As Rakkis crossed to retrieve his rapier, he stooped, extracting the throwing knife that he'd left in the portly archer's stomach indelicately. The man groaned, which only prompted a decidedly dagger-like smile from the elf. ”I could put you out of your misery, if you'd like," he spoke wryly, wiping each side of the small blade in turn clean on the shirt of the corpse that his primary weapon was still skewering. A pitiful, wet, grunting sound was the only reply that the surviving Winter was capable of making, and it fell on deaf pointy-ears. With a grunt of his own, Rakkis used the toe of his boot to roll the heavy cadaver onto its back. The business end of the rapier remained hidden somewhere in his gray matter, and Rakkis knew from experience to be very careful as he gripped the dueling weapon by it's hilt and slowly slid it free from what had once been the seat of the unfortunate mercenary's consciousness. Blood and more began to dribble out of the widened entrance wound in the man's throat. The whole mess was now only fit to serve as breakfast for a dog.
Wiping that weapon clean as well, he sheathed it. The cloak, he decided, was a loss. He still had his parrying dagger in hand, fresh from its grisly work, in case any new challengers presented themselves before expected. Shaking his head, which almost felt as if it were still vibrating in the wake of the attempted braining by means of helm that he'd endured, he set off at a brisk jog toward Sophia, Lucien, Saemus, and quite a motley band of dead folk. ”Well, isn't this a fine mess." Anyone else might have been exercising sarcasm, but the elven thug seemed earnestly appreciative of the carnage. His eyes wandered it, like an appreciator of art's eyes might wander in a museum. Shaking out of his violence-inspired reverie, he grinned, letting his gaze move from Sophia's feet to her face. ”I'd heard somewhere that pious folk bled less than we heathen sorts. I suppose I might have heard wrong."
"The Maker provides me not with a physical shield, but rather the will to overcome, Serah," the Viscount's daughter said in response, as she surveyed the carnage the three of them had created, at the cost of only a few wounds to each of them. She examined her own wound more closely. The mercenary's knife had indeed cut deep, and the wound was bleeding steadily, but there wasn't time to worry about that now. More were on the way, and they couldn't afford to stop and treat their wounds just yet.
Saemus came over to rejoin the group. He was the only one without any blood on him, save for small bits on his knees, when he had knelt beside his fallen Qunari friend. "Dead, and good riddance. My thanks for standing with my sister," he said towards Lucien and Rakkis. "You're wounded, though. And she spoke of others coming, did she not?" Sophia waved him off. "It's nothing, Saemus. The wounds can be treated once we get out of here. Serah Lucien, Serah Rakkis, if neither of your injuries require immediate attention, we should focus on a plan for when the others arrive." She glanced at the way they had come in. A single path led down from the main road, but then split into three sepearate pathways through the rock walls, before coming together in a choke point at the entrance to the camp.
"I suspect the Winters will not go for caution, especially if they see only two of us. If Serah Lucien and I met the enemy at the entrance to the camp, Serah Rakkis could lie in wait along one of the side paths, and strike the Winters once they focus their attention on us."
Lucien, having retrieved his scythe, now leaned on it again, arms crossed over the end and supporting his chin in a way that could only be described as relaxed. Perhaps a bit discordant, give the situation, but he'd learned long ago that his impulsiveness, while unfortunately not entirely avoidable, was best saved for battle and not the spaces between. At the mention of injuries, he straightened and looked down at his abdomen, in which the small blade was still lodged. "Ah yes."
Relaxing his muscles there, he gripped the hilt of the knife in three fingers and eased it out. Examining the small blade for a moment, he shrugged and slid it into his belt. His armor would prevent it from stabbing him in its naked state, and he'd rather avoid too many more barehanded matches if at all possible. In retrospect, that had actually been rather enjoyable, though perhaps a tad too time-consuming. He felt a slight warmth as blood seeped slowly from the wound, but his scale mail had made it shallow at best. "I'm nothing to worry about, so a plan might be good, yes."
Scratching absently at his stubble, Lucien considered it. "No, perhaps not caution, but they may approach from all sides anyway. It is a tactical advantage I would not pass up, had I the resources to take advantage. All the same, we are but three, and there is little we can do about it. Allowing Serah here to flank seems the best solution."
