Chapter 4: Corena
The next day, they all listened as Jekan told his story.

"I was born into a family of thieves and assassins. My father was the latter
of the two, my mother was a noblewoman who had run away with him (And boy, did
she regret it). Neither of them actually loved me. My father only saw me as an
investment. Training and all would take money, but I would pay him back in the
end. My mother saw me as a burden. The only one who loved me was my older
sister, Manay. She was the only good thing in my otherwise miserable world."
"In truth, I was not at all surprised neither of my parents loved me. I was
surprised at Manay, but it was a good thing for me. I can think of many
examples of men who have never been loved, and they all were bitter and
hateful, sometimes downright evil. So it was a good thing that I had Manay."
"Anyway, my father taught me everything he knew, fed and clothed me, and
basically provided every thing I ever needed. At the turn of my thirteenth
birthday, my father forced me to take a job someone had asked him to do. I
tried, good god I swear I did, but in the end I couldn't do
it."

Voren was about to say something in shock, but decided against it.
Jekan lowered his head and continued.

"He...He threw me out. He said if I didn't do it at first, I would NEVER do
it. And he threw me out. Into the street. No food, and he wouldn't even allow
me to say goodbye to Manay...I was alone, and I decided I would never kill.
For an assassin, it seems wrong, but I couldn't. I've done many things, each
more horrible than the last, but I have NEVER taken a person's life. And I
never will. Of course, I won't be allowed to be bought off, either."

That said, Jekan leaned back and regarded Voren and Midja, ignoring Kriz all
together.
"Ah. So YOU'RE the dreaded 'Blood Rose'?" Voren paused. "Every
politician this side of the Great Wasteland is scared out of their mind of
you. They know you can't be bought off, and that's what scares them." She
winked and smiled. "ME on the other hand, I just charge extortionist prices."
Jekan smiled. "And I've heard of you also, Voren. You're the most
skilled of our ilk, in many different ways. But you're in it for the money."
Voren nodded. "Yup. That's all. I don't really ENJOY killing people, but I do
it because it's the only job I was taught."
Midja looked between both of them. "Wow. My story seems so dull
compared to you guys." she said wistfully.
Voren smiled at her. "Well, it ain't gonna stay that way. From now on we're
going to have to keep a lookout... There's things (and people) out for our
blood, and we're going to have to watch for them."
Kriz nodded. "Yes, and Voren, you're going to have to start teaching Jekan
and Midja magic they can use in unison with their amulets."
Voren nodded. "Yah, I know. But today..." She looked out the window
cheerfully. "Today, we're just going to have fun, 'kay?" Jekan and
Midja both nodded in agreement. They ran upstairs to get their things, and
Voren sighed. No matter how they act, they're still children. Jekan is only
about 15 or 16, I'm sure, and Midja's 17. They're both so young... And they
have no idea
what's in store for them...

Voren smiled as they walked through the big city. "This is such a
lively place, and so much to see... Even though I've been here about a hundred
times, there's ALWAYS something new waiting for me!"
Midja grinned as she looked at all the exotic animals for sale. "Wow, this
bird is so pretty... And that thing can TALK!"
Voren laughed. "Not all animals are completely dumb, mija. Some can talk, and
some are even just as wise as we... Though they hold their secrets mostly.
Alas, what we could learn from them, if we weren't so stupid ourselves..."
Voren shook her head and smiled again. "Would you like me to buy you a pretty
pet, mija? Anything you want, I can get..."
Midja shook her head. "That's okay, mika, I'm content to look for now. Though
I might take you up on that offer at some point!" She laughed and bounced off
down the street.
Jekan was nervous. "Voren, is it wise to show your face in this city?"
Voren looked at him. "Why, Jekky, are you afraid for me?"
He blushed crimson. "Don't call me that! And no, not for YOU,
especially. I know YOU can take care of yourself. It's mainly HER -" he nodded
in Midja's direction "- that I'm afraid for."
Voren frowned. "Surely, you don't think -" she was cut off suddenly by a
scream. She looked up just in time to see someone racing around a corner with
Midja. "MIDJA! Oh, dear Goddess, I'm such an idiot!" She sprinted up the
street, searching for a sign... There! That alley, they can't get out of that!
No, it's a side street! Damn it... There! There she is! Now, if I can get
closer... She stopped suddenly as she realized they were in a COMPLETELY
deserted alley with no one around, and Kriz and Jekan were far behind. She
looked at the stranger's back suspiciously. "Who are you, and why -"
"Dear Sazha, do not recognize me? I mean, you would think it would be
obvious..."
Voren clenched her teeth and growled in rage. "Corena. How dare you seek me
out to hurt me. That has no honor."
The woman laughed. "Oh, you're as THICK as ever, Sazha dear. You had no honor
in abandoning us, but you did it anyway. Who're you to preach about honor?"
"I HAVE MORE HONOR THAN OUR ENTIRE FAMILY COMBINED! NONE OF YOU EVER LOVED
ME, I WAS JUST A STUPID RUNT! TURN AND LOOK AT ME NOW, SISTER, AND SEE WHAT
THIS RUNT HAS BECOME!"
Corena turned, holding a knife to Midja's throat. "One step closer and she's
dead."
"I challenge you to an honor duel. That cannot be put aside or
delayed."
"Aww, pwecious wants to duel, eh? Then, sister, she is our prize.
Whomever wins, surivives. Whomever loses, dies."
"Agreed."
Corena threw Midja into a corner against the wall. "Here?"
Voren shook her head. "No." She crouched down then jumped, landing on a
ladder to the upper stories of the building next to her. "The roof." She began
to climb.
Jekan and Kriz arrived just in time to see Corena following Voren up the
ladder. Jekan picked up the sobbing Midja, who was babbling about it being her
fault. "Sh, Midja. Leave it be. She'll be fine, don't worry."
She sniffled. "But -"
"DON'T worry. Voren can handle herself in a fight well enough. Don't be
scared about that." Midja nodded slowly, and they all sat down. Jekan sighed.
"Now what? Wait around for her to come back down?"
Kriz shook his head. "No. We have to follow her. It is an honor duel, so we
cannot interfere, but we can at least watch."
Jekan nodded slowly, crouched down (much like Voren had) and jumped, catching
the ladder and beginning to climb. Kriz followed suit, then helped Midja up.
They all began to climb.

