''Firebird, twin barrel, explosive shell.'' The Captain pointed at Dolon. ''Best pistol there is.''


    Dolon shook his head. ''On the battlefield maybe, but we''re talking personal defence here. I''ll go with the Firebird if I want to blow off someone''s legs, yeah, but only at close range, because the accuracy sucks. And even then I''d end up blowing myself up too.''


    ''Please!'' The short ship Captain folded his arms. ''Enlighten me with your choice.''


    ''I''ll show you!'' Dolon pulled from his hip a black metal pistol. He never often wore it while off the job, but Niall''s moods had him anxious to defend himself on the chance that his leader had a bad turn. ''What do you make of this?''


    The other man shrugged. ''A Louise?''


    ''Similar to a Louise.''


    ''Oh?''


    The Sniper snickered. ''Same aesthetics, but it takes rifle rounds.''


    ''How the hell did you manage that?''


    ''I never, it was a gift. It''ll break your wrist when it goes off, but you could put a Knight on his backside with one good hit. It''ll even go through a Defender''s shield. I carry an actual Louise to back it up.''


    ''Impressive.'' The Captain rubbed his cheeks with one hand, thumb and fingers caressing stubbly skin. ''I still prefer the Firebird.''


    ''To each their own.'' Dolon holstered his side arm. ''But when a Shifter comes at you from the bushes and your little hand cannon misses, you''ll wish you had that quick reload and accuracy of my Louise. It''ll punch a hole through him so big that his spirit guide will feel it.''


    The Captain laughed, as did Kartwright who was watching from the port rail. A sword sat in her lap, she polished the blade with a cloth. ''I think I prefer the idea of blowing a hole through a Shifter and killing it outright. I once saw one get its legs broken and still crawl its way up to a knight and slash through their armour.''


    The Captain shook his head. ''You people know nothing.'' He looked out at the river, Mount Churash ahead of them. ''It won''t be long before we reach Lake Churash.''


    The longboat had sailed and rowed its way up river for the past day. Oars dipped and men chanted, their might versus the strength of the River Churash. Dolon and Kartwright had been alone with the crew for most of the journey, the other Harlequins remained offline to skip the boat ride, returning only to check in and ensure the trip was going without a hitch.


    The journey had seen no trouble at all, though the sighting of a sea serpent at the mouth of River Churash had the crew on edge. They did not settle until out of sight of the ocean and up river.


    When the lake was before them, Dolon and the others were greeted by water vessels of all sizes. Most were long boats, used for reaving; others were merchant vessels and frigates that had been hijacked and stolen from enemy nations and pirates. The lake was used to safely house and hide conspicuous Churashi ships until deployed on missions. The in island location ensured that coastal spies or passing enemy fleets could not witness the use of raiding ships by Churash, only their official navy could be seen in the ports of Livapool.


    The ship pulled itself across the lake, the green-blue water fighting to force it back, only to fail under the force of the crew. Grass lands and sporadic woods surrounded the body of water, green under a white cloudy sky. Dolon loved the island, it was the environment here that drew him into joining Churash, making it his chosen nation. Little did he know that he would end up in a position that kept him away from this land, always off abroad inside enemy borders.


    The long boat reached the lake end and again powered through the rushing waters of the River Churash that came down from the mountain. Ahead of them was Lakehome Castle, a fortification on the west side of the river. It was a wooden fort built on stone foundations, and stretching from it to the other side of the river was a thick giant chain that stopped anything travelling further up river.


    Kartwright moved to the port side of the ship and waved with both arms at the castle. A man on the battlements waved back.


    ''Is this the secret code we need to get by?'' Dolon laughed.


    Kartwright smiled in return. ''They know me, we keep it simple.''


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The metal chain that blocked the way sunk into the water, controlled by a crank in the castle. The ship moved on and the chain was raised behind it. Mount Churash climbed into the clouds in front of them, the city that was their destination was not yet visible, but Dolon knew it to be there, built into the side of the mountain cliffs. He gazed up at the distant rocks and lost himself to the splendour. It was Stacey''s voice that woke him from his trance.