Rakkis stooped at a corpse to clean off his dagger, his expression fairly bored as the others spoke. ”There is," he said, grunting again as he rose thanks to the arrow-wound he'd taken to his side, ”A better solution." He smirked to Lucien. ”A bloodless solution, in fact." He gestured with his dagger toward the noble siblings. ”You two take him and Horse back into the city. I'll remain here. The Winters are not a large organization, and their leader lays slain. If word were to circulate that they'd been butchered by a one-eyed man, the Viscount's daughter, and a very handsome elf, they wouldn't be able to obtain work cleaning out stables for all the laughter, never mind actually mercenerizing." He paused to consider his neologism, then shrugged; not one of his better ones. ”We'll let them pick their comrades corpses clean, and I'll encourage them to seek gainful employment within certain establishments in Lowtown. Much neater, don't you think? And if I'm wrong and they exact their retribution, well, you'd have a nice headstart by the time they managed to cut me to bits, so I really don't see a downside for you lot."
Either insanity or confidance blazed in the elf's gray eyes as he regarded them. It would be a bit of a coupe, on his part, to manage to recruit the remnants of a brigand-band that he'd had a hand in destroying. There was also the matter of the man that the whore had told him about. Rakkis had not recognized him among the dead, and suspected that his honorable comrades might object to or even interfere with the plans he had for that fellow.
Sophia let the tip of her blade fall to the ground as the elf explained his alternate plan. Indeed, the biggest obstacle to them simply taking this opportunity to escape was the matter of horses. They only had three, and while Saemus could certainly double with her, the elf's riding... left something to be desired. If Rakkis were to stay behind, and the three of them were to leave very soon they could perhaps make it onto the road in time, and take the far way back to Kirkwall, avoiding the remaining Winters who would be coming the short way.
And he was right. Their reputation would certainly be crushed, not only by them being defeated by a mere three people, but by their blatant attack on royalty of Kirkwall, the very sister of the one they were charged with protecting. Such a botched assignment would be near impossible for a small group of mercenaries to recover from. But... Serah Rakkis had revealed his ties with the Coterie. Sophia had expected he might be apart of one of the criminal organizations plaguing Kirkwall. He was going to encourage them to strengthen his organization? She didn't like that... but she couldn't help but feel that it was preferable to the coming battle if she refused his plan. More would die if they stayed, and there was no small chance that it would be themselves, wounded as they were.
"You are very dedicated to your organization, to risk your life in such a way for it, Serah," Sophia said, certainly not having any illusions that the elf was staying behind simply so that they could escape. "My concern is what harm these people may cause should they be corralled into a criminal group such as yours... but if further bloodshed can be avoided this way, perhaps it is best. And we've little time to discuss it further. Saemus?"
Her brother thought for a moment, aware they had to hurry. "Ashaad's death has been avenged. The Winters will no longer receive their reward. And I would not wish to condemn them all to death for the actions of their leader, though I've no doubt many of them would do the same in her situation." Sophia nodded, agreeing with him. It felt wrong... but there were many ways things could end up worse if they stayed and fought. The fight had taken a good deal out of her. "Very well. Serah Lucien, if you have no objections..."
Lucien blinked his good eye several times, looking to the much shorter man with somthing akin to shock, mixed with no small amount of perplexity. He seemed to give the matter some consideration, turning the implications over in his mind, finally shaking his head. "I doubt the world would benefit from more criminals, but that is not the reason for my refusal. If the Lady Sophia wishes to leave and take Serah Saemus, then I understand completely. I, however..." Lucien smiled then, a rueful sort of expression that was as much self-effacing as mirthful. "Well, however dubious your solution may be, I am fool enough to feel that you should not face the consequences alone, if your deal goes south."
The Chevalier shrugged, lifting his scythe and slinging it over both shoulders. "In other words, if they prove like their comrades and reject the peaceful solution, I might be convenient to have around, if for nothing more than a big metal distraction that allows you to slip away, no?" His honor would not allow him to leave another man behind to face such grave danger on his behalf, regardless of what deal he was planning on offering the Winters. That said, he knew the type. He expected that they would't accept, especially if the numbers in the second wave were greater than those of the first and their opponents were a woman short. He also understood that Rakkis might well take him up on his offer and make himself scarce if it came to that.
These and other practicalities, Lucien reflected with that same deprecating smirk, were the kinds of thoughts and fool notions that got men killed. But when Lucien died, he wanted it to be having done what he thought was right, at every last opportunity.
