Chapter 4 Kyra 🔥

Kyra stood dripping on the stone floor of the ready hall in the Watchhouse, her hair refusing to shed the memory of the river and bay after that. She had taken off her surcoat as soon as she made landfall, but now the tunic and trousers were clinging to her and making Kyra feel like a drowned rat. Nils was recounting the entire incident to the Watch Captain, Jarrett Dallmann, and her sister, Archduchess Katarina Kiermann, in the Captain’s office. Kyra picked at the fabric as she waited for whatever fate her superiors decided on.

“Hey, peanut.”

Kyra turned, but she already knew it was Vanja. The two got along well together from the first time Kat had introduced Vanja to the family years ago. Now, Vanja treated Kyra more like a little sister than Kat did and she leaned her head on Van’s shoulder. Van had red hair, like Kyra, but with an undercut and swept over to one side. A couple of scars sat on her upper lip and jawline, physical memories from growing up on the streets, and despite Kat’s many attempts to get her to dress just a little nicer Van preferred her beat-up charcoal-gray trousers and a simple tunic.

“Hey Van.”

“Sounds like you had a rough night.”

Van slipped a cloak onto Kyra’s shoulders and she pulled it around herself like a child does their favorite blanket.

“I don’t think rough quite covers it. It feels like I’m being sent to see the governess again.”

Van smirked. “All that’s missing is a ruler and a look of disappointment.”

Van picked up a lock of Kyra’s damp hair and let it fall back onto her shoulders.

“Go for a midnight swim, did you?”

Kyra let out a soft laugh. “Something like that. Now I have these two deciding if I get to keep my job.”

Van wrapped an arm around Kyra and squeezed her tight in a hug. Kyra swore the girl was as strong as an ox, evidenced by the exasperated little squeak that escaped her lips.

“Don’t worry peanut, Kat’s got your back.”

I wish I believed that. She acquiesces to his every wish, want, and demand.

Kyra took a deep breath as Van released her crushing grip. Nils was going on about some woman that had come to help him, the Drow poisoning himself, and how terrified he had been when he couldn’t find her by the river. Captain Dallmann was unfazed by his concern.

It probably would have been easier for him if I had drowned in the river.

Kyra shook the thought away.

“On the plus side, if I lose my job I’ll finally be able to help you redecorate the sitting room so Kat stops nagging you about it.”

Van ruffled Kyra’s hair. “That’s the spirit. And don’t say that shit too loud. I don’t need her bringing it up again.”

Kyra smirked and dared to look over at the inquisition determining her fate. Captain Dallmann was throwing his arms around as he spoke. His voice carried through the stone walls and he was turning redder than a summer sunset. Kyra worried the front edges of the cloak between her fingers and her gaze fell back to the floor. Van clasped her on the shoulder and caught her eyes as Kyra looked up.

“Want me to kick his ass?”

Kyra couldn’t help it, she let out a breathy little laugh.

“If only that would help.”

“You never know until you try. Besides–” Van leaned in conspiratorily, “I’m sleeping with the Archduchess, so I’ll get away with it. Don’t tell anyone though.”

Kyra recoiled. “Oh gods, don’t tell me these things.”

She took a deep breath and looked up again. She locked eyes with Nils. He looked haggard as if he was the one that had their job on the line. It was the waiting that was making this entire ordeal unbearable. Just come out and tell her their decision already, but deep down Kyra already knew.

“I suppose I’ll have time to tend to the new ponies as well now.”

“Isn’t that, like, a regular sized horse for you?” Van said, bumping her shoulder against Kyra’s.

“Really, short jokes? You're only like…an inch taller than I am.”

“Yeah, and don't you forget it.”

Kyra’s lips were almost cracking into a smile with a laugh behind it before she saw Kat walking her way.

I take it back, Kat coming to tell me their decision is worse.

Kat smiled warmly at Van and their hands met for a moment.

“Guardsman, please join us inside,” Kat said.

Kyra. My name is Kyra. You know? Like, your sister that you treat more like an annoying daughter?

Kyra’s lip quivered, a plea for Kat’s aid dying on a breath. Her shoulders slumped, and Kyra shuffled into the Captain’s office where Captain Dallmann stood rigid with a sneer crossing his face. A sneer pointed directly at her. Kat came in behind her, closed the door, and took her place beside the Captain.

