Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The canals of Katánopolis were a long, unstructured maze of waterways that meandered through the burg.

They stretched on for an eternity, twisting and turning like a tangled web of elaborate veins. The gentle lapping of waves against the river walls was a constant background noise, accompanied by the occasional splash of a passing boat and the distant chatter of locals.

The clear, mountain-fed water reflected the sky and carried Killen’s eye to the river kondolars snaking under Kos’ ancient, romantic bridges. Where loved ones strolled and held hands, sharing secrets as they’d done for centuries long.

He strode along, willing the woman tracking fast before him to reveal her enigmatic mysteries to him.

Sana’a was a conundrum, a temperamental freakin’ lure.

One Killen was reluctant to tangle with.

But needs must, he thought to himself.

When it came to her, the maxim of keeping your enemies close was going to be a hazard.

One he was inclined to risk.

This was why he was now shouldering through the avenues of Kos, eyes fixed on her backside as she moved in long strides ahead with fluid grace.

Every beguiling movement of her hips gave off a sense of ferocity, a tangible force that emanated from her very core.

It left him with less desire to brawl with her than tussle with a khārpi.

Which is why he needed company for what he was about to do next.

He and his two hulking, cloaked companions wore hoods that covered their features.

Their colossal silhouettes and menacing aura made way for them through the crowds.

They moved fast, their eyes on the woman winding her way ahead.

Killen let out some of his vexations in a hiss as he shouldered past a family of slow, drab seedeaters impeding his speed.

‘What the fokk are we doing? Why are we following this woman like three lovestruck and withered fowls?’ Kaxim growled, skirting and dodging the generous form of a well-fed Kôrmərənt woman.

‘I’ve got better things to do than stalk kəthikavaliers, in shroud no less,’ the Kíríga’s First Armourer went on, drawing level to Killen. ‘Isn’t she the same woman who tangled with you that night on Eden II?’

Killen sucked his teeth. ‘’Tis.’

‘Oh-hoh, so you were dazzled by her beauty and now her blades?’ The dig came from Kione, who gave a slight guffaw at Killen’s exasperated glare.

‘Nada, you dickcissel cloaca,’ Killen growled.

‘Oy! Don’t get your tits in a tangle! Just asking a few questions, my friend. As your Second Armourer, of course,’ Kione shot back.

Killen slowed, measuring his words. ‘If you must know, she’s not just famed as Sana’a the Shotelai. Her other kína is the Switchblade.’

‘The who now?’ Kione huffed.

Kaxim’s colossal fist nabbed Killen by the cloak and jerked him about, halting his progress. ‘The most prolific and famous female assassin in all of Pegasi?’

Kione also started, coming to a screeching stop, realisation hitting hard. ‘The freakin’ hit woman for half the crime syndicates in the known universe? I hear she’s seduced and killed a slew of shadowed operators in the galaxy.’

Ahead, Sana’a slowed and halted as if sensing them discussing her.

She turned with a sharp swivel and cast her eyes about.

Killen quelled her search with a kusudi command from his hawkstone.

Her shoulders relaxed as she swivelled back to keep walking.

He took off after her, and his two Klós companions followed, both still unconvinced.

‘Rumour has it she’s focused her entire life on avenging the people who destroyed her planet. She’s ruthless, and mercs throughout Pegasi tremble in their boots at the sound of her name,’ Kaxim spat.

Killen smirked at his companions. ‘Like you two cowering ducks are? Besides, I know all of that.’

Kaxim cursed. ‘Then why would you want to tangle with her? Or even stand for her presence on Katánē?’

‘Before we jump into horned screamer panic mode, I just need a confab with her,’ Killen murmured.

He paused in an alleyway, pulling his two friends behind him. ‘She’s found a spot somewhere close. Let’s give her a few minutes to settle in.’

‘Then what?’ Kaxim grunted.

‘Like I said, I plan to speak with the woman.’

Kione whistled under his breath. ‘You’ve got some plex-steel balls. What bizna would you have with her?’

‘I’ve got a proposition I’d like to share,’ Killen muttered. ‘I need you two to watch my back while I do.’

Kione withdrew his cowl, shrugging. ‘You fear her too, Kíríga? Or is it something else, given how a-flutter you were the last time we met her, all up in your feelings?’

