Kallaster Poe, Lady Adventurer
Kallaster Poe, Lady Adventurer and Strangetime Momma stared at her nemesis. Her boot, for its part, did not stare back.
Kallaster opened her hands, flexed her fingers, took hold of the boot, and pushed out with her leg, trying again to get her foot into the boot. But just like the time before, her fingers were too weak, and the boot slipped out and away from her hands.
What use could she be? She couldn't get her boots on, let alone muster the strength to draw back an arrow upon her bow. Lore had somehow resisted the effects of the poisoned tea, but Kallaster had been less lucky.
Sitting up again, Kallaster wiped the drool from her mouth, and looked at her bow. It lay there, an arrow already notched, waiting for her to jump up to Kara's defense. And yet, when the bandit betrayed them, she could do nothing but lie there and listen.
Maybe she didn't need the boots. Concentrating, she slowly worked her legs beneath herself, and tried to stand. Slowly, shakily, she made it to a crouch, then up, so very high, to a stand. Kallaster noticed her bow, still lying on the ground. Somehow she would have to pick that up, and perhaps put on her quiver.
A man cleared his throat behind her. “Hello, miss Poe, Lady Adventurer.”
Kallaster swallowed, then carefully moved her right foot. A few more awkward, lurching steps, and she had turned to face the outlaw. Working her mouth, she slurred her way through her own greeting: “Hello Sly Fox... of... of the Darkerwood Foxes.”
“I'm surprised you're standing.”
“I am surprised,” Kallaster said, carefully enunciating each word, “you came back.”
“Plans go awry. Your minion, Lore, found us, and Kara turned out to be a magician.”
“You are looking well, considering.”
The outlaw glanced down at his arm. “I chose not to fight. They are out there, somewhere, trying to find their way back.”
“Still a coward?”
“I never tried to be a hero. Do you know why I am here?”
“Maybe.” Kallaster tried to raise an eyebrow, but such control was beyond her right now. “I thought you said that now was not the time for revenge, that the life of a human was more important than petty feuds.”
“I do not need to kill you. I have something else in mind.”
“If you wished to lie with me, you should have asked before you tried to kidnap Kara.”
“I am not asking.” Sly started towards her. “Besides, that would not count as revenge.”
Kallaster stepped forward, carefully. Her feet didn’t feel like they were her own. “I would refuse, but it appears I have been poisoned.”
Sly came up to her, face to face. From her belt he took her knife, and pointed it at her throat. “You do not fear what I will do?”
“I am a heroine. Heroines do not fear.”
“No pleading, begging? No desperate deal-making?”
“Begging would be beneath me. And I only negotiate from positions of strength.”
Sly frowned. He threw the dagger aside, then punched Kallaster in the gut. The woman doubled over and toppled backwards, landing heavily on her back. “I generally prefer women with spunk. Makes things more fun. This is a waste.”
Kallaster lay there on the ground, looking up at the outlaw and gasping for breath. “If... if it makes you feel any better, I'm not going to undo my breeches for you.” She lifted her head, giving him her best attempt at a smirk. “Again, it appears I have been poisoned.”
Sly shook his head. “Say what you want, I'll have my satisfaction regardless.” Stepping over her to straddle her legs, he bent over and groped her between her legs. “And for all your brave talk, you still color at my touch.”
“I... Forget it.” Kallaster's hand had found the arrow she had left on her bow. Exploding forth with all the strength she could muster, she jammed it into the side of Sly's knee.
Sly screamed in pain and stumbled backwards. But his leg could not support him, and he collapsed on the ground clutching his knee in pain. “You...”
Kallaster propped herself up with her elbows, a satisfied grin on her face. “I thought you said you liked women with spunk. But at least now we can negotiate.”
“I'll kill you!” Sly whipped out the dagger from his belt.
“No you will not.” Kallaster knew she had him now. “Kara's a sorcerer, but her skills aren't in combat. Kill me now, and how far do you think you can run? Even in the forest, they will be faster than you, with an injury like that. And how can you hide?” Kallaster's smirk widened. “Like calls to like, and you're leaving blood all over the place.”
Sly contrived to crawl towards her, using his left leg as little as possible. “So you want me to leave you alive, so all of you can hunt me down the same?”
“Leave now, and I promise I will keep them from hunting you. You have my word as Lady Adventurer.”
Sly stopped. “Knowing you, I suppose that word is worth more than a little.” Sly spat. “Deal.”
“I'd shake your hand, but it appears I have been poisoned.”
“Some position of strength. I can't kill you without them killing me. But you can't have them kill me, or I'll kill you now.”
“I wouldn't, in any case.”
“I was going to rape you.”
“And I've killed a score of bandits, maybe more. Yet you let me live when you could have simply slit my throat.”
“This land needs you. Everything has gone wrong, and heroines are in demand.”
“This land needs people, humans. You said it yourself: now is not the time for revenge, that the life of a human is more important than petty feuds.”
Sly stared at Kallaster. “You leave me wondering whether you're really human.”
“I am human. But I am also a heroine. I have to be something better than just human.”
Sly grunted. Taking out his axe, he used the long handle as a cane of sorts, pulling himself upright and leaning on it. “I don't really understand you. Maybe you're crazy. But I respect you. Go save the kingdom. I'm half convinced you can do it.” With that, Sly hobbled down the path and out of view, limping—nearly hopping—on one leg and leaning heavily on his axe.
Kallaster watched him leave her sight, then she collapsed on the ground, curling up among the leaves. Heroines do not fear, she reminded herself. Heroines do not fear. Heroines do not fear.