The Peasant Queen

Chapter 2

“I’d give my oath, woman, that you mean to destroy me,” Temmi groaned as she pulled at the orange day dress Malia insisted that she wear. She looked back at the attendant that Malia had hired to carry the six large bags all of which had been filled to the top, and sighed.

Malia smiled and looked sideways at the young woman. It was true that she had doted upon her more than the girl found acceptable, but it was for her own good. Temmi’s whole wardrobe consisted of four garments and a pair of shoes, all of which Malia had bought her months ago and were nearly in tatters. Even the other residents of the High Shanties kept a better stock of clothing. Most kept at least one outfit for the private audience with Queen Vorna that they were likely never to receive.

“Oh, quit your grumping, you great babe,” Malia replied. “It’s only a few outfits.”

“Try twelve! Not to mention three pairs of shoes, a winter coat,” Temmi’s eyes bulged and she looked as though she was going to be sick as she added, “and a ballgown that would make every Queen abroad feel underdressed! I thought we agreed that this would not get out of control!”

“It didn’t,” she replied, a light smirk gracing her lips. “I was in complete control the entire time and not once did my coin purse sneak it’s way to the counter and purchase something of which I was not aware.” She gave Temmi a long and poignant stare. “Now, the day is beautiful and I’ll not have you go about and ruin it with your whines.”

Temmi strode a few paces ahead, clenching her fists, but said no more. She really couldn’t argue. Perhaps she was being unreasonable. And it really was a beautiful day for it being mid-autumn. It was rare to have such warm temperatures this late in the year. Marwon was typically cold most of the year anyway, so most people would never complain about such a temporary reprieve from the chilly monotony. Most people, but not Temmi.

She could always find something to complain about.

Trying to distract herself, Temmi began looking for Steiner Pass, a side street off of Market Main. She didnt make it to Market Main very often, since she sold most of Franchors goods on Market East. And so she was a little unfamiliar with the area.

The avenue was wide and filled with residents, tourists, shop owners and entertainers, all seeking to make coin or spend it. With the exception of royal caravans, and forign dignitaries heading for an audience with the Queen, all mounts, waggons and carriages were diverted two avenues to the east and west of the Market District.

The majority of those of vast wealth, followed by their parades of servants hired to carry their purchases, kept as close to the storefronts as possible. Their noses pointing skyward, they tried to act as though the rest of the world didnt exist. Most didnt even acknowledge the entertainers, though Temmi allowed a faint smile when she saw a poshly dressed man get walloped by a large purse when his fripsy of a wife caught him staring at a troupe dancing girls. Yes, watching the obnoxiously rich try desperately to avoid human contact was quite entertaining.

Fire-eaters, dancers, musicians and poets, all dotted the avenue, surrounded by massive crowds clamoring to throw coin at them. The center of the way was a torrent of bodies, like a living human river, ebbing and flowing in a joyful rhythm that was infectious to all but the self-superior fripsies. It was life in a form that few ever really saw or appreciated.

Temmi decided that Malia’s view should not be casually dismissed and began to relish in it, so much so that she nearly missed the sign overhanging the entry to Steiner Pass on the far side of the avenue. The pass was little more than a wide alley, but it was still far busier than the other two Market Avenues were on an average day. The shops which lined the pass were far smaller than those on Market Main and were packed in so densely that most shared a conjoining wall. The only ones that stood alone were taverns and Order houses, businesses that would never be allowed to operate on the main avenue. Taverns are too loud and rowdy and Order houses are barely tolerated in Marwon.

Without checking to see if Malia was following, stepped out into the avenue... and got plowed over by a demuu.

The colossal brown and white furred animal reared back, nearly dumping it’s rider, and came back down with a thunderous stomp. It roared in terror, scared by Temmis sudden appearance, and rolled its head to try and stomp her again. But the rider pulled hard on the beasts harness and kicked it in the shoulder with one bladed heel, calming it instantly. The rider on the other hand, was not so calm.

He was, indeed, a fearsome sight, far more intimidating than the beast on which he rode. Even in the brilliant midday sun his maroon and turquoise armor seemed to be shrouded in shadow. It was… unnatural. From his belt dangled a maul unlike anything she had ever seen. Caste in bronze in the shape of a zavrins reptillian, three-taloned claw, the weapon looked as though it had been severed from the cave dwelling creature and transformed into metal.

