t really going to kill me, are you?” the man asked.
Carina blinked and peered at his face. He was very young, probably her own age if not younger, and he looked genuinely frightened. Maybe he didn’t have any ill intent.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he went on. “I called out to you. Didn’t you hear me?”
“Of course I did. That doesn’t mean I have to stop. Now, what do you want?”
“You know, I actually forgot. But if you put away the knife, I might remember.”
Carina studied the youth’s expression. Life had thrust her into many dangerous and harmful situations in her eighteen years, and she’d become a fairly good, quick judge of character. This person wasn’t setting off any warning bells in her. She stepped back and sheathed her dagger. “Whatever it is, I’m not interested.”
Released of her hold on his throat, the young man collapsed. Carina turned and left. The encounter had cleared her head even more. She was tired and despondent. All she wanted to do was go to her room and go to sleep.
Her pursuer, who she’d begun to think of as more like a hanger on, didn’t give up. He ran to her side, his footsteps matching hers. “I remembered what it was I wanted to talk to you about.”
Carina rolled her eyes and didn’t deign to respond.
“But I need you to stop.”
Carina marched on.
“Just for a second.”
Carina sped up. She was nearly back at her hostel. She hoped this exasperating person would have the good manners to not follow her inside.
“Please.”
She halted and spun around so that they were nose to nose. “What the hell is it you want?”
“To be honest,” the young man said, “I only wanted to check you were okay and to walk with you wherever you’re going. I saw you had a little too much to drink, and after you punched that merc, I was worried he might come after you for revenge. But now I’m not sure you need any help.”
Carina’s anger dissolved. She broke her stare and stepped away. “No, I don’t need your help. Now please leave me alone.”
“And I wanted to ask you something,” the man said quickly as Carina was walking away from him once more. “Could I stay with you tonight? I don’t have anywhere to sleep.”
As Carina was about to say no, the man went on, “I did help you with that merc. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I was hoping you might be willing to help me in return.”
“What do you mean, you helped me?” In truth, she barely recalled anything of the encounter.
“After he shoved you, I punched him. He fell on top of you. Don’t you remember?” The young man smiled ruefully. “I hurt my hand.” He showed Carina his knuckles, which were grazed and reddened. “It turns out it hurts to punch people. Who knew?”
Guilty at her misreading of the man and the entire situation, Carina said, “Look—”
“How old are you?” the man asked.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m eighteen.”
“I didn’t realize. You look older.”
“Right. Er, thanks? Look, I’m really sorry, but… ”
The youth nodded. “It’s okay. I understand.”
She continued walking. After hearing the man’s story, she wanted to help him. She knew exactly what it was like to have nowhere to sleep, but she couldn’t risk it. She couldn’t risk sharing her life with others, even if only for a short time. No matter how desperate they were. Carina sighed. She halted and turned around. The man was walking away slowly in the opposite direction. “Okay,” she called out.
He didn’t need any more of an invitation. Immediately, he came running up. “Thanks. I’ll be gone in the morning, probably before you wake. I promise.”
“Yeah,” Carina said. “You will.”
Unperturbed, the man said, “I’m Bryce. What are you called?”
“No names.”
“Whoa. Okay.”
I hope you enjoyed this snippet of Daughter of Discord. For snippets of the prequel, Star Mage Exile, go here.