Hands shaking, the post commander reaches into his desk and pulls out the flyer, handing it to Emlyn.
Emlyn reads the flyer and frowns at the commander. “Did you even read this? Can you read? You’re only supposed to ask them if they’d like to speak to a recruiter. You’re not supposed to hold them. You’re not supposed to abuse them.”
The commander replies shakily that they weren’t abused.
In response, Emlyn punches him rather hard. “I can tell from the bruises on them, you all were hitting them. Does that punch feel like abuse to you?”
The commander, gasping for air, nods.
“Of course it does, so why did you do it?”
The commander points to the flyer in Emlyn’s hand.
Emlyn shakes her head, “No. This doesn’t say anything about hitting anyone. It specifically says not to hit them. If you like, we can go a few rounds with me not hitting you in much the same fashion.”
Argonath slides through the group, and Atres quietly fills him in on what’s happened. Argonath takes in Emlyn’s anger and approaches cautiously.
Emlyn shoves the flyer at Argonath, “They took this to mean that they should hold and beat up any dragon-blooded coming into Harito in an attempt to force them to join the King’s Guard.”
Argonath grimaces and takes the flyer. “Why don’t you go calm down while I sort this out?”
Emlyn gives him a curt nod and stops in front of the three men on the bench. “We’ll heal you as soon as Dranor and Abato get here.”
Emlyn stalks out the door and goes straight to Atres, where she buries her face against his chest. “Sorry,” Emlyn mumbles against his chest, “If I look at that man right now, I might punch him again.”
Atres chuckles and puts his arms around her, placing his cheek on the top of her head. “Just calm down. Everything will be fine.”
Usurg nudges Oso and whispers, “That was her. That’s our future sister.”
Rilgi looks and sees Emlyn leaning into Atres for comfort and chuckles. “He picked a feisty one.”
A few minutes later, Abato sidles through the crowd and has a hushed conversation with Argonath.
Abato approaches Emlyn laughing, “My incandescent goddess, I see you are still your fierce and furious self. Dranor couldn’t make it, but I’m under orders to give a full report. You cannot go ordering the duke’s men about, especially when you make them leave their assigned post.”
“That gate is better protected with all of us here than those two flat-foots and you know it,” Emlyn snorts, “There are three active King’s Guard, one retired, four of the Clan Fathers from Clan Rune Axe, three more dwarven warriors, and two paladins. If we can’t protect this gate for a few minutes better than that lone gate guard, I’ll eat my boots. So don’t bother trying to give me some song and dance about weakening the city’s defenses.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Abato makes a gesture, conceding her point, “How did you get them to obey you?”
Shooting him a look, Emlyn laughs, “Abato, I’m a general. I may not have armies at my disposal anymore, but I am still a general. I bark orders and people obey.”
Abato starts to say something else, but Emlyn waves him off, “I need to get this mess sorted out, and a point needs to be made to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I have more dragon blood coming to the city to help with this Divaros mess. A task, might I remind you, that Duke Arnet asked my cohort specifically to undertake. I won’t be undermined by some pissant at a guard post.”
Abato, still grinning, nods, “Did you punch him?”
Emlyn nods, “Only once. He said that punching people wasn’t abuse. It seemed necessary to demonstrate otherwise. We’ll heal him before we leave.”
Abato laughs and shakes his head, “Duly noted.”
“Abato, I have more of them coming,” Emlyn explains, “and I do not want to have to come back here again, to fetch them out, and find that they’ve been abused in an attempt to recruit them forcibly.”
Abato nods, “I can see that.”
“It’s far more serious than that, though,” Emlyn explains, “That idiot nearly started something that would have resulted in no more of the dragon-blooded clans ever coming to any of the big cities to trade, no more of them joining the King’s Guard, and those that were in the King’s Guard mustering out. That had to be stopped, quickly.”
Sobering, Abato sighs, “That is far more serious than a minor kerfuffle at a guard post. I can’t fault your handling of it. I’ll see to it that makes it into the report, as well.”
With a pat on her shoulder, Abato goes to report back.
Emlyn shoves her way back into the guard post, gesturing for Benger to follow her. “We need to heal them. If you wouldn’t mind, can you heal the commander…”
Benger grins at her and nods. Emlyn heals Oso and Usurg while Benger heals Rilgi and the commander.
