I step out, leaving her behind and pulling my hood over my head. Satisfied. I remained on track, she won't be able to forget about me anytime soon. I cross the tavern's main room, hearing her following.

“Elizabeth. Wait!” She orders.

I ignore her. I thought she would see how pointless it is to fight, surrender once in charge but she commands and is still determined to battle the Rykz to the bitter end. I need to remove both my Lady and the Duke to have a shot at ending this.

She catches up to me just outside of the building, laying a hand on my shoulder and forcing me to turn around. The scarf is back around her head. All that remains are her Abysmal light gray eyes, digging into mine.

“What is it, Lance?” I ask, gritting my teeth.

“Something's wrong. It's too quiet.” She whispers, looking around.

I glance at the street to our right, finding not even a single passerby. The only carriage sounds I hear are distant. I look up over her shoulder, just in time to see three assassins on the roof, aiming crossbows at us.

They shoot before I can think of a way out. I jump-tackle her, but not quickly enough to avoid all three of the bolts flying straight at us. The first passes over my head. My left limb deviates the second one with lightning fast reaction. The third one plunges into my Lady's left shoulder. Thuck.

“Ugh.” She grunts in pain.

I pull her to the wall, right under the assassins, taking cover and using my body to protect hers. I quickly assemble a lightning construct, intending to use it to get rid of them. She is staring at the crossbow bolt in her shoulder with disbelief.

A dozen assassins rush into the alley, entering from either side of us. They are wearing black clothing and wielding sharp swords. Fuck. I take hold of my Lady and pull her towards the tavern's door.

I try to open it but the lock is already back in place. A moment later, I hear someone on the other side bars it with a heavy beam. Three shadows jump over the alley to the other roof. I charge the air between me and them, activating the construct before they can settle their aim on us. The lightning forks in three, hitting them squarely in the chest.

They drop, one of them falls over and hits the ground in front of us, he isn't convulsing. Without a sword to intercept the bolt and leather gloves to isolate it from their bodies, there simply isn't anything to stop it from impacting them and directly damaging organs.

The assassins approach us carefully, six on our left, six on our right. My Lady is acting weird, using me to hide herself. I stand up, taking a stance with my left arm in front as I assemble the hardening construct. What am I going to do with no weapon?

“Elizabeth Vil, prepare yourself!” One of them speaks up.

“Come closer and I'll gut you.” I instantly reply with a mad laugh.

Today is a great day. I get to either die alongside my Lady or survive with her. I ready myself as they close in on us,

I feel a hand press on my thigh. She pushes me aside to extend the golden flow lance she's holding towards the group of killers to our right. A moment later, a large golden flow lance flashes past me, piercing through the closest assassin. It continues its course to plant itself inside the chest of the one right behind the first, in the middle of them.

“Shatter.” Lance utters mercilessly.

The construct explodes into thousands of shards that shower the other four and shred their bodies. Those on our left stop short, exchanging panicked glances. They didn't expect her to be here. I was the sole target, that's good.

“What is the meaning of this?” My Lady asks.

She stands up as a second golden lance appears inside her hand. The assassins step back, fear obvious on their faces. She walks past me, pressuring them. They turn and run away at full speed, sprinting out of the alley.

“Throw it!” I tell her.

She doesn't reply, calmly watching them escape without making a move. I groan in dissatisfaction but focus on the bolt in her shoulder. I seize it with my left hand and place my right nearby, on her back.

“Why did you let them run?” I ask, waiting for her to answer before pulling it out.

“This is a. Argh!” She yells in pain. “Fucking empty shell. I'm out of energy.” My Lady dismantles the golden lance construct.

I throw the wooden bolt aside. I channel my flow directly inside her body to dissimulate its dark-golden color, granting her half of my reserves. She turns around to gaze at me worriedly, pressing on the wound to with one hand.

“How often does this happen?” She asks.

“Not sure. Only the second time they caught up with me.” I shrug. “I'm not sure what this was about, though. The truce doesn't mean a thing anymore with the Duke hunting me so I don't see why they would put so much effort into taking me out.”

“I know.” She admits, looking down in what seems to be shame. “You're dangerous. People are swayed by what you say, influenced.”

