Guild Wars 2

By request, I am posting another of my short stories. Enjoy and please, I welcome feedback. I’ve got thick skin. I can take it!

~~~~~
Kit sat at the grand piano in one of the palace’s many rooms. She was sure she was where she shouldn’t be, but the door had been open and she loved pianos. She had worked hard for many years to afford the rundown upright she had now. It played well once she’d fixed it up, but it didn’t compare to the sound from the grand she played now. She closed her eyes. Peace always found her at the keys of a piano.

The last notes rippled into silence. She ran her fingers over the keys reverently before standing. A man walked in as she pulled the lid closed. He marched briskly across the room to her, his face mottled and blotched with red. He closed the last bit of distance as he exploded on her.

“You are not supposed to be in here!” He snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. “How did you get in here? Who let you into the palace?”

The man drew a breath to throw more questions at her, but a sharp voice interrupted him. “Francis! That’s enough.” Queen Jennah walked into view with Countess Anise and Captain Thackeray flanking her. “We have enjoyed listening to her play. We do not often enjoy simple pleasures.” The Queen turned to Kit. “It was very beautiful, thank you. We would like you to walk with us.”

“Your Highness!” Francis sputtered, flustering and fidgeting. “She is not fit to be in your presence!”

Captain Thackeray answered, his eyes piercing the man. “Neither were you when you first arrived. My Queen met me as a pit fighter in Lion’s Arch.”

Francis closed his mouth and bowed his head. The Queen looked to Kit again. Kit smiled, bowing to her before stepping closer. She kept a respectful distance. Her clothes were stained with oil and smeared with grease. Her appearance never bothered her. It didn’t seem to matter much to the Queen either.

“Congratulations on winning the marksmanship tournament this week. Logan had picked you and Lieutenant Adrian Daniels most likely to be the winners.” Queen Jennah said as they walked towards the throne room.

“We weren’t supposed to win. The tournament was rigged.” Kit said, but smiled to the Queen. “I’m just not very good at losing. Thank you for noticing me. How may I be of service to you?”

The Queen and Countess were quiet as they looked Kit over. She knew they recognized her. The grin she gave them now was all teeth, her roguish smile.

“Katelyn De Rivers,” Countess Anise said as she eyed Kit shrewdly.

“My mother. I am Katherine Grace du Chaigne, but everyone knows me as Kit.” She introduced herself and hooked her thumbs through her belt.

Logan’s hand went to his sword. The Queen frowned at him. “Kit E. Kapone, Your Highness, is the leader in one of the far districts.” He explained as his hand remained on his sword and his gaze on Kit.

“I am more like law enforcement. The Seraph are not everywhere and the Lionguard are drunken louts.” Kit looked to Logan. “Have I done anything wrong?”

“Plenty.”

Kit grinned again. “I won the tournament, Captain Thackeray. You know I don’t miss. I am quick on the draw and quicker to aim with a pistol.” She winked to the Queen and Countess. “Unless she shields you or enchants me, you don’t stand a chance.”

Logan growled, but before he could draw his sword Kit had her pistol pointed at his head. They stared into each other’s eyes, his searching and hers serious.

“You’re cute, Captain Thackeray, but I don’t play games.” Kit said.

Logan slowly released his sword and showed her his empty hands. Kit holstered her pistol.

“We want you to do something for us,” the Queen spoke again. “Please come this way.”

Kit followed the Queen to a quiet room. She enchanted it, making doubly sure no one would overhear them. Countess Anise leaned against the window ledge and Captain Thackeray stayed near the door. He was behind Kit.

“We want you to infiltrate a bandit nest near Nebo Terrace. We have tried before, but our agents can never make any headway.” The Queen explained as she watched Kit. “We think you will be able to find the information we want. Will you help us?”

Kit flicked a glance towards the countess. “What am I, Your Highness? Am I a pawn – a tool?” She looked into the Queen’s eyes. “Or am I me, myself, Kit? I am not anyone’s toy. I’ve been used once and I will not allow it to happen again.”

Logan growled behind her, but she did not bother to turn. “You dare insult Queen Jennah in such a manner?”

“My dear Captain! You forget I am nobility.” Kit said, still not facing him. She was looking at the countess again. “I left my house to avoid abuse. My district mayor tried to use me as a pawn, but he had erroneously assumed I was in a dire situation, needing assistance myself. I am familiar with intrigue, Your Highness. I will be your friend and ally, if you want, but I will be no one’s pawn.”

To the surprise of Logan and Countess Anise, the Queen laughed. “Thank you Kit. I do not see you as a pawn or tool. I need your help.”

They spent an hour discussing what the Queen needed, primarily information. Kit knew she could get it. Her reputation was widely known. It would both help and hinder her. She ran a hand over her hair. She could dye it. It was important for this mission. Besides, it wasn’t like the color would be permanent.

She looked over the map one more time. There were likely hidden tunnels that helped them move. When she’d taken over her quarter of Kessex she had learned she needed short cuts to move around quickly. It had taken months to finish all of the tunnels and brace the natural cave structures.

Kit tapped a portion of the map where several raids had taken place. “Has anyone found caves or tunnels here?”

Logan and Anise traded a look. “Caves?”

“Yep! I had my people dig a network on my side of Kessex. It makes travelling from site to site easy, safe, and quick.” She folded her arms as she glowered at the map. “Based on what you have told me, they must have their own network.”

“It would explain several mysteries around the raids.” Logan said at her side as he looked down at the map.

Kit made eye contact with Countess Anise. “If you have an agent in the area let them know I am coming, but not to contact me. I will need information on them in order to contact them.”

The Countess nodded. “I will have the information for you tomorrow. Is there anything else you might require?”

“Discretion,” Kit was staring at the map, “the fewer people who know who I am and that I am there the better. I already have a reputation and it will hinder me if they think I am helping the Crown. It will scare them off and they will shun my efforts to join them or there will be an accident and I will be killed.”

“I understand. Will you contact us to let us know of progress?”

“No, they probably know who all of your agents are. If I send information through them they will get suspicious of me. While I am new to them they will watch me closely. It is likely any messages I send will be intercepted first.” She grinned wolfishly. “We have our eyes on our prize always, but we have one to our back to make sure no one comes up behind us.”

Everyone turned at a tapping noise from the window. Kit chuckled softly at the raven sitting there. She opened the window to hold the bird.

“Is he getting worried Kyos? Is that why he sent you?” She asked the bird as she stroked its feathers. The bird made an awful noise at her and tugged a loose strand of hair. “Hey watch it! You’ll make me bald! Go back and tell him I’ll be home soon.”

The raven left and Kit turned to face the other three, who were staring at her with open curiosity. Kit smiled crookedly. She hooked her fingers through her belt as she sat in the window.

“A friend has a raven companion and he sent it to check on me. I should leave before they come to find me themselves.”

Queen Jennah smiled to her. “Thank you Kit, we appreciate what you are doing for us. Congratulations again on your win at the tournament.”

Kit looked at the Queen for a long moment. “Next time throw it open. Invite everyone to come, especially the Charr. I’d like to go up against their marksmen.”

Kit disappeared out the window before they could reply. She had a lot of practice monkey-ing around. Now she just had to hurry to find her friends before they sent out a search party for her. That would not go over well for the palace if they did. The Captain would find himself with his hands full. That thought made her grin. This was going to be fun. She’d have access to Captain Logan Thackeray of the Seraph. She would be able to pick on him regularly!

~~
(The second screenshot is Kit’s “bandit” look. Yes, that is the skin for The Hunter.)