In the middle of the autumn, the heat of that year's long summer had finally given way to cool, crisp winds blowing down off the snow-capped peaks of the Granite Mountains. The leaves had turned, and the people of Windenburg kept their umbrellas close at hand, knowing that even a bright, clear day could swiftly turn dark.
Windenburg.
They call it the Old City. The heart of the Windslar Republic. Nestled at the base of the Granite Mountains, it is a place of cobblestone streets and medieval architecture but also a place of modern commerce and culture. A city where a visitor can enjoy the stately symphonies at the Windslar Orchestra or the driving beat of hard rock music in the city's many nightclubs, listen to powerful sermons in the Jacoban Cathedral, or debate postmodern philosophy and popular culture in the nearby coffee houses.
That mixture of old elegance and modern commerce were clearly displayed in the offices of the Von Windenburg Bank. The financial institution had served the noble families of the once-Kingdom of Windslar since the Middle Ages, and the wealthy merchants and captains of industry since they had risen to transform the Kingdom into a Republic.
Now, more than two hundred years later, it remained the bank of choice for both the old nobility and the modern wealthy.
Of course, wealth and power are known to attract disagreement, dissent, and even active protest.
"Speak for the Trees!"
"Don't let greedy bankers, rapacious developers, and crooked politicians destroy the beautiful natural world!" Knox Greenburg's voice boomed from the megaphone.
"Speak for the Trees!"
"Don't let them tear down protected woodlands!" Knox continued.
"Speak for the Trees!"
"The environment matters, people!" Knox shouted. "Call your Representatives! Join us! Protect the environment!"
"That was awesome!" Teenaged Kassidy Elderberry settled her cap, partially dislodged by an errant gust of wind, on her wavy hair.
The protest had broken up, and if no one had stormed the Von Windenburg Bank demanding they cease funding Knox's 'rapacious developers,' at least a fair number of people had gathered during their lunchbreak to watch the protest. A few had even accepted fliers and invitations to learn more.
"It was pretty awesome," Knox grinned proudly, for all that he only had eyes for the elfin face of Shannon Charm.
"I've just got one question?" Kassidy pressed on, oblivious to the significant looks passing between the two more grown-up protestors. "What's 'rapacious' mean?"
"It's another word for greedy," Knox replied confidently.
"Close enough," Shannon smiled. "It did go well, didn't it."
"It was awesome!" Kassidy repeated.
"Totally awesome," Knox grinned.
"Hey Shannon, why didn't you lead the chants and stuff?" Kassidy asked. "I mean, you were fantastic, Knox, but Shannon organized the whole thing..."
"Because Knox is fantastic at that sort of thing," Shannon answered smoothly. "I'm better at organizing. We all do our parts."
"Cool. Umm... do you need me to help clean up or anything?" Kassidy asked, glancing at her watch. "I mean... it's just that I have to get going if I'm going to catch the ferry back across the bay..."
"Get going," Shannon said gently. "I can take care of things here."
"You're sure?" Kassidy asked.
"I'm sure," Shannon smiled. "Besides, we don't want your mother to be angry with you for being late."
"As opposed to her being furious with me for protesting her bank?" Kassidy grinned proudly. "OK, I'll see you guys later."
"So, you need me to help clean up?" Knox asked.
"I've got it, really," Shannon smiled. "Besides, Kassidy isn't the only one running late. If you don't get going soon, you'll miss the next train back to the Harbor."
"Evergreen Harbor will still be there," Knox smiled, taking Shannon's hands in his. "Maybe I'll stay here, help you clean up... go back to your place..."
"Where my father is," Shannon pointed out.
Knox winced. "Not my biggest fan. I think he wants to turn me into a toad."
"If he catches you in my bed, you'll be lucky if he turns you into a toad," Shannon said earnestly.
"Well, if he does, you can kiss me and turn me back into a handsome prince," Knox laughed.
"Wouldn't you have to already be a handsome prince for that to work?" Shannon laughed.
"Well, can at least you put me into a nice pond where I can hop around for the rest of my days," Knox said with mock gravity.
"Probably, but it would be better if we didn't put it to the test," Shannon grinned. "Now get going."
"OK, OK," Knox sighed, turning to walk away. Glancing back over his shoulder he added, "You'll come up to the Harbor this weekend?"
"I'll try," Shannon replied.
Still smiling, Shannon turned her attention to cleaning up the signs, fliers and other bits of mess left after the protest. She didn't mind cleaning up. It felt curiously good to do pure physical work. Well, maybe she did use the odd, whispered Word to make the work go faster, but she had to subtle about it.
"Excuse me," a woman's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes?" Shannon said, turning to see a woman in a black hoodie.
"Are you Shannon Charm?" the woman in black asked.
"Yes." Shannon nodded. "Can I... hhhaaa..."
A sharp pain pierced her chest. She couldn't catch her breath. Looking down, she saw the knife, wet and bright with blood, withdraw from her chest. The woman in black betrayed no emotion as she plunged the knife into her again.
With a third and final thrust, the woman in black simply walked way.
Shannon struggled for breath.
The world spun as she sank to her knees.
Oddly, her first clear thought was that she hoped Cole - her father's butler - could clean the blood off her shirt. She liked this shirt. Cole wasn't a pleasant person, but he was terribly good at cleaning.
Her second thought was that she wouldn't be able to meet Knox in Evergreen Harbor after all.
She really wanted to see him again. One more time.
One last time.
Her final thought, as darkness claimed her, was to wonder if the woman in black could possibly understand the Doom she had just set in motion?
