The eight Humans and one Kikker half knelt in a half hidden corner of the park. Shanna knew they had to look silly to the locals, a bunch of primitive foreigners doing whatever it was non-frog people did. The way Adanya was looking around, the Kikker woman obviously was a bit embarrassed. She offered no complaint, though, as they discussed their options.
"There's no reason Elves shouldn't be here," Piotr said, expression as serious as Shanna had ever seen it. It was his war face, she realized. The expression was echoed by the others, only Anelie showing a different emotion: fear.
"I think it's safe to say," Shanna replied, eyes sweeping the group, "that we're still at war with the Elves. We've negotiated no ceasefire, let alone a peace treaty. I'm sure both sides have standing 'attack on sight' orders, at least for border guards."
"If they're just traders, the war has nothing to do with them." Piotr shifted his leg a bit. "I could probably blame them for this rock poking me in my knee, though."
"I'm sure," Shanna said, grinning, "they placed that there as a trap."
"Wouldn't put it past them."
"What do we do, Lady Shanna?" Anelie's eyes were wide. There was trust in her voice, though. A conviction that Shanna would, in fact, know what to do. Would keep her, and them, safe. Not really knowing why it seemed right, Shanna reached over and placed her hand on the girl's knee.
"We do what we came here to do. We're soldiers. Polish soldiers. It will take more than a few pointy-eared freaks to send us running. Right?"
"Right!" Anelie's whole attitude shifted. She was confident again, body tense as she leaned towards Shanna. Shanna chuckled as she glanced at the hulk of a brother beside the girl. Bogdi had his own beefy hand on Anelie's shoulder.
"You'll be OK, Anelie. Just stay close to us, let us do the fighting for now. We need your eyes more than your sword."
Shanna took quick stock of their supplies. No bows, or other ranged weapons. Anelie did have a pair of throwing daggers along with her sword, as did Jacek. Bogdi had his ever present battle axe. No armor, apart from breast plate each human wore. The rest had been left behind.
"We passed a stall," Anelie said, "selling bows. They weren't Polish, but didn't look too bad."
Shanna regarded her, impressed.
"How far away?"
"I remember it," Helmut said, standing. "Maybe a quick ten minute walk back."
Adanya stood as well, crossing her brown and green arms over her breasts as she moved in front of him.
"Walk with a bow, and every guard in the city will mark you as potential trouble. Swords, we can say are for defense. Bows are for attacking, and guards don't want anyone starting trouble."
"So we don't use them when the guards are around."
She snorted, which came out as a half croak. From his expression, Helmut obviously wasn't sure how to interpret that. Adanya shook her head.
"Polish. Always a pain."
"And Frogs are better?" Bogdi asked. His snort of disgust mirrored Adanya's, and it was her turn to be unsure how she should react. He stood, his sister rising with him. "Really, this changes nothing. We just have to be on our guard, which we should have been from the start."
"Agreed," Shanna said, rising, as did the rest of them. "Adanya, see if that inn has rooms for all of us, as we won't be splitting up tonight." She paused a moment, taking Piotr's hand. "The best room with the biggest bed will be ours, though."
****
Lodging secured, the rest of the afternoon's exploration took on a more serious tone. The humans were wary, eyes darting into every passed doorway or side street. On coming to a narrow flight of stairs leading down to the lower city, Shanna made sure all noted its location. It would be the fastest way to retreat back to the docks.
A block further on, they came to what appeared to be a restaurant. The front wall of the two story stone structure was gone, replaced by squared wooden columns extending upward to the domed roof. Inside were round tables with chairs, half of which were already filled with Kikker diners. A few of the short furry Watu also occupied two tables, booster seats allowing them to use the larger chairs. The second floor, from what Shanna could see, had even more tables. There was no railing where its missing wall would have been. No safety codes here, evidently.
"What do you think," Piotr asked. "Good place for dinner?"
"Do they have human food?" Anelie asked. "I'm not too fond of flies."
"Grilled dragonfly isn't bad," Bogdi said, hand stroking his chin. "If it's fresh."
"Fresh caught is the best," Adanya agreed. She walked to the nearest column. Paper menus were posted on each of its four sides. Moving to the back, she stopped, eyes widening. "They have a Polish menu."
