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Authors: K. L. Schwengel
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angling to peer past Berk's shoulder.
"She's not going with you," he said.
"You don't have the authority to stop me."
"Lady Ciara is under the protection of the Imperial Guard, Captain. I'm afraid I do have the authority."
Marshall took a step closer, forcing Berk to lean back slightly to keep his eyes from crossing. " You do not outrank me, soldier ."
"You've served your warrant, Captain. I'll see it presented to Commander Garek."
"I am acting on behalf of the Council of Mages, by Lord Vaedryn's personal orders. You will step aside and remand the" --Marshall's nose wrinkled again-- "lady to my custody, or you will be joining her in chains."
"Berk, it's all right," Ciara said, trying to push past him. "I'll go with him. I don't want to cause you any trouble."
Berk ignored her. "You're more than welcome to accompany us to the commander's office, Captain, but I won't be relinquishing the lady to you without his personal approval."
"I am authorized to use all necessary force," Marshall said, his voice low enough for only Berk to hear. "In your case, that would be a particular pleasure."
"Do you really want that kind of scene in the middle of the avenue?" Berk tipped his head to look over Marshall's shoulder. "Six against three. Not insurmountable odds. But you're already drawing notice. How much more will you draw when you lose?"
This time Marshall didn't hold back the sneer. "You think you're so much better than everyone else, don't you?"
Berk didn't bother to respond. He kept his eyes on Marshall as he said, "Jorny, Pehl, fall in."
The two pushed past the Council Guard to flank Ciara without question, hands on their weapons. At a signal from Marshall, his men flared out behind him, blocking the way.
"Do you think being in the Guard puts you above the law?" Marshall asked. "Or that being the Lord General's consort exempts her from due course? We are taking her to the Council Chambers by order of the Council of Imperial Mages. I will give you one last chance to stand aside before I place you under arrest as well."
A hand settled on Berk's shoulder, followed by Jorny's voice in his ear, "We can take them, I've little doubt of that, but the middle of the avenue isn't the place. His warrant's in order?"
Berk nodded.
Jorny made a noise. "Arrogant prigs, the lot of 'em."
Berk stepped back, turning to face Ciara, knowing Jorny and Pehl would keep their eyes on Marshall. He took her by the arm and pitched his voice low. "We've got to go with them. They have a warrant for your arrest. It has to be a mistake, I'm sure of it. I'll send Pehl to get the commander. He'll sort it out. In the meantime, I'm not leaving your side."
"Lady Honval," Ciara said, and gave a rueful shake of her head. "She doesn't care much for me. Can I see the warrant?"
Berk hesitated. Ciara didn't seem entirely surprised so he handed the warrant over, watching as her eyes flicked across the writing. Her expression slowly transformed from resignation, to shock, to a blank, carefully composed mask. She refolded the parchment and handed it back to Berk. Something in the quiet manner she drew herself up, lifting her chin just so, and rolling her shoulders back, sent a shiver through him.
"I'll go with them, Berk. Thadeus will straighten this all out. I'm certain." Her voice was even, and only the barest flicker of fear danced in her eyes. "You don't need to come with me."
"Yes, I do." He swiveled toward the others. "Jorny, you're with me. Pehl, get the commander to the Council Chamber as quickly as you can."
"Aye." Pehl shoved through the line of amber uniforms and sprinted off.
When Marshall signaled two of his men to take up positions beside Ciara, Berk dropped his hand back to his sword.
"Lady Ciara is voluntarily accompanying you," he said, his tone icy. "But make no mistake, Captain, she remains under our protection."
He slipped his hand around Ciara's arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze. With a nod toward Jorny, he forced Marshall to step
"She's not going with you," he said.
"You don't have the authority to stop me."
"Lady Ciara is under the protection of the Imperial Guard, Captain. I'm afraid I do have the authority."
Marshall took a step closer, forcing Berk to lean back slightly to keep his eyes from crossing. " You do not outrank me, soldier ."
"You've served your warrant, Captain. I'll see it presented to Commander Garek."
"I am acting on behalf of the Council of Mages, by Lord Vaedryn's personal orders. You will step aside and remand the" --Marshall's nose wrinkled again-- "lady to my custody, or you will be joining her in chains."
"Berk, it's all right," Ciara said, trying to push past him. "I'll go with him. I don't want to cause you any trouble."
Berk ignored her. "You're more than welcome to accompany us to the commander's office, Captain, but I won't be relinquishing the lady to you without his personal approval."
"I am authorized to use all necessary force," Marshall said, his voice low enough for only Berk to hear. "In your case, that would be a particular pleasure."
"Do you really want that kind of scene in the middle of the avenue?" Berk tipped his head to look over Marshall's shoulder. "Six against three. Not insurmountable odds. But you're already drawing notice. How much more will you draw when you lose?"
This time Marshall didn't hold back the sneer. "You think you're so much better than everyone else, don't you?"
Berk didn't bother to respond. He kept his eyes on Marshall as he said, "Jorny, Pehl, fall in."
The two pushed past the Council Guard to flank Ciara without question, hands on their weapons. At a signal from Marshall, his men flared out behind him, blocking the way.
"Do you think being in the Guard puts you above the law?" Marshall asked. "Or that being the Lord General's consort exempts her from due course? We are taking her to the Council Chambers by order of the Council of Imperial Mages. I will give you one last chance to stand aside before I place you under arrest as well."
A hand settled on Berk's shoulder, followed by Jorny's voice in his ear, "We can take them, I've little doubt of that, but the middle of the avenue isn't the place. His warrant's in order?"
Berk nodded.
Jorny made a noise. "Arrogant prigs, the lot of 'em."
Berk stepped back, turning to face Ciara, knowing Jorny and Pehl would keep their eyes on Marshall. He took her by the arm and pitched his voice low. "We've got to go with them. They have a warrant for your arrest. It has to be a mistake, I'm sure of it. I'll send Pehl to get the commander. He'll sort it out. In the meantime, I'm not leaving your side."
"Lady Honval," Ciara said, and gave a rueful shake of her head. "She doesn't care much for me. Can I see the warrant?"
Berk hesitated. Ciara didn't seem entirely surprised so he handed the warrant over, watching as her eyes flicked across the writing. Her expression slowly transformed from resignation, to shock, to a blank, carefully composed mask. She refolded the parchment and handed it back to Berk. Something in the quiet manner she drew herself up, lifting her chin just so, and rolling her shoulders back, sent a shiver through him.
"I'll go with them, Berk. Thadeus will straighten this all out. I'm certain." Her voice was even, and only the barest flicker of fear danced in her eyes. "You don't need to come with me."
"Yes, I do." He swiveled toward the others. "Jorny, you're with me. Pehl, get the commander to the Council Chamber as quickly as you can."
"Aye." Pehl shoved through the line of amber uniforms and sprinted off.
When Marshall signaled two of his men to take up positions beside Ciara, Berk dropped his hand back to his sword.
"Lady Ciara is voluntarily accompanying you," he said, his tone icy. "But make no mistake, Captain, she remains under our protection."
He slipped his hand around Ciara's arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze. With a nod toward Jorny, he forced Marshall to step
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