Lydia
Leanna stepped outside of The Lotus and looked around. It was still early and the streets were not as busy as they had been the evening before. 

She held the packaged clothing over her shoulder and looked around. The coast appeared to be clear, but as she took a few steps forward she felt a heavy armorclad hand on her shoulder.
Richard
"Did you sleep well, M'lady Port Seville whispered, taking step closely behind the wanted woman. He squeezed his gauntleted hand just hard enough to be uncomfortable. With his other hand, completely obscured by his cloak, Kaius gently pressed the flat of his dagger along the small of her back. "Tell me," He breathed, keeping his voice low. "Why is it that one of the most powerful men in the world would place a bounty on his own flesh and blood?"


He pressed her forward gently but firmly, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, ushering her toward a nearby alley.
Lydia
Leanna felt the dagger poke against her back. She should have just stayed inside. The wharf. 

"Because powerful men are usually corrupt. But you should ask him yourself. " She tried to plant her feet, but the heavy hand pushed her forward. 

Leanna felt her face press against the wall. "Why do they never ask why I ran from him. As if I'd leave a life of perfect comfort on a whim."

Breathe. Concentrate. They just had to slip onto a ship.
Richard
Corrupt.

 The voice in his head repeated. The brute pushed on. "A likely excuse". Kaius pulled a set of anti-magic bracers from his pouch. 

Corrupt

Kaius ignored the voice, trying to one handedly open the complicated mechanism while holding his prisoner against the wall. He braced himself as he felt the rising surge from the woman. It was small now, but he could feel growing like an ember. Kaius breathed through it.

CORRUPT

It made too much sense. Port Seville was guilty of a lot, but the powerful are impossible to touch unless... Kaius's mind trailed off. Leanna was struggling beneath his outstretched hand. Beneath his gauntlet Kaius's knuckles were white from gripping her shoulder. In his paid he had forgotten his grip. 

Kaius became present. Not the brute, not the hunter. But for once the scared human who was in so far over his head all he could do was keep pretending; stepped into the spotlight.

He took a step back from the woman. Keeping his dagger outstretched. They were far enough down the alley no one would see them. Kaius reached up with his hand still holding the cuffs and lifted his helmet. Kaius took his eyes from her, seeing his reflection in the adjacent buildings window. His hair had become wild from the helmet, his eyes sunken from lack of sleep. He lifted his chin to see the twisting scars that crept up his own neck. Remnants of being tortured until his armor had turned red hot. 

Kaius repocketed the cuffs but left the dagger outstretched. He cussed under his breath. He could really use the Gold on her head right now. 

"Tell me more"
Lydia
Leanna felt his hands on her shoulder loosen its grip. He let her go and she gave a soft sigh of relief. Her eyes darted to the left and right. No one was there. She felt her hand burn again, but more concentrated this time. 

As she heard the heavy clunking of armor being removed she turned. The dagger was still pointed at her chest. She gasped. The man was frightening to look at. His face and neck burned. Then she noticed why his armor was black. He had been burned.

"My father is not a good man." She felt rage building up in her again. Memories of the last time she was with her family. How her mother sat silent as Reginald decreed that Leanna was going to marry. Marry a man of his choice and political gain. How he slipped a heavy gold ring towards her, decorated with scales and an enourmous red ruby.

"I won't be his pawn." The amber haired heiress, flashed her eyes at the burned man anf threw her hand forward. A small flash of fire sparked by Kaius's face and Leanna began running back up the alley. 

The boots cracked on the cobbled stones. She jumped around the corner. A flash of silver.

"Tarias!" He had come back. She felt her heart jump. She ran to him.
Richard
Kaius felt the heat rising in her before it happened. But he was Rooted to the spot. Something had been different as he read her, like reading a book as your eyes skim an entire page and you realize you didn't comprehend a single word. Were he able to focus his mind, Kaius almost felt like he could peel back a layer of fog and see farther.

But he was interrupted. Before he could react, a bright torrent of flame flashed next to Kaius's head. The heat of the spark cause him to reel back reflexively. Sheer terror swept over him and memories of his own screams echoed in his ears from long ago

The uncertain man retreated

The Hunter returned. 

He donned his great helm and drew his long sword in one swift motion. Tearing off down the ally toward his quarry. She was fast.

A nearby drunken sailor saw the pursuit and stepped in between the fleeing woman and her would-be captor.

"Oye, lad. If'n the lady says No y-" The sailor was cut off as Kaius, now in a full sprint. Sidestepped the inebriate and slammed his iron clad elbow into their agape jaw. The sound of clattering teeth cascaded over the cobbled stones followed by the sailors limp body. Kaius broke no stride, running full tilt at Leanna. He passed a nearby vendors cart, Grabbing a large empty crate. Without a moments hesitation Kaius hurled the 30 kilogram object full force oward the running girl.