"That's a good sign." Shanna said. "They must get trader business."
"Places locals go have better food," Adanya groused, "but for tonight this will do. The prices are not horrible."
A young Kikker woman came towards them. She wore a red cloth vest, holes cut so her breasts were not just exposed, but held the vest in place as they jutted outward. Her skirt was of similar design to Adanya's, but woven of multi-colored fabric strips instead of rope. She smiled, head bowing slightly
"Welkom. Sou jy graag 'n tafel?"
Adanya looked at Shanna questioningly. Shanna shrugged.
"Sure, why not. Second floor, so we're not visible from the road."
****
"I am so sick of fish," Helmut said, eyes going over the menu, "even the bugs are looking like a good option."
"I'm telling you," Bogdi said, his own menu already discarded, "try the grilled dragonfly. If the cook knows what they're doing and doesn't drown it in sauce, it's quite tasty."
"Unless it's a Lilly herb sauce," Adanya said from three chairs down. Bogdi leaned forward as he turned to her, Anelie leaning back to get out of his way.
"Oh, I agree, but at these prices the odds we're getting that is low, unless it's cheap ass Lilly not fit for the better quality of Frog."
"Of which I am one," she said, smiling. Bogdi laughed. Grabbing his mug, he raised it up.
"To the better quality of Frogs!"
"You're not even drunk yet," Anelie said, frowning at her brother. He shrugged, taking a swig of his drink.
"And?"
"Nothing."
"And where," Shanna asked, "did you acquire a taste for Kikker food?"
Adanya leaned forward, interest clear on her face as he answered.
"I was down on the southern border for a bit, about five years ago. There was a Frog village just beyond our fort. They were friendly, so we'd often go there. There was this one Frog girl, who..." Bogdi stopped himself. He sat back in his chair. Shanna put a hand to her forehead as Anelie looked at her brother questioningly.
"Who what?"
He coughed, not meeting her gaze.
"Liked to cook."
The waitress came, delaying further revelations Shanna really didn't want to know about. Still, it was interesting to hear Bogdi obviously had no problem with dealing with the Kikker, although just because you liked to (eeew) fuck them didn't mean you respected them. That was information that could come in handy.
****
The food was good, the conversation better. Maybe it was the freedom of being away from everyone, even fellow soldiers. Maybe it was that they were alone together in the middle of an alien city. Alone, as humanity was alone, bonding to survive. Whatever the case, stories came flowing, tales Shanna had not heard in the months she had led them. So, too, she told stories. Stories of home, of her Earth. And, Piotr... Piotr, her love, for the first time seemed at ease with her men, and they with him.
Even if all else came to naught, for her the trip will have been worth it.
****
"So, there I am, standing in the middle of this crappy wooden rowboat at the cabin dock, ready to start the adventure of a lifetime. I manage to untie the back rope somehow, and as the stern starts swinging out into the lake, my six year old brain suddenly realizes, Fuck! I'm going to float off and be trapped in this boat forever! Mrs. Miller sees me from the cabin window, and BURSTS out the door, yelling 'SHANNA!' She runs down the hill, and Mrs. Miller running was a sight to see, let me tell you, big breasts a bouncing. She runs out onto the dock, and... JUMPS into the boat! I jump back, to get the fuck out of her way, hit the side of the boat with the back of my legs, and go flying over into the water! Splash! Mrs. Miller, without missing a beat, jumps in after me! BAM! Belly flop! Everyone comes running out of the cabin, what with her screaming about me drowning, and there I was standing in three feet of water laughing my silly ass off!"
Shanna took a swig of her drink as the table broke into laughter around her. She had left the part about the frog the family had named 'Prince' out of the tale, although Adanya probably would have taken it well. She was laughing along with the others, after all, now officially one of their number. At some point, the seating arrangement had changed, the Kikker woman now settled next to the magnificently mustached Bogdi. A bowl of some sort of large marinated insects sat between them. Shanna did not want to remember exactly what it was, and was just thankful the bowl was empty enough that she no longer could see its contents.
"Lady Shanna."
