The ship creaked as the dock workers loaded it with goods. The craft was small, fast, but would be carrying a full cargo hold to Churash. Dolon watched from the port side of the main deck, waiting for the thing to leave on its journey west. Niall and the other Harlequin's had boarded and established their spawn location an hour before, then left to lead whatever lives they had on the outside world.

  Dolon kept himself quiet, observing. It was not until an unexpected face appeared that he moved or talked. Kartwright came from the docks and on to the ship. 'Hey!' Dolon greeted. 'What're you doing here?'

  Kartwright smiled. 'I'm sailing with you.'

  Odd. 'How come?'

  'We'll be heading up River Churash once we reach the island.'

  'That explains the size of the boat.' Dolon thought out loud.

  'Yeah.' Kartwright continued. 'Your team doesn't have the permissions to pass by Lakehome Castle. Thus me!'

  'Right on.' Dolon nodded. 'We're going directly to the capital.'

  'Aye.'

  'Good. We can get our briefing over and done with quickly.' He took a seat on the port side rail. 'Where's Kit and the Queen?'

  Kartwright leant on the rail. 'Out and about.'

  You're holding back on purpose. OK, I won't push you. 'I haven't been back to the island for a while. Is there anything new? Anything interesting happening?'

  Kartwright took off her three pointed hat and combed her brown hair back with her hand. 'Let's see...' She sighed. 'You've missed out on this year's boat race on Lake Churash, the Merchant Guild feast and the swimming competition at Lakehome.'

  'I've missed everything interesting this year. Even the Duel Tournament. It's happening right now, just over there!' Dolon pointed. 'And I'm missing it!'

  'Me too.' The Soldier, Kartwright, added.

  'I don't even know who's in the last fight.'

  'Jerry and that Monk.' Said Kartwright.

  'The old man and the Monk?' Dolon was wide eyed.

  'That's them.'

  'I'd love to be watching that.'

  'Me too.' The woman smiled. 'But hey, we haven't seen each other for a long time. What's a fight compared to friends catching up?'

  'True.' Dolon smiled in return. 'How have you been?'

  'Not bad.' Kartwright replaced her hat. 'Busy. We've had some hard days.'

  A breeze blew over the deck of the ship. Dolon pulled the collar of his coat over the back of his neck. 'I know how that goes.'

  Kartwright's face suggested that Dolon did not. She adjusted her hat again, straightening it. 'How have you been?'

  'Good. Picking up after you mostly.' Dolon laughed.

  'That fire knife thing?' She snorted. 'Don't get used to it, that's just a blip. We'll be back on form soon.'

  'Back on form? I thought we were brought in because you guys didn't get involved in regular combat? You wouldn't - or couldn't - infiltrate a castle.'

  Kartwright raised an eyebrow. 'What? No! Who told you that?'

  'Niall...'

  'We're fighters like most other teams. Niall's wrong. '

  Dolon gave a giggle. 'It wouldn't be the first time.' A loud crack took Dolon's attention. A crate had been dropped on deck by a worker, one corner broke open, but the canvas bags of whatever was inside were too large to spill out. Other workers came to help carry the load away. 'So what's the blip then?'

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  'I really can't say.' Kartwright looked away.

  'Oh come on, what's the matter?'

  'Really. I can't...' She took a breath. 'Actually. I'll do a deal with you.'

  'Go on.' Dolon was suspicious.

  'Last night in your dorm.'

  'Yeah?'

  Kartwright fought against a coming smile, Dolon could see it in her face. 'I saw something by your bed.'

  By my bed? 'What was it?'

  'A sword.'

  'Sword?' The sword Niall gave me. 'What about it?'

  'If you give it to me, I'll tell you what's up.' Kartwright said with a glint in her eye.

  'Wait a second here. Are you allowed to tell me or not? If not, you're accepting a bribe. Or suggesting that you will.' Dolon slipped off to rail to his feet.

  'I can tell you, it's not a matter of national security.'

  'Then why not just tell me?' Dolon was curious.

  'I want the sword.' She was deadpan.

  This woman... I suppose I don't really need it, but Niall did give it to me. 'I don't know...' It was a prize, a gift even. I can't just give it away... 'I'll tell you what: if I give you the sword, you tell me what the problem is... and give me twenty gold on top.'

  'Done.'

  Just like that? She really wants that sword. 'I'll go get it for you, it's below deck.'

  Dolon walked away and headed into the bowels of the ship. Crates were being stacked evenly throughout the hold, Dolon did his best to not get in the way. Beneath the stairs leading down were his belongings, a black dyed hempen rucksack, his rifle bag and a singed orange sheath, the sword snug inside. The Sniper knelt behind the steps and picked up the sword. She really likes you, why? He looked at the hilt, it was leather bound and long. The guard, as short and useless in combat as it was, was a dirty bronze, inscribed with intricate swirling patterns. The pommel too was bronze, a small, flat and round ornament, inscribed on the underside with similar patterns to the guard. 'It does look nice.' I should have looked at it properly much earlier on.

  Dolon drew the blade from the scabbard. The first thing he noticed was the golden collar connecting the guard to the blade. It was cut into detailed shapes that framed the bottom of the blade, and the image of riverside reeds were stamped onto it. Beautiful.

  Dolon was impressed by the ancient looking weapon, up until after the collar. The blade itself was a plain grey steel. It was about eighty centimetres long, he guessed, straight and double edged, coming to a sharp point. The weapon was certainly sharp, it was well made too, but Dolon could not consider it something a person would take into battle. It was more ornamental than anything else.

  Niall seemed impressed by it, but he wouldn't part with anything special. 'I suppose I can give it away, I have no need for it.' Dolon leant his elbow on one of the wooden steps behind him, using it to support himself. Quickly it creaked and then split and cracked. He panicked and came away from the wood. Better not step on that when I head back up. The thing's as weak as cardboard. He quickly sheathed the blade and headed upstairs, skipping over the cracked step.

  'Watch out when you head down there.' Dolon called out to no one in particular. 'One of the steps is looking a little worse for wear.'

  When Kartwright saw him appear, she revealed a pile of gold coins in her hand. 'I only have twelve gold with me, do you mind if I get the rest to you once we reach Churash?'

  Wonderful... 'Only if you don't mind me giving you the sword then too.'

  'Oh come on! You know you'll get it, Churashi honour and all that!'

  'Fine!' Dolon handed over the sword and took the gold. 'But you owe an extra gold coin.'

  'Extra?!'

  'For making me wait. That's fair.' He smiled.

  'Fair enough, nine more to come.' Kartwright could not take her eyes off the item. Her hand caressed the scabbard. 'It's damaged.'

  'The sheath is a little singed. That's what happens when you work with Niall.' Dolon counted the coins and then pocketed them. 'Everything else is in good condition.'

  Kartwright licked her lips. 'Good.'

  Dolon could not understand her fascination. 'Is there something special about this sword?'

  'Dolon.' Kartwright looked disappointed. 'There's something special about every sword.'

  'Is that so?'

  'Yes it is.' She held the weapon to her chest. 'Swords are the weapon that warriors have the deepest connection to. Most swordsmen consider their blades a true extension of themselves, some even believe their souls are contained in the sword.'

  Weapons are just weapons. Some are better than others, but it's the skill of the warrior who makes them work. 'I don't get it.'

  'You wouldn't.' Kartwright laughed.

  Don't you look down on me. Dolon pouted. 'Anyway, you owe me a story.'

  'I do.' But instead of telling, she yelped.

  The Floating City rocked violently. A deafening crack sounded and then smoke and dust rose into the sky from inside the wooden city limits, from the direction of the tournament.