“Guardsman Kiermann, several major allegations have been made concerning your conduct this evening,” Kat said, unfurling a piece of parchment. “Insubordination when you failed to obey an order to stand down, dereliction of duty by abandoning an active emergency, endangerment of yourself and others through your reckless actions, failure to maintain unit cohesion, and exceeding authority by acting outside your jurisdiction.”

“Sergeant Bjørnsen has confirmed these allegations,” Jarrett said.

Kyra looked to Nils who couldn’t, or wouldn’t, look up to face her. She shifted on her feet several times waiting for Kat to continue in her defense, but it never came. Realization set in, she was alone here. Kat would not be saving her. The sneer on Captain Dallmann’s face grew wider, if such a thing was even possible.

“It is my opinion that guardsman Kiermann be hereby suspended until such time she is deemed fit and able to perform her duties pending evaluation.”

Kyra recoiled at Jarrett’s words. She looked at Kat, eyes glassy with unshed tears.

Kat’s jaw was set, her lips pulled into a thin line. Her throat worked before she continued.

“Guardsman, do you have anything to say in your defense?” Kat said, her tone clipped.

“Do…do I have anything to say in my defense?” Kyra’s eyes were wide and her hands were gesturing wildly as she spoke. “I shouldn’t have to. These allegations are preposterous. I pursued two arson suspects who then attempted to kill me.”

“You are not trained or authorized to conduct independent investigations. You let emotion override discipline,” Jarrett said, scoffing and shaking his head. ”What were you thinking?”

“I–”

Kyra looked at Kat with wide eyes. Her lips were almost tugging into a smile. Kyra reached out for her, but Kat pulled back and shook her head. Kyra’s brow furrowed and her shoulders slumped as she turned toward the door. She already knew Kat was going to side with Captain Dallmann.

Nils followed her into the hallway, closing the door behind him. Kyra stood with her back to him, her head in her hand.

“Kyra.”

Nils placed a hand on her shoulder.

Kyra shook it off. “Don’t.” She stood up straight and swallowed hard. “I don’t need a hollow gesture of reassurance.”

She grabbed her truncheon and badge and held them out toward Nils.

“We both know Kat will uphold the suspension. Might as well get this over with.”

“Kyra–”

She shook her head and shoved the club and badge into his hands. She turned and walked away, catching the door opening and Kat’s voice as she rounded the corner that led to the doors. Next came the sound of sharp footfalls trailing her own.

“Kyra.”

It was Kat, though Kyra already knew that. She didn’t stop, just pushed through the door into the night. She didn’t linger to take in the fresh air, but the door opened behind her before she got even ten steps away.

“Kyra, stop.”

She didn’t.

“Guardsmen, halt.”

Kyra flinched at the order. Her entire body was shaking and she gritted her teeth so hard that her jaw hurt. Kat came upon her slowly, circling to block her way.

“Kyra. Look at me please.”

Kyra shook her head and took a step back.

“I’m not asking.”

Kat’s voice left no room for interpretation this time. Kyra looked up slowly to lock eyes with her.

“What may I do for you, your highness?”

Kat’s lip curled at the title.

“It doesn’t have to be this way, Kyra. We can just have a conversation between sisters.”

“A sister would have defended me.”

“That isn't fair. I have a responsibility to this city and its people that comes before our relationship.”

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

Kyra took a step back and drew in on herself.

“Kyra, I’m on your side, whether you choose to believe that or not, but there is more to this situation.”

Kat stepped forward and reached out, her hand trembling, but Kyra drew up as if readying for a strike. Kat pulled back and let out a long sigh.

“I know you’re angry.”

“Angry? Whatever would I have to be angry about, your highness?”

Kat let out a sigh, smoothed down her jacket, and fixed Kyra with a glare.

“Fine, have it your way. I want you back at the estate. I will have a schedule drawn up for you while your suspension stands.” Kat turned and took a step, then looked back at Kyra one last time. “You will not be sitting idle wallowing in despair.”

Kyra watched as Kat walked away back to the Watchhouse, Captain Dallmann walking out as she reached the doors. They exchanged a few fleeting words before disappearing back inside the building. Jarrett saw Kyra and a smug look of satisfaction came over him. Kyra’s lip trembled as she glared back at him.

He’s enjoying this. He thinks he’s won.