Shanna looked at Anelie beside her. Exactly when the green eyed redhead had ended up beside her was also a mystery. She let out a burp before answering.
"What?"
"The time."
"Time?" Shanna looked though the non existent wall. It was dark outside. She could not see any street lamps from this angle, but their glow was visible. She nodded. "Ah."
"Time to go?" Piotr asked.
"I think so. We have to find the inn, and it's a little ways back there. Who has the purse?"
"I do," Bogdi said, rising. "Adanya, come make sure I don't get cheated."
"If I must."
"Oh, you must, as what I do to tavern staff who cheat me would have the guards here rather quickly."
Shanna shook her head. She hoped the two weren't pairing up. That was an image she wanted nowhere near her mind. Plus, it was the village chief's daughter. There were political aspects here apart from the matter of... species. Shanna stood.
"OK, let's go."
****
The streets were, not crowded, but fuller than they had been during the day. Groups of Frogs walked up and down the road, more often than not a couple on some romantic stroll. Music came from some of the buildings, strong percussion beats with a sweet woodwind melody. The humans received some looks, but not that many, and certainly nothing Shanna would classify as suspicious. Certainly, she noticed nobody running off to notify others of their passing. Not that a good spy would be that obvious.
"I like this place," Shanna said. Piotr nodded.
"It has a different feel than Nowy Kiev did. More..."
"We didn't like non-Polish people in our city." Anelie's voice was sad. Her brother nodded next to her.
"You can't blame us, really. We had to fight to keep our place, surrounded by all these large nations. If we let others in, well..."
"Where would it end?" Shanna tried to keep the disgust out of her voice. She knew the argument, and it while it had some validity, more so here perhaps than at home, it was so easy to take it too far. Saribit was a vibrant trading center, fully in the control of the frog-like Kikker, but open to all. Why couldn't Nowy Warsaw grow to be like this? A rich trading center on the southern edge of the world. Maybe they could undercut the docking fees, have slightly lower taxes...
Another thing to discuss with King James.
****
James could hear the sound of fighting coming out of the darkness. Steel slamming into steel, screams of anger, of pain. Human, and non. Unable to control himself, he slammed his fist into the dirt wall before him.
"How the HELL did they get this close?"
"We've pulled too many men off of patrols, Your Grace. We're too thin." The wooden gate beside them opened. Two dozen Winged Hussars rode out into the land beyond the Fredrick fortifications. The lieutenant let out an angry sigh. "We can't patrol, man the walls, AND keep the trail safe!"
"We damn well can and we damn well will!" Even as the riders vanished into the night, another came into view. Leaning over the wall, James yelled down. "Rider! What news for your King?"
The Hussar reined in before the dirt wall and its dry moat, tired surprise on his face.
"Your Grace! Watu bandits! The furry monsters hit the supply wagons we were moving out! They fled, but it's a loss!"
"Track them! Hunt them down! I want every creature in every village and city to know we protect our own! You do NOT fuck with Poland!"
"Yes, Your Grace!" The messenger whirled, spurring his mount back up the trail. James turned to the gathering officers around him.
"Pull every soldier out of the work gangs. Replace them with newcomers. I want a sweep of every ravine and cave within twenty miles of the wall. We've been lax. Until every refugee is safe within the walls, we're at war. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Grace!"
****
Shanna had never made love on a lily pad before.
The two humans had laughed at the first sight of their bed, with its green sheets and obvious shape. The room, too, had a froggy feel, tan reeds set into the wall, the carpet the dark blue of a deep lake. Still, it was an actual bed, with a surprisingly comfortable mattress. In the dark of night, her love's strong body penetrating into hers, the world's problems were forgotten. All that existed was love, pleasure.
"Turn over," Piotr whispered. She felt him withdraw his manhood, a groan escaping from her throat at the loss. He had already filled her twice with his seed. She wanted to feel a third. In the darkened room, Shanna rolled over off of her back, raising herself up on hands and knees. Her breasts hung down as she felt strong hands grab her buttocks. She pushed back against those hands, seeking him.
"Fuck me, Love. Fuck me."
Her eyes shot open as he complied. She was filled. Filled by her lover. Her fiancé. Her...
