Tempered by the Will

28 - Compromising

 When Constantine appeared out of the darkness, Felix and Cicera were on the brink of breaking out into another argument again. Vica had no idea how anyone could have such poor judgment and awareness of their circumstances. Moments ago, she'd had a hole in the back of her leg, and Bren was still lying insensate on the grass. Not to mention that if what Cicera was saying was true, then her husband was probably going to realize something was wrong any time now and send more men their way

It was frustrating enough to make her shoot Constantine a long look as soon as he came within clear view. He looked surprised that she was giving him attention at first, but promptly returned the look a second later. It happened so fast that she didn't remember until it was too late that she was supposed to be angry at him still.

Oh, well. Priorities. She didn't have time to think about how best to spite him, not when she could see him carrying two bodies, one draped over each shoulder.

"Are they...?"

"Dead? No. Soon, though."

Her stomach twisted as Constantine tossed down his unconscious captives. They fell into a pile, heads knocking so loudly that she winced at the sound. Felix and Cicera had yet to say anything, and without even turning to look at them, she knew they were waiting to see what she did.

...And what was she supposed to do, exactly? She had told herself before that she was prepared to do whatever was necessary for the greater good except for unconscionable acts, but where did that leave her with these two men who had tried to attack her? She wasn't going to let Constantine kill them in cold blood despite his plans. They were defenseless. And yes, they had endangered Bren as well, but after all was said and done, the entire attempt had been clumsy enough that both she and elfling had survived.

That had to count for something. They couldn't just -

"They tried to kill you. Don't waste your sympathy on them."

Her eyes darted up to find Constantine's yellow gaze waiting for her. She hated how he could do that. She could have sworn that she had kept a neutral expression expressly so that he couldn't tell what she was thinking, and yet here he was, dissecting her thoughts with pinpoint precision.

"Well, they were really bad at it," she retorted, "considering that Bren and I are still alive."

"Luck. Bren would be dead if he wasn't half-elf. They used venom milked from a Devilweed viper." He flashed a small corked vial of something before dropping it back into the sleeve of his cloak.

She had no idea what that was. She didn't think she wanted to ask. "What about me, then? I'm perfectly human."

"Then there's something wrong with you," he said in a dry, deadpan voice that made her squint. "You should have been dead on your feet within a minute of this touching you. Less than a minute, actually, with how small you are."

"Thanks. That makes me feel better."

"You're welcome. At your service."

They stared at each other for another moment, and it wasn't until Felix cleared his throat behind them that she realized it might have been several protracted moments instead of just the one. She couldn't help it. He was acting so differently - it both caught her off-guard and felt comfortingly familiar at the same time, like returning to an old haunt.

Hm. She furrowed her brow and turned away. "So these two, they're your husband's or no?" she asked, now looking at Cicera. "Counting that one behind you, that's three men."

The duchess hitched up her dress, came forward, and peered down at them with narrowed eyes, leaving Felix to glower after her with a quiet, noble wrath. She ignored him entirely.

"I don't recognize them," she said after a pause. "That's strange. I could have sworn...But I remember every face in our academy and in our militia. I've never seen these men before."

"That's because they're not mages," Constantine drawled. "They're two-bit assassins that get hired for simple jobs that don't need anything resembling a delicate touch. Cheap and usually effective. They ran into problems they weren't expecting, is all."

Vica stared at him. "Assassins? Like..."

"Like me? No. I'm one of a kind."

She grimaced. Why was he choosing this exact moment to start playing coy again? This was not the time. "You know what I mean. I'm asking if they're -"

"Hired killers, cutthroats, immoral criminals looking to make quick coin by harvesting flesh? Yes. I've met them before. Forgettable faces if not for the scar I left on this one." He prodded at one of the men's faces with the toe of his boot. "Hard to hide a mark like that."

"You got into a fight with him?" ...and he survived? she wanted to add, but she kept that doubtful addendum to herself. But of course, Constantine seemed to hear the unspoken half of the question anyway, damn him, and he gave her a lingering grin that made her hitch her robe tighter around herself.

"I wasn't trying to kill him," he said, every syllable languid and slow. "We try to keep things civil. I was only branding him, that's all."

Branding. She didn't want to hear anymore. "Then what do we -"

"I'll take care of it," he interrupted. "Can't leave them alive. Once these two get a scent, they don't let go. Keep them alive and they'll come after you again, and next time, you won't be so lucky. If not for yourself, then for Bren. Don't be careless."

"He's right." Felix came to stand next to her. "This is one of the inevitabilities you'll face as we go on...This won't be the last."

She didn't have the right to say it felt wrong. Hadn't she come this way in order to confront Lady Murena herself on her own land? Hadn't she done that knowing violence might erupt? She had stepped into the bloodshed already with one foot even if it was in the hopes of saving the greater number. She had no right to act the part of an innocent now.

But even so, it sickened her to think that right now, right here, Constantine was going to end the lives of two people lying defenseless in the dark at their feet. In just a moment, their blood would be leaking out into the earth, flesh torn, lives slipping away. They were going to die, she thought numbly, and she wasn't going to do anything to stop it.

"Start taking Bren back," he said, and there was a low softness in his voice that made her feel even more ashamed, even more frustrated. Was he patronizing her? ...Wasn't she asking to be patronized? "I'll catch up. How's your leg?"

She licked her lips that had suddenly become abominably dry. "It's fine," she lied.

"Then get going, I'll be there in a minute. Felix, take her."

She didn't argue. She should, a voice whispered in the back of her mind. Surely there was another way, even if she couldn't seem to think right now. Some solution that would keep everyone safe while rendering these two harmless, a humane answer -

Surprisingly, it wasn't Felix's hand that wrapped around her wrist, but Cicera's. Vica looked up into pale blue eyes and a sharp frown.

"We should go," she said.

Vica nodded.