“Oh.” I say. Cecil told me something similar.

“Your sleeve glove, it's engraved with a conditional defensive construct. Where did you get something so advanced?” She questions, changing the subject.

As I try to formulate a plausible lie I notice that she is starting to wobble unsteadily on her feet. I frown, concerned.

“You okay?” I ask.

“I am, thank you for the flow. It'll heal... quickly.” She mutters hesitantly, blinking hazily a few times.

“Are you sure?” I say, reaching out.

She starts falling backward, light gray eyes slowly closing. I catch my Lady by the front of her cloak, pulling her unconscious form into my arms. Fuck. Tip had to be poisoned. Fuck!

I pass my arm behind her knees and lift her up. I head out of the alley, stepping over the scattered remains of the assassins she slaughtered. I only notice that I'm running at full speed once I engage on the street and am forced to stop short because of the line of soldiers in black tabards blocking the way ahead, forcing a riled up crowd back.

I straighten my back and throw my hood off with a quick head shove. I advance confidently, locking eyes with the officer in charge. He seems to be calculating the situation, likely wondering whether he can get away with murdering me in front of the people.

“Elizabeth Vil, you're under arrest for falsely claiming to belong to our glorious Kingdom's Nobility!” He speaks up. “Surrender and be tried for your crimes.”

Silence takes over the street. The crowd stares, eyes quickly moving between me and the soldiers. I lean over my Lady and bite the scarf dissimulating her traits, pulling on it until it falls off. I start walking slowly. I have no time to waste on this.

“You try to arrest me after failing to murder Countess Lance!?” I speak up, lying through my teeth. “Step aside, traitors!”

“We are positioned here to arrest suspicious individuals, you make baseless accusations.” He hurriedly replies, glancing quickly at the people who are now pushing back against his soldiers.

“There are six dead bodies in that alley to contradict you.” I respond fiercely.

“An investigation will be carried out, we had nothing to do with this!” He cries out, panicking. “Fall back!” He orders.

“My people!” I call out. “They tried to kill Lady Lance because she stood, because she spoke for you! Are you going to lay low? To let them silence your champion?” I ask.

“No!” The crowd shouts in unison, overwhelming the soldiers, forcing them to retreat.

“Then gather around me! Protect the one who defends your streets!” I exclaim, slipping past the officer who is too busy holding his ground to stop me. “To the Temple.”

People of all kinds surround us in a wide circle, taking my request seriously. From construction workers to apprentices and even a few well-dressed bourgeois, they all have determined expressions.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“What happened?” They ask.

“She took a poisoned bolt for me during the ambush.” I reply quietly.

Many more questions are posed, but I remain quiet, gazing worriedly at my Lady's pale cheeks and sharp traits. I accelerate my pace as those in front clear the path ahead.

As we engage on the plaza, I look up to the large Temple building's walls and the majestic buttresses holding them, hoping that the Order has a way to counteract this poison. It may cost me my freedom, and then my life. But... She must survive.

As we approach, the two armored Templars guarding the wide open doors stand to attention and remove their helmets. Their eyes stop on me for a moment but soon drop down to her.

They then look beyond me with astonished expressions, no doubt having a hard time believing the number of people who gathered to escort us as I carried her across Meria. I keep going at the same pace, without slowing down or waiting for their permission to climb the stairs.

“I need help, she was poisoned.” I tell them in a cracking voice.

“The Alemplar is in the infirmary, on the ground floor, follow me.” The taller one speaks up while the other holds out his arms to block the crowd from advancing any further.

I step inside the Temple, following the armored temple guard. The people outside wish us luck and well. I throw a glance over my shoulder. There are even more than I remember, some are already dispersing but many are showing no intention of leaving.

We walk past the large circular hole in the center of the lobby, the spiraling staircase leading down is impressive and seems to keep going without end. The Templar leads me to the back of the building, through a hall decorated with many paintings.

Most depict the Order's achievements as arbitrators rather than showing off their legendary battle prowess. There are three portraits for each of the Izla's Exemplars, Vikiana being the most recent one while the paint on the other two looks so aged that they much have died of old age by now.

I recall how the Templars plowed through the Rykz lines like they weren't even there, trampling and impaling the creatures during their uphill charge. The only reason they were stopped was Celyz' overwhelming flow construct, unleashing massive thunderbolts across their ranks.

