The Noble turned back to Infi-Gail. "She is a Princess, you say?"
"Princess of Haerland. With her, your King will be able to take this entire land without spilling any of your own blood. You'll have legions of slaves to do your bidding and keep your people happy. Your choice of homes in any corner of our land."
"And all you want in return is a place in my King's court?" Bechman asked as he sat his cup down on the table.
"Unless you'd like to thank me for such a prize with gifts of gold and wives," Infi-Gail replied.
This broke the silence of the room with quiet, restrained laughter.
Bechman's hands in front of him, two fingers curling.
Nyssa tensed as she recognized the gesture.
The guards behind her altered just noticeably.
"Run," Nyssa hissed to Antha beside her, eyes never leaving the Noble as Infi-Gail continued to speak.
Antha's weight shifted. Her hand reached slightly for the blade Nyssa knew she had strapped to her middle beneath her cloak.
"Gail—“ Antha called out.
Nyssa realized Antha did not know this Gail was not the real one.
Infi-Gail turned and gave her a sideways stare.
"We should wrap up," she said, and her voice shook. "Perhaps the Noble has somewhere we could rest for the night."
Infi-Gail turned back to Bechman. "She is right, Your Grace. Perhaps you could be kind enough to show us a place to rest."
A low chuckle emitted from Bechman's lips, and he wrapped an arm around Gail's shoulders. "Of course," he said. "Perhaps a few women to entertain you as well for bringing me such a trophy of your kind."
Nyssa's heart picked up. Staggered breath blew forcefully from her nostrils as she waited for the final command.
“Run, Antha,” Nyssa hissed out of the corner of her mouth.
She watched Bechman's hand.
“Go,” Nyssa breathed.
“Guards…” Bechmen said, a coy smile on his lips.
“Get out—“ Nyssa kept whispering. “You have to—“
“—Let us make our new friends morecomfortable."
Two fingers waved on Bechmen’s hand.
Iron sheathing sounded. There was a gasp, a flinch at Nyssa’s left. And she turned just in time to see blood rush from Antha’s throat.
Antha’s body dropped to the floor with a thud.
It was instantaneous. Man’s guard locked North and Gail in grips by throngs of three. The pair shouted. Gail lunged at the Noble, but a sword caught his chest.
A tremble chattered Nyssa's jaw as she watched Infi-Gail's chest slide over the blade. A knife sliced across his throat. Nyssa winced as his near-black blood spattered on her face.
But the Infi caught her eye, and he winked.
His body hit the floor, followed by North’s dropping hard beside him.