Rakkis tilted his head as he regarded the much larger mercenary. ”I never imagined you'd grow so fond of me so quickly. However..." He paused poignantly, studying the man. It was possible that he'd read even further ill intentions in his plan than Sophia had, but that didn't strike him as the truth behind his protestations. No, he had a military bearing, and that meant he likely had a military mindset, however deteriorated it might have been. He simply didn't want to leave a comrade, however temporary, behind. ”I believe that you set out having given your word to see Sophia and dear Saemus back to their father's keep unharmed. As they'll be setting out, very soon, it will be very difficult for you to ensure their safety from here. If you'll forgive my saying so, you may be a sword-for-hire, but your grasp of the Winters' situation is fairly tenuous. Your presence only makes it more likely that they'll choose the bloody course. A single elf, even one as daunting as myself, poses very little threat. Add a lummox in plate with a ridiculous weapon to the equation, and... well, they might feel differently." He shrugged. ”I have no qualms accompanying our charges, if you feel that you might be better suited toward the negotiations." The smile he offered Lucien was deprecating as well... but Lucien was the target of that deprecation, not himself.
"On the contrary, my obligation was to facilitate their safe return, which is considerably easier if I know where their enemies are, and whether or not those enemies will retain their hostility. I think we can both agree that the Winters are a greater threat than an incidental creature on the road, and Lady Sophia is herself far from a pushover. As to my impact upon your success, well..." He cast his eye about, considering the landscape. "I suppose I may be a smidge more intimidating than you, but who expects treachery from 'a lummox in plate'? If nothing else, looking like you have hired muscle hanging about lends some legitimacy to your claims of identity. I suppose if you want to appear alone, I could conceal myself." It would be nothing so stealthy as a puff of smoke and invisibility, but even a warrior could hide behind a rise in the landscape or an outcropping of stone.
"It seems wise that Lady Sophia and Serah Saemus leave, yes, and your choice is yours, but I will remain." He was quite aware of the look he was getting from the elf, but the simple fact of the matter was that he didn't care. He had made his choice, for his reasons, and the relative likelihood of succeeding in adding more ruthless mercenaries to Kirkwall's underbelly was of no concern to him.
The mercenary, Lucien, had made her feel significantly worse about leaving, but also significantly more certain that it was what she needed to do. That he was staying for honor, well... the feeling was something akin to the wound in her side. She couldn't help but feel she was abandoning these two, certainly Lucien moreso than Rakkis, by leaving them to persuade the remaining Winters against further violence. But as it was, the way she could best ensure his safety was by, in fact, leaving. Were she willing to let Saemus return on his own, things would be different... but she couldn't.
"You don't make this easy for me, Serah Lucien," she admitted, "and were I willing to allow Saemus to return home alone, I would stay as well, but I must see to my family's safety, and I can best ensure your own survival by leaving with my brother." Saemus rolled his eyes. "I'm so glad for the vote of confidence, sister." At this, Sophia sighed. "I would recount the ways you assisted during the battle, brother, but I can't seem to recall any. You'll forgive me if I want to ensure your safety on the return trip."
He had no reply to that. He actually seemed rather confused by the whole situation, between Rakkis' not-so-noble reasons for remaining behind, contrasted by Lucien's extremely noble reasons, and his sister's conflicted stance. "We must be away from here, then," the Viscount's daughter said, beginning to back away. "May Andraste guide you both. We will not forget your services here. Should you survive, I will ensure that you receive your rewards. They are well earned." With that, she turned, feeling like she was tearing herself apart as she went. The elf had made things so complicated...
"Doing what is right is rarely ever easy, milady," Lucien replied with a more genuine smile. "But protecting your family is nothing to be ashamed of." He inclined his head in a small gesture of deference, then turned back to Rakkis.
"I cede to your superior understanding of the Winters' motives. Without telling me to depart, what would you have me do?"
The elf considered refuting Lucien's points. It was how easy it would have been to do so that gave him pause. There was no point arguing with someone so clearly insane as the Chevalier was. He let his attention drift to Sophia's valediction and her quibbling with Saemus. He didn't quite think that Lucien had seen through the ruse of his willingness to leave so much as he was ignoring it. He'd been hoping the craven notion might lower the man's opinion of him enough that he'd agree to set off... but that didn't seem to be the case. ”I'd prefer that Andraste stay out of this. There are already too many players remaining on the beach as it is. And enough of this 'serah' business. Rakkis will be quite sufficient in the future." He nodded then, and turned to spit Lucien with an insolent stare.
