Flunitrazépam de l'amour (Claire and Noku)

[Deleted]

Two victims down, and so many more left to do. Ven beamed as snuck up behind her next victim. Claire would suddenly feel herself bound as pale arms came up and wrapped around her neck, a small voice whispering in her ear.



”Heeerree’s Venny!”



Claire would have her lips forced open and a drink poured down her throat. Course there was a little somethin somethin in that drink. Claire would be knocked out. Ven giggled as she dragged the unconscious woman off.



Claire would wake up with a whole new change of clothes. She’d be wearing a tight very low but bodice that enhanced her lady lumps. It was a deep burgundy in color, with a gold leafing pattern. They would be accompanied by long black skirts. Her hair was done up in magnificent braids and piled to the top of her head, while even her makeup had been done.



The room itself had rose petals thrown around, most placed in a heart pattern around Claire. Candles were lit around the room giving it romantic mood lighting. A table set up for a romantic dinner…with a keg of wine in the corner for good measure.



Not long after Claire would wake, Noku would suddenly find himself just outside of his chambers. In nothing but his undergarments! A note was pinned to them ‘A day of Love for You, nothing but the finest ENJOY’

[Claire]

When Claire woke up, her head was spinning. She blinked up, staring at the ornate ceiling above her. She tilted her head at it, squinting. What was this place? The last thing she remembered…
the Goddess Festival, of course. An elegant woman with skin like ivory and hair like the sun had offered her a mug of some sweet-smelling drink that she had taken eagerly. She couldn’t recall the taste of it, but the last thing she could remember was that woman’s smile.

Claire sat bolt upright and her head rushed with it. Drugged! That woman must have drugged her! She clutched her head and looked around the room to her growing horror. This was someone’s bedroom. Some wealthy man’s bedroom!

Claire launched herself out of the bed she was placed upon, clutching her hair and looking down at what she was dressed in. Heavy gold and red leaf-patterned velvet wrapped around her body, fastened by an incredibly tight bodice. Underneath she could feel silk against her skin. Claire touched her face- it felt strangely heavy- and her hair felt strange. She looked to the corner of the room and spied a mirror, then rushed over. She stared at the reflection, barely recognizing herself. Someone had painted her face! There was khol smudged over her eyelids and her lips were painted a darker color. Someone had even taken the time to curl her hair and dress it. She patted her hair with her hand, staring dumbfounded at her reflection. Whoever dressed her at least left her the courtesy of leaving her crystal around her neck, though the worn leather strap it hung on looked threadbare compared to the rest of her attire.

Claire’s attention was turned to the door, where she could hear voices. Someone was coming. She looked down at her clothing and bare feet, swearing under her breath. She was some kind of prize, clearly. Thank the goddess that she had woken up, at least. She ran to the window and tried to force it open, but it refused to budge. She considered smashing it, but there was no way she’d be able to scale the wall in time before she was caught. Instead she went for the table and grabbed the knife from it, hiding it in her sleeve. She gripped the back of the chair tightly, ready if this man, whoever he was, came in and attempted to attack her.

[Noku Noru]

"The bloody hell is this?!"

Noku thought and grumbled out loudly. Frustration and anger clearly printed onto the elegant looking man's features. The king, locked in his tunneled vision of displeasure, didn't seem to give a damn about who was around or in listening distance... Such scandalous tricks! To be plucked out of one's bed and tossed into a cold, unoccupied room. A room, mind anyone who worked in this blasted castle. That was NOT prepared with heat, blankets, or spare clothes.

SO WHY THE *bleeping* HELL did he wake up in such a cold and horrible place in his own home?! It was beyond him! An Noku demanded the answers; even if they were just assumptions and justifications to satisfy the haunting confusion that rattled his brain. The confusion being the biggest fuel to keep his anger steaming while he walked. His mind and memory still some what groggy and half a sleep from having a strange dream. A lovely dream of a woman beyond any words of desire could describe. She had came to him in his weakest moments and spoke softly and flirtatiously to him.

That was all just a dream... Right?

Had Sage done this? Had that snot nosed punk taken him from his chamber while he slumbered? Noku grumbled at the thought. His bare feet marching down the green marble halls back to his bed chamber. unaware of the piece of parchment stuck to his admin. His ivory, toned frame glistening in the beams of moon light peering through the large windows lining the hall. His torso bare while his lower half was covered in loose, thin, white wrap silk pants. His feet bare, which made walking on the marble floors of the castle at night most unpleasant. When Noku finally reached his room, he stopped at the door. Paused by hearing something or someone on the other side.