His scarred and rigid face showed no remorse for knocking Temmi to the ground. In fact, it showed a look of barely concealed pleasure and unconcealed rage.

“Pathetic whelp!” he exclaimed in a thick Dergan accent. “Mind yer feet. If I find nary a sudge of fith on my mounts fur, I’ll have your head for it!”

“Says the man who shanks his beast and blames the whelp,” Temmi retorted with acid in her tone.

Malia gasped in horror and stepped between the two as the man reached for the maul at his belt. She didn’t blame Temmi for reacting the way she had. After all, she was right, but she could not stand by and let the brute brain the poor girl. She knew that Temmi would disapprove, and loudly, later, but she could not let the poor girl throw her life away on the merits of her quick wit and sharp tongue.

And she could see it in his eyes, this man now wanted to kill her.

“Please, my Lord Dwyer,” she said, emphasizing the title and casting a scathing glance at Temmi, “forgive my daughter of her incolence. She did not know whom she addressed and would not have addressed you so had she known of your station.”

“I most certainly would ha–”

“And she will say no more on the matter,” Malia said cutting Temmi short and throwing her a warning glare, before she could cause any further damage. “I beg thee, Lord, let this transgression go unpunished that she may have the opportunity to be more discretionary in the future.”

Dwyer only stared at the woman for several moments, his hand flexing on the grip of his terrifying weapon, his thoughts plain on his face as though they were written word. “Ye speak many o’fine word, Lady,” he said after several tense seconds. “Almost too fine for one of your station.” He paused for several more seconds before his grip loosened enough on his maul that it fell back to its former position. “Yet,” his tone was ice on a frozen winter morning, “ye have convinced me to spare me hand the strain–”

“Thank you, my Lord Dwyer,” Malia said too hastily, plowing over the Lords words in her relief. Dwyer raised his hand and slapped her hard enough that she turned completely around and had to arrest her fall in an awkward crouch. Malia let her further words die on her lips and glared at Temmi to remain silent.

“But mind ye the girl,” he said. His voice was low and menacing, making a threat out of every syllable. “For the next time I will have no other words than those spoken over her grave.” He stared hard into Malia’s eyes and the defiant old woman withered slightly beneath him. “Understand ye me?”

“Yes, my Lord Dwyer.”

“Good. Then ye best be on yer way,” he said. Then his voice went cold once more. “Before I start to think I’d’ve done better to make her into an example.”

Wasting no time Malia took Temmi by the wrist and pulled her to the other side of the avenue. Their wide eyed attendant followed, his face awash in a blend of fear and admiration for his employers. The Dergan Lord was not even out of sight before Temmi had broken free and started in on her elder.

“Just what do you think you were doing there?” she asked, her voice filled with indignation. “Having a bit of fun at me? Were you trying to make me look like a fool?” As an afterthought, she added, “And just what was all that nonsense about me being your daughter? You are not my Dame! You admitted it your own dratted self, so how many times must I remind you of that?”

Malia waited until the rant had finished before attempting to say anything.

“Do you even know who that was, girl?” She did not wait for Temmi to answer. “That was Siginn Dwyer. Lord Marshal of the kingdom of Derg and not a man to be crossed. The man, if you can dignify him with such a title, has killed more unarmed civilians than he has soldiers on the battlefield!”

“Sounds like a load of rubbish to me,” Temmi replied, disbelieving.

“It can sound like a hail of turnips to you for all I care, but that don’t make it any less true. The man has a reputation. One based in fear that he uses to his advantage. His savagery has won him cities when he’s besieged them in times of war. It earns him, still, a great deal of coin for those who are willing to pay to have his loyalty and services.”

“You said, though, that he is the Lord Marshal of Derg,” Temmi stated, slightly confused at the details of the explanation.

“Aye, that he is,” the old woman replied, looking down the street where the man had gone. “And how the king has been able to afford to keep him for the last dozen years is beyond the comprehension of most.”

This last part shocked Temmi as the man had looked so young, but she said nothing of this. Instead she said, “It interests me how much you know about such things.”

“I’d imagine that it does, but for now you’ll have to take it on the grounds that Im a feeble old woman whom has seen much more of the world than you have.” The look on Malias face made it clear that this conversation had found its end and was going to go no further.

“Now,she said,” her usual cheer returning to her face and voice again, “where are we off to next? Oh! Didnt you say you had some sort of appointment you had to make today?”