The World of Rhune

Robin wandered through the streets, unsure what to do in this foreign place. Everything was unfamiliar to her and there was no one she recognized. She was having an interesting enough time just studying the culture around here. She had noticed pretty quickly the collars around most of the women’s necks, but she couldn’t figure out what they were for. Personally, Robin thought they seemed a little demeaning but she guessed that was a lot about how this country worked.

Bored of roaming the market, Robin ducked into a side alley and sat down in the shade of a building. She closed her eyes for a moment, leaning her head back against the wall of a building. “Well what do we have here?” The voice drew Robin back to the world and she opened her eyes to see a group of boys her age. “Looks like someone left the house without a collar,” One of the boys said. The leader of the group made a tsk sound. “What do you want?” Robin muttered. She glanced at the group, four of them all pretty big. “Ah, now that isn’t much fun, is it?” The boy who had spoken first said. “Go away, kid,” Robin said, annoyance creeping into her voice. “You will not tell us what to do,” The leader said as he leaned into her face. “I’ll do whatever I want, now get away creep,” Robin slid her hand towards her boot; the easiest blade to get at was stowed there. “I think we need to treat this girl a lesson,” A new boy this time, the largest of the all. “I think you’re right,” The leader now. The leader he reached down and grabbed Robin’s collar, pulling her up to her feet, which was a mistake. “Watch it,” Robin growled. “Ha, like you would do anything,” He sneered. That just set Robin off. Her hand didn’t hesitate as she punched him in the jaw, the metal in on her gloved knuckles leaving gashes on his face. “Don’t mess with me,” Robin said.

“Oh, you’re getting it now,” The leader growled and the four advanced. Two of them drew their own blades. Robin was backed against the wall which was another mistake on the boys part, because it left her with no other option but to fight. Robin reached down into each of her boots and pulled out two long blades, there was a reason she wore boots that reached just below the knee. Each blade was about half the length of her arm fully extended, and she used them as extensions of her arms. ‘Like I said, don’t mess with me,” Robin sneered back. One of the boys, the one that hadn’t spoken seemed to get a little worried, but the others seemed confident she didn’t know what to do.

The first two boys lunged in unison but Robin saw it coming. She sidestepped to the right and lifted the blade and hit the pommel of it into the side of one of the boy’s head. He dropped like a rock. The boy that hadn’t spoken took off but the other two turned back towards her, though she thought she saw some fear in their eyes now. The leader urged the other boy forward, and when he struck at her with the blade, Robin used the advantage of her longer blade to flick it out of his hand. It slid across the alley cobblestones with a clang. “Try me,” She urged the leader. The two just gave her a last glance and ran back into the main street.

“Glad to know who your friends are,” Robin said to the boy still unconscious on the ground. Robin bent down and picked up the boy’s blade, as well as the blade in the unconscious one’s hands. “You won’t be using that to harass anyone anymore,” She said as she took it. They were nice blades, probably a birthday present for wealthy merchant’s sons or something. They weren’t really her style, but she figured she could probably sell them for pretty good money. She stowed them in her back before leaving the alley. If this is how they really treat girls here, Robin thought to herself, I don't know how much longer I can stay here.