Shanna's eyes, facing a large window overlooking the lower city, saw something fly up and hit just above the glass.
Piotr paused mid-thrust.
"Did you..."
"Yes I did," Shanna said. She felt Piotr pull out, her anger at this intrusion growing. How dare something interrupt their lovemaking! Rolling, she moved her body swiftly to the edge of the bed, standing as soon as she could swing her feet onto the floor. Grabbing Piotr's sword from its place leaning against a nightstand, she moved, still nude, towards the window. His nude body, white skin more visible than her dark brown, carefully moved around to the other side of the window, her sword in his hand. Body pressed against the reed wall, Shanna glanced around and through the window.
An arrow jutted out from the top sill.
"Jesus."
"Don't think it was him," Piotr said. His eyes were downward. "Nobody down there now. From the angle, it was fired from the park. Good shot."
"We don't know what they were aiming for." She inspected the window closer. "Does this open?"
"Um... yeah. Here. Be careful." Piotr pushed the window outward. Shanna, trusting her skin to provide some camouflage, moved her body fully in front of the window. Her hand shot out, grabbed the arrow, pulling it out of the wood. She leapt back as soon as it was free, Piotr closing the window behind her. They moved back into the room, far from where they could be seen from anyone below. Piotr grabbed a flint fire starter from a shelf, lighting an oil lamp after three strikes. As light filled the corner of the room, he cursed.
"It's Elven."
"You sure?"
"Hell yes. Look at how the fletching is done. There's no doubt." He took it from her, frowning. "Wait."
She saw it as soon as he did. Something was wrapped around the shaft.
"An arrow message. Really? This place does have someone at the front desk all night."
"I suspect they don't trust us to actually stand there and listen." Piotr grabbed a dagger, slitting the two thin strings tying the paper to the shaft. He unrolled it, placing the arrow on the shelf as he held the paper out between them. Shanna grabbed the other side.
It was written in some strange language.
"Well, this does us no good," Shanna said. "Is it a threat, or a message of friendship?"
"There's something on the back."
They flipped it around. A neat, if very rudimentary, map decorated the paper. Shanna mentally matched it to the day's exploration.
"The top of the stone stairway downward. I assume they want to meet us there."
"Do we go?"
Shanna glanced down at his now wilted manhood.
"Yes. If only to bitch slap them for interrupting."
****
The Poles and Kikker moved swiftly down the now empty stone streets. Shanna hoped to hell no guards saw them, as heavily armed and armored foreigners really had no good reason to be out this late. Not having much choice in the matter, she had Anelie out front, the girl's young eyes their only hope of not being surprised.
Coming to a crossroads near the stone stairway, the redhead stopped, raising her left hand in a fist. Shanna raised her own fist, stopping and moving closer to the stone wall beside them.
They waited.
After a few long moments, Anelie lowered her arm. She then stepped forward into the open, eyes apparently on something down the dead end road by the cliff edge. Shanna let out a curse.
"Fuck. Come on."
She moved quickly, hand on the pommel of her sword. Bogdi was beside her, axe already in his hand. As they closed, Anelie turned her head towards them, expression more anxious than anything else. She motioned downward with her hands. Bogdi lowered his axe, but kept both hands on the handle. Slowing to a walk, Shanna rounded the corner.
At the end of the short alley, where the stone stairs began their decent, a lone Elf soldier stood.
He was as ugly as Shanna remembered them to be. Green skin, long pointed ears which extended up past shaggy black hair. He wore leather armor, a kilt made of leather straps hanging down to its knees. The eyes... round. Black, small white circles centered in them.
Human and Elf stared at each other. Shanna was not sure what to do next. If the creature did not speak Polish, or Kikker, the chances of some misunderstanding causing things to go horribly wrong was rather great. She glanced at Adanya.
"Ask what's going on."
The woman nodded, stepping forward to speak. The Elf listened, head cocked as if trying to understand. When she was done, he spoke, haltingly, in words Shanna at least half recognized as being Kikker. He had to repeat it twice before Adanya turned to Shanna.
"He wants us to follow."
"Did he say why?"
"No."
She sighed. Well, James wanted them to find out what the Elves were up to. She nodded to Adanya.
"Tell him to lead the way.”