Meanwhile, up on the roof, Voren looked around. "This will suit our purpose,
though an open, grassy field would have been better."
Corena hissed. "This will do, sister. shall we begin?"
Voren nodded silently, and both women unsheathed their claws. Voren lunged.
Her right claw caught on Corena's left cheek, tearing
the skin. Corena swiped, but Voren dodged.
Corena hissed. "First blood to you,  sister."
Voren smiled grimly. "And it won't be the last."
Both lunged again, this time Corena scored a swipe to Voren's leg, but much
shallower than her own scratch.
Voren lunged right back in, flipped under Corena and brought her down on one
knee, but Corena quickly moved out of the way and Voren's strike missed. Voren
cursed. "Calrire! Shirayt!"
Corena tried to get a claw into Voren's neck, but Voren rolled away and got a
hit on Corena instead.
Voren showed no signs of fatigue, while Corena was already breathing
heavily. Voren smirked. "Not too bad, am I, sis?"
"VOREN!!!" Jekan cried from the edge of the roof.
Voren looked shocked. "Jekan, go back! You shouldn't be here! Go-"
While Voren was preoccupied, Corena growled and lunged, sinking her teeth
into Voren's shoulder. Voren screamed in pain and tried to wrench her away,
but couldn't. They went rolling into a low stone wall (there to keep people
from falling off the roof), at which point Voren finally managed to wrestle
Corena away.
Voren screamed "Are you INSANE?! WE COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF THE ROOF!!!"
Corena staggered, but the taste of blood seemed to have given her a fresh
start. "I WILL KILL YOU!" she screamed. Corena once again launched herself at
Voren, only to go flying straight into Voren's fist. She stumbled back, her
nose bleeding.
Voren smiled viciously. "Oops." Corena screamed in rage and lunged yet again,
but this time Voren caught her and pinned her to the floor. In a calm tone,
Voren spoke. "Give up, sister. You will only die if you don't. And I don't
want to kill you."
Corena gnashed her teeth. "I won't! You can't kill me! I WON'T DIE!!!"
Voren hit her in the face, and she was still. "Stupid bitch." She got up,
leaving Corena lying there. "Stupid -" Before she could finish, Corena came up
from behind and sank her teeth into Voren's neck, right between her shoulder
and her collar-bone. Voren screamed and knocked her away. "YOU IDIOT! YOU
NEVER LEARNED! HONOR ISN'T WORTH MORE THAN DEATH!" She plunged her fist into
Corena's chest.
Corena gasped in surprise as Voren pulled out her heart. "You...
Sister..." Her eyes went wide in surprise and she fell backwards, dead.
Voren stood there, Corena's heart in one hand, blood up to her elbow, and
bleeding from several places. "Stupid idiot. She never understood." Voren put
a hand on her forehead. "I think... I've lost too much blood..." She passed
out, and Kriz just caught her as she fell.