We emerge in an open room with wide windows and dozens of rectangular stone beds. There are several injured men and women resting on them while a tall man in a red Templar uniform is examining a bare-chested muscular woman.

The Alemplar's attitude is patient and careful as he passes his hand over his patient's back, I notice a slight golden glow on the tip of his fingers. His hairs are brown and he wears a well maintained square beard.

“You can dress up, Semplar, it's a benign cramp. Rest for now and make sure that you've stretched for the appropriate amount of time before training tomorrow.” He says before turning to me.

“Please, Sir. Countess Lance needs help. She's been poisoned.” I speak up.

“Set her up on a bed.” He replies, frowning as he looks me over. “Are you quite alright?” He asks.

I ignore the question, approaching an empty stone bed to carefully lay my Lady down. I kneel down in front of it and reach out to brush a strand of straight black hair aside, revealing her mesmerizing sleeping face.

My left limb is swaying nervously, I open its closed fist and lay the hand down next to her. The healer walks over to the other side of the bed, his gaze fixed on me and making a concerned expression.

“I am not the one in need of your care, Alemplar.” I utter slowly, careful not to sound threatening.

“You should get some rest, hm...” He turns to the armored Templar.

“She's Elizabeth Vil, Hugues.” The man provides.

“Well, Dame Vil, I strongly suggest that you lie down. You sound in shock.” He says gently.

“No.” I shake my head, taking hold of her hand.

“Very well.” Hugues sighs but doesn't press. “How did the poison enter her body?” He asks.

“Crossbow bolt to the shoulder.” I reply, nodding at her left side.

The man rubs his squarely cut beard and leans over my Lady. He pulls the cloak off of her shoulder, revealing the bloody cloth underneath. She should have worn her armor, this is my fault.

He takes a small wooden instrument with a sharp thin blade out of his pocket and starts cutting around the injury until the small bleeding spot appears. He then signals me to help him roll her on the side. He tears the rest of the shirt to expose the larger entry wound on her back.

“It doesn't look infected, it's already healing.” The Alemplar comments calmly.

I grit my teeth, stopping myself from yelling at him or make him hurry up and heal her. Hugues pulls several right-handed gloves out of another pocket. There are complicated, intricate, runes inscribed in the material.

He goes puts three away, fitting the fourth one on and channeling flow into the runic circuit, making it glow golden. He then lays his hand on top of her shoulder, humming thoughtfully. I wait patiently by rapidly beating the stone with my fingers. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.

“Lady Lance will be fine, a simple blood filtering construct will get rid of the toxin.” He suddenly speaks up. “I believe Master Amand is expecting you.”

“What?” I ask, looking up and finding the tired middle-aged Master standing in the hallway with a dozen Templars. He is frowning, his eyes occasionally glancing at her. “I'm not going anywhere until Lance awakens.”

“Don't abuse my patience, I have little left for pointless posturing.” He replies. “The only reason you are not in chains for breaching the peace right now is that she argued in your favor, and you neither called for violence nor struck first.”

“I don't think Dame Vil is in any state to answer your questions.” Hugues mentions absent-mindedly.

“You will come with me now and explain what happened, Elizabeth Vil.” Amand continues, ignoring the Alemplar, his tone growing more pressing as he speaks. “Why is our commander injured on the eve of war?”

“Make me, old man.” I reply, growling. A small part of me hears the words and is baffled by my own reaction. I'm not leaving her side.

“Viki's daughter is fine, she'll wake up soon.” Hugues adds with annoyance. “Now either let me work or get out, both of you.”

We both glare at the healer but neither of us dares to disturb him. I remain still, holding her hand while Master Amand approaches by himself. The Alemplar takes his glove off and starts weaving complicated flow segments in thin air, adjusting their positions manually.

He lays the construct over the wound but it doesn't remain there very long, infiltrating her flesh and disappearing within seconds. Soon turns out to be a whole hour of waiting for her to awaken. My knees hurt but I dare not move and possibly disturb her sleep.

Edusa and a number of young Nobles show up as my Lady starts stirring, but they are stopped from entering the infirmary by the escort Master Amand brought along.