WAS SOMEONE IN HIS ROOM?!

Noku's brow twitched at the thought of someone in his room; his eye brow still twitching as he reached for both handles to open the doors to his room. Once both doors were open Noku stood in the door way to look in. Gold eyes quickly locked onto an attractive dark skin toned woman; whom was currently standing in his room with a dressed table of food. Had someone drugged him?! Noku thought, frozen at the door frame for just a few moments before his eyes glanced down at his own personal being. The note now visible to him as he took the note off him and read the words written on the small parchment.

' Nothing but the finest ENJOY.'

Noku slowly reached back to close the doors behind him. His eyes still locked onto the paper before looking up at Claire with a quirked brow.

" Excuse me...." Noku spoke softly, slowly making his way over to the dressing divider that had his black silk robe hanging. Golden eyes peering back at the woman as he picked up the robe and tossed it on. His eyes not leaving Claire as he sat the note aside, arms crossed with a titled expression as he came to the other end of the table. When he was acros from Claire, he put both his hands down on the back of the chair.

" First Question, my dear... Did a purple hair woman put you up to this? "

Noku asked, before following that question with another.

" An is today the beginning of the Blossom Festival? "

[Claire]

Claire jolted as the doors swung open and a man stepped inside, gripping the knife tighter behind her back. When he stepped through, she nearly dropped the knife in surprise.

“...Citlali?”

The man’s resemblance to that spirit in the sword- Core- was striking. Her eyes followed him to the screen as he pulled on a robe, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. The fear that she might be attacked by this man was fading as he seemed to be as perplexed and frustrated as she was. But, she thought as she looked him up and down, she might be able to take him in a brawl if it came down to that. Her distracted look was quickly replaced by a frown at the condescending term of endearment however.

“...no. She had hair like the sun. She gave me some-” Claire’s head shot up to look at him, anger crossing over her features. “She drugged me! She gave me some wine and then slipped me there.” she jabbed her finger over to the bed. “You play some very sick jokes in this country.”

She replaced the knife on the table as subtly as she could, huffing a sigh. Claire tilted her head up to look at the man, struck by the resemblance once more. Knowing this man was as confused as she was gave her enough gumption to cross around the table towards him.

The memory of Citlali’s appearance dug in her mind and she raised her hands, boldly pressing the rough pads of her fingertips to Noku’s cheeks. The men could have been brothers if Core breathed in this world- their faces were remarkably similar. They had the same high cheekbones and sharp structure of their faces, and their eyes had a similar shape despite the difference in color. Citlali’s eyes were cold but deep, like water. Noku’s eyes were like melted gold, holding a similar deepness. She tilted his face in her hands, her brows pinching together as she studied him. Noku shared the same pale hair like so many men in this country- setting a fashion statement, perhaps? How strange. She withdrew her hands slightly.

“What is your name?”

[Noku Noru]

A thin silver brow raised when the woman spoke. A foreign accent? It had to be a foreign tongue. A woman that was beyond the great walls of the Kingdom of Nova an possibly even farther than the Heaven's Pass. It was the way she pronounced the strange word, it just rolled as if she gave him a name with a question. Had she recognized him? Had they met before? He would remember a 'Lady of the Night' such as this one before him.

He had to admit. Her eyes were some what captivating, the fear within them locking his own gaze back at her. However, her fear didn't last long and the woman began to explain how she came to be in HIS bed chamber. So it was someone with the hair the color of the sun? Noku thought to himself, trying to place a hair color with any familiar face that he would encounter on a day to day bases.

Thank the gods with the passing of awkward time, so does awkward tid-bits of information one would remember. Such as the announcement Mysteria had made to him a few days back about the Goddess Vennessa possibly causing mischief during this years Blossom's Festival customs.

Noku stared at Claire as she threw her small tantrum. His gaze turning to follow her finger that pointed at his bed as if accusing him of something HE hadn't even planned. His gold eyes following her every movement, even when she made her way around the table to approach him. His posture straitening like a noble man. No, more like a king wearing a crown that was invisible. Something that was trained into him sense childhood.

