Scar Felice (The Fourth Age of Shanakan Book 3) by Tim Stead

heads turned, and Felice saw a girl of about her own age, as slightly built as herself. She wore a simple black dress which brought her pale skin into shocking contrast with her thick, dark hair, worn loose about her face. She wasn’t pretty, but she looked confident, and why not? At her back stood the sort of man that should always stand at your back. He wasn’t massively tall or broad, he wasn’t exactly young, and there was a touch of grey at the sides of his close cropped hair, but he looked indestructible, as though killing men was a job like sharpening a sword – something routine. He wore plate armour on his chest and appeared armed to the teeth.  If he was alone in a room you’d think there was a fight going on.
    “Put your blades away,” the girl said. The two guardsmen did so at once. They were looking at the man in armour, and Felice was sure that they knew who he was. The sailors were slower to comply, but when they saw the guardsmen had obeyed they did the same. Felice was the last to sheath her blade.
    “Good,” the girl said. “Now, what was this about?”
    Nobody spoke. Felice didn’t know who this girl was, although she must wield some power to have a man like that behind her. She glanced around the room, but saw no prospect of assistance. She was in the midst of strangers.
    The girl walked up to her and looked her in the eyes. Felice felt that this other girl could read her mind, so penetrating was her stare. She dropped her eyes from the contact.
    “You’re the odd one out,” the girl said. “What started it?”
    “Nothing,” Felice replied.
    The landlord appeared beside the girl, giving every sign of deference.
    “With your permission, Karana?”
    She smiled at him, and it was a good smile. “When did you ever need my permission for anything, Shabrin?”
    “Since you started licensing taverns,” he replied. She laughed. The landlord turned to Felice. “Ima,” he began. “You may trust the lady Ella with your business, or indeed with your life. She is the trader guild representative on the King’s council, and most dedicated to justice. She has been a good friend to this tavern, to the city, and is known to the Mage Lord himself.”
    Felice looked at the girl with new eyes. So young and yet holding such a position! She made a small but polite bow to the girl. The decision to trust her was an easy one. Such a figure in such a public place could do nothing other than support her case against Karnack.
    “I am the trader Felice Caledon, of East Scar, the daughter of Marcos Caledon. My brother, Todric was murdered by a man in the port town of Yasu, a man whom he had caught cheating at cards. I bear a sworn warrant from the Yasu Kalla House, all in good order, presenting the evidence and requesting his arrest and trial for the deed.”
    “And the argument with these two?”
    “I believe they are friends of the criminal – a guardsman called Karnack. They wanted to destroy the warrant.”
    The lady Ella turned to the two men.
    “You know this Karnack?”
    The sober guardsman bowed. “We do have the honour to know him, my lady,” he said. The man’s tone was defiant. “We have both served with him on several occasions, and he has proven a true and trustworthy friend, as well as a fine soldier.”
    “So you would not consider the charges against him to be possible?”
    “Mistaken identity.”
    The Lady Ella shrugged. “It is a matter that will have to be determined by the Guardians of the law,” she said. We will all go the House of the law and you will present the warrant there. These men will come with us as witnesses, since it is clear that they know the man and may have knowledge of his whereabouts.”
    The guardsmen looked as though they might protest, but the formidable figure that accompanied the girl appeared behind them and placed a scarred hand on the shoulder of each of them.
    “Quietly now,” he said. They stayed silent, but nodded.
    Back out on the street they