Drevakin

News of the next attack comes while I am in the House Mansion. Furious, I step out into the courtyard to meet the waiting group. They look far worse than they did last time, with obvious cuts and bruises.

"Was it the same people?" I ask after I have a better hold on my emotions.

They nod.

"They said we were obviously too stupid to understand the message the first time, so they wanted to ensure we understood it this time," the man in charge says, his voice grim.

"I see," I say, turning toward the stable master and asking him to bring out my juntta and carriage. "I'm going to do something about this," I tell them, turning back to the group. "I'm sorry this has happened once again."

"We know it is not your fault, my Prince," one of the serious-faced women says.

"Nevertheless," I say, climbing onto the carriage. "I will make this right. Please speak to my stable master and leave another list."

With a nod I flick the reins, clicking at the fresh juntta to coax it into moving. Prince Rathorin will see me today. I will make sure of it. As I drive through our marketplace, the concerned glances of my people is worrying. Everyone has heard of this second attack, it is unacceptable. I don't want my people to feel unsafe.

As I leave through the brightly lit tunnel and enter the dimmer connecting caverns, I attempt to calm myself. Arriving full of rage will not be productive. It doesn't matter how much I want to break something, I have a responsibility to my people, which means I need to do what will be most effective, not what would be the most satisfying.

By I time I arrive at House Ti'ana, I have a modicum of control, though it’s a thin veneer that may crack under pressure. Still, it’s an improvement. I stop my carriage and leave it at the border wall this time, needing to make the rest of the journey on foot to spend some of this angry energy.

I am not as courteous as I could be as I push through the crowd in the marketplace, my less than pleasant mood obvious. People part in front of me, giving me uneasy looks. Good. Let them see that we of the Minor Houses are not victims. I focus on reaching the Ti’ana House Mansion, but I catch a flash of gray from the corner of my eye and it draws my attention, standing out in the colorful throng.

I recognize the young female as one of my people. A group of four young males shove her into a narrow alley, their jeers and chuckles underscoring their intent. My eyes narrow as I change course, pushing people aside as they get in my way. Those males chose the worst day for their ugly sport. They will regret their decision.

I move quickly, but it is difficult to push through the crowd. Walking past the alley is a small female who has a strange skin tone. As I move closer, I realize she is a human woman, like Margot, Elorshin's Pari. Her skin is an unusual warm gold, her dark yellow hair is streaked with lighter sections, and the long wavy strands reach the middle of her back. Perhaps she is not small for a human, but she is most definitely small for an Alvan.

She hesitates as if she hears something, then looks into the alley. A moment later she disappears into it. Why is she going down that same alley? Is she working with those males? I make it to the opening and the human's strong, accented voice is fending off the males from the young female.

What idiocy is this? There are four of them and the female of my House is not a fighter. She is putting herself in real danger. I frown as my eyes focus on the scene. The human has one of the males on his knees in front of her, holding his wrist.

I watch as she somehow forces him onto his back and then lands a blow on his temple, rendering him more than dazed but not unconscious. I shake my head, wondering at what just occurred.

"What is going on here?" I ask as I stride down the alley, pulling out my sword.

Everyone looks at me, including both of the females. Good. If the males are looking at me, they are not looking at the females.

"My Prince!" the female from House Lo'ara exclaims.

"Go find who you came with. I will take care of this," I order.

She nods and runs past, disappearing into the crowd. I frown as the other female doesn't run.

"Go," I growl at her, not wanting to worry about protecting her while I fight.

As her eyes meet mine, I realize they are an unusual shade of green, with a golden hue at the center. They are arresting.

"No," she says in that same, strong voice.

Anger flushes my face but I don't have time to argue as three of the idiots attack. Focused, I cross swords with one while I kick another in the chest, pushing him stumbling straight into the third. The male I crossed swords with is a bad swordsman, I disarm him with ease. There is fear in his eyes, but he refuses to back down in front of his friends. Snarling, he rushes, leaving himself open to any attack.

Stupid.

I move my head to the side, but he lands a glancing blow to my cheek. He must have something sharp held between his fingers because a trickle of blood slides down my face. I ignore it and swing my sword away, the quarters too close now. I punch him in the gut instead.

Killing the buffoon will cause too much political fallout, so using my hands is wiser. He's not worth it. As he falls to the ground with a groan, curled around his midsection, another runs at me with a glinting knife. I dodge the wild stab and grab him by the hair, swinging him around to slam his head against the wall, stunning him.

The third male steps back with his hands in the air. I keep an eye on him as I turn to help the female, hoping she isn't hurt.

I stop and stare. The man who attacked her is unconscious on the ground and she is holding what I am assuming was his blade. As I stare, I sense a flicker to the side.

"Watch out!" I shout as the third man lunges toward her.

I'm too far to intercept the attack. Stepping closer, my heart leaps into my throat. She is so small. His blow lands on her side, but she doesn't make a sound as she brings her leg up in a hard kick. Right where every male dreads. Despite myself, I wince in sympathy as the male freezes, his hands flying to his groin, his breath coming out in a pained wheeze.

Footsteps pound and when I look back, two of the males have disappeared. The other two are unconscious on the ground.

"Done," the female says, stepping around the groaning man.

I suppose that is accurate. She stops in front of me and looks up curiously, scanning my face with pretty eyes.

"Come," she urges, holding out her hand.

I stare down at her hand in fascination, the smooth warm skin and the smallness of it draws my attention. This human female is odd in every sense of the word and I find myself drawn to her, wanting to learn more about her. But the fact that she is here means she is paired to someone. Even if there is no visible mark on her, it would be unwise to touch her.

"Come," she repeats impatiently, waving her hand.

I may well come to regret this, but there is something about her I cannot refuse.

Or, at least, I don't want to.

I take her hand.