He was disturbed slightly when the woman suddenly took hold of his face. His eyes widening, an his body tensing only for a few seconds. Even when she tilted his face his eyes refused to leave hers. So apparently the goddess of passion found a crazy one for him, how thoughtful of that wench of a deity. Noku thought, pulling his head back out of her grip and brushed his hair back out of his face.

" Excuse you…." Noku scoffed, amazed at this woman's brass actions. " If anyone has the right to ask 'What is your name?' it is me. Besides, my name isn't important…. As for your kidnapper. God's and Goddesses do as they please, after all that is why they are given the title after all is it not? Plus, girl, if you were a god and bored out of your mind, would you not pick on those who are easiest? Also…" Noku paused, lifting his right hand to brush back a few stray hair's from the side of her face, tucking them back behind her ear.

" It is custom to first ask permission to touch someone personal space. It's called respect, and If you don't want to be treated in the same respects. Then you are sending some very mixed signals. " he sighed, pulling his hand away.

[Claire]

Oh, so this man was incredibly self-important. Claire raised an eyebrow right back at him. Foolish man, believing so literally in his gods. Clearly they were just representatives, prophets or priestesses of note, symbolizing their gods of choice. His attempt to recover and his bumbling through excuses almost made her laugh, but it was wise to not do so. Not yet, at least.

Her train of thought suddenly screeched to a halt when Noku’s fingers traced across her face. His hand was as pale and cold as marble, leaving a trace along her skin like it was cold enough to burn. Heat followed the touch, much to her disgust, her heart lodging itself somewhere in her throat. Goddess, he looked so much like Citlali. It was like he was made flesh right in front of her eyes. Before she could think as he pulled his hand away, she snapped her hand up and closed her fingers around his wrist tightly, stopping him from settling his hand back at his side.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” Claire took another step closer to him, her fingers adjusting on his pale wrist. Good. She had to refocus. He deserved to feel uncomfortable for throwing her into this situation. A smirk came over her lips and she tilted her head up at him. Was he expecting her to throw herself at his feet, perhaps scream and beg? Or maybe that’s what the woman who threw her in here expected of him. She released his wrists to push her hands to his shoulders, shoving him down into the dining chair supplied for him. Claire leaned in close, bracing her hands on either side of his head and gripping the chair firmly. The smirk didn’t fade from her face as she tilted her head again, looking him up and down. A man like this seemed like he was rarely ruffled, so she would have to do that.

“You will call me Coaxoch.” No one else other than Citlali knew that name here- it was safer to use it here in case he searched for her again after this. “You should give me a name before I name you myself.”

[Noku Noru]

Noku's jaw was slack, coming to terms with the brash way this woman had just handled him. Handsy could be fun, but the invasion of his solitude had set him on edge and precluded any charm delivered against him. For a few moments, Noku allowed the back of the chair to brace him, allowing his brain a few uninterrupted moments for deciding just how pissed he would allow himself to get. After all, it WAS poor manners to brutalize a beautiful woman.

At her blatant command, Noku bristled slightly, internally, not fond of being questioned, and retorted to her request for his name with:

"My name is Noku Noru, king of Nova, and I will call you what I please in my own household."

He straightened suddenly, and came eye-to-eye with Claire, almost allowing their noses to touch. His gaze bore down on her, unshaken but full of fire and the faintest trace of hate.He rose from the chair and assumed a stern manner, showing his authority, admittedly a little self-inspired at throwing his title out to show up this woman taking so comfortable an air with him. He advanced a few paces from the chair, returned his attention to Claire, and spoke suavely: "And I will call you a rose, since it pleases me to do so."

A grin spread across Noku's cheeks, making him look confident and resolute, the image of royalty. He turned away from Claire and moved toward his bed, grabbing a bottle of wine along the way. He stopped at the sash, surveyed the sheets, and broke open the cork, drinking directly from the glass a long draught of the wine. Casting his glance over his shoulder at Claire, he asked

 "Would you care for a glass?"

[Claire]

Claire blinked at him, at the sound of his name, the title.

This man was clearly full of shit.

She had seen this sort of heat in a man’s gaze before and she just raised an eyebrow back, the color of her eyes cloudy in comparison to fire in his. A king, he claimed. Of course he was.

“Noku.” Claire repeated, the name rolling off her tongue. She looked thoughtful about it, then let him rise to go to the bed. She had to restrain herself from laughing outright at him. A rose? It was true that her name did tie back to flowers, she was not entirely fond of roses.