The silver-haired man sucked his teeth. ‘I was not a-flutter as you claim, kínai. I dispatched her because she -,’ he paused, bracing himself for their reaction, ‘sought to blade me.’

‘She fokkin what?’ hissed Kaxim, whirling around to face his King.

Killen laid a hand on his massive shoulder. ‘Relax, like I said. I pre-empted her, never thinking for one moment I’d cross her again.’

‘If she already attempted once, what makes you think she’s not got a contract to un-alive you now?’ Kaxim growled, and his face was clouded with concern. ‘Its fokkin’ imperative that we find out what she wants on Katánē. She could be a danger to us, to you, if she tried indeed to blade you. Word is she’s collected the koyas of many undefeated kavaliers and some of the most notable kəthi in the arena. Her reputation is savage, just after a few weeks.’

Kione grunted. ‘The honours are well-deserved, and the kəthi masters and indeed Kəstian himself have bestowed them with fairness. Sana’a has achieved things that no one would expect from a xkénos. With the face of an innocent lamb and the body that’d make any red-blooded warrior run hot and cold at the same time, mind you,’ he smirked.

At this proclamation, Killen snorted, but Kione ignored him, his good nature in the wind as worry crowded his eyes. ‘But she fights like a predator. In fact, she’s surpassed all expectations so much the city is enamoured. She’ll cut your balls off with no provocation.’

Killen shook his head. ‘Nada, she claims she’s after someone else.’

Kaxim sucked his teeth. ‘You’ve had a conversation with her already?’

Killen shrugged. ‘A few.’

Kione and Kaxim exchanged glances.

‘Sounds freakin’ complicated,’ Kaxim grumbled. ‘You going to share what this proposition is?’ he pushed.

Killen crossed his hands over his chest and took a moment, his silver eyes flashing over the faces of his armourers. ‘Didn’t you both say I needed a kísímí trainer who breaks the rules?’

‘We did. So what?’ Kaxim growled.

Kione caught on faster, whistling under his breath. ‘You’re saying her, you, blade training?’

He reared back his head and guffawed before jerking forward to lean into Killen. ‘Damn Kíríga, whyeverfokkin’not. She kicks ass and is a beauty,’ he grinned. ‘What a better secret master than one who is pleasing to the eye?’

Kaxim sucked his teeth in disgust, swivelling to nail his friend with a glare. ‘What do I perceive from deep within the folds of your ineffectual birdbrain, Kione? Is it the sustained scream of a misguided romantic bushtit that I hear? Who’s wasting his breath speaking out of his behind instead of guiding the Kíríga through the dreary depths of the calamity we now find ourselves in?’

‘Shut it, you two,’ Killen growled. ‘Enough with your witty scraps. That woman moves fast, and we must catch her before she flits off again.’

Kaxim sighed. ‘Fokkin snowcock. What if she slices your noggin’ off while you’re ‘fessin your adoration of her skills?’

Undaunted, Killen gave him a narrowed look. ‘I can handle her, but if it gets nasty, you two kinais will have my back, savvy? Turns out I’m in desperate need of a fight master, and she’s the best on Katánē at this present time. I’ll use my persuasive talents, of which there are many.’

He stared down his infuriated armourer, his koya bristling within his locks.

When the Kíríga’s hawkstone flashed with menace, Kaxim conceded with a lift of his hands in surrender. ‘Whatever you say. Have at it.’

With a sigh, Killen backed down.

Despite his bravado, a sliver of self-doubt raced through him. Clenching his jaw, the bitter surge of klaw floodinghim. Adding to its potency, he brute forced his hawkstone’s calm into his mind.

She was just one woman.

This was just one conversation.

If she declined to come on board, he’d find another way. She was not vital to his -

His hawkstone burst into life. She is crucial. Acquire her mastery, honour her blades, and help her keep her oath.

It sent him a staggering reel of hereafter facsimiles.

He closed his eyes at the rush it transmitted through his head.

His two companions, realising he was in the midst of a vision and now used to his stance while caught up in one, waited.

Eyes alert, always in vigil.

Moments later, the hawkstone’s brilliance faded, and Killen opened his eyes.

He gazed at his friends, eyes narrowed, jaw ticking.

‘What did it say?’ Kaxim growled.

Killen looked up into the sky, exasperated. ‘Enough to compel me past any doubts.’

His mind now set in offensive mode, he prowled out into the street once more. ‘You two bumbling geese coming?’