Summer

It had been on the longest day of the year, in a seaside town which sat low against the water. The nearby crash of waves against the stone bulkhead created an overall sense of urgency in the unkempt town. The sun loitered low in the sky despite the late hour, illuminating the densely packed streets where carts squeezed their way through narrow gaps in crates and market stalls, and angry townspeople rushed and cursed and scowled. The tense atmosphere of the town was the first thing Ariadne noticed as she arrived, walking up the beach at a leisurely pace, hoping to dry herself before her arranged meeting with the town seamstress. Nereids weren’t common in towns like these, and her presence was not unnoticed. She was wrapped in woven colorful fibers and her long hair was tangled at the ends in intricate knots spun by the surf she had climbed through on her way from the sea. She ignored the onlookers and climbed over the stone parapet in the direction of the town center. She liked to meander through whatever town she was visiting before beginning whatever business she had there. She liked to observe and study the differences in the ways of life - how little habits varied from town to town despite their proximity. It was a project of sorts, an ethnography for only her use. She walked and pondered, getting slowly closer to her meeting spot. The sun had just begun to set when she heard a shout from nearby.

Turning a corner she saw the man who had yelled, a bronze sword under his chin. The wielder was a knight - or a mercenary more likely. She had chains draped over her collarbone and leading down her chest, her midsection was wrapped in leather and laced up the back with twine and metal pins. Her hips and thighs were covered by fitted metal plates that met leather boots at her knee caps. Her shoulders were protected by ornately molded metal cuffs, wrapped with gilded vines and stars - but her arms were exposed, as was her head - covered only by thick dark hair, wavy and cut straight just below her jaw.

She turned quickly to look at Ariadne,

“Do you have business here?” She said sharply. The turn of her head revealed a black cloth covering her from her neck to her nose.

“Good morning!” Ariadne said, holding back laughter at the look of confusion that moved across the others face as she glanced away at the setting sun for just a moment, as though to confirm the incorrectness of the statement. “I do actually, have business here I mean. Your altercation seems to be right in the way of my arrangement.” She said, nodding to the door to the tailor’s shop behind them.

“Th-this is my shop.” the sweaty man stammered as he struggled against the forearm pressed against his chest to put some distance between the blade and his throat.

“Wonderful,” Ariadne said “I’ve an appointment, may I ask what the problem is?”

“It’s none of your concern, and I suggest you get away from here,” the masked woman said. In one motion she sheathed the sword, grabbed the man by his collar and pushed him to his knees as he clamoured and struggled.

“I’ve come quite a long way at this man’s request, so I’d rather conclude my business with him with his head still affixed. After that then it really will be of no concern to me.” Ariadne then turned to the man on the ground. “So what can I do for you, are you the shop’s tailor?”

“N-no, I own the shop,” The man said, still in the armored woman’s grasp and thoroughly confused. “Lu is inside, she’s the seamstress here, sh-she asked for you to come. Please go get her, tell her to come, to help me, to get help, just get me away from this-” The masked woman pushed him from his knees to his face before he could finish.

“Enough. Quiet.” She unsheathed the sword again and held it over the man, now entirely laying on the ground. “This man has been pocketing money intended for the townspeople for years. He has been conspiring with landowners from other towns to take over share houses and lodging. He is hardly paying his shopkeeps, he is a blighter and a buzzard.” Ariadne tried to hide the amusement on her face as Rodanthe described the sad little man on the floor. “Now, let’s go inside, shall we?” Rodanthe said and pulled the man to his feet, dragging him to the door before looking back at Ariadne, “You too, now that you’ve involved yourself..”

The inside of the small shop was tidy and dark. Threads and scraps of fabric were flung about in an organized mess, and at the counter was a small woman - Lu, presumably.

“Why didn’t you come when I shouted!?” The captive yelled, but Lu stayed silent, her eyes wide.

“Don’t speak to her.” The woman with the sword said sternly and pushed him into an empty corner. Lu looked around nervously, her eyes landing on Ariadne, surveying her up and down.

“I thought you were meant to come on the day of the new moon.” Lu said in a small voice.

“That’s today in fact.” Ariadne replied, “Doesn’t seem like today works for your employer though…” she tilted her head towards the man cowering in the corner of the room.

Lu sighed.

“Mr. Grivas, this is Rodanthe. I asked her to come here.” Mr. Grivas’s mouth opened wide and his face turned red as his eyes filled with rage. He looked back and forth between the two women. “I couldn’t stand by any longer. I detest what you were doing here, to my home. I wasn’t sure what to do, then I heard about Rodanthe and thought she could help…”
“You don’t owe him any explanation.” Rodanthe said calmly and returned the sword to the man’s neck. “Just tell me what you’d like me to do.”

“I just… I wanted you to frighten him, convince him to share the funds he’d taken, stop him from continuing whatever he’s been up to…”

“That isn’t really what I do…” Rodanthe said and pressed the blade closer to him. “Even if he agrees there’s no assurance he’ll do what he says, he can just flee with the money or retaliate against you. I won’t always be here between you. “ She spoke calmly and clearly to Lu but didn’t take her eyes off of the man in front of her.

Ariadne watched the scene with horror and amusement, it was not what she’d expected from her visit ashore, but she found it all strangely delightful.

Lu fiddled with the fabric scrap on the counter in front of her, the weight of her choice rolling back and forth in her mind. While she considered the options, Rodanthe spun Mr. Grivas around to face the wall and with the handle of her thin sword she hit him decisively on the back of the head. He collapsed to the ground, out cold.

“No need for added pressure.” She said, stepping over his limp body and moving towards the counter where Lu deliberated. She leaned over and the two spoke quietly to each other, too soft for Ariadne to hear. She was an onlooker in the situation, standing awkwardly by the door, too curious at this point to leave. After a bit more hushed discussion Lu came around from behind the counter and beckoned for Ariadne to follow her. She was led to another room with a small kitchen stove and dining table. Lu put down a cup and began to pour tea.

“I’m sorry you had to be caught up in my own problems.” Lu said softly. “It will all be taken care of now, but I’m afraid it’s not a good time to discuss the fabrics. Ariadne looked back at the door they had come through. Rodanthe had not followed them; so she figured a decision had been reached - an unfavorable one for Mr. Grivas.

“Will she be joining us? Once she’s…finished?” Ariadne asked as she sipped from the small cup in front of her. .

“No, her business is concluded, we won’t see her again.” Lu replied, looking at her hands. Ariadne realized she was disappointed by this response. She’d been perplexed and amused by this brusk woman dressed in metal. It was already clear from her short visit here that this town needed help, and it had come in the form of a hired sword with her arms exposed.

After this first encounter Rodanthe vanished and Ariadne returned to the sea. It wasn’t until quite some time later that their paths would cross again.