((Caution: Post is rated M for Mature for Graphic Violence. You've been warned.))

Sundown had touched upon Alchemy Lane in the Market Place District. The usual thrumming life of shoppers, mages and many practitioners of the arts was mute and slow today as Ammy walked the street making her rounds. Since the attacks of the protestors in December, she'd taken up to actively patrolling her small safe zone. Every store owner and shopper she talked to seemed pensive and brooding. It was like a pall had settled onto Alchemy Lane, and even she could feel it in the ever flowing currents of aethar and magic in the planet with her senses. Something was creeping into being yet it was like a mosquito bite you couldn't find but itched everywhere. She finished her patrol and headed into the Alchemist's Fire Complex to see how her customers were doing and found some of them listening to one of the usual delivery boys to the Watch Divisions. The group was above with something.

Ammy came closer and nudged an elderly troll a for attention. "Pardon me ladies and gentlemen. What has your rapt attention?"

They all started talking over each other about rumors and messages they've heard about and nodding to the delivery boy that was just nodding yes to everything. A 'Cleansing' was coming and many people were getting wary and nervous. Ammy never believed in coincidences. All things happened for a reason. She thanked her customers for the information and ensured they all got what they needed and urged anyone feeling worried to stay indoors tonight or to hurry home to their shops and close up a bit early and get some rest. She went about the rest of her chores, restocking, setting up displays and going over plans and figures with her staff.

Once everyone had their instructions of what to do for the night before going home, Ammy went to put some new books on the shelf and felt a presence in the reading area. She followed the presence and found her mirror twin sitting in a comfy reading chair, sipping wine and reading the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales.

"Amaretto, surprise seeing you out tonight. What do I owe this courtesy, my moon?" She took a seat on the arm of the chair.

Amaretto held up the glass of wine to her sister and Ammy stole a sip from it. Amaretto slowly closed the book after setting a black, lace bookmark in place.

"I do love this book. I must have it. Name a price. I shall buy it from you. As for the visit, can I not visit my twin without reason?" She gave Ammy a grin that showed off every white, sharp, pointed daemon tooth the daemon Lupinossai possessed.

"Given your track record, you often have reasons but I am happy to see you anytime. Always a treat these days." She leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Take the book, consider it a gift. I have several copies."

Amaretto looked amused. "Sister, being generous with me tonight? Now who has ulterior motives. Oh well. Gift accepted. This shop has much improved since the move and I see you've carved out your own small kingdom amidst this varied and turbulent city. How do you feel about protecting people still? Are you still finding it noble and just?" She sipped more wine.

"About as noble and just as that cult you run every day." She smirked.

Amaretto pressed her lips thin a bit. "Come now sister, always room for you in the Twilight Raven. I could use a High Priestess, and with your looks, I'd have droves of acolytes at the door daily for favors." She laughed in delight.

Ammy sighed softly. "You know as well as I do I would be an ill fit for your cult. Sunlight and Shadow do not make good bedfellows."

"Maybe, but even the sun can be eclipsed to show it's dark side, am I right?" Amaretto grinned more.

((Mood Music: ''Another One Bites The Dust'' by Hidden Citizens (feat. Jaxson Gamble) ))

War - (noun) a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state.
- (verb) engage in a war.

- * - * - * -

A fool would call what continued to rage on the cobblestones of Alchemy Lane and the streets around it near the Market Place District as nothing more than hostility. An ongoing series of gang violence or homicidal tendencies by a non-human that needed to be put down. Nothing grand enough to be called a war.

The wise would call what continued to rage on as the testing of the stubborn to see how far they could jab the monster with sticks before it obliterated them all and filled their hiding holes with concrete. Since the Judging of the Humans on Alchemy Lane on Valentines day, more and more humans in groups attempted to assault businesses on Alchemy Lane. The aura placed on the street by Ammy and Amaretto by the very blood of sixty humans they slew on the night of Valentines Day to protect non-humans could only hold the determined back so long. It was no longer a pure drive about making non-humans die or leave Rhy'Din City. The animosity that had sparked on Alchemy Lane was one of humans trying their best to outdo each other in claiming the head of Ammy Spiritor and her sister Amaretto in some grizzly trophy hunt to bring down not just a pair of powerful non-humans, but a pair of non-human gods as well. Humans, no, mortals loved their bragging and bravado and the demise it brings is never considered.