”I would have you do exactly as I tell you to, and say absolutely nothing." He waited for Sophia to depart, for Lucien to give his word of honor that he'd comply, before outlining his modified plan.
Delaying no longer, the two Dumar children swiftly made their way to the horses, and sped off in the opposite direction they had come, Sophia giving one last glance towards the two men who had undoubtedly saved her life before disappearing from view.
Wiping that weapon clean as well, he sheathed it. The cloak, he decided, was a loss. He still had his parrying dagger in hand, fresh from its grisly work, in case any new challengers presented themselves before expected. Shaking his head, which almost felt as if it were still vibrating in the wake of the attempted braining by means of helm that he'd endured, he set off at a brisk jog toward Sophia, Lucien, Saemus, and quite a motley band of dead folk. ”Well, isn't this a fine mess." Anyone else might have been exercising sarcasm, but the elven thug seemed earnestly appreciative of the carnage. His eyes wandered it, like an appreciator of art's eyes might wander in a museum. Shaking out of his violence-inspired reverie, he grinned, letting his gaze move from Sophia's feet to her face. ”I'd heard somewhere that pious folk bled less than we heathen sorts. I suppose I might have heard wrong."
"The Maker provides me not with a physical shield, but rather the will to overcome, Serah," the Viscount's daughter said in response, as she surveyed the carnage the three of them had created, at the cost of only a few wounds to each of them. She examined her own wound more closely. The mercenary's knife had indeed cut deep, and the wound was bleeding steadily, but there wasn't time to worry about that now. More were on the way, and they couldn't afford to stop and treat their wounds just yet.
Saemus came over to rejoin the group. He was the only one without any blood on him, save for small bits on his knees, when he had knelt beside his fallen Qunari friend. "Dead, and good riddance. My thanks for standing with my sister," he said towards Lucien and Rakkis. "You're wounded, though. And she spoke of others coming, did she not?" Sophia waved him off. "It's nothing, Saemus. The wounds can be treated once we get out of here. Serah Lucien, Serah Rakkis, if neither of your injuries require immediate attention, we should focus on a plan for when the others arrive." She glanced at the way they had come in. A single path led down from the main road, but then split into three sepearate pathways through the rock walls, before coming together in a choke point at the entrance to the camp.
"I suspect the Winters will not go for caution, especially if they see only two of us. If Serah Lucien and I met the enemy at the entrance to the camp, Serah Rakkis could lie in wait along one of the side paths, and strike the Winters once they focus their attention on us."
Lucien, having retrieved his scythe, now leaned on it again, arms crossed over the end and supporting his chin in a way that could only be described as relaxed. Perhaps a bit discordant, give the situation, but he'd learned long ago that his impulsiveness, while unfortunately not entirely avoidable, was best saved for battle and not the spaces between. At the mention of injuries, he straightened and looked down at his abdomen, in which the small blade was still lodged. "Ah yes."
Relaxing his muscles there, he gripped the hilt of the knife in three fingers and eased it out. Examining the small blade for a moment, he shrugged and slid it into his belt. His armor would prevent it from stabbing him in its naked state, and he'd rather avoid too many more barehanded matches if at all possible. In retrospect, that had actually been rather enjoyable, though perhaps a tad too time-consuming. He felt a slight warmth as blood seeped slowly from the wound, but his scale mail had made it shallow at best. "I'm nothing to worry about, so a plan might be good, yes."
Scratching absently at his stubble, Lucien considered it. "No, perhaps not caution, but they may approach from all sides anyway. It is a tactical advantage I would not pass up, had I the resources to take advantage. All the same, we are but three, and there is little we can do about it. Allowing Serah here to flank seems the best solution."
Rakkis stooped at a corpse to clean off his dagger, his expression fairly bored as the others spoke. ”There is," he said, grunting again as he rose thanks to the arrow-wound he'd taken to his side, ”A better solution." He smirked to Lucien. ”A bloodless solution, in fact." He gestured with his dagger toward the noble siblings. ”You two take him and Horse back into the city. I'll remain here. The Winters are not a large organization, and their leader lays slain. If word were to circulate that they'd been butchered by a one-eyed man, the Viscount's daughter, and a very handsome elf, they wouldn't be able to obtain work cleaning out stables for all the laughter, never mind actually mercenerizing." He paused to consider his neologism, then shrugged; not one of his better ones. ”We'll let them pick their comrades corpses clean, and I'll encourage them to seek gainful employment within certain establishments in Lowtown. Much neater, don't you think? And if I'm wrong and they exact their retribution, well, you'd have a nice headstart by the time they managed to cut me to bits, so I really don't see a downside for you lot."
