The smiles, or perhaps leers, on the faces of the two men changed in a moment, their eyes snapping to something above and behind her. "These belong to me." came a voice from behind her, and another handfull of Imperials stepped by her, forming a rough ring around the women.<br/><br/>"They were running from us." snarled the nearer of the pair that had been chasing them.<br/><br/>"And we caught them." The speaker had his back to Larissa, but he stood front and centre of the group that had surrounded her and her companions. "House Roshak names them isorla. If you think you can take them from us, speak your challenge."<br/><br/>"We challenge." replied the other. