Her desperation suddenly became clear. She was being forced to flee because of her testimony. She’d been an innocent eager to tell the truth, right a wrong, but someone had made her aware of the consequences of crossing the Earth Skyll. He’d surveyed the hall and looked as best he could into the banquet hall. Besides the four surrounding him, dozens of Red Robes were scattered throughout the crowd. Had one of them threatened her? Which?

Rage filled him, and he stepped out of the invisible box in which the Red Robes were guiding him, only to be shoved back.

He met the shove with the force of his arm. The man was sent sprawling but two more jumped in his place. He kicked them off easily; cowardly curs in a pack. As he lessened their number, however, their shouts because louder. Two more had come, one carrying a cudgel. It had come down on the side of his head. Blood poured down his face, blinding him, and he staggered.

The Red Robes had lifted him then, two under each arm, and he was hauled down the outside hall, the sounds of the crowd growing less, then down a set of stone steps. The real battle had taken place there. He’d shook the blood from his eyes, and bringing his arms down, had dislodged their hold.