Before Seraphina could rasp out an answer, a bevy of guards burst into the clearing led by Sangye and Uncle Savant. “Princess Seraphina!” Sangye cried out, then their eyes darkened at the sight of Alios kneeling beside her and they levelled their claymore at him, prompting the other guards to do the same. “You! Get your hands away from her you monster!”
“You should be careful where you point those swords,” Alios called over his shoulder, not moving an inch from Seraphina’s side. “If I wanted your princess dead, she would already be a stiff corpse by now. Besides, it’s hardly the sign of a cold-blooded murderer to be trying to keep the victim alive, is it?”
Uncle Savant looked terrified. Despite the pain and the darkness, Seraphina could make out the way his body trembled. He was only a f