She clenched her fists, set her jaw, and began the long walk home with an idea forming in her mind.

Thirty minutes later Kyra stomped through the entry hall of the Kiermann Estate, threw her surcoat onto the stone floor, and rushed past her lady’s maid through the music room. She continued on down the hall past her room, then Kat’s, and stood dead still outside the family memorial suite. Her hand hovered above the doorknob trembling. Kyra’s eyes glistened with unshed tears like starlight in a clear sky. Her lip quivered. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps.

This is ridiculous. It's just a room. There's plenty of rooms in this monument to opulence.

Kyra’s hand fell onto the handle and she gave the door the slightest nudge open. The faint scent of lavender and wood polish washed over her through the thin opening when she had expected stale air and dust. She grabbed the candle holder from the wall niche, noting the candle itself was new, and made to light it, but her shaking hands snuffed the flame on her first try. A second attempt was all Kyra required and she took that first step into the memorial suite as if she was waiting for the shadows to reach out and grab her. She passed by relics arranged with care on dark wood tables. Badges of office, her mother’s first formal petition to the crown, the proposal to expand the city watch into the outer city that King Brightwood had passed into law upon his coronation.

Kyra took a few more trembling steps into the suite when the candlelight illuminated her mother’s face. She stopped, mouth slightly agape and her eyes glassy, and beheld one of the many painted portraits of her mother, Cassandra. Her breath caught for a moment and then the dam broke, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she said in between sobs. “I’m sorry. I should have come sooner. I just…”

She took another step forward and laid her hand on the portrait.

“I couldn’t. I’m so lost without you.”

Kyra stood there for a long moment letting the silence wash over her. She took a deep breath and stood tall, then took another sweep of the room. A tall glass cabinet stood against the opposite wall and inside was what she braved this suite for: her mother’s officer uniform.

“I know you’d understand what I’m about to do, but please forgive me anyway.”

***

***

The sun was just beginning to creep up over the horizon, though the city was already awake. Street sweepers were out in force along with more than one young noble crawling home after a night spent on the other side of the wall and the members of the lampwrights guild were snuffing out streetlights throughout the city, the first light of dawn chasing after them like a hungry predator.

Kyra had changed into her white frilled tunic that she always thought gave the illusion of a rather scandalous dress as it hung just beneath the dip of her hips. Over that was her mother's old officer’s jacket that she had “borrowed” that cut a sharp silhouette. It was a deep red with brass trimming on the buckles, clasps, and edging. Her archer’s bracer disappeared under the sleeve on her right arm and she had fingerless gloves on both hands. Dark grey trousers, black knee high boots that featured only a slight heel, and an officer’s beret completed the outfit. With her bow and quiver on her back she looked every bit the part of an officer provided no one scrutinized her too closely.

Kyra had decided to stick to alleyways and side streets while also taking the long way around Noontide which meant she’d pass by the docks and skirt the Laurentian Quarter. She figured it best to avoid city officials anywhere in the Morninglow District. She was already in enough trouble without being found impersonating an officer. Kyra snickered as she caught sight of herself in a window. Maybe Jarrett had been right because what was she thinking?

I’m not letting Jarrett get away with punishing me for doing the right thing.

The breeze coming in from the bay was warm and welcoming. She closed her eyes and let the warmth spread over her. The freckles across the bridge of her nose turned into little points of heat in the morning sun and she smiled. A horn bellowing from a departing carrack broke her reverie with a start, something Kyra was grateful for a moment later when she spotted Otto and Liese rounding the corner and coming her way. She ducked into the nearest alleyway, getting as small as she possibly could behind an empty shipping crate. She heard their voices growing closer and a pang of jealousy gripped her for the practitioners of the arcane that could literally become invisible. Then came another all too familiar voice.

“Has Riverside been cleared?”

“Yes Captain. We worked through the evening,” Otto said.

“You’re sure of this? I’ve already had to endure ruthless questioning from the Archduchess. I do not need her prying any further.”

Kyra tilted her head back just enough to catch sight of the three of them. Otto and Liese did indeed look like they had been awake all night long. Captain Dallmann was looking as smug as ever, though there did appear to be an underlying tension in the way he was carrying himself.

What does he mean by Riverside being cleared?

Kyra didn’t have time to follow that thought through to the end as Liese took a few steps toward her and sat on the edge of one of the crates she was hiding behind. Kyra melted back against the wall and clamped a hand over her mouth.

