Her gaze circled the room at the leering men, her cheeks pinking. A man leaned over in his stool and pinched her thigh. She jumped backward only to bump into another drunkard who pulled her into his lap. The lass squealed in horror and rushed outside as the room burst into uproarious laughter.
Von smirked to himself and finished the last of his drink. She mustn’t be from around here. The lass lingered outside the windows, looking about her unsurely. Geon and Dalton ogled her with coy grins and made their approach. Von groaned in annoyance. He told those two idiots not to speak to anyone.
Dalton dipped in a flourishing bow before the lass, giving her the flamboyant introduction he always used to impress girls.“I am Dalton of House Slater, mage of the Earth Guild.”
But instead of interest, she blanched. The lass gave a short answer and bobbed in a quick curtsey before attempting to leave. Dalton blocked her way with his staff. He snapped his fingers and produced a lily in a show of glittering magic, offering it to her. She shook her head, backing away.
He laughed and grabbed her arm to keep her from leaving. Dalton’s expression of amusement melted into shocked anger. He yelled something indiscernible. The girl screamed back. Geon tried to pull them apart, but the mage hit him with a blast of orange Essence that tossed him out of sight.
Von rose to his feet. Careful not to draw attention to himself, he hung the strap of the cylindrical case from his shoulder and quickly made his way to the door. The green elf who’d also been watching the occurrence through his window did the same. Von feigned accidentally knocking into him, nearly throwing him against the wall.
“Oh, begging your pardon,” he said with measured politeness as he helped steady the elf. “I was in a hurry to beat some sense into my brothers. They see a pretty girl and forget to mind themselves.”
Unusual turquoise eyes looked out from beneath the elf’s hood. Lantern light caught on the luxurious sword strapped to his hip. On the pommel was the sigil of Greenwood, aDynalyaflower in full bloom. The elf stiffly nodded and moved aside, allowing Von to pass.
Making sure he wouldn’t follow, Von left the pub blather for the shrill outside.
“Let go of me!” the girl shrieked, pulling against Dalton.
Geon groaned from where he’d fallen on the ground. “Stop it, Dal, you’re hurting her.”
Dalton violently jerked her back and forth by her arm. “How did you escape? You’re of the Sun Guild, aren’t you? To which House do you belong?”
She shook her head. “Unhand me! I’m not of the Magos Empire!”
“Liar! I’m taking you back where you belong!”
“Dalton!” Von barked. “What are you doing?”
Geon scrambled to his feet, his smoking hair sticking up at all ends. “He’s off his wits, Commander.”
“She’s a sorceress,” Dalton sneered at her. “I sensed her Essence. She belongs in Magos, not roaming about free in Azure.”
The lass lifted her chin. “I’m not a sorceress, and you’ll not decide anything for me, mage. I was born free and I’ll remain so.”
With a swift kick to his shin, she broke his hold. Dalton yelped, hopping on one leg while holding the other. Von tried not to smile at her ferocious glare. She had mettle.
“Such drivel!” Dalton snapped. “Under the Mage Code, a sorceress is never to step foot outside of Magos.”
Von arched a brow. “Why?”
Dalton flushed and squirmed for his mistake. The Magos Empire liked to keep its secrets, but Von knew of their vile culture and the discrimination they had against their women. It appeared so did the dainty redhead.
“You’re coming with me.” Dalton reached for her again.
Von shoved him back. “Leave her, or I’ll tan your hide.”
“You have no right to interfere in this,” he hissed. The young mage had never defied him before. Yet as his eyes glowed with the crystal on his staff, malice crept across his face. “She belongs to us. She’s ours.”
Von backhanded him so hard it knocked Dalton down. The stunned mage held his reddened cheek, gaping up at him. It was the first time Von had struck him, but it was enough to snap him out of whatever had possessed him. “Get your arses back to camp,” he growled.
Geon saluted meekly. “Aye, Commander.”
Dalton shot a contemptuous look at the lass as if he truly felt cheated out of something that should belong to him. It made Von want to smack him again. What rubbish was Magos feeding its people?
“Go on, then!” The lads scurried away. Once they were gone, Von turned to the girl. “So, we meet again, lass. Are you all right?”
She rubbed the welt on her forearm, giving him a tired smile. “Yes, thank you. I don’t believe I was given your name last. Commander, they called you?”