A flatteringly large amount of Templars now that I think about it, I don't even have my hammer with me. Edusa ends up being allowed in when Emffrey arrives.

“We found the assassins' remains, Master Amand.” He speaks up. “There were no clothes or weapons left, but their bodies were torn apart by the hybrid needle-explosive construct she specializes in.”

“Needle?” I scoff. “She threw a damn lance at them.”

“Elizabeth?” My Lady mutters in a weak voice.

“Are you okay?” I ask hurriedly, losing myself into the light gray hazy abyss of her eyes.

“I am. Where...” She starts but suddenly stops, looking around. “What are you doing here? Are you insane, Elizabeth?”

“She carried you here after Count Odo's low-lives ambushed you both.” Edusa says. “We suspect he's trying to seize control by eliminating you.”

I remain silent despite my annoyance at the interruption. I don't want to start an argument when she's so weak. She squeezes my hand and smiles reassuringly, failing to dissimulate her worried expression.

“Help me up.” She tells me. I gladly obey, rising to my feet and pulling her along. “If you would give us some time alone, I would like to speak to Master Amand and Elizabeth.” My Lady speaks up.

The room clears out, and the Templars even clear the hallway. On the other hand, Hugues ignores her, slipping a glove on and examining the wound for a few minutes before nodding satisfyingly and walking over to his desk, sitting down. She passes her uninjured arm around my shoulders, resting her weight on me.

“What's the situation?” She asks Master Amand.

“You should arrest her for breaking Caeviel law and impersonating a Noble as well as working with the Rykz during open warfare.” He replies shortly.

“She's our best hope of bringing this to a peaceful resolution, our only link with the Rykz.” She argues.

“I'd appreciate it if you didn't ignore me.” I grumble.

“There is a crowd of people outside who will only accept her arrest if you do it, Leomi.” Master Amand says, ignoring me.

“Elizabeth is not trying to destabilize Caeviel, she is doing what she can to mitigate damage and get the Rykz off the Izla.” My Lady protests.

“If you let her go, the Duke will take it as a betrayal and the rest of Nobility won't take it any better.” Master Amand warns. “The choice is yours, Leomi, you represent the Kingdom's law here. Your duty is clear.”

She gazes at me, a tortured expression on her face. Déjà vu. I start giggling madly at the irony of ending in the same place after everything that's happened, all that I've done and yet I'm still at the mercy of her fucking duty.

“I won't. I can't.” She utters firmly. “Your duty is to protect the Empire, Amand. Your Order's code evolved to be what it is, honorable and selfless, but the law you follow has not.” My Lady speaks quickly. “Help me just this once, give me a way out of this because you know she did the right thing in standing up for the people, even if she used the wrong method to go about it.”

“Are these puppies loyal to you?” He asks, tiredly rubbing his eyes.

“Yes.” She replies with certainty. “These are my closest allies, and they're tied to me by more than loyalty. It would weaken our entire faction if they spoke.”

Oh, they're talking about the young Nobles gathered at the other end of the hallway. I ponder intervening, to give them a piece of my mind, but the void is almost purring as I witness her defending me and I decide to simply enjoy.

“Then she can just walk out.” Master Amand says with a long sigh. “No sane Noble would want Templars interfering with Kingdom law since she isn't wanted by the Empire. As long as you all keep your mouths shut, I can say that she simply walked out before you woke up and slipped by the rest of you.”

“Go.” My Lady pushes me forward. “We'll dance tomorrow.” She adds with a bright relieved smile.

“Elizabeth Vil, be very careful about what you do from now on. Your actions impact her. There will be consequences to this, even if the truth doesn't come out. You're costing her political capital that she desperately needs to keep this cesspool of vipers together.” Master Amand speaks up in a harsh tone.

I squint and turn away, laying a small kiss on my Lady's cheek. She grins and escorts me out of the infirmary, urging me to quicken my pace as she holds my arm.

The young Nobles gathered, watch us walk past them with curiosity at first and then disbelief. Edusa glares but her cheeks are rosy. We separate before entering the lobby, she lets go of my arm.

“Don't forget, I'll find it all out in the end. Who you really are.” She tells me in an almost threatening whisper.