Chapter 41: End of season market ( 5 )

"I don’t have the cat." Diana held her hands behind her back.

"You think this is funny, girl?" Thomas took two steps forward, a knife sliding free from behind his back. "Hand it over now, or don’t mistake my patience for mercy just because you’re some kid."

"Okay, fine, fine." Diana stepped back and extended her arms, the cat sitting still and unbothered in her grip. "Take it."

Thomas let out a short laugh and started forward. A hand landed on his shoulder before he got far. "Wait."

Regnault stepped out from behind him. "Knew you looked familiar. Diana Dietrich. Strange seeing you out here without your knight."

"You know who I am?" Diana stepped back again, closer to Dune now.

"A little." His hand drifted to the hilt at his side. "I know Hakimi well enough, though. We go back a few years."

"Is that so." Diana forced a smile. "He’s actually around here somewhere. Want to say hello? I’m sure he’d love to see an old friend."

"I don’t think so." Regnault pressed a hand flat against his own chest, almost fond. "Get the cat. And the girl."

The men behind him scrambled forward, shoving past each other.

"Dungeon girl, run." Diana bolted first out of the alley, Dune close behind her. The space opened into a wide grass field, a river cutting across the far end.

"Lady Diana!" Hakimi, mid-argument with Felix, spotted her instantly, sprinting across the field.

"That’s your owner?" Felix followed his gaze and caught sight of Diana, Dune trailing right behind her, the cat still clutched in her arms. "Who exactly are they running from?"

Shouting broke out from the alley mouth behind them, and two men emerged with swords drawn.

"Wait up, you little bitch!"

"Neither of you’s seeing tonight’s sunset!"

"Looks like there’s some action here." Felix commented while turning his gaze towards the place where Hakimi stood just a second ago.

"I wonder where he—" He looked towards the field and found that Hakimi was half way across the field already.

"There he goes." Felix let out a sigh and started across the field after him.

Diana ducked behind Dune as Gillet lunged for her. Regnault sneered and looked straight into Dune’s eyes. "You seem awfully relaxed in your situation."

"Leave. You’re frightening Diana." Dune said it flatly.

"Leaving isn’t really on the table right now." He grabbed her wrist and pulled. She didn’t move an inch. Regnault’s brow twitched, his hand drifting toward his sword.

Dune blinked once and hit him square in the face. He moved his head slightly, and the punch missed his face by an inch.

"I already warned you." He seized her hand, and blue electricity crackled from his palm straight through hers. Dune’s whole body seized, a hard cough tearing loose, the cracks along her skin flashing faint before she dropped to her knees.

"Dungeon girl." Diana’s face drained of color as she crouched fast, reaching for her shoulder. "Ouch!" She yanked her hand back, the shock jumping into her fingers on contact.

Regnault let go and turned. "Get the girl."

Gillet grabbed the back of Diana’s collar and hauled her up. "Get moving, bit—"

A ball of water slammed into the back of his head, dropping him forward with a wince.

Every head turned toward where it had come from, two figures closing in fast across the field.

Hakimi!" Diana yelled, starting to run for him as Regnault’s hand grabbed her arm and dragged her back, the cat leaping out of her arms. "Stop. We’re not done yet."

"You." Thomas’s finger jabbed toward Felix. "You’re the one who was chasing that cat earlier, ran right into us."

"Well then." Regnault laughed. "One came for the girl, one for the cat. It seems like fate is quite playful today."

"Lady Diana, where did you run off to?" Hakimi stopped a few yards short, breathing hard.

"You’re asking me that right now?" Diana wrenched against Regnault’s hold. "Can’t you see this? Do something."

"Right." Hakimi’s eyes narrowed on Regnault. "Let her go. Now, or you’ll face the consequences."

"Right to it, as usual." Regnault switched his grip from her wrist to the back of her neck. "Make me."

"You know me?"

"You don’t remember? Six years back, Master Arnoulet’s school. You caught me cheating during training. Got me thrown out."

"I don’t remember people who cheat." Hakimi’s hand went for his sword hilt and pulled. It didn’t budge.

"Losers should keep their mouths shut."" Felix shoved past his shoulder. "Someone tell me where the hell the cat went." He scanned the group. "And where’s Dune?"

Felix’s eyes narrowed the moment he saw her, cracks glowing faint blue across her skin, the exact sign he’d told her never to use Numen unless things had gone completely wrong. And on top of that, she looked beaten down, worse than she should be.

"You guys have done it now." He stepped forward. "I came here only for the cat. Now I’m going to leave some broken bones."

A hand caught his shoulder and yanked him back before he got far.

"You stay here and take care of Lady Dune and Lady Diana." Hakimi’s voice stayed level, though his left eye twitched once. "I’ll handle them."

"Get your hand off me." Felix wrenched his shoulder free. "Keep your plans to yourself. This is personal now."

"I understand that, but you need to stay calm." Hakimi didn’t budge. "I’m going to make them regret ever touching Lady Dune."

"Touching?" Felix’s head snapped toward him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"What—" Hakimi paused, catching what he’d just said. "That’s not what I meant. I meant they’re going to answer for hurting her." He nodded quickly. "You understand that, right. Just fall back and let the professionals deal with this."

"Professionals who can’t even land a sword draw when they need it." Felix let out a breath. "You knights are only good for bedtime stories. This’ll be over before you even blink."

Hakimi grabbed his collar, dragging him closer. "Why are you acting so—"

"Enough! Both of you!" Diana’s voice sliced through both of their minds.

Hakimi instantly released him. Whatever Felix was about to say died in his throat.

"What are you two even doing right now?" Diana glared at both of them. "Stop acting like children."

"Yes, Lady." They answered at the same time. Felix jerked his chin toward Regnault. "You take that guy. Looks like you’ve got history to settle. I’ll deal with the rest."

"Fine by me." Hakimi nodded.

Regnault’s grip tightened around Diana’s neck. "You’re looking pretty confident all of a sudden. Doesn’t suit you."

"That’s not up to you to decide." Hakimi’s palm lit with a thin coating of Numen, water gathering along his fingers.

Regnault answered with his own charge, electricity crackling toward Diana’s exposed skin. Then something brushed against his leg. He glanced down just in time to see a water snake already climbing, fast, coiling up his back and wrapping tight around his throat.

His hand shot off Diana and closed around the snake. A burst of electricity crackling from his fingertips straight through it. The snake dissolved into a splash of water. He coughed, dragging in air.

By the time Regnault was able to get his breath back, Diana had pulled Dune away from him and had moved her behind Felix, taking advantage of the noise to put some distance between them and Regnault’s party. Dune faltered once from pain in her injured arm, but stayed with Diana, following her to safety.