"Enter."

The door opened and closed behind Amy as she saluted her superior, Jeran Minsk who stood by the window watching the streets below. 

"Amy Lockwood, reporting for duty sir."

Jeran Minsk turned around. He was a man in his late forties, his wife dead for some time. He wasn't a very good looking man but he did come from a modest landowning family and stood just shy of six feet. In the two years since she had last seen him, he appeared to be more lankier. 

"State your business missy," Jeran said dryly.

"It's Amy Lockwood. Not missy," Amy replied back in the same tone.

There was an uncomfortable silence in the room. Amy did not understand why she had to deal with such a difficult commander. He always gave her a hard time at any moment. His expectations and demands of her were impossible to satisfy and many of the other lieutenants under his command didn't have such a hard time. His personality didn't appear to mellow out in two years either. 

"Well then Madame, what can I do for you?" Jeran said as he pulled out his chair to sit.

"M. Francis Welk sent me a letter. I was told to report to you for additional details."

Jeran sat down and rummaged through his drawers, looking for something. He found what he was looking for and moved the paper towards Amy. He motioned for her to seat. Amy made her way towards the desk, picking up the paper but she did not sit down. The paper was a map depicting patrol routes through the capital's West District.

Jeran began to talk, "As you are well aware, the King's Festival starts soon and all manner of people will attend this event. So, security will be tight in and around the capital. Our unit is responsible for the West District. I'm sure you know the types of people who lurk there."

She looked at the map in her hand. "I don't see a problem here. Surely they can't be worst than bandits on the borders? Wait, I'm patrolling through this area? That place is a thieves' den last I remembered."

"Yes and it still is although the West District has been cleaned up over the years. I'm sure it isn't any problem for someone of your caliber. You are to start today at evening. There is no problems at all I hope?"

[i]You deliberately gave me the worst place in the capital because you wanted to see me fail or worse. Well, you get a whole 'nother thing coming at you.[/i]

Amy smiled earnestly. "None at all. I'll relay the information to my platoon. If there's nothing else, I will take my leave sir."

"You're dismissed missy."

Amy left the room and bit her thumb as she made her way downstairs to deliver the news to her men. How she wanted to burn that moron to the ground with her relic! She couldn't stand his snarky attitude. He'd never be this cold and snarky to her male colleagues, even those of lower rank than her! He singled her out simply because she was a women! And his refusal to acknowledge her name! It infuriated her!

"Don't underestimate me," she muttered under her breath.