The door slammed open, the clerk’s whole body jolted as if the hinges themselves had shouted. The words filled the little service room with more confidence than Milo possessed in his entire body. The cudgel came up, then immediately dipped, then came up again as Hwicce stepped in beside Marcus with steel drawn and a promise of broken bones.

[b]Milo[/b]’s eyes flicked from the axe, to the sword, to [b]Piero[/b] behind them.

[color=00aeef]“Oh no,”[/color] he whispered. [color=00aeef]“No, no, no. You are not supposed to be here.”[/color]

From the rear door came the heavy clack of metal knuckles against wood. [b]Gears[/b]’ voice followed, cheerful and terrible.

[color=f26522]“Funny. We keep hearing that.”[/color]

The back entrance opened just enough to show [b]Gears[/b] (and possibly [b]Elora[/b]) there as well. Whatever escape Milo had imagined died in his throat.

The chained woman looked from one doorway to the other, then slowly leaned back in her chair.

[color=662d91]“Well,”[/color] she said, ears twitching sharply. [color=662d91]“I see the rescue has arrived with all the grace and subtlety of a dropped piano.”[/color]

[b]Piero[/b] stared at her, then gave a relieved little bow of his head. [color=00a651]“Miss Bellaflora.”[/color]

[color=662d91]“Do not ‘Miss Bellaflora’ me, Piero. I have been chained in a room that smells like mildew and poor decisions.”[/color]

[b]Milo[/b] finally dropped the cudgel. It hit the floor with a pathetic clatter.

[color=00aeef]“I just took the payment,”[/color] he blurted. [color=00aeef]“I was supposed to hold her until Bell came back. I never hurt her. I swear.”[/color]

The horse girl’s tail lashed once against the dusty floor.

[color=662d91]“He did not hurt me,”[/color] she said coldly. [color=662d91]“He annoyed me. Repeatedly. Which may prove worse for him.”[/color]