Kerrigan ended her day as she ended all days, returning to her quarter's outside the Hall of Abraxas, in the chambers of the Kendov. She knew Zadok had to have debated for months over giving her these suites, but in the end, he had little choice once Abraxas's pendant was noticed around her neck. He had done his best to downplay it of course. He had claimed she was to be a sacrificial virgin to Abraxas as his new priestess after the earthquake. Zadok had a way of spinning everything to be degrading, making the tale about the earthquake as heroic for him as possible, and crediting her with saving Abraxas's pendant. At least his tales gave her some well deserved lavish rooms. When she opened the doors, a solum face greeted her.
"Kerrigan, you are late for practice," said Chief Guard Breanne Harlow.
"Breanne, I am tired, and sore. Can we just skip a day for once?" Kerrigan begged, flopping down on her bed.
A quarterstaff whizzed toward her face, and she had to fling up her arm to stop it. The wood bounced painfully off the metal guard hidden in the forearm of her sleeve. "Damn it, Breanne! That could have really done some damage!"
"The Kendov of the Warlord will not be some simpering soft girl. You will train," barked the no nonsense guard.
Breanne was only a few years older than Kerrigan, but she had been training with the Dragoon warrior knights since she was three. Breanne had been nearby in Jinstain when the attack had killed her parents, and made sure Kerrigan got out. Kerrigan looked now at the hard lines on Breanne's face and wondered how many traumas the woman had suffered on her behalf over the years. Kerrigan knew full well that Breanne's loyalty to her had both prevented Zadok from having his way with Kerrigan, but also subjected Breanne to many untold hardships.
"Fine, but let me at least change." An hour later, Kerrigan felt her lungs burning. "Please, can we stop?"
Breanne smirked. "At least you completed the circuit tonight. You still have work to do, but you are improving."
Kerrigan looked downcast, "I had hoped after eight years of you pummeling me I might stand up a bit more to the punishment."
"Remember, I train for hours each day. You, my dear, only train an hour a night. As for your skill... to the common street thief, you would be a shadow of death incarnate. To a Dragoon, you put up a decent fight. Enough to escape anyway. You may not be able to kill a Dragoon in one on one combat, but all I want you to do is be able to get to safety. Your own Dragoons should be the ones guarding you."
"If any are still loyal," Kerrigan quipped quietly.
Breanne flashed her a hard glare, "Never doubt the loyalty of the Dovari Dragoons. I admit the new bloods are next to worthless. But the old bloods are still loyal and will bow when they see the power of Abraxas. There will always be loyal Dragoons nearby, and despite what the Prima may think, the numbers are growing in your favor."
"Really? It seems like he has more loyal dogs every day."
"He does, but they are not at the same level. He can recruit 1000 men to his side, but they will not hold a candle to the 50 we build into loyal warriors of the Dovari order of Dragoons."
"So each of your Dragoons is worth 20 of the Prima's?"
"In many cases, yes. There are a few exceptions of course. But on the whole, his new recruits can be cut through like wheat. Well, I have to relieve one of the sentries." She bowed to Kerrigan, "Good night, Dovari Kendov. May Abraxas guard your path."
"Thank you, Breanne." Kerrigan watched as Breanne left and sagged onto her bed. What a day. Kerrigan reached under her bed and pulled out a violin. She set it on her lap and stroked the dark wood. She missed the joy of being able to play whenever the mood took her. When she was young, she had learned to play in her parent's court as early as three. The small violin she had back then had been handcrafted for her tiny fingers. Now on the rare occasions that she had the energy to play, the notes always rang out somber.
She sat in a straight back chair near her desk and set bow to string. Abraxas stirred as she began to drag the bow slowly back and forth, much as his spirit has stirred within her when she was still new to the temple and would play before his soul stone in the Sacred Hall. She lost herself in the somber, haunting melody she remembered from childhood until her fingers shuttered to a halt and the violin let out a screech as she dissolved into tears. The pain of memory overwhelmed her as she slid the violin back under her bed, before burring her face in her pillows. She drifted off to an uneasy sleep as Abraxas's consciousness enveloped her mind, pulling her into a world of dreams.
When morning broke, Kerrigan sat at her private desk in her room staring at notes from the previous day. 'Any suggestions?' she asked to the room. Silence gripped the chill air before Abasax allowed his power to thrum through the room. As his presence settled around her, she felt his mental brush against her mind.
'It seems the flow of the world will hinge soon on Bayan Rail. Many of our company assets depend on this for their lifeblood. I did not get the impression that Benedict was in direct control of the line. Perhaps it is time we seek to fold it into dragon Corporation.'
'Benedict is no idiot. He too depends on it. I bet while he doesn't have it on his family's official books, Bayan board of directors is bought and paid for by Kelan or his family. They likely want to keep it at arm's length being the royals have always despised the transit systems being in the hands of a family like the benedicts. They prefer such a vital system remain independent.' Kerrigan thought.
'Mortals,' Abraxas snorted against her metal walls. "If you to not guard your dens, or the paths to them, even a Tarva, the vile little beasts they are, can pose a threat to a dragon. They may be small, but given a strategic hiding place, they can rip wings to shreds.'
Kerrigan recalled a drawling of a Tarva. It was an odd cross between a badger and fox, with wicked sharp claws. They were very rare and had hardly ever been seen in recent centuries. The old tales spoke of them as being small, but more cunning than any human.
'So, what do you propose? We cannot afford to buy the rail line outright. Even a 50% share would be outside what we can afford right now. If we are seen to start making moves on it... I am afraid the Benedicts would figure it out and do everything in their power to counter our efforts.'
'Perhaps seeking allies would be wise. There may be others affected by the benedict ploy to hoard the cargo capacity of Bayan Rail. Perhaps if you seek a joint venture with such natural allies, you could avoid a direct assault against the Benedict Group, and be stronger for it.'
'Who would be strong enough to even join such venture?' Kerrigan wondered. 'There are no other major companies on this side of Targu province or Bayan Province for that matter that would dare cross Benedict Group.'
'I seem to recall mention recently of a law firm... Dreadnaught? With a name like that they likely represent many of the large powers in the area. Perhaps they will know which of their clients might be interested in a proposal from the Dragoness.'
Kerrigan chuckled. Dreadnaught was indeed a good option to call. She had heard rumors a few years ago of their rise to dominance in the region. Priestess Rania had even mentioned that one of their lead law partners was a dear friend. 'perhaps later I will have to make just such a call.'
'Priya, Do not leave this vulnerability open too long. Someone will find it and attack.'
Kerrigan nodded to herself as she prepared for the day.