(Old) Side Chapter 11. Turncoat

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” I mumbled to myself as I adjusted the uncomfortably tight leather jacket made even more uncomfortable by t

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

I mumbled to myself as I adjusted the uncomfortably tight leather jacket made even more uncomfortable by the nervous sweat pouring down my neck.

“It’s going to be fine Ms Miller, just stick to the script.”

The man who I now knew as Galvian said encouragingly from underneath the hood covering his head. The woman, Hersia, remained quiet as she checked the bind on her hands for the tenth time. 

Tight enough to look real, but loose enough to come off in a bind, she said.

The plan was for me to pretend to be a royal knight who had captured the fugitive and for me to then use this as an excuse to requisition a carriage… How these two had gotten their hands on a royal knight uniform was beyond me, but it looked real enough to fool me, so it should be good enough to fool a town guard… right?

I cleared my throat and nervously pulled down on the cuirass to cover as much of the pants as possible. I’d worn dresses my entire life, walking down a street wearing these tight fitting pants, as unflattering as they were, made me feel almost naked.

I looked back at my two ‘prisoners’ with our collective luggage strapped to their backs. I felt like a slave merchant. The thought didn’t fail to make me a bit sick to the stomach. 

I shook my head and focused on the path forward.

Soon enough, we arrived at the end of the alley and before us, the large plaza leading to the coach station. Of course, the place was rather empty compared to earlier today, but guards were patrolling all over the place, so an encounter was almost unavoidable.

I took a deep breath and started walking across the open area. Eyes were immediately drawn to us. Patrols stopped in their tracks and watched us as I did my best to keep a straight face. After what felt like an eternity, I reached the entrance of the coach station where a man was guarding the door.

The man was about to say something, but I remembered Hersia and Galvian’s coaching and cut him short.

“Take me to your commander. I need urgent transport.”

I managed to bark without my voice cracking

The soldier stiffened up and  gave a single nod, before guiding me inside.

We reached a room in the center of the building. A man was barking orders to a set of guards, but as we entered he straightened up and pumped his chest.

“Commander Geoff Hallesis of the Sunbarrow militia, m’lady.”

The man said as he raised a hand to his forehead..

I felt cold sweat run down my neck. This wasn’t the salute they had shown me back in the room. Should I roll with it or stick to the plan? I gulped as my second of hesitation dragged on.

“Lady Marie Marie, Knight 1st Class from the Order of the Cygne.”

I declared as I placed a fist against my heart and straightened my back.

This seemed to have been the right decision. Despite raising an eyebrow at my name, the man acknowledged me with a strong nod and took a seat.

“Did I hear you correctly when I heard you call yourself Lady Marie… Marie?”

He asked as he took out a quill and began writing on the paper before himI had to hold back an uncomfortable rictus from creeping up on my face when he asked the question. I had made the same comment to the two thieves when they told me to name myself so, but they had been categorical that it was the name I should use.

“Correct, Commander.” 

The man kept staring at me intensely, but I kept my lips sealed and hoped my expression wouldn’t betray me. I had to pull on all my years as a maid to not crack under his gaze.

He finally looked back down to his paper.

“Understood. What can I do for you, Lady Marie. As you’ve probably noticed, we have a bit of a situation going on in the city… And I can see you have company with you. That wouldn’t happen to be who I think it is?”

He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded.

“It's as you say, Commander. I have apprehended the fugitives. As per my orders, I need a carriage and depart immediately for Evergreen so they can be subjected to interrogation.”

His quill stopped at the end of my sentence and he looked up again.

“I see… And so, I assume you’ve found the… Misplaced… Item?”

I nodded and unhooked from my belt the canvas covered ‘item’. It wasn’t, of course, the actual artifact. Instead, Hersia and Galvian had wrapped a fire pike in layers upon layers of canvas and sheets.

The man took the item from me with great care and placed it on the table. His hand approached the rope but I stopped him.

“The… Item sustained some damage in its journey, it would be wise to leave it be until it reaches capable hands.”

The man’s glare turned to my companion, their faces still obscured by the hood. He turned to one of the posted men in the room. 

“Fetch the Alenia-archkinsmann. Tell her it’s urgent.” 

From the corner of my eye I saw Hersia twitch.This was not part of the plan. I need to get out of here as soon as possible.

I cleared my throat to get the commander’s attention.

“Could one of your men show me to the stable? I must urgently get these two to Evergreen.”

I asked, the urgency in my voice needing not to be exaggerated.

“Of course, we’ll have a carriage prepared, but I’ll be asking you to stay until the Alenia-archkinsmann comes.”

I felt my throat grow dry. I was at my wits end. How could I get out of this situation? There’s no way this Aleniakin will fall for this half-baked forgery!

I thought of running or lying my way out, but I was surrounded by guards, I wouldn’t make it two steps out of here.

Why did I let these two convince me to do this?!

A woman arrived in the room after what felt like both an eternity and an instant, and her presence froze me in place. Earthen skin, golden hair… An Aleniakin in the flesh. In that moment I felt my doom. As she entered the room the woman barely glimpsed at the ‘artifact’ on the table. Instead, she was drawn to the two houses figures behind me. An appalled expression on her face. Fear or perhaps disgust? Her green eyes finally locked on my face. Strangely, her eyes expressed something akin to curiosity… Or surprise? Why surprise?

