John
With the clone being spotted, the smile was kept and it turned around without a care in the world. Unbothered by the horrid sight of the Champion. After all, how was one able to damage something that didn't truly exist? Aspeth couldn't help but laugh to herself as she noticed how tense the woman had become. Once more, her plan shifted. A dark grin came to her face as her illusions worked their magic, and the clone turned around as it continued walking, holding up something in it's hand.

It was a tuft of wavy brown hair, and it had clearly been cut off of something.

Most would take it as a threat, knowledge that she had somehow gotten close without the other realizing. She wanted to see exactly how the Champion was going to react to such a sight. She *Absolutely* Wanted to see the fury within Amunet's eyes. The rage and horror of realizing that one could get so close, even if she had never been in an arm's reach of the duo. Her powers were truly a blessing. Deceit was the greatest asset a woman could ever ask for. The real Aspeth was still trailing from behind, using the crowd to her advantage. Even still, she kept her hat covering her head as best she could, keeping her face from easily being seen. She was still a wanted woman after all, she wouldn't be surprised if a few bounty posters had slipped into town from all the years on the sea.

Not one could say she wasn't cautious.
.

She noted the general direction of where they were heading, but with how unfamiliar she was with the city, certainly had no clue about their actual destination. But she knew they would lead her to quite the fun area, no matter what. She knew the guards would already be rather occupied. A pickpocket being on the loose and having taken so much from these hard working merchants was bound to get the public into quite the uproar. She had no doubt that patrols would have to be doubled, and plenty of sticky fingered individuals would be walking away in chains by the end of the day. A tragedy for the young who were full of promise, so ready to dedicate their lives to the art of larceny, only to be taken straight to a cell so early. Oh well, if they were caught so easily, then they merely had no chance of surviving in a proper thieving climate.

Besides, a bit of pickpocketing wouldn't land them too harsh a sentence.
Laurie
The tuft of hair waved lazily around did not escape the Champion's attention. Her breath hitched a moment, and she turned to her son, grabbing him by the shoulders and turning him every way, blue eyes darting somewhat wildly as she inspected him. He seemed to be fine, only alarmed by her reaction and her sudden manhandling. His blue eyes blinked back at her, hurriedly and uncertainly. She huffed out a breath, grabbing his arm and hauling him, though he was beginning to surpass her height, towards the plaza up ahead. 

As they broke out into the more open space, her expression was completely neutral but her eyes blazed with fury. She scanned the vicinity, for both the pirate and any guards. She was surprised to see fewer guards than usual; likely the doing of that wretched woman. Barking out the order as if she was their captain, Amunet pointed and shouted, **"You! And you! Watch him,"** She pushed him towards the pair once they stood next to each other, **"Keep him safe as if your** ***Life*** **Depends on it, for it may very well if you let harm come to him!!"** Though she kept an even expression, her eyes and voice spoke of the wrath she would unleash if she was not obeyed. Hoping she was leaving the most precious person in her life in at least somewhat capable hands, she spoke to him softly before walking away, **"Do whatever you must to keep yourself safe. I love you, darling. And..."** She bit her lip in a mixture of anger and sadness, **"I'm sorry."**

Walking to a clear space in the plaza, she closed her eyes a moment and clasped her hands, whispering. Tendrils of faint magic circled her clasped hands in a swirl. In a few moments, she opened her eyes and held her hands open, palms up, and a small sand fox seemed to jump out of her very hands. The spirit creature seemed to look up at her, moving its lips but making no sound. Crouched down, she whispered back to it and nodded before it darted into the feet of the crowd. 

A large raised garden bed dominated the center of the plaza. It contained sandy soil, small smooth pebbles, and a scattering of plants that could survive the arid geography. Elira's Champion leapt up onto this raised platform, crossing her arms, surveying the crowd below with sharp, cold eyes as she waited for the fox to return. Her stance seemed to invite her enemy to come at her. Several minutes passed before the small fox returned, leaping up and transforming mid-air into a golden cobra that wrapped itself around her outstretched arm. She leaned down, as if listening to it, before her elegant brows twitched up in irritation. Reaching into one of her short sleeves, she whipped out a throwing knife that she flung directly at the chest of the *Real* Aspeth.
John
She was rather pleased to see how the little trick with the hair had done. It also told her how much the Champion seemed to care for this young fella. She was most definitely going to use that to her advantage. As they broke out into the open space, Aspeth believed it to be best to stick to the crowd for a bit longer, watching and waiting. The lack of guards was perfect, and she had no doubt that she'd be able to handle the guards left with ease. Even with the Champion backing them up, she had plenty of tricks up her sleeve.