Either insanity or confidance blazed in the elf's gray eyes as he regarded them. It would be a bit of a coupe, on his part, to manage to recruit the remnants of a brigand-band that he'd had a hand in destroying. There was also the matter of the man that the whore had told him about. Rakkis had not recognized him among the dead, and suspected that his honorable comrades might object to or even interfere with the plans he had for that fellow.
Sophia let the tip of her blade fall to the ground as the elf explained his alternate plan. Indeed, the biggest obstacle to them simply taking this opportunity to escape was the matter of horses. They only had three, and while Saemus could certainly double with her, the elf's riding... left something to be desired. If Rakkis were to stay behind, and the three of them were to leave very soon they could perhaps make it onto the road in time, and take the far way back to Kirkwall, avoiding the remaining Winters who would be coming the short way.
And he was right. Their reputation would certainly be crushed, not only by them being defeated by a mere three people, but by their blatant attack on royalty of Kirkwall, the very sister of the one they were charged with protecting. Such a botched assignment would be near impossible for a small group of mercenaries to recover from. But... Serah Rakkis had revealed his ties with the Coterie. Sophia had expected he might be apart of one of the criminal organizations plaguing Kirkwall. He was going to encourage them to strengthen his organization? She didn't like that... but she couldn't help but feel that it was preferable to the coming battle if she refused his plan. More would die if they stayed, and there was no small chance that it would be themselves, wounded as they were.
"You are very dedicated to your organization, to risk your life in such a way for it, Serah," Sophia said, certainly not having any illusions that the elf was staying behind simply so that they could escape. "My concern is what harm these people may cause should they be corralled into a criminal group such as yours... but if further bloodshed can be avoided this way, perhaps it is best. And we've little time to discuss it further. Saemus?"
Her brother thought for a moment, aware they had to hurry. "Ashaad's death has been avenged. The Winters will no longer receive their reward. And I would not wish to condemn them all to death for the actions of their leader, though I've no doubt many of them would do the same in her situation." Sophia nodded, agreeing with him. It felt wrong... but there were many ways things could end up worse if they stayed and fought. The fight had taken a good deal out of her. "Very well. Serah Lucien, if you have no objections..."
Lucien blinked his good eye several times, looking to the much shorter man with somthing akin to shock, mixed with no small amount of perplexity. He seemed to give the matter some consideration, turning the implications over in his mind, finally shaking his head. "I doubt the world would benefit from more criminals, but that is not the reason for my refusal. If the Lady Sophia wishes to leave and take Serah Saemus, then I understand completely. I, however..." Lucien smiled then, a rueful sort of expression that was as much self-effacing as mirthful. "Well, however dubious your solution may be, I am fool enough to feel that you should not face the consequences alone, if your deal goes south."
The Chevalier shrugged, lifting his scythe and slinging it over both shoulders. "In other words, if they prove like their comrades and reject the peaceful solution, I might be convenient to have around, if for nothing more than a big metal distraction that allows you to slip away, no?" His honor would not allow him to leave another man behind to face such grave danger on his behalf, regardless of what deal he was planning on offering the Winters. That said, he knew the type. He expected that they would't accept, especially if the numbers in the second wave were greater than those of the first and their opponents were a woman short. He also understood that Rakkis might well take him up on his offer and make himself scarce if it came to that.
These and other practicalities, Lucien reflected with that same deprecating smirk, were the kinds of thoughts and fool notions that got men killed. But when Lucien died, he wanted it to be having done what he thought was right, at every last opportunity.