“What about the other Kiermann? We all know that particular orange cat has a knack for finding herself where she doesn’t belong.”

Kyra would have laughed if it didn’t mean facing a metaphorical death sentence.

“She’s been dealt with. Kat was pliant as always and went along with my suggestion to suspend Kyra.”

He chuckled.

“It was even easier than I thought to get her to agree with me. Just a pretty face, that one, nothing like her mother.”

Kyra balled her other hand into a fist.

“Go get some shut eye, both of you. I need you focused and alert tonight.”

“Yes captain.”

“Twenty-three hundred hours at the House of Earthly Delights, don’t be late.”

Kyra listened as Captain Dallmann walked off, the sharp sound of his metal capped boots striking on every cobblestone in the road sent a bolt of anxiety through her. As the sound faded and was overtaken by the breaking of waves she dared to peek over the container spotting Otto and Liese but a few feet away.

“At least the kitten won’t be in the way any longer,” Liese said.

Otto scoffed. “Please, that bitch always finds herself where she doesn’t belong.”

Liese slipped a hidden knife from the cuff of her sleeve.

“Then next time she does, maybe she finds herself the victim of an unfortunate accident.”

Kyra’s eyes went wide at the clear implication. Otto huffed out a laugh and the two walked on in the same direction Captain Dallmann had. Kyra waited behind the crates for another several minutes before she dared pull herself up and walk back out onto the street. She spotted a dock worker nearby, drew herself up a little taller, and approached him.

“Pardon me, sir. Would you be able to tell me what the House of Earthly Delights is?”

He fixed her with a hard gaze.

“Shouldn’t an officer know?”

Kyra’s expression slipped. He let out a long sigh.

“All right. It’s a tavern if anyone ‘portants asking. If not, it’s a place one can go for…companionship.”

He gave her another once over.

“Not exactly a place for uniforms, if you catch my meaning.”

A full body chill ran through her at the implication, but she did indeed catch his meaning.

“Thank you,” she said.

Kyra bade a silent farewell to the water and the sea breeze, ducked into the next alley she came upon, which circled her behind the Song of the Morning and out onto the Tradeway after that. The street was already beginning to fill up as various peoples marched down the cobblestone road to their day's work while others flitted about like a flock of birds amongst the shops, eager to spend their coin. Kyra’s route took her south in the direction of the old city gate until she reached the Hypatia Atheneum, the great library of Brighthollow that she had spent countless hours getting lost in with her face buried in a book. A twinge of desire to do just that came over her, but it was quickly squashed. Duty to her city and herself meant such pleasantries would need to take a backseat. Kyra walked back into the cluster of buildings making up Noontide toward the Green Gate, making sure to stay as far as possible from the sight of Castle Dawnguard looming upon the hill.

At last she found herself on the Markway, the road separating the Morninglow and Noontide districts south of the keep and castle. The Green Gate loomed ahead, aptly named for the ivy that grew up the walls here along with the hanging gardens built onto the stonework and free to the public. The old stone building at the end of the block with the crumbling roof held together by ivy was Kyra’s destination. The Dancing Dell. Home to the faithful of the Dark Dancer, Dark Elves.

Kyra straightened her jacket, made sure the beret was sitting correctly, and gave one final check of her hair. She let out a breath and stepped into the Dancing Dell to find a young-looking Drow. She immediately presented the warrant with Kat’s seal upon it, something else she had “borrowed” last night.

“I am here on behalf of Archduchess Katarina Kiermann with a warrant to search the grounds and question all residents of this temple.”

The elf’s eyes went wide. Kyra stood up a little straighter.

“Please take me to your high priestess.”

The girl took the warrant like it was going to burn her hand, then wordlessly led Kyra through the compound of various buildings that made up the temple grounds. As they emerged into a larger building with a moss-covered stone courtyard Kyra beheld a female Drow clad in regal bearing in conversation with another Elf, though this one was pale with silvery hair and she wore a priestess’s vestments. The discussion died as the warrant was presented and Kyra took it as her moment.

“I am Lady Kyra Kiermann here on behalf of the Archduchess. I am to conduct an investigation concerning the incident in the Eveningstar District last night.”

The pale elf turned and fixed her gaze on Kyra, deep pools of violet that held Kyra in place.