“If I am a Rose, then you will be Nochtli.” Like the prickely fruit of the cactus from her home. It was equally ridiculous as a rose.

Claire roared with laughter as the so-called king drank directly from the bottle. “That is no glass. Come, I will show you a trick.” she picked her knife back up from the table, along with another bottle. “Normally I would prefer a longer blade, but…” Claire angled the head of the bottle towards the fireplace and placed the knife angled along the neck. In one sweeping motion she pushed the knife along the neck of the bottle to the head, slicing off the head of the bottle and the cork with it. There was a sputter from the fireplace as the cork and glass landed inside and she grinned, placing the knife back on the table. She reached for one of the goblets and poured the wine, lifting it towards Noku.

“To your good health, as they say.” Claire laughed again, crossing the room to offer him the goblet. She wouldn't drink here- there was too great of a chance that this would be drugged as well. But there was no possible way this man was actually king- he was just looking for a whore. The sooner this man slept, the sooner she would be able to find a way out of this place. 

[Noku Noru]

Noku's expression intensified with a somewhat amused air, and he locked eyes with Claire, killing the bottle of wine before retorting: "my personal cup is one and a third liters, so actually, this bottle makes exactly one glass, little rose." He delivered the comment coolly, without breaking focus. He strode to face Claire, lifted the bottle to his lips, and downed what remained in it. Exhaling with a smile, he pointed to the labeling, where the volume was clearly shown in a stylized font "1 1/3 Ltre," and framed by a crest bearing the text "as unto the king; 1 Royal Cup." He took the goblet from Claire's hand and grasped it around the bulb, his fingers nearly connecting around its circumference.

"To your health, I insist."

Noku extended his arm to Claire, staring straight down into her eyes over the rim of the goblet. He held her gaze for a few moments in pure silence, during which a faint bristling sound could be heard, like as of sand rushing heard from a great distance. A creaking noise immediately became definitely audible, and Noku's eyes exuded what could only be described as wrath. He raised the goblet to Claire's forehead, and a splitting sound resounded through the bedchamber as the goblet burst, throwing wine and broken granite to the floor. Noku lowered his hand to his lips and tasted what remained on his fingertips, allowing the stem to join the fractured bulb at his feet. Losing interest in the wine, his eyes focused on the broken chalice, and a concerned expression fell across his face.

Speaking almost as to himself, he mused "Now THAT is unfortunate. I went and made a mess on this lavish rug, and there is no one here to clean it up. Nothing else can be done, then." Noku bent down and pulled the rug up in one unhindered motion, the granite clattering on the stone floor and rolling into the corner. He paced to the window, flung it open, and tossed the rug without hesitation. "Well, it was lovely to have you, miss…whoever you are," Noku added, seeming to come back to attention as to why this woman was here in the first place, "but at this point in the conversation, I would like to know your purpose for being here."

Noku's movement became more fluid, almost feline, and deliberate. His robe hung more loosely now, displaced by his behavior with the rug, and he stalked to the side of his bed, near the head, and drew a long, heavy blade from a hidden nook at the edge. Gripping the massive hilt at its base, he drug the sword with its tip against the floor as he advanced toward Claire once again, a mischievous look in his golden eyes. He raised his hand, allowing the blade to dangle freely, allowing two feet between the floor and the tip. Noku dropped the sword, and a dull noise accompanied the crisp sound of the lacquer finish splitting as the sheer weight drove the steel sufficiently deep in the stone to keep the sword standing erect.

"Let's agree to keep this civil, shall we? I've noticed your hand fiddle with that knife more than once now sense I've entered my own chambers. Understand little rose, I'm fully aware of the thorns you hide." Noku sat at the prepared table and selected a ripe peach from the arrangement, taking a hefty bite with a sly smile.

[Claire]

At first Claire felt almost amused by the size of the goblet- surely it would be easy to get this man drunk and then leave once he slept, but her thoughts were soon shattered.

Like the goblet that was in his hand.

She could barely hear him speak as he dragged the rug out of the room with the shattered glass, tossing it out of the window. He was making it easier to clean up afterwards. Goddess, he was making it easier to clean up the blood afterwards. She back into the table and it shifted when she touched it, trying to think. When he pulled the sword out, she considered going for the knife but he would be able to cleave her in two with that thing. Did he think she was some sort of assassin? Not an unjust assumption with the way she looked, but she would have poisoned his food or seduced him first if that were the case. She remained silent, her eyes fixed on his movements.