    ''Dolon.'' The masked man said from behind.


    Dolon turned to meet him. ''Hey, how are you doing?''


    ''Better.'' It did not sound so.


    ''How about Niall? Have you spoken to him?''


    Stacey gave a sigh. ''Not yet, he really doesn''t want to talk.''


    ''In his own time then.'' Dolon walked past Kartwright towards Stacey, giving her a friendly pat on the shoulder as he did. She did not know what they were talking about, as Dolon had kept the fact that he shared the information about the Winged Men a secret. ''You don''t know all of the details yet, it''s best to keep your cool and deal with it when you can.'' The conversation was kept vague around anyone outside of the Harlequins.


    ''You''re right.'' Stacey agreed.


    Dolon walked and motioned for him to head to the rear of the ship. ''Come here, I want a word.'' They both made way to the stern and talked. ''With Lucas and Broadway gone, the Winged Men are without any leadership. They''re weakened.''


    ''Yeah.'' Stacey nodded.


    ''Despite everything, I know that Niall''s going to want to step into their shoes.''


    ''Take over the Winged Men?''


    Dolon shook his head. ''No. Have the Harlequins take their place.''


    ''Oh.''


    ''Listen. We both know that Niall is... unstable?''


    ''He is.'' Stacey reluctantly agreed.


    ''If it doesn''t go his way, if he can''t take the role he wants, then he might go ballistic. He''s already losing faith in the leadership, and he''s capable of reacting in any way. If he can''t be kept under control, then you might be asked to choose sides.'' Dolon gave a pause, letting Stacey take in the conversation. ''Hopefully it doesn''t come to that, if we stop it.'' We have to stop it. His income relied on it.


    ''I understand.'' Stacey looked off into the distance. ''For Niall.''


    ''Yeah, for Niall.''


    Time passed, things were quiet until Stacey spoke again. ''Dolon..?''


    ''Yeah?'' Dolon leant on the stern rail, polished wood cool against his palms.


    ''Do you like being with the Harlequins?''


    Dolon smiled. Ah crap. ''I enjoy the work.'' He stalled.


    ''But do you like us?'' Stacey pressed.


    Damn it Stacey. ''The Harlequin''s weren''t my first choice of groups to join.'' Should have been the Winged Men. ''But a higher power stepped in and I ended up with you guys.''


    ''Tanda?'' Asked Stacey.


    An even higher power than her I''m afraid. ''It doesn''t matter. What matters is I''m here now.''


    ''Dolon, if I have to make a choice between Niall and the Royal Family, I''ll pick Niall every time. I don''t like how they''re treating us either, we deserve more.'' Stacey took Dolon by the shoulder. ''You''re the newest Harlequin, and we don''t know much about you. I need to know, do you like being one of us. Do you like me? Do you like Niall?''


    ''I''ll be truthful, I enjoy the job. I think you''re great.'' May as well say it. ''I don''t pay any mind to Archer and Gerome. As for Niall, I trust him to get the job at hand done. He''s a talented tactician. But I don''t like him, he''s too emotionally unstable. I''m naturally programmed to oppose that behaviour, I like stability. But Stacey, I''m also loyal, that''s why I''ve denied my instincts and stuck with you guys through everything, stuck with Niall through all of his choices, whether I like them or not.'' Dolon took a breath. ''Is that enough?''


    Stacey nodded and patted Dolon''s shoulder. ''Yeah, it is.''


    ''Good.'' Some of it was even true.


    ''Sorry, Dolon. With you talking about making choices, I wasn''t sure what choices you''d make.''


    ''That''s fine.'' I''ll make the right choice, don''t you worry about that. The Mountain City, capital of Churash, became visible. ''Let''s get this debrief over with.'' Said Dolon. ''Then we can figure out what''s going to happen in the future.''