𝐼𝑁𝑁𝑂𝐶𝐸𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝐿𝑂𝑆𝑇 // 𝐴. 𝐷𝐸 𝑅𝑈𝑁𝐸

𝑋𝑋𝐼𝐼

| XXII. Marion the Meek |

—

Marion was no master of stealth, especially not in the state she was in. She couldn't control her heavy breathing, and occasionally tripped over the fabric of her skirts. A knight had found her as she was sneaking through a line of tents, he grabbed her by the bicep and looked over her face.

"Look what we have here, eh? It's the French girl Maria was so keen on keepin' safe."  The knight chuckled, using his free hand to wave over the other man.

"She's pretty, but pudgy as a pug." The other man snickered, after he had walked over to the two. 

The man grabbed her by the jaw, turning her face from one side to the other. Marion glared at the two soldiers, her heart beating out of her chest. Would they kill her? Would they... would they do something worse? The dark-haired girl tried to wriggle her way out of his grip, but her efforts proved to be fruitless. In her weakened state she wasn't exactly the strongest.

Marion let out a quiet gasp when the man holding her face dropped to the ground, a rock embedded in his skull. The other man looked at his fallen comrade in shock, before dropping like a fly. Marion turned her head to find Amicia, Hugo, and one of the unknown redhead's from before.

Marion ran into Amicia's arms, nearly toppling them both over. The brunette muttered a quiet 'we have to go', before continuing down the line of tents. The children passed behind the backside of an archer, slowly finding their way towards the gate. They would be free soon– now they just needed to find a way to open the gate without alerting the entire camp.

That was their plan, till the door opened. Soldiers of the Inquisition came marching in, one figure atop a large black stallion most noticeable. Lord Nicholas. The man who had taken everything from her. The sound of their armor brought her back to the day he slaughtered her father and Lady Béatrice, her breath catching in her throat.

"I pay a ransom for the De Rune children, and I have to capture them myself?" His voice sounded almost like a growl, deep and gritty. "These Plantagenets are useless..."

His helmet covered head turned slightly, Marion could practically feel his gaze burning into her skin. She could visibly see him tense, his hold on the stallion's reins growing even tighter. Marion sucked in a deep breath, and glared at the man– unknowingly matching the expression his face held under his ornate mask.

"He killed my parents... he's going to slaughter us!" Amicia said, keeping Hugo secure at her side.

"Mélie, run!" The other ginger–probably Mélie's brother–shouted from the rampart, before throwing down a barrel of something explosive.

The ash filled Marion's lungs immediately, making her sputter and cough. Lord Nicholas' horse reared up, its eyes widening and nostrils flaring. It let out a loud, deep noise– akin to the roar of a frightened dragon.

"The Inquisition? What the hell did you do?" Mélie asked as Amicia shot down a guard running towards them.

Nothing! Marion wanted to spit, but she couldn't find her voice.

"Nothing! We didn't do anything, they want Hugo!" Amicia shouted, striking down another guard.

"It's time to get out of here!" Mélie ran ahead of them, turning to climb up a short staircase, then a ladder.