Snake Charmer

“Piece of shit!” Troi shouted, kicking the motorcycle hard enough to knock it over, spraying dust and ash into her eyes. The bike had taken her over a hundred miles, what was to stop it from taking her just a few more. She could see the battlements of another castle in the distance. It looked to be at least five miles off, mostly uphill, and now she was going to have to walk. She pulled her sweater over her head and tied it around her waist, leaving her in an old faded tanktop. She’d been in England for three years and never had she encountered a day as hot as today. She grumbled a few colorful expletives as she gathered her packs and slung them over her back. It looked like it was going to shape up to be a perfectly dreadful day and the sun was barely in the sky. “Well... come on, feet.” She hiked up her boots and started to walk, keeping one eye on the sky.

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“Holy fuck!” Denny leaped to the scope as soon as the falcon had started to squawk. He searched the sky, looking for an attack, but finding none. It wasn’t until he stepped back that he noticed something moving on the road. Taking a closer look, he zoomed in on a shape walking, unprotected down the road. “Crazy fucker! What the hell is he doin’?” Nearly jerking the speaker off of the wall he shouted into it, “There’s someone on the road.”

The castle keep suddenly jumped to attention, “There’s someone on the road!” echoed from every corner, finally reaching Quinn Abercromby. Quinn sighed, throwing down the bricks that he had been trying desperately to replace in the weeks since the
fire. Pulling a shirt down over his head, he trudged up the stairs, rubbing the dust and sweat from his eye. As he passed Dave Creedy, he punched his arm to roust him to attention. Creedy was bent over a book and seemed completely disinterested in the intruder.

“Oy! Would you come on!” Quinn shouted angrily.

“You’re supposed to be the one in charge!”

“Uhm... no... that would be you, friend. Which you’re always so quick to remind everyone.” They spoke no more as they reached the battlements, guns in hand, to stare down at the vicious creature that surely lurked in the road below. “What’s going on,
Den?” Creedy asked the watchman who simply pointed to the road.

“He just walked up. No vehicle. Nobody with him. Just walked right up to the gate.”

Creedy and Quinn looked at each other questioningly. Quinn spoke first, “You mean to tell me that alarms and buzzers went off... people shouting, screaming bloody murder... and there’s one guy down there?”

“Don’t you think it’s a little strange that he’s just down there walking? With no protection at all?”

“Ok... so he’s out of his fucking mind... what’s that got to do with us?” Creedy demanded, thinking seriously of turning the gun in his hand towards the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper didn’t have a chance to respond as the person below shouted up to them. “Hello? I assume all those guns and shouting are for me?” All of them looked at one another strangely. The voice that emerged from the stranger was distinctly feminine.
She pulled the hat off of her head and her short black hair fell in a tangle around her face. As she tugged the bag off of her shoulders, it became evident to all who observed, that she was most definately a woman.

Creedy pulled Quinn aside roughly, “I think I should go down and talk to her.”

“Well, like you said, mate, I’m the one in charge.” Quinn smiled and winked at his friend as he turned to run down the stairs.

Creedy grabbed Quinn by the back of the shirt and pulled him back. “But I’m the uhm--- uh-- muscle! I should be the one to go down there and question her. She could be some kind of marauder.”

“A lone marauder? One tiny little unarmed girl? I don’t think so.”

Alex had been watching this entire exchange with an amused smile on her face. Laying her hand on Quinn’s arm she pulled him back slightly. “Boys... boys...Quinn, I think you should butt out and let Dave sort everything out. Besides, there’s still a pile of
bricks down there with your name on them.” She smirked at Creedy as she pushed Quinn down the stairs.

“She can’t stay!” he shouted as he allowed himself to be ushered down the steps.

Creedy smiled triumphantly at the others and ran down the stairs. He waved at the girl as he fumbled with the lock on the portcullis. The large military issue automatic
rifle was still slung over his shoulder, but he didn’t bother to take the safety off or even point it at her. After all, she was only a girl. He strolled quickly out to her, closing the distance between them. He had barely opened his mouth in greeting before she pulled
the crossbow from the thigh holster and pointed it at him. “Whoa... what the fuck are you doing?” He put his hands up and backed away from her slowly.

“Protecting myself. Who are you?” Her blue eyes narrowed at him seriously and he could see that she was not joking.

“I could ask you the same question.”

“I asked you first.”

“It’s my castle.” He smiled at her and gestured at the fortress behind him. “And there’s about fifty of my closest friends lined up on the battlements with their guns pointed at you.”

“Point taken.” Troi stepped back and put the crossbow back in its place.

“I think you’ll be giving that to me.”

“I think you overestimate yourself because you aren’t getting my weapon.”

“Look... I’m just doing my job, okay. If you want to get in, you have to give me your weapon.”

“So I, a lone female of slight proportions, can go into a castle full of large men unarmed.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “I don’t think so. If you can keep your gun, I can keep my bow.”

Creedy sighed, completely exhausted by their conversation. “Who are you?”

“My name’s Troi. And my bike broke down about five miles down the road. I saw the tower and decided to see if there was anyone around.”

“You walked five miles out in the open all by yourself?” He was trying to keep from looking impressed rather unsuccessfully.

“Sure... why not?”

“Well... dragons... and those undesirable men you spoke of before.”

“Neither beast scares me.” She smirked and offered her hand. “And you are?”

“Dave Creedy.” He took her hand and held it awkwardly, unsure as to whether to shake it or kiss it.

“You’re uh... not what I would expect from a castle bouncer.”

“They’re usually a little---”

“Big and stupid?” She smiled and started to walk towards the gate. “Well?”

“Well what?” He shuffled after her, hoping that no one was watching their exchange, as he was sure that he looked like a complete moron.

“Show me around.”