Then, she witnessed something interesting. A quick show of magic that seemed to create an animal. A companion for battle perhaps? She didn't know what good a fox of all things would be able to do. Then, she saw it dart into the crowd and after a few moments arrive near her. She watched as it returned and transformed, and as the harlot Champion listened to it. As the blade flew, the hiss of steel rasped from the scabbard against Aspeth's side as she brought out her blade, slashing the blade to the side. The crowd around her panicked from the sudden attack, and once more that devilish grin was upon the pirate's face. "Well, hello darling! Did ya miss me?" She walked forward as the gap in the crowd widened, sauntering as she rested her cutlass upon her shoulder. She made a showing of her hand, and the lack of injuries upon it from their last encounter. "I must say, I'm quite surprised that you'd return home so soon, especially after an encounter with a criminal. Didn't think you'd be followed?"

Her own magic was prepared. She was ready for the hag to charge directly at her, she was ready for a blade of wind, or even the simple throwing knife to come sailing through the air. She was ready to blast a bolt of water directly at the woman to knock her back, to bring her blade down for a quick parry and riposte. "I must say, I wasn't expecting to see you out with anyone. Let alone a child, I'm sure there are plenty of people who would love such information." Threats and taunts, truly her favourite thing in the world. As she stood there, her free hand thumbed the hilt of her flintlock. A perfect little surprise gift, that was best used when as close as possible.

"I'm sure you're quite curious as to how it was so easy to find a blundering oaf like yourself. Why don't you come and get some answers?" She spread her arms wide, hoping to goad the Champion into an attack. Though, there was no doubting how her gaze flicked towards the location of her child. If she didn't want to charge at her, then she would make sure there was a reason to. If there was one thing she knew people struggled with, it was defending a person. The panic of an attack in what was meant to be a safe haven was always one to cause stress, and stress brought along stupid decisions.
Laurie
Though the Wind Dancer's face had remained somewhat stoic up to this point, the facade cracked as a cold smirk emerged when her eyes settled on the pirate. Her eyes spoke of the boiling fury waiting to be unleashed. **"You may have escaped unscathed last time, but your luck will run out today. I chose to show mercy then, I won't now."** She growled out through gritted teeth, **"You** ***Dare*** **To show yourself in** ***My*** **Home and put your filthy hands on** ***My*** **Child?!"** The smirk was momentarily a predatory grin before fading into an angry grimace, **"You'll be lucky if there are enough people here to hold me back from** ***Killing*** **You."** Her eyes flicked back to Sassan and the guards briefly; a sinking feeling in her stomach told her it wasn't enough, but there was little else she could do at the moment. 

Making a show of taking careful, unhurried steps along the border of the garden box, she casually made her way to stand more directly in front of the wretch. **"No, the possibility didn't occur to me in the slightest,"** She purred in a voice smooth as honey, **"Because most people are smart enough not to do something so foolish. Unless they have a deathwish, of course. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I protect my home,** ***My people*** **With the most ferocity."** A dark laugh escaped her as her sharp eyes sized up the woman, **"And no, I'm not scared, I'm not curious, about you spreading or finding rather public information. I'm not like you, I don't live my life in the shadows."**

A soft breeze began to blow that grew in strength slowly, kicking up more and more sand. In a flash, the Desert Flower was practically hidden, little more than a wavering silhouette in the raging sandstorm that began to press out around her in a radius. Common people began to flee, but that was part of her hope; drive them out, and hopefully save their lives. As quickly as it had appeared, Amunet was dashing faster than lightning at the fool who dared challenge her in her own domain. So close to Elira's power with so much of her element to control, she could keep up the sandstorm aura for practically as long as she wanted to here. The beauty of the magic was that she could see perfectly through it, while her enemies could barely make her or what she was doing out. 

Once she had entered the pirate's space, the woman would be consumed by the storm, unable to see her own hand in front of her face, let alone her target. Perhaps if she had tried this goading elsewhere, it wouldn't have been so bad; but Amunet was strongest in the desert sands, and combining that with her overwhelming rage, the woman had no idea what she had awoken. Magic flowed through every fiber of her being as she dashed at her enemy with two daggers, intending to strike one into her heart and the other into her kidney. Having made the mistake once of letting the woman go, only to have her follow then threaten her son, Amunet didn't intend for her to walk away from this. Once Amunet began using her dance-styled attacks, the blades would be coming at the poor wretch at double speed, with the Champion nimbly weaving around her. The cobra remained wrapped around her arm, ready to strike at a moment's notice.