- * - * - * -

Gone was her simple leather apron of black with pockets full of vials and reagents to brew components for customers. Tonight, the white furred Lupinossai maned in a flowing waterfall of crimson, gold and silver white to her waist donned a heavy leather alchemists coat. Every pocket, bandoleer and clip bristled with vials and flasks of concoctions unknown to many mortals. Strapped to her waist was her rapier, Ray of Sunlight, the topaz upon hilt and cross piece glowering with bridled sunlight. Upon her head she wore a circlet of platinum with ruby, emerald and sapphire set into the woven strands. She pulled on gauntlets of white silver chased in gold with designs of the sun and the house Phoenix upon them. From the glass walls of the Alchemist's Fire Complex emerged Ammy Spiritor, the glow and crackle of dark sunlight hummed around her as if someone stared at a solar eclipse.

By her side and a step or two behind her, adorned in midnight blue scale mail the silver disc belt of the Twilight Raven Cult was Ammy's mirror twin Amaretto. Crimson and silver hair coiled and secured beneath the scale mail and an open faced helmet of the same midnight blue metal with raven wings that swept back. She too had a rapier but it was of dark steel, with a hilt of twisted thorns and a Raven sitting on a skull spewing sand into an hour glass upon the hilt. As the two Lupinossai strode upon the softly glowing street, they were greeted with the whistle of a cross bow bolt that thunked into Ammy's upper left arm.

"Well the peasants are upset with your display of justice the prior night." Amaretto said. She glanced at Ammy with curiosity noticing her sister paid little heed to the buried bolt of iron and wood in her arm that bled freely.

Ammy ignored her sister's quip and strolled through Alchemy Lane, raised her right hand and made a pulling motion. The hapless assassin was drug through several wood crates and the charred remains of a vendor cart to hang in the air before Ammy. The human male, dressed in black leather of poor quality and the strong reek of alcohol told tale of foolish bounty hunter. Ammy lowered her hand so she could stare into the man's pain widened gaze of brown with her burning molten gold eyes.

"Congratulations. You hit your mark. Here's your reward."

Ammy withdrew from a belt pouch an obsidian blade, then took hold of the man's right hand with her left hand, the pain of the crossbow bolt seeming to do nothing but make her colder with rage. With her right hand, holding the knife, she'd slice surgically knapped obsidian through flesh, tendon and bone and ignored the man's screams as she harvested his fingers. She dropped them into a hip pouch and repeated the grisly process with his left hand.

"Thank your gods, whatever pathetic ones you pray to that I let you have your life. Hold a crossbow in your hands again, I dare you and I will make you watch as I remove your heart with my fingers."

She flung her right hand out and the assassins body was flung out like a rag doll to tumble along the paving stones with uncaring fury until the man lay outside the border of Alchemy Lane. Amaretto touched her lips with one of her fingers in thought.

"You really should have just taken his heart then let the angels have his body for your gardens. Now you'll have someone to come back to bite you in the end, again." She said.

Ammy gave Amaretto a snapping click of teeth as the only comment of what she thought about her sisters assessment. She tugged the crossbow bolt free with a rending twist that made her shudder for a moment. She looked at the bolt for a long moment then let it rot and rust into aged components of dust and rust that she blew away into the night.

"That was just the expendable scout." Ammy said with a growl. She walked down the street half a block from the Alchemist's Fire Complex, then stopped, hand sliding to the hilt of her rapier. "Five...."

A slight creak of leather among the alleyways. Footsteps on the roof tops. Muffled clink of chain mail and armor around the corners of walls greeted the keen ears of Ammy and Amaretto. "Four...."

Mumbles of soft voices in the chants of many dead tongues are arcane languages whispered in the night. The creak of bow string and crossbow drawing tight was heard. Ammy's eyes looked around at the various faces of the closed up businesses for the night or those closed for the time being until the city was safe again. "Three...."

The snicks of guns being readied for firing echoed to the stars as shadows moved behind a fountain and a few ornate cement planters just beyond the border of Alchmey Lane. Then appeared at the opening of the street fifty armored figures all clad in a mix of plate, chain mail, leathers, cloth, and anything else those that joined the hunt could lay hands on for the night. They all bristled with spear, axe, sword, hammer, pikes, staves and clubs. Several in the front row seemed hesitant about being so close to the border of Alchemy Lane. This amused Amaretto greatly that debilitating pain would cause a hunter to be unmanned and not the inevitable death that was to be handed to them for trying to hunt this night. "Two...."

The night stole colder under the starlight, the moon a sliver of its former glory as seen and unseen hosts held their breaths before their prey. Ammy's breath steamed with ease in the night air as her radiant energy kindled deeply in her, banked and billowed by the sheer malice shown to her by fools thinking this sport or a right. Her mind was a whir with plans, strategies, contingencies that allowed no quarter to anyone here tonight save the man she maimed for life. Her senses were taught like a bowstring ready to snap and she could sense her sister was like her. Their mood and age old blood lust had risen and they were no longer reigning it in. Tonight was the night for a hunt. Tonight one hundred souls, many not even residing in Rhy'Din but foolish enough to come from other cities for fame and glory would meet their maker. "One...."

A scream erupted in the night and like a clarion call of galvanizing action, Alchemy Lane erupted in the sounds of charging warriors, charging spells, gun fire and the deadly whistles of arrow and crossbow bolts. Tonight was the night for a war.

"The Sun Sets on Thee All!" Ammy roared as she lead a charge with Amaretto by her side into that fray.

((Mood Music: "It's a Sin" By Hidden Citizens (Epic Trailer Version) ))

A box, the size one would think chocolates were in, wrapped in Valentine's Day paper was carried in the hands of a little boy. He was returning to the armory shop from his adventure to the mail box in the front yard, the clanging and tapping of apprentices filling orders for their master greeted the boy. Not finding his father at the forge or anvil as was usual, he headed into the house by way of the kitchen to see if mother was awake yet, his belly hungry. He saw father seated at the table, hair mussed, eyes circled dark and his head in his hands. His mother was nowhere in the kitchen and the usually warm scents of baking bread and sausage with eggs was absent.

The little boy gave his father a hug good morning, and placed the box on the table before venturing to the bedrooms to see if mamma was laying down ill. The father gazed at the wrapped box with Valentine Day trappings with wet, brown eyes. A card attached to the box was penned in a neat script bearing his name. Hope kindled in the man that his wife, missing since last night, had gone shopping and stayed at a friends home for safety. He'd gone deep into debt with that hope, borrowing against the evidence of missing armor and weapons from his stockroom at the close of his shop. The rioting and violence had increased theft so a few sets stolen was within reason. Calloused fingers worked to tear open the wrapping on the box and worked the binding of red silk ribbon loose in anticipation of what his wife had sent ahead of her assumed return home.

The man fell backwards in his chair making a clatter in the kitchen to get away from the site presented to him. Scrambling to his feet he pushed to the corner of the kitchen counters and tried to swallow down the bile that surged to lips to be expelled. Laying within the open box, upon black velvet cloth was the waxy white face of his wife as if someone had ripped it off of her face. It stared eyeless at him and he finally turned and became violently ill in the sink. What monster had done this? Who had killed his sweet wife? Why would someone raise a hand to her, the mother to their child? Ire built in his belly like fire and worked the bellows of his thudding heart, forging the brittle courage into more pliant steel like resolve. He turned and stormed to the table, working himself into outrage that his wife was slain and presented to him in such a fashion. The culprits would pay with their lives!

As his anger fueled vengeance built into machinations of revenge and promised torture his eyes caught sight of parchment folded and lain under the shed face of former feminine beauty. He forgave himself a moment of brutality as he dumped the box out, the skin flipping to the table and curling in a bit. He unfolded the parchment and read the letter.

~Dear Bastion Greavefitter,

I trust you found enclosed your wife's face. I did promise Jenavive that I would mail it to you as I ran her through with my blade. By now you are quite upset or beside yourself. As I held your wife's face in my hands I could see the caring life she led with you, vows of marriage and even the beautiful son you two have created. It is beyond my understanding why she chose to allow her soul to twist to such a hatred and desire to join many last night to assassinate me for money and fame. I will not continue to further patronize you but bare my teeth in full earnest now.

I know exactly where you live now, how many men and women you employ and last night I saw the fine craftsmanship of your armors and weapons that many bore against me on Alchemy Lane. I give you only two options, dear Bastion. Take your son and leave Rhy'Din City for good and never come back. Care for him well and I will ensure you will never go hungry and will never want for anything in life. OR you can proceed down a path of anger and revenge to seek my life as so many have failed to do. I will not hold you accountable for how customers use your merchandise for to do so would make me a hypocrite. I will hold you to how you decide your fate.

I will be arriving exactly at noon to your door for your answer. Choose carefully, dear Bastion.

Sincerely,
Ammy Spiritor
Guardian of Alchemy Lane
Head of the Alchemist's Fire Complex
Monster in the Sunlight~

Parchment fluttered to the floor from cold fingers as Bastion stared back at the ghost of his wife's face. He'd always known she couldn't stand non-humans since the days of her village burning and the ravaging done. This was beyond his fathoming of her to go and throw in with the crazed lot that wanted to purge everyone not human. They knew so many that were not human and they knew well of the Alchemist's Fire Complex. He went there often to buy rare fluxes for his forgings. His blinding hate flickered and guttered to cold despair. He livelihood was now ruined by this act on her behalf. And their son? He'd never understand why his mother threw her life away and would he try to follow in some foolish notion to honor her memory.

Bastion glanced at the water clock. It was two hours till noon. He had some time to consider a third option. He called for his head apprentice and sent the shop into a flurry of activity. The best armor, the best blade and shield, and his son dressed in his finest. Half an hour until noon he sent his youngest apprentice to run a message to the Alchemist's Fire Complex and then the he left his house with his son walking, holding his hand as he began a slow walk to meet the Monster in the Sunlight. A slow walk and a long talk to his young son.

- * - * - * -

Amaretto had taken to wandering to the roof tops of Alchemy Lane during the day time to give Ammy peace of mind to run her business and enjoy her family. She knew her sister, while having deep reservoirs of rage and anger was not stamped into darkness like she was. She enjoyed death and watching life dim in the eyes before the soul slipped out into the beyond. Her sun though could only hide her brilliance so much, for such was the power of a Celestial Light. It burned away the obscuring darkness to bring once more balance.

It was at this time of her reflection that she spotted a young human male in sooty clothing and a thick leather apron running as if a devil chased him. Rolled up parchment was in his hand and she found this very intriguing. She lept off of the brass roof top of a fortune telling shop to land before the young man which caused him to slide back to a jarring halt on his rear. He stared up at the female Lupinossai cloaked in midnight blue scale-mail.

"State your business human. You are not a regular on Alchemy Lane." Amaretto said, curling her lip up to show sharp daemon teeth.

The young man flinched in horror and held up the rolled parchment. "Runner. Just acting a runner. Message for the Alchemist's Fire Complex for Ammy Spiritor from Bastion Greavefitter. I mean no ill will or harm. Please. Don't eat me!"

Amaretto narrowed her tri-colored eyes at the young man. She snatched the parchment from his hand. "Get out of here. You're hardly big enough to eat. Go on, before I change my mind."

The young man flinched more as the Lupinossai took the message then scrambled to his feet and fled from Alchemy Lane, his job done. Amaretto opened the message and read it. She smirked and turned to walk for the Alchemist Fire Complex. This will be a delight to see.

((Mood Music: "Legendary" by Welshy Arms ))

The sun was high and bright upon Alchemy Lane. A cold, crisp February day as people shopped for their magical wares. Many rumors had floated among the shop fronts and stalls about the sounds of war at night, many shop owner or refuge seekers recounting scenes of horror and violence peeked through shuttered windows; others breathed about renewed prayers in secret to the Sun Goddess now watching over all of them bringing righteous punishment to the vile. Most of those rumors rose to a swell at the sight of a man in gleaming banded steel armor marched up Alchemy Lane. By his side was a little boy of no more than six years of age dressed in a new tunic of white cotton and breeches of suede and shod in hobnailed boots. To either side of the man, in his wake was a retainer of six people, a mix of men and women, some teens, others in their twenties and thirties, two of them bearing the makers mark of Bastion Greavefitter on banners of white, a third carried a variety of weapons in his arms. They all wore the still sooty clothing and thick aprons of their blacksmith trade.

The spectacle drew wonder and confusion from the crowd, many shoppers retreated back into the shops only moments earlier they had parted from to watch in safety. Had Lady Amaterasu's wards truly failed on the street? Was there going to be another Cleanse? Why was Greavefitter here? Where was his wife? Why was his son with him? Why the banners of white bearing his families crest? Questions crackled like wildfire along Alchemy Lane and broke into a firestorm when they all saw a party of two leave the Alchemist's Fire Complex. Ammy emerged, resplendent in her white silk kimono with red sun bursts, armed with Ray of Sunlight, and by her side, clad in midnight blue chain-mail but no helmet was her mirror twin, Amaretto. Amaretto carried a short banner that bore upon it the crest Phoenix that showed a flaming phoenix bird of white set into the blazing symbol of a fiery sun. Bellow it was the symbol of the Twilight Raven Cult with its raven of black perched upon a yellowed skull pouring ash grey sand into an hour glass of obsidian.

Both parties drew close to one another at the center of the street, drawing to a halt a mere twenty paces from each other. Ammy stared upon Bastion and caught his brown eyes with her golden orbs; their gaze held for what seemed an eternity. A flick of her fingers and a spell would amplify all voices spoke was set in place for all to hear through Alchemy Lane.

"Bastion Greavefitter, you have broken a fragile treaty I offered to you when your wife, Jenavive Greavefitter sought my life last night along with the rest of the corrupted souls that claim human bodies. I gave you and your son a full pardon for your lives to keep if you left this city and met with me at you home by noon, this day. Instead, you meet me here, on Alchemy Lane, dressed for war, with your son by your side to witness violence and a host behind you to witness a duel by your own calling. What say you, Bastion Greavefitter?"

A slight tremor ran through the armor Bastion wore but he did not flinch or waiver. He responded with courage and the conviction of a man with a conscience made and set in stone. "Lady Spiritor, I come before you to appeal to your better judgement and compassion. I was not in agreeance with Jenavive's designs nor was I aware of them until this morning when her presence was sorely noticed and confirmed by the gift you sent me." He faltered a bit at the memory of her face in the box. "Thank you for returning her face to me. I've come to beg for a different ruling besides absolute death of my household or loss of my craft in this city. Please, Lady Spiritor, allow me to duel you in single combat. Should I win, allow me to stay and you forgive the callous ways of my fellow brothers and sisters of the Human race can be. Should I lose, may I ask it be a swift end and you take my son as an apprentice so he may learn how to respect others better in his life."

Ammy considered his words and slid a cold glance to Amaretto. Amaretto stared back at Ammy with her tri-colored eyes in amusement. Shoppers that had retreated for shelter now exited the shops to spectate, curious hearing words about a duel and that someone had attempted to kill Lady Spiritor. Ammy looked about Alchemy Lane and saw many people were now watching. Amaretto was quite accurate, this war was no longer something in the darkness, but then again, she'd moved plans beyond being prey that hid in the dark waiting to be attacked. No longer was it time to wait and claim self defense. Now it was time to bear teeth, rend flesh and lap warm blood. Ammy lifted one hand and she rubbed her furred chin weighing his words in her mind.

"A little too late to come before me for compassion or better judgement. That time was before your kind came for blood and lives. Now judgement is all I have coin to spend these days. Thus you request a blood duel to win your choice of rights and by such your judgement will be paid. You already know in your soul that you will not be able to kill me but in some way hope to humiliate me before those I protect to garner your favor, and yet also have grace to ask for a swift death should you lose. I offered you life, dear Bastion. You've thrown that offer away like pot metal. I valued you, more than a customer but truly as someone with a deep gift for the art of metal smithing and producing fine weapons and armor. You could have left this city and I would have funded you with everything. Allowed your wife's debt to be cleared by her death at my hands. Yet, here we stand, dear Bastion. You, me, your son and witnesses as far as the eye can see. Here we stand in a fine example of how people who have made a mistake are given a chance to correct it and they throw the only paths to redemption back into the faces of their saviors of certain destruction. Now, only one choice remains and I keep my words Bastion. You know that choice, Bastion, whether swift and painless or slow and mocking, it is coming today."

