Rogue Legacy by Jeffrey L. Kohanek (snow like ashes .txt) 📕

“Are you sure about this?”

Lyra nodded to Tiri, whose eyes reflected obvious trepidation.

“We need money, Tiri. As it stands, we can buy nothing. Aren’t you craving a hot meal?” Lyra pointed toward Tiri’s feet. “Wouldn’t you like some better footwear? Those slippers might be suitable for a dinner at the palace, but they’re a poor choice for walking a hundred miles.”

Tiri sighed. “My feet are killing me.”

“Mine too.” Lyra gave Tiri a smile. “Trust me. I can do this.”

Despite the apprehension in her expression, Tiri nodded.

“Good.” Lyra gestured toward Tiri’s dress. “I need you to pull the neckline a bit lower, and tease your hair. These men need to feel that you’re worth the bet.”

Tiri did as instructed, fluffing her hair, its golden highlights brilliantly lit by the setting sun. She then adjusted her dress to reveal more of her tawny skin and a hint of cleavage. Satisfied with the result, Lyra nodded and led her sister through the door.

In stark contrast to the quiet street, the tavern buzzed with the sounds of conversation and laughter. Sliding between the full tables, Lyra and Tiri crossed the room toward the crowd in the corner. As she forced her way toward the center, Lyra saw a man stand upright, holding a fist full of bones above his head. The crowd roared. Men patted the winner on the back as he grinned and nodded.

“I challenge anyone here to toss bones with me.” Lyra announced in a gruff voice, attempting to maintain her charade.

The surrounding crowd quieted, separating so that she and the man with the bones stood alone at the center. He stood a head taller than she, well-tanned with dark wavy hair and dark eyes. Lyra decided that he wasn’t bad looking until his grin revealed two missing teeth.

“It looks like this boy wants to play.” The man waved toward the door. “I suggest that you run home and play with your toys, boy. You don’t want me taking your coin.”

The men surrounding Lyra laughed, the ones near the man patting him on the shoulder. “Good one, Pern.”

Lyra waved Tiri over, the crowd quieting when Tiri sauntered into the space beside Lyra. Pern’s laughter faded, but his smile remained as he stared at Tiri, his gaze sliding over the curves of her body.

“I don’t have coin, but instead offer an opportunity.” Lyra gestured toward Tiri. “For a bet of two silvers, I’ll play you or anyone else for a night with my wife.”

Pern’s brow furrowed as his gaze shifted to Lyra. “Your wife? This goddess is married to you?”

Lyra nodded and grinned. “Yes and her skill in the bedroom exceeds her beauty.”

“I’ll do it,” said a man from the crowd.

“No!” Pern held his fist up, his eyes meeting Tiri’s. “I won the last game. The floor is mine. She is going to be mine.” He pulled two silvers from his pocket and tossed them to the floor. “Let’s play.”

Tiri bit her lip and glanced toward Lyra, who nodded and waved her to the side of the circle.

“Winner throws first.” Lyra said. “However, I have no bones and will need to borrow yours.”

Pern’s grin took on a sinister light. “You don’t even have your own bones.” His gaze shifted to Tiri. “You’re lucky. I promise you a night you’ll never forget.”

With confidence, the man tossed the bones up and caught four, choosing his taw among them. He continued to throw well and Lyra had to admit that the man exhibited skill, among the best she had ever played. By the time the game was done, both he and she had successfully cleared fours and each had to throw and collect fours a second time. On the third throw of fours, Pern missed the taw. Lyra did not.

When the crowd quieted, Lyra collected her two silvers and led Tiri out the door. They emerged to find the street dark, with only the slightest hint of twilight remaining in the sky above them. Lyra grabbed Tiri’s arm and led her down the street.

“That was close,” Lyra grumbled.

“You were amazing. I didn’t know that you could move that fast.”

“Yeah, but he was good, too. I actually feared that I might lose for a moment there.” Lyra turned the corner, dragging Tiri with her.

“Oh, you did lose. You just don’t know it yet”

Lyra stopped cold. Pern and another man blocked the street before them. Pushing Tiri behind her, Lyra slid her dagger from the sheath strapped to her thigh.

“Oh, no, Jinks” Pern elbowed the man beside him, “It appears that the mouse has teeth.”

Steel rang in the narrow street as Jinks drew a short sword, Pern a small dagger. The two men slid apart, leaving a stride between them.

“You don’t need to die, boy,” Pern crooned. “I’ll let you live if you drop the dagger, give me my coin, and…” His sinister grin returned. “Let me spend the night with the girl.”

“That’s quite an offer. After much thought, I believe I must decline.” Lyra gave Tiri a wistful smile. “Plus, the girl finds your tiny little dagger quite disappointing. If she were to be poked tonight, she prefer it to be by something more substantial.”

Even in the dark alley, the anger on Pern’s face was apparent. He growled and charged. Lyra ducked below the swipe of his knife. Spinning forward, she sliced his thigh and ran past him. Jinks stood wide-eyed before her. He sliced his sword toward her mid-section, but Lyra leapt and ran up the wall beside the man, her slippered feet taking two steps on the bricks as she flew over his strike, her body parallel to the street. As she sailed past him, she grabbed Jinks’ head and pulled the man onto his back with all her weight, his sword clattering to the cobblestones.

Lyra rolled and scooped up the short sword, rising to face her foes. With his face contorted in pain, Pern limped toward Tiri and grabbed her wrist. Tiri screamed as he twisted her in front of him and held his knife to her throat. Jinks climbed to his feet, rubbing the back of his head. The man turned toward Lyra and she sneered at him.

“Go!”

With a momentary glance toward Pern, Jinks bolted down the alley, his footsteps fading into the night. Lyra advanced, focused on Tiri.

Pern jerked Tiri back a step. “Stop, or I’ll kill her.”

“If you kill her, I’ll kill you.”

He backed away further, pulling Tiri with him as he limped down the alley.

“Put the knife down, and I’ll let you live,” Lyra growled.

“I’ll cut her,” he warned. “I’ll do it.”

Lyra stopped, “Fine.” She dropped the sword, it clattering noisily as it settled. Pern appeared to relax, lowering his knife slightly. Lyra tossed her dagger upward, and the man watched it spin above Lyra’s head. Focused on the blade as it fell, Lyra’s hand darted out, caught the dagger by the tip, and launched it. The man staggered backward with Lyra’s dagger embedded in his forehead. His knife fell from his grip as he stumbled against the wall, sliding down it until he was lying in a heap, blood tracking down his tilted head.

Tiri ran toward Lyra and hugged her so tight that it was hard for Lyra to breathe.

“It’s alright. He’s dead.”

“I...was so scared,” Tiri sobbed. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“Calm down. It’s over.”

Tiri nodded as she relaxed her arms. Lyra walked over to Pern and knelt beside the man, finding his wide-eyed gaze empty of life. A search through his clothes produced a coin purse, which Lyra pocketed as she stood. Drawn to the starlight reflecting off the blade of Jinks’ sword, Lyra strolled over to it, picked it up, and slid the weapon beneath her belt.

“Let’s go. We’ll find an inn, get a meal, and get some sleep.” Lyra grabbed Tiri’s arm and led her toward the street. “We need to get far from Sol Polis before any of Donte or Berrilon’s men arrive, so we’ll have a long day tomorrow.”