It was more of a threat than a statement.

I turned around to look at the leonin while Rien wrote down the name like nothing was happening.

“I think you should…”

“There’s a hundred gold bounty out for Princess Alessa Malus. You’re the princess’ companion, so you or…” He looked at me. “This one knows where she is.”

The mention of the bounty got the attention of every person in the room. Even the bored Elf behind the counter’s ears perked up.

“You’ve got the wrong person. “ I turned back to the attendant. “Sectum Irongut and this is my…” I looked over at Starna and tried to think of what title she’d find the least insulting. “Companion, Whiny soon-to-be Irongut.” I picked up the key from the counter and guided Starna around the large male. “Let’s go before anyone else starts fantasizing that you’re someone else.”

For a moment I thought the leonin was going to try to stop us, but no one made a move to bar our path. I would have counted that a win, except the silence made our walk outside feel like we were heading to our execution.

“Can you make that thing on the ship?” I nodded at the package in her hand.

“We don’t have the instruments I need to…”

I pressed the key into her hand as I saw the leonin start following us. “Get it done as fast as you can.”

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I looked around the street as she took off around the corner. This wasn’t the best place for a fight, but at least the town guard might show up. I doubted anyone inside the Ranger’s Station would lift a finger to help and honestly, they’d probably join in on subduing us with that amount of bounty.

I smiled as wide as I could when the leonin walked out of the building. His bulk was imposing, but Vin was bigger, so I wasn’t too concerned about winning the fight that was about to happen. My main concern was that it was the middle of the day and there were plenty of witnesses. I had to make sure it was blatantly obvious that I was being attacked or I’d also have the entire town guard to contend with.

“Look, our party is full. I get that you’re smitten with me, but take the no and move on.” I raised my voice so that the people walking on the other side of the street would be able to hear. I also added a little bit of panic into my voice. A little bit of fear would draw a larger crowd.

The leonin took out a pair of restraints. “You’re going to tell me where you took the princess…”

“You’re not even going to try to pretend that you aren’t attacking me?” I shrugged. “How about this then? If I was the one who broke into the castle and abducted the princess and was able to get her past all of those guards and walls and people, what makes you think that you can take me alone?”

The leonin started laughing and began shrugging off his jacket. I recognized that laugh because it was the same laugh that Vin used whenever someone had badly underestimated what he was capable of. I knew that this leonin wasn’t a Camadt, living with one had practically attuned me to knowing when one of the dangerous beings was close. I started backing up and that momentum was what allowed me to dodge the leonin’s tail from piercing my side.

“Seriously?” I touched my sword but knew that a case could still be made that he had just been teasing me and I attacked him. I opened my hands so I’d be able to touch him if he got close while I watched the scorpion tail retract and his red, leathery wings unfurl as the jacket hit the ground. I would have preferred a Camadt at this point as that would have only been a beating.

What was standing in front of me was a Manticore.