A squad of heavily armored estate guards rushed into the square, but their shouts trembled almost as much as the steel in their hands. Lexel paid them absolutely no heed. He turned on his heel and began dragging the choking representative through the cobblestone streets by the scruff of his fine silk collar.
"Lexel!" Anthierin called out, running to catch up to him.
"It has to be done," Lexel stated flatly, his golden eyes locked dead ahead.
He ignored her inquiry just as completely as he ignored the guards swarming around him. The soldiers managed to close the distance, pointing their trembling blades at his back, but the sheer, domineering aura rolling off Lexel's broad shoulders completely paralyzed them. They didn't dare strike. Instead, they ended up awkwardly escorting him through the city out of pure terror.
The bizarre procession finally arrived at the towering, reinforced wrought-iron gates of the Baron's private estate.
