Roen gave half a glance to the altercation between Khadai and the female knight as she ran past them. The robed man--presumably the Marquis--had managed to unlock the door and rush in, and was just about to slam it shut when she rammed her shoulder against it. It jolted his momentum just enough to throw the man off balance, causing him to stumble and fall back onto the floor.
That was all the opportunity that she needed to charge through. The heavy robe that was meant to disguise him only served as further hinderance, its hem wrapping around his legs as he struggled to rise and flee. But as he spun to scramble toward the next room, he could only let out a choked gurgle as Roen grabbed and yanked on the cloak. The heavy cowl fell away from his face as he turned, to reveal an ornate hawlike mask.
It was momentarily disconcerting to stare at an expressionless mask. Was he fearful behind the disguise? Or confident? She took his eery silence as the former. With a slick hiss of steel, her sword was drawn with its edge coming to a stop an ilm away from his throat. She could see his larynx bob.
“Do not make a sound,†she warned. “Lest you force me to silence you.â€
When he complied with a nod, she pointedly glanced at his hands near his neck. “Leave the clasp as is, and hold your hands out where I can see them.†Still keeping a hold on his cloak, she stepped to the side of him, giving herself the view of the door. She heard no other noise from within. Valencourt had spoken true when he assured her that only the Marquis and the bodyguard would occupy the manor at the time of the meeting.
Roen let out a quick exhale when she saw Khadai enter, the bloodied knight in tow. He pushed the armored woman to the ground and shut the door behind him; the Au Ra then immediately glanced out the window to see if there were any witnesses. When he turned back around and nodded, Roen sighed with relief that the first part of their plan had been successful.
As her eyes warily returned to their two prisoners, however, she reminded herself it would all be for naught if what came next did not bear fruit.
That was all the opportunity that she needed to charge through. The heavy robe that was meant to disguise him only served as further hinderance, its hem wrapping around his legs as he struggled to rise and flee. But as he spun to scramble toward the next room, he could only let out a choked gurgle as Roen grabbed and yanked on the cloak. The heavy cowl fell away from his face as he turned, to reveal an ornate hawlike mask.
It was momentarily disconcerting to stare at an expressionless mask. Was he fearful behind the disguise? Or confident? She took his eery silence as the former. With a slick hiss of steel, her sword was drawn with its edge coming to a stop an ilm away from his throat. She could see his larynx bob.
“Do not make a sound,†she warned. “Lest you force me to silence you.â€
When he complied with a nod, she pointedly glanced at his hands near his neck. “Leave the clasp as is, and hold your hands out where I can see them.†Still keeping a hold on his cloak, she stepped to the side of him, giving herself the view of the door. She heard no other noise from within. Valencourt had spoken true when he assured her that only the Marquis and the bodyguard would occupy the manor at the time of the meeting.
Roen let out a quick exhale when she saw Khadai enter, the bloodied knight in tow. He pushed the armored woman to the ground and shut the door behind him; the Au Ra then immediately glanced out the window to see if there were any witnesses. When he turned back around and nodded, Roen sighed with relief that the first part of their plan had been successful.
As her eyes warily returned to their two prisoners, however, she reminded herself it would all be for naught if what came next did not bear fruit.