The long hair and the robe were easy grabbing targets, she could easy choke him with his own hair. That was one consideration. The sword was too cumbersome for her, it was best to leave it where it was and make certain that man couldn’t reach it. She could puncture his lungs with the utensils, but it would be best to incapacitate him quickly and then run. Perhaps out the window, now that it was open. She watched him as he sat down, swallowing as she formulated a plan. Make certain to catch him off guard, make certain he had no access to weapons…

A smile came over Claire’s face as she pushed away from the table, walking towards him. She pressed a hand to the bodice over her stomach and chest, fiddling with the clasps there, undoing the top one. “Would you not rather see for yourself?” she asked, pressing a hand back to the table and leaning towards him again, the smile still there as she took hold of one of the wine bottles.

Then she pushed the table over.

The dishware and plates and food hit the stone floor with a smack and smash and splatter, food rolling into the fireplace and glass smashing to the ground. Claire grasped the neck of the bottle tightly in her hand and swung it, smashing it hard enough to shatter against his temple.

[Noku Noru]

The dull thud of the bottle echoed against the stone of the bedchamber, followed by pure silence. Noku turned to face his assailant, a scowl gripping his face, now flush. He snarled, his body shaking from the effort.

"That, Wasn't, VERY, NIIICE!!!"

Saliva mixed with blood from the wound on Noku's temple as it ran down his chin; he was literally foaming at the mouth. Calm moments before, Noku had pulled a complete 180, and was screaming like an adult version of a distressed toddler. He struck out to his right, taking out the marble column of the lavish bed, and began thrashing and striking wildly. Both of his hands flew to his temples, and he doubled over, throwing his head side to side and alternately snarling, growling, and shrieking. Noku snapped to attention, locking his eyes on Claire, revealing the gold irises brilliant yellow and streaked with horizontal black lines. Horns had begun to twist out from his skull in a slow corkscrew, thick and bony, white at the tip and deep purple toward the base. He raised himself erect, and exhaled a demonic cry, something between a wail and a shriek, from his jaws, now lined with glistening fangs. His body inexplicably had begun to produce overlapping plates of thick material with a glossy sheen, resembling metal, covering from his extremities inward to his head, which was bare. His robe hung loosely from his body, appearing out of place, like a scrap cloth on a wild beast. A crunching sound, followed by a deep grunting, emanated from Noku, now laughing softly. Wings edged with the glistening scales emerged slowly from his back, forcing away the robe to reveal his torso, visible through what appeared to be rusted cross-bands of the strange material, showing the viscera distinctly through decayed flesh and exposed ribs.


"What? WHAT?! This isn't happening...fuck, this ISN'T HAPPENING!" Noku thought to himself. "WHY THE HELL?! ALL I WANTED WAS A NICE EVENING FIRSTTHERUGTHENTHEBEDPOSTNOWTHEWHOLEFUCKINGROOMGODDAMNITBITCHBITCHBITCHBITCHBIIIIITCH." Every unpleasant memory, beginning with his mother's murder, coursed through Noku's brain, enhanced by his current rage and fueling it. His fingers itched, craving Claire's blood.


"GOTCHA!"

A large syringe protruded from Noku's thigh. The cry had come from the servant now standing 8 feet behind him, trembling.

"GUARDS! GUARDS! AT ONCE!!"

While the servant shouted, Noku's demeanor softened, but his appearance remained unchanged. He looked down at the empty syringe with an almost curious expression, shook his head, and stumbled a little. He raised his hand and stared at the palm, spreading his claws.

"That would make a nice color for the drapes...." He trailed off, slumping to the floor. A few moments later, his horns began receding, along with the sheaves of metallic chitin.


"What have you done to his royal majesty?!" the servant advanced on Claire, his emerald eyes flaming, now accompanied by 7 burly guards outfitted with the Noru family seal. "Take this woman to Second Level and find out why she's here." Now, the noru crest was visible on an elaborate chain around the servant's neck. Only the royal court bore the Noru crest; this man was an advisor to the king.

[Claire]

Claire had expected the man to fall, so when he turned on her with a snarl, the broken neck of the bottle was still clenched tight in her hand. But he didn’t attack, his body was shaking uncontrollably instead. Then he screamed and the bottle fell from Claire’s hand to shatter on the ground.

