It is strange how people react. We entered the public rooms of the building having had only one other encounter that took no time at all. Here the common people were about their business, waiting to see those would would decided their fate, no matter what reason had brought them here. They stood in small groups or alone, a magistrate or two moved among them, questioning and directing them. The normal day to day business of any administrative building. They totally ignored us; not that they didn't see, or turn their heads to follow our movement, not that they were unaware, it's just that they didn't do anything. One or two, I noted, began moving away. Others looked round hurriedly for guidance or for someone else to act. One or two ran. There were those who tugged a neighbor's sleeve and pointed us out. But the rest just watched us pass. Not my business, they seemed to be thinking, not my problem. They moved away where we passed too close but otherwise seemed like sheep watching a sheepdog; fascinated but not feeling the need to react just yet.
The drawing of steel and a cry to halt came from behind me; I turned and looked, saw he was not close enough to be a threat and moved on. I felt like Sapphire's shadow, going to do what needed doing or die doing it. The same voice gave an alert and then the sound of running footsteps as he came after us. I turned, generated Jocasta's spell form and covered him in burning oil. The screams made people act; they screamed and ran in all directions, petitioners and administrators alike. They all ran away from us in an expanding circle and we ignored them in our turn and moved on, fast but not panicked. Purposeful.
The alarm was spreading, being returned all around us, more from outside in the courtyard than inside the building. It wouldn't be long before we had problems. The carpeted corridor ahead of us lead to the audience chamber that Kukran Epthel used and we moved down it fast, heading for the two guards who stood outside the door that was our target.
Sapphire moved as though he knew what each man was going to do before he did it. Down to one knee and thrust to the groin, weapon clear and up and moving past the dying man before he had finished falling to his knees. Duck under a wild swing, turning on one heel and sword up under the ribs of the second, twist and tug free as the man hunched over the fatal wound. A look behind us and then turn and continue. I didn't glance back. He knew what was behind me and so did I, I could hear them coming, feet pounding on marble. Suddenly muted by carpet, the enemy pounded on toward us and I turned and raised the stone to spray hot death once more. It didn't happen. Gatren was among them, and had countered my spell. Behind him and around him were a half dozen men and more in the chamber behind.
Meran was among them.