Danica wasn’t amused by the man’s jokes, only giving him a bored look as he laughed nervously. Her knife didn’t waver as she held it against his skin. What was this fool going on about? Her quarry probably didn’t have anything useful or interesting to add—she should just slit his throat and be done with this charade of a conversation. Before she could proceed to do so, he began to speak again. Her lips curled in a snarl, but all at once something hit her stomach hard, sending her sprawling back across the room as the air was knocked out of her. She staggered back a few steps, quick to regain her footing and blinking at the Muran with astonishment in her gaze.

“[i]Magi[/i],” she hissed, brows drawn together in puzzlement and anger. On the streets, she’d met even fewer Magi than she had Naga. Not to mention that they weren’t exactly in favour with the Church right now, which was simply yet another strike against Dani as far as the law was concerned. So why would there be another one [i]here[/i]? And if he was one, what about his friends? How many were there, anyway? Danica forced herself to silence the questions rattling around in her brain in order to focus on the task at hand. This certainly complicated things, and she didn’t appreciate the Muran’s little trick, either. Well, two could play at this game.

The Naga drew herself up, taut as a drawn bowstring ready to snap. She calmly brushed her bangs away from her eyes with her right hand as her left gripped her weapon. “Bless you,” she said simply, a slight sneer on her face as she uncoiled, lunging forward to strike with blade extended. For now, she would see what could be accomplished with melee combat, although if the Magi continued to use magic she would be forced to resort to her own, and he would [i]not[/i] like that. As she darted forward, a figure in front of her made her stop and half-turn in confusion as it ran past her and disappeared, moving deeper into the ship. She had not gotten a close look, but it certainly wasn’t one of hers—was it an ally of the Muran? Then why was it running away from everyone instead of stopping to help him? “What the…” The interjection slipped out as she stared at the steps leading deeper into the hold, momentarily distracted.