Navihm could hear a commotion in Kaia’s room. Deep grunts of pain and feminine noises of panic confirmed that Kaia was being attacked and she was still alive. At least for now.

The door was locked, so Navihm paused briefly to kick it open, smashing the lock. He could hear Kaia shouting and furniture shattering. When he eventually broke the door down, Navihm found Kaia bleeding and clutching a dagger, with a man dressed in black looming over her. He charged at the man, opting for brute strength rather than the finesse required for the use of the sword in his hand. He rammed into the man, bowling him over and shoving him right out the window.

Navihm wanted him far away from Kaia, as quickly as he could manage.

Moments after the attacks, three guards arrived at Kaia’s room. They’d come to investigate the shouts and crashing they’d heard and found a battered Enfeitar Navihm holding the Regina and inspecting her wounds gently.

Navihm gently took the dagger that Kaia must have wrestled from her attacker and inspected the deep cuts on her hands. They were caused by the broken bits of porcelain she’d wielded as a weapon and tiny shards still remained in the wounds. Navihm healed them quickly, forcing the fragments of porcelain out as his went. He then turned his attention to the cut on her cheek.

“I had it handled,” she told him as he healed the cut.

“I know you did.” He wiped away the blood on the, now smooth, skin with the sheet off her bed. They were already ruined as it was. “I hope you don't mind that I stepped in to help at the end there. I didn't want you to have to kill him.” Navihm placed a small kiss on her mended cheek, where the cut would have been.

Kaia had never killed before and Navihm wanted to keep it that way. He was confident in her ability to protect herself but he didn't want her burdened with the death of a man. Though these thoughts hadn't crossed his mind when he first entered the room, he’d simply been focused on protecting her. When he saw her bleeding and vulnerable, he just reacted. Kaia didn't need to know that, though. She would spend the rest of the night convincing him that she wasn't helpless.

Navihm spent a few more minutes healing various bruises and scrapes Kaia had gotten from her brief scuffle.

“You need to get that eye healed,” Kaia said when he’d finished. Navihm’s eye was bloodshot and rapidly swelling. At least it had stopped bleeding.

“Come with me.” Navihm stood up and pulled Kaia up off the bed with him. “I don't want to leave you alone.”

“The guards are here.” Kaia gestured towards the three guards, still milling around the doorway. Navihm raised an eyebrow. They’d hadn't been much help when the attack was happening, he wasn't entirely confident in their abilities. He didn't tell Kaia that he wanted her protected.

“I need them to check if your assassin is still alive down there.” He nodded towards the open window. “Besides, I can't see much, I will need your help getting to a healer.”

Kaia saw through Navihm’s gentle manipulations but allowed herself to be swayed. Navihm wouldn't leave her alone, she knew, and he needed healing now. Besides, she could protect him while he was still injured if she went with him.

Hart entered the exedrium followed closely by Rei Amias just as the healer was finishing with Navihm. Kaia sprung to her feet, stepping in front of Navihm when the door flew open but relaxed when she recognised the two men. The exedrium, normally a place for conversation and relaxation, had been turned into an impromptu medical ward with sheets thrown over the chairs to catch the blood and warm water and rags brought in to clean Navihm’s face, neck and knuckles, which were covered in blood.

Navihm and Kaia quickly recounted what had happened, playing down the danger for the benefit of the Rei. Kaia didn't feel the need to go into the details of her injuries. After all, she was healed now and there was no reason to worry her father.

“You seem to enjoy throwing people out windows,” Hart said to his cousin, recalling that Navihm had done the same thing to that Black character back at the Tenth.

“I find it very effective,” Navihm said, wiping a damp cloth over his eye. Kaia’s attacker had survived but was unable to escape due to his injuries. He was now being housed in a cell under the building where the healer was now heading to take care of his wounds.

“My question is; why didn’t your empathy warn you that someone of evil intent was close?” Hart asked Kaia.

“There are rumours of peoples who have the ability to mute another’s magic,” said Rei Amias. “It would explain how they were able to pass through the wards on more than one occasion.”

Navihm made an interested noise. He’d heard these rumours, but nothing had been confirmed. The prisoner housed in their cells may provide that confirmation. Navihm made a mental note to visit this stranger and employ his new found lie detection skills.

Hart sauntered past Rei Amias who was busy fretting over his daughter and threw himself down next to his cousin. Hart slung an arm around Navihm’s shoulder, who was attempting to remove the dried blood from under his nails.

“Quite the exciting night,” Hart said.

“You managed to sleep through all the exciting bits,” said Navihm dryly.

Hart smiled but unexpectedly became serious all at once.

“Does this mean they are coming back?” Hart asked in a small voice. Navihm looked up from his nails and met his cousin's eyes with an unwavering stare. He didn't need to ask who Hart was talking about. The Somali.

“Yes.” Navihm was blunt, in spite of the worry he could see in Hart’s eyes.

“Well, I guess that means our little holiday is over.” Hart couldn't quite pull off a smile. “Back to work.”

I have realised that I have a lot of background information in my head about these character's lives and their world that never made it into the book. I've been thinking about putting them in as bonuses at the end of chapters. Let me know if you want me to start doing that!

Shout out to Siar who has just given me an absolutely beautiful review. That you so much!

Also, Lasiefo, thank you for your comment on chapter 7. It was very helpful and I hope you have stuck with me all the way to chapter 20!

Only Nine more chapters to go =)