“Archkinsmann Galeishia. Thank you for joining us at such a late hour.”

The woman broke eye contact and turned to the Commander.

“‘tis nay issue, chid. ‘tis why am here after all…”

She then turned her eyes to me once more.

“These be da culprits, then?”

She asked.

“Correct, your eminence. Lady Marie here captured them along with the stolen artifact.”

The man said as he pointed at the canvas on the table.

Strangely, the woman barely glanced at it. Seeming more interested in me and my companions than the priceless artifact on the table.

“That so? An’ you seek my presence fo’?”

I spoke up, in a feeble hope to keep-up appearances.

“The artifact was damaged by the culprits. If you would be so kind as to take it away, so I may escort these thieves to Evergreen for interrogation.”

The commander seemed shocked by my intervention, but before he could the Archkinsmann spoke up again.

“Ay. I see.”

She turned to the commander.

“Have yer men clear da room, I need ta discuss somethin’ with Lady Marie Marie.”

Wait… Did she just call me ‘Marie Marie’?

“But Ma’am I don’t believe it’s safe to–”

The commander protested but was cut short.

“‘tis private church matter. ‘n are ya implyin’ I cannae handle a pair o’ thieves on my own?”

The man held his tongue.

“Of course not, your eminence. We’ll give you space.”

The man quickly vacated. There was a silence for a moment and I noticed vines growing over the door from the floor. Was she using her blessing to trap us in here?!

 It was a moment before the Archkinsmann spoke up again.

“Alright, we clear. Galvian n’ Hersia. How’d ya manage t’ get yourself caught like this. Are ye complete nitwits or wha’?! ‘n take da damned sack off yer head!”

Her earlier cool wore off all at once and I had to do my best not to lose my entire composure as my companions nonchalantly took off their hood. How did she know those two anyway?!

“Galeishia, you have no idea how glad we’re to see you!”

“Shut yer trap boy-knigth! Ye shoulda had plenty o’ time t’ escape Summerland!”

The woman then turned to me.

“Am so sorry ye had to deal with dem nitwits, sis’. I do na kno’ wha’ de gran’ master though of when he sent these two.”

“She’s a civilian, not a knight, Galeishia. Just a civilian.

Knights? Civilians?

“What’s going on here?! Knight? Civilians? Who’s she? Who are YOU guys?!”

I exclaimed, finally unable to hold myself together.

“Holloways be praised, ye involved a civilian?! What is wrong with ye two?!”

She said, before turning back to me and grasping me by the shoulders in a panic.

“Oh darlin’! Am so sorry! What have these two done two you? Did they threaten you? Wait… What have they done to your hair?!”

I recoiled, feeling offended. What about my hair?!

“Well actually, I just like them short… But that’s not important! What’s all that knight business?!”

“Sorry we kept you in the dark, Jace. Let’s just say all this is actually… Kingdom official business…”

Hersia began explaining, but was cut-off by the Aleniakin.

“Mo’e like a completely unofficial off-the-record business! Again, wha’ is wrong with ye two?!”

The woman exclaimed before sighing loudly.

“Aight. Time is short, I git da situation, I can buy you a couple hours, but they’ll be on yer tail again quickly. I’ll try t’ contain the situation within Summerland, so ye should hurry south t’ da valley and make for Midland. No stoppin’.”

She turned to me.

“Ye too missy. Da militia knows yer face now, they’ll come after you. I’ll try te work something out, but ye should avoid Sunbarrow fer a while.”

“We got it covered, we just need a horse out of the city and we’ll disappear in the country side.”

Hersia said confidently.

“Well ye better actually do that this time! Put da sack back on, we got te get this show back on.”

She turned to me once more.

“Again sorry, hon’. Bear with these two idiots. I’ll make sure ye get compensated.”

Before I could say anything they all got back into characters. The vines retracted from the door and the archkinmann called out.

“Commanda’? We’re done here.”

Almost immediately, the man burst in, wild-eyed. Obviously, he had been sitting right outside the door, but hadn’t heard our conversation thanks to the vines.

“Is everything alright, your eminence?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t it be? Please escort Lady Marie t’ da stables. Dis heretical conspiracy needs the capital's attention. Please have yer men move the artifact to the church, I will need my borthers n’ sisters to attend to the matter of its preservation…”

“Of course, archkinsmann.” 

He had some of his man carefully pick up the artifact and follow Galeishia out of the room before he turned to me.

“I’ll escort you to the stable.”

With my two prisoners in tow he guided me to a two-horse covered carriage. He helped the two prisoners to the back while I made my way to the coach seat. I could feel my heart beat strongly. 

Yes we were almost out of arms way, but I had completely forgot to mention that I had never ridden a horse… Let alone driven a coach.

Under the watchful eye of the commander, I nervously whipped the air with the reins which to my surprise was completely effective. I’d half expected remaining stuck there.

And just like that, under the cover of the night, I escaped Sunbarrow with my two new companions in tow….