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Anna inspected Alex for wounds and remembered the ferocity with which Verrick had attacked him and she became thoughtful. Maybe he really wasn't the same man she remembered. Her heart sank and she nodded slowly her voice almost cold.

[color=8dc73f]"You should probably go. I need to take care of ....this."[/color] She looked around the room, at all of the death and her eyes watered. They threatened to spill over.

[color=8dc73f]"We won't mention that you were here or that these men were anything other than just men that started a fight."[/color]

He eyed Alexander one last time. [color=007236]" You better, because the Inquisitors even hint either of you have dealings with me...They will torture you."[/color] He picked up his things and said to Anna as he walked out. [color=007236]"I'm sorry this happened to you Anna..."[/color] Before disappearing into the night, as the sound of men in chainmail running started to faintly be heard.

Anna turned and hugged Alex before the inquisitors got there. She said, [color=8dc73f]"I'm sorry for what happened between the two of you. He is different than he used to be and that makes me sad and frustrated. Whatever I do when they get here just go with it ok?"[/color]

Alexander grinned up at her and nodded.  [color=0072bc]"Whatever you say, I am really too tired right now."[/color]  Alexander leaned back into his chair and muttered, [color=0072bc]"I am going to make that man's life a living hell."[/color]  As Alexander slowly closed his eyes and remembered one thing.  His hand reached into a pocket in his pants and pulled his family ring out.  Putting it on his fingers he held it up to the light, letting the blood red jewel reflect the candlelight.  [color=0072bc]"This should help deal with the city guard."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Thank you for stopping him from doing what he probably wanted to do with that knife.  I am pretty sure he was going to slit my throat and say it was an accident.  You don't mind if I stay the rest of the night, do you?"[/color]

Alexander looked up at her face and got serious for a second.  [color=0072bc]"If you ever need a safe place to rest and take shelter you are welcome to use my home.  If you look in the left pocket of my saddlebag you will find a key in there.  It will let my guards know to let you in.  You are welcome to use any of my feif's resources anytime.  I don't know how I can ever thank you enough."[/color]

Anna smiled and looked at him and decided that he wasn't messed up enough. She reached over and took a knife to his shirt and  then she reached over across her own shirt and pulled it forwards and ripped it so it was exposing most of her breasts. Then she stuck the knife into her thigh and pulled it back cutting her leg so that it bled all over her pants. Her eyes teared up  as she realized how much that one hurt.

[color=8dc73f]"Well now we should look bad enough I think."[/color] She could hear them coming down the street and she leaned down and kissed him soundly and sat on his lap and put her arm around his shoulder and looked at her leg. [color=8dc73f]"Remember, follow my lead."[/color]

Alexander thought for a moment that he finally knew what true happiness.  Maybe this wasn't such a bad day after all.  That was before the guards came rushing in ruining his moment.  Maybe he should get in more tavern fights.

A few moments later, the town guard came rushing in the front door. Suddenly surprised at seeing all these dead men with only a man and a woman in the center of the room, both looked beaten and injured  [color=f7941d]"What happened here?"[/color]

Anna had let the tears fall after she cut her leg and so now there were streaks run across her face. She played it up.

[color=8dc73f]"These men came in and started trouble. We were upstairs ....when we heard a crash and came down the stairs to find the bar under attack with my bartender being killed."[/color] At the thought of Chester real tears formed.
 
[color=8dc73f]"Luckily he took a couple of them down and then my... uh...the earl here was able to take most of them down. I'm pretty good with knives but I still got cut up a little." [/color]As she held her shirt closed she said, [color=8dc73f]"One of the men grabbed me and tried to...."[/color] At this point she turned away and feigned crying into Alexander's shoulder.

Alexander put his arms around her and held her close.  [color=0072bc]"I am very sorry this has been very traumatic for her.  Do you mind if I answer the rest of the questions?  I just don't think she would be able to do it right now.  Let me continue..... oh yes.  So the man comes up to her from behind and attempts to uummm you know, but she managed to get a nice kick in which led the way for a blow from my sword.  After that a few more of the vicious brutes tried to come at the lady, but I managed to fend them off.  After seeing my brilliant swordplay the remaining bandits ran off into the night back to whichever foul hovel they came from.  After that you men arrived to protect us from any further incursion by those fiends.  Any other questions?"[/color]  Alexander was doing his best to copy the style of speech often used by the nobles who thought they themselves as little kings.