Emlyn rounds on the commander. “I have three more coming here from Clan Rothe. Let me tell you what’s going to happen. You will send them directly to The Sleeping Gentleman. Do not make me come back here. You won’t like me if I have to come back. Are we clear?”
The commander swallows hard and nods. Satisfied for the moment, Emlyn stalks back outside.
She looks back at the three men still sitting on the bench, “Come on then, unless you prefer the accommodations here.”
The three men scramble to grab their gear and follow along. Argonath looks at Emlyn’s retreating back and grins for a moment before turning back to the commander.
The dwarven part of the contingent is highly amused. Otrin elbows Gendini, “Some things haven’t changed much.”
Gendini nods, “That’s more like the Girlie I remember. It’s good to see her coming back to herself.”
Vorlig watches Argonath and the commander for a while before jogging to catch up with the group.
Once everyone is back at the inn and lounging comfortably in the taproom, Emlyn grins at the newest members. “Now that you’re out of that terrible place, let’s have some proper introductions. I am known as Nia ferch Hayden ap Rhys. I am a paladin of Morrighu and, most recently, a contracted member of the King’s Guard. I am quite possibly the first and only female currently in the King’s Guard. Atres, your cousin, is courting me.”
Emlyn waves a hand at Benger, “This is Benger Bevis, also a paladin of Morrighu. We’re in the same cohort. He’s also under contract with the King’s Guard and the only other member of my cohort currently in Harito.”
Emlyn waves a hand at Kethas, “This is Kethas of Clan Rothe and former King’s Guard. He owns this inn, which he has graciously allowed us to commandeer. He was also kind enough to send for you when Atres started having premonitions about a mission that’s been assigned to my cohort at the Temple.”
Emlyn points at Kluper, “This is my page, Kluper. He’ll remain my page until I can formally adopt him since his family abandoned him at an orphanage that put him out for not being fully human.”
Emlyn waves a hand at the dwarves, “This is my adoptive family. Yes, they are dwarves and old family friends. Yes, I have four fathers. Yes, that’s a bit tough on Atres since they all have weapons and are quite skilled with them. Otrin, Gramin, Loket, and Vorlig of Clan Rune Axe. I have three mothers, but only Gendini is here. We’re still trying to get Gramin married off so that I’ll have a full set. I have lots of siblings, but only my sister Henga and brother Dergit are here.”
Usurg laughs, “Gods above! Atres, where did you find her? I’m Usurg of Clan Valkis, and we’re Atres’s cousins. His other siblings are sisters, and we can’t bring them to the city.”
Rilgi grins back, “I am Rilgi of Clan Valkis.”
Smirking, Oso looks at Atres, “I’m Oso of Clan Valkis. Atres, just let her give that damn dragon a dressing down. It will probably die on the spot.”
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The "Educational" Punch: Emlyn demonstrates the definition of "abuse" to the guard commander by hitting him. Hard. It’s a very effective teaching method.
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The General’s Command: Abato tries to lecture her on city defense, only for Emlyn to remind him that she’s a General who can command a room by instinct. Even the Duke's men scramble when she barks.
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Strategic Fallout: Emlyn points out the massive political disaster the guards almost caused: if they keep kidnapping and beating dragon-blooded men, the clans will stop trading and the King’s Guard will lose its some of it's best members.
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The Formal Introduction: Back at the Sleeping Gentleman, Emlyn lays it all out for Atres’s cousins. She’s a Paladin, a King's Guard, a General, and she’s got four dwarven fathers with very sharp axes.
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The Adoption: We get confirmation that Kluper is officially being taken under her wing (and eventually into her family) because he was abandoned for his mixed heritage.
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The Tall Obstacle Rating: 5/5 Tankards.
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Review: He played his role perfectly by acting as the "Emotional Support Bicep." He knows when to let her rage and when to provide the chest for her to hide her face in when she's done. Plus, his cousins clearly approve of the "feisty one" he’s picked.
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The Cousins (Oso, Usurg, Rilgi): They’ve got the Valkis humor. Oso’s suggestion that Emlyn just "give the dragon a dressing down" until it dies is the best tactical advice I’ve heard all year.
That was a masterful bit of diplomacy... by which I mean a well-timed right hook.
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