Claire opened her mouth but no noise came out and her back hit the wall- she didn’t even realize that she had moved. All she could do was watch as this man transformed in front of her eyes, blood draining from her face. Her eyes were fixed on that man, watching him writhe in pain as wings pulled themselves from his flesh and something like scales grew from under his skin.

Monster. This man was a monster. Not Nochtli, Xiuhcoatl. Weapon of destruction.

She could feel something against her chest once more- a burning heat- and she looked down to be greeted with a pale blue light. The crystal around her neck shone with a light that was growing brighter and brighter and it burned like hot iron against her skin. She cried out and wrenched it away, finally snapping her back into realization that if she didn’t do something, she would die. As the man’s long fingers began to twitch, Claire lunged for one of the overturned chairs. She picked it up by the back and turned, flinging it to the meticulously painted window. It shattered upon impact, the chair and the glass disappearing into the night and falling into the gardens below. She whipped her head back to Noku, looking between him and the sword embedded in the stone in front of her. She was about to run for it when the doors burst open behind him.

Claire’s hands were wrapped around the hilt of the sword as the servants rushed in, dispatching of the man with some sort of medicine. The woman was a wreck as she stared at them, eyes huge, hair in a disarray from bolting across the room, the stone around her neck glowing as her hands were wrapped around the hilt of the king’s sword.

So he was the king, then. Shit.

As the servant with bright green eyes advanced on her, Claire shot back from the sword to grab a few of the knives that had fallen to the ground. Before any of them could grab her, Claire ran to the window and climbed out, scaling up to the roof above as quickly as she possibly could. Glass scratched her arms and legs as she climbed, scrambling up to the tiles of the roof. She looked around, looking for a place to run to before someone had the bright idea to follow her up.

[Roland]

Roland was deep in thought as he carried the carpet over his shoulder, preparing to put it back where he'd found it. Tonight, had been interesting and it had given him a lot to think about. He snickers at the thoughts he was having, that kind of changing world was unlikely to happen, but maybe he could at least make sure his young friend managed to marry her way into a house that was not completely full of assholes.

Though his contemplation was broken by the cry for guards. As he heads towards the sound and suddenly sees a chair crash out a window soon followed by a woman...wait a minute. Roland found himself stunned for a moment, he'd suspected the girl might be a criminal, but to try and kill Noku? If the escape wasn't what it was he'd think it was Venessa's doing.

He drops the rug and heads towards the building as he does he looks up and sees a shadow casted by a large tower, it'd have to do. Roland prepares a spell and then jumps through shadow of a tall tree and appears on the roof where Claire was. As he does he releases a blast of raw force attempting to shove her back off the building, but to hold her in midair over the fall.

"You are under arrest, on suspicion of attempted assassination. If you claim innocence a judge will hear your plea and further investigation will be conducted." he recites as he forms a staff of stone from the top of the building.

[Claire]

As Claire whipped her head trying to look for a place to run, she felt a force like a strong wind shove her across the tiles. She yelled, toppling over the edge and snatching the edge of the roof before she fell. She clung there, pulling herself up over the tiles. Then she heard a voice that sent her stomach dropping.

That man again. Of all the people, why that man again? Claire looked down at the wall beneath her, spying a different balcony a few feet down. There were ledges here… something that she could scale down to escape. She tried to catch her breath, listening to his claims. Attempted assassination? She had been thrown into that room against her will! If she had just gone along with that man, she would have been raped and split in half by that sword. She was not about to give him a chance to do that to her now.

Claire looked back to Roland and then down beneath her, letting go of the roof. She dropped down the balcony below, clinging to the marble there. She pushed herself off to a ledge, starting to scale down the wall from balcony to ledge, heading for the gardens.

[Roland]

As Claire releases from the wall Roland tries to grab her with bonds of force, but by then she has already landed on the balcony. As he steps out onto the roof edge he takes a deep breath and lets out a bellow "ALL GUARD TO ME! DEFEND THE KING AND CAPTURE THE ASSASSIN!" His voice was very loud and from the pit of his stomach, a command issued by one who had given them for many years to this date.

And as he shouts he hardens his skin with the technique Ilta had taught him and reaches a hand down into his shadow. In the same instant it reaches out of Claire's shadow and grabs at her leg.