Rakkis tilted his head as he regarded the much larger mercenary. ”I never imagined you'd grow so fond of me so quickly. However..." He paused poignantly, studying the man. It was possible that he'd read even further ill intentions in his plan than Sophia had, but that didn't strike him as the truth behind his protestations. No, he had a military bearing, and that meant he likely had a military mindset, however deteriorated it might have been. He simply didn't want to leave a comrade, however temporary, behind. ”I believe that you set out having given your word to see Sophia and dear Saemus back to their father's keep unharmed. As they'll be setting out, very soon, it will be very difficult for you to ensure their safety from here. If you'll forgive my saying so, you may be a sword-for-hire, but your grasp of the Winters' situation is fairly tenuous. Your presence only makes it more likely that they'll choose the bloody course. A single elf, even one as daunting as myself, poses very little threat. Add a lummox in plate with a ridiculous weapon to the equation, and... well, they might feel differently." He shrugged. ”I have no qualms accompanying our charges, if you feel that you might be better suited toward the negotiations." The smile he offered Lucien was deprecating as well... but Lucien was the target of that deprecation, not himself.
"On the contrary, my obligation was to facilitate their safe return, which is considerably easier if I know where their enemies are, and whether or not those enemies will retain their hostility. I think we can both agree that the Winters are a greater threat than an incidental creature on the road, and Lady Sophia is herself far from a pushover. As to my impact upon your success, well..." He cast his eye about, considering the landscape. "I suppose I may be a smidge more intimidating than you, but who expects treachery from 'a lummox in plate'? If nothing else, looking like you have hired muscle hanging about lends some legitimacy to your claims of identity. I suppose if you want to appear alone, I could conceal myself." It would be nothing so stealthy as a puff of smoke and invisibility, but even a warrior could hide behind a rise in the landscape or an outcropping of stone.
"It seems wise that Lady Sophia and Serah Saemus leave, yes, and your choice is yours, but I will remain." He was quite aware of the look he was getting from the elf, but the simple fact of the matter was that he didn't care. He had made his choice, for his reasons, and the relative likelihood of succeeding in adding more ruthless mercenaries to Kirkwall's underbelly was of no concern to him.
The mercenary, Lucien, had made her feel significantly worse about leaving, but also significantly more certain that it was what she needed to do. That he was staying for honor, well... the feeling was something akin to the wound in her side. She couldn't help but feel she was abandoning these two, certainly Lucien moreso than Rakkis, by leaving them to persuade the remaining Winters against further violence. But as it was, the way she could best ensure his safety was by, in fact, leaving. Were she willing to let Saemus return on his own, things would be different... but she couldn't.
"You don't make this easy for me, Serah Lucien," she admitted, "and were I willing to allow Saemus to return home alone, I would stay as well, but I must see to my family's safety, and I can best ensure your own survival by leaving with my brother." Saemus rolled his eyes. "I'm so glad for the vote of confidence, sister." At this, Sophia sighed. "I would recount the ways you assisted during the battle, brother, but I can't seem to recall any. You'll forgive me if I want to ensure your safety on the return trip."
He had no reply to that. He actually seemed rather confused by the whole situation, between Rakkis' not-so-noble reasons for remaining behind, contrasted by Lucien's extremely noble reasons, and his sister's conflicted stance. "We must be away from here, then," the Viscount's daughter said, beginning to back away. "May Andraste guide you both. We will not forget your services here. Should you survive, I will ensure that you receive your rewards. They are well earned." With that, she turned, feeling like she was tearing herself apart as she went. The elf had made things so complicated...
"Doing what is right is rarely ever easy, milady," Lucien replied with a more genuine smile. "But protecting your family is nothing to be ashamed of." He inclined his head in a small gesture of deference, then turned back to Rakkis.
"I cede to your superior understanding of the Winters' motives. Without telling me to depart, what would you have me do?"
The elf considered refuting Lucien's points. It was how easy it would have been to do so that gave him pause. There was no point arguing with someone so clearly insane as the Chevalier was. He let his attention drift to Sophia's valediction and her quibbling with Saemus. He didn't quite think that Lucien had seen through the ruse of his willingness to leave so much as he was ignoring it. He'd been hoping the craven notion might lower the man's opinion of him enough that he'd agree to set off... but that didn't seem to be the case. ”I'd prefer that Andraste stay out of this. There are already too many players remaining on the beach as it is. And enough of this 'serah' business. Rakkis will be quite sufficient in the future." He nodded then, and turned to spit Lucien with an insolent stare.
”I would have you do exactly as I tell you to, and say absolutely nothing." He waited for Sophia to depart, for Lucien to give his word of honor that he'd comply, before outlining his modified plan.
Delaying no longer, the two Dumar children swiftly made their way to the horses, and sped off in the opposite direction they had come, Sophia giving one last glance towards the two men who had undoubtedly saved her life before disappearing from view.