Bastion paled a bit under the open face steel helm that gleamed in the sunlight. "I have my son -

"Lying human!" Her voice rumbled with a snarl and thunder cracked through the blue cloudless day. "Do not hide behind the false pretense for doing this out of some semblance of good or honor for your son. If that was the case you would have taken my offer to live and raise him. Instead you subject him to witness a fight to the death. Already you inflict upon him an act that will instill in him the potential for deep seated hate. However, if you insist on running with this foolish wagging of your tongue, then I shall judge the boy for myself and see if he is worth accepting in the duel." Ammy pointed to one of Bastions witnesses then the boy then moved her clawed finger before her.

The young woman Ammy pointed to stifled a small cry of panic and moved to usher the boy from his father to stand before Ammy. The young woman stood rigid behind the boy and looked everywhere but the imposing and dangerously close Ammy. The boy stood in his new clothing to look up at Ammy with hazel eyes and black hair that was shaggy. A dusting of freckles touched his round face that showed promise to grow strong and handsome. The boys frame was small for six years of age but healthy and perhaps he could be a smith like his father or something else if he tried hard enough. Ammy stared into his hazel eyes for a long moment as the boy started to rock on the heals of his hobnail boots in restlessness.

"Child, I will ask you several questions and I will know if you are lying to me, for I am staring into your soul as we speak. What is your name?" Ammy asked.

The boy continued to rock, staring up into Ammy's Eyes. Alexander Bastion Greavefitter."

Ammy nodded once. "Alexander, do you understand what happened to your mother? You may nod yes if you wish."

Alexander nodded his head yes, once.

"Did your father explain this to you and why your mother died?" Ammy said.

Alexander nodded his head yes once more.

"Do you know who killed your mother? Point this person out and say their name."

Alexander raised his hand and pointed directly at Ammy. "Ammy Spiritor killed my mother. The Monster in the Sunlight protected her people from my mother."

"Do you know why you are here and why your father is here? I need you to tell me with words, Alexander." Ammy said without feeling.

Alexander lowered his hand, rocked back on his heals and nodded. "I'm here to see papa fight. Papa is here to fight the Monster in the Sunlight. Papa win, we go home. Papa lose, I go with you." He said with a small sniffle as the realization settled more in the child that he may no longer see his father again.

Ammy's eyes narrowed and she seemed unsurprised by the boys reaction. "Last question. Alexander Bastion Greavefitter do you hate me for killing your parents?"

Alexander stopped the rocking on his heels and didn't break his stare with Ammy. Though he sniffled more he answered sincerely. "No. I don't hate you. Just sad mama and papa decided to go away and leave me."

"I see." Ammy's breath caught for a moment.

The last answer was more than she ever wanted to hear. A clear voice from a child far too wise now losing his parents because of their choices. Ammy waved the witness and Alexander to stand under the eaves of a shop selling magical charms where they both would see the two duelists with not obstruction. She returned her study back to Bastion and gave the man a full measure of her interest. She motioned for Amaretto to stand back from her and Amaretto withdrew twenty paces and kept onlookers back, Bastion's witnesses did like wise.

"Very well then, Bastion Greavefitter. You have come to settle the grievous debt and the perceived harshness of my judgement by duel to the death. I shall review the offered pledge and offer amendment to the pledge. You propose that should you win, I forgive humans of their ignorance and violence, allow you and your son to live, and you to remain within Rhy'Din City to continue your craft. I accept that pledge. Yet I counter and amend your second pledge. You proposed that should you lose, your death be swift and painless and that Alexander be taken in by me to be raised as my own to learn better ways of living and understanding. I add to this that with your loss, I lay claim to your black smith shop, all of your possessions and property. Any counters, Bastion?" Ammy said in a sharp tone.

Bastion nodded once. "That amendment is acceptable, Lady Spiritor. I have no living kin to contest my possessions or shop. You may lay claim to all I posses should I lose."

Ammy nodded once. "Agreed then. Let all here be witness that at noon, on the 16th of February, two days hence of Valentines Day, that a duel to the death between Bastion Greavefitter and Ammy Spiritor marked final justice for dispute of attempted murder upon Ammy Spiritor by human hunters. Considering you come before me with no special weapons or magical talent I shall fight you without magical spell and with a weapon free of enchantment."

"You honor me Lady Spiritor and I was certain you would be of such mind." Bastion bowed slightly and motioned to his apprentice bearing the variety of weapons bundled in his arms.

The young man of seventeen with a mop of blonde hair and soot smudging cheeks and nose bore the bundle of swords in his arms for her to select from. Ammy took little time narrowing her choice down to a rapier of fine Damascus steel and a long stiletto of blue steel. A quick testing proved they were not tampered with or of poor quality. The young man was sent back to the ranks of witnesses behind Bastion. Bastion adjust the strap on a small buckler shield and unsheathed a hand and a half sword that gleamed with beautiful craftsmanship that'd fetch a kings ransom.

Amaretto spoke up. "By the count of three, combatants will engage in mortal combat till death or a yield to a mercy killing. All witnesses will remain twenty paces from the combatants. Any witnesses interfering with the duel will be struck down dead on the spot. Combatants, prepare thine selves for mortal peril. Three... Two... One... Death Grace Thee!"

Ammy and Bastion circled around the cleared space in the street. Many watching the duel placed solid faith in Bastion forcing Ammy to yield with the steel armor and the hand and a half sword giving him reach and protection, the buckler a swift and quick defense for close quarters combat. Ammy's movements though were flowing, agile and fluid like water with no armor impeding or weighing her down in the slightest. She noted that Bastion had not gone for full plate armor like most may have considered wanting heavy defense but had gone for layers of steel banding, chain-mail over leather and heavy padding. They were almost a match in agility and speed and the first to make an error in the dance of death would be the first to fall.

Without warning both combatants closed suddenly, rapier parried by sword, lethal stiletto skipping off buckler and a pained grunt slid from Bastion as Ammy scored a solid and power kick to his inner thigh. They parted and circled again, eyeing each other for a drop in defense, or a hint of weakness to exploit. Ammy wagered the kick smarted a bit but was not enough to impact Bastion yet. She gave a feinting step in to attack then side stepped right, Bastion followed the feint halfway, saw her change up to the side step and brought sword to bear catching her rapier once more. Steel rang out followed by a meaty thump as buckler struck Ammy hard in her muzzle and right cheek. She let her head snap to the left, rolling with the hit, she swung her left hand in hard, deft and on point, the stiletto in hand drove home deep into Bastion's hip between the hip guard and brigantine. Bastion cried out momentarily, limping back, his right leg trembling as he hastily dug for the buried stiletto.

Ammy retreated a few steps and gave him a moment respite to remove the stiletto. She felt her face and the heat rushing to crushed flesh and cracked bone. With a trembling tug, Bastion freed himself of the blood slicked stiletto and tossed it out of the ring. He faced Ammy again, fully armed, still confident but pain was drawn across his rugged face. Ammy seemed to be unphased by the loss of the stiletto. She twirled the rapier in several flourishes then took up a fencers stance. She was no longer circling with Bastion. He was wounded, she smelled blood and it was now time to earnestly hunt the man to her fullest. Bastion tried to circle Ammy but he stumbled with each step put upon his right leg. It was at that point he realized his fatal mistake in tangling with Ammy within striking range of that stiletto. She'd robbed him of his agility and now he was going to have to rely more on his sword, shield and armor to fend off her uncontested agility.

Bastion presented his left side to her, in slim profile, buckler held in defense, hand and a half sword partially obscured from her view. He gave a rapid thrust in at Ammy, leading with the buckler to keep her sight obscured of where his blade's point was traveling. Ammy let him close the distance with her, not even deigning to strike or counter the buckler with her rapier. Instead she grabbed the edge of the buckler with her free hand and stepped past him, back to back, rapidly, and snapped his left arm backwards, the audible wet pops of shoulder and elbow wrenching out of place was heard. She twisted away from him, his sword already anticipated and flicked away from her body with the rapier. She pierced his right leg, behind the knee, slicing tendons neatly, opening veins then slid the point up in one swift arc laying his upper leg open from knee to rump. Bastion crashed to the ground with a scream of pain as blood slicked the cobblestone pavement. He turned on his good knee, driven to a madness to continue to swing at her from the pain. He swung in a vicious arc with his sword wanting to sever her feet from her legs.

Ammy easily stepped back from the wild swings the man made. In a well practiced move from her career as a soldier, she timed his swinging, stepped in and parted his right hand cleanly from his fore arm, a crimson arc slicking across the cobblestones before Amaretto. The hand and a half sword clattered useless to the feet of blonde, young man holding the weapons, he stared at Bastions severed hand seeing it still in a death grip upon on the sword. Bastion fell onto his back trying to wave Ammy away, his mind and body wanting to flee the pain, to run from death. Ammy stalked forward, the blood of Bastion spattering upon her kimono and body as he flailed about with the stump severed stump of his right forearm. Seeing he was beyond reasoning for someone not used to the terrors of death frequently, she planted a foot solidly on his armored chest, raised the rapier with both hands and with her Lupinossai strength drove the blade through steel, leather, cloth, flesh, muscle, bone and stone as she impaled his shoulder and anchored him solidly to the ground. She took his lower jaw into her hand firmly but without breaking it and forced him to stare at her.

"Bastion Greavefitter. You have been mortally wounded thrice over. I gave my promise to you to end your suffering swiftly and without pain. Can you understand me? Can you?" Ammy said forcefully to the man.

Bastion stared at her with constricted, pain seared brown eyes, his reasoning nearly spent from pain. He managed to nod and cry out. "Yes. I. Yield. End it."

Ammy let go of his head and stood up. "So be it. Death by mercy I grant you." She withdrew from her kimono the compact Chimera pistol, pointed it right at his head and pulled the trigger. A small hole the size of a pea sprouted on his forehead, the rest of his head was gone, smeared along the cobblestones. His body trembled and twitched in death spasms for a second or two as the nervous system discharged then went slack. Ammy leaned down, closed his eyes and spoke to his body. "Sohlees Jehmii Ahvees." From the body swirled a dark aquamarine mist that solidified into a round gemstone with a red silk strand piercing it. The pendant floated in the air before her and she the pendant into hand. She crossed his arms and set his legs to rest then stood, hands bloody from the effort.

Ammy returned the Chimera pistol to her kimono and walked away from the body left in a state of rest and respect. She walked for Alexander and the witness by him when someone screamed behind her. The blonde young man that had held the weapons was now clutching the hand and a half sword, Bastion's hand still clamped upon the hilt as he charged straight for her open back. Ammy's hand was on pommel of Ray of Sunlight, ready to unleash sunlit death on the fool but a flicker of black steel broke upon the sunlit street and the young man's head was rolling to her feet. Ammy watched the body wither to a desiccated husk, the head mummify as flesh and muscle turned to dust blowing away to leave a skull behind as Amaretto cleaned off the black steel of her own rapier blade.

"Anymore brave idiots?" Amaretto snatched the skull up and admired it.

"Everyone, go on with your business. The duel is over. Those who were under the tutelage or indentured to Bastion Greavefitter, you are free to seek employ elsewhere. Until further notice, Greavefitter Arms is closed until I can deem a suitable master smith to take over. We will tend to the bodies." Ammy said.

With that the spell for amplifying voices faded as the crowds hung about restless after seeing such blood letting but soon they all became nervous and broke up. The streets emptied, customers went about their business or home. Amaretto whistled and two Weeping Angels appeared in the streets. They proceeded to pick up both bodies and vanished with them, the blood and gore on the street soaked into the stones, further strengthening the spell placed upon Alchemy Lane. Ammy returned her attention to the boy and she extended a bloody hand to him holding the pendant to him.

"Take this, wear it. It bears your fathers soul within it. Treasure it and know that it comes with a special gift. On your eighteenth birthday, if you have cared for this and still wear it, you may ask of me anything and I will grant it. Now, come, Alexander Bastion Spiritor. Time for you to come home with me and join your new family." Ammy said.

Alexander took the soul gem of his father, slid it over his neck and placed his small hand into her blood covered, furred hand. He walked with her for the Alchemist's Fire Complex. As they walked, the rising sounds of people screaming in horror in Rhy'din as well as people shouting about attacks in other cities in the realm came to Ammy and Alexander. Then the screaming was gone and the day was greeted with Silence again. Ammy looked to Amaretto.

"Updates on the Twilight Ravens as soon as you can. Till then, I leave you to your own devices sister. We will go on a special hunt tonight. We have some merry idiots to entertain ourselves." Then she took Alexander on into the large shopping complex.

Amaretto bowed to Ammy and smiled. "As you wish my sun. As you wish." She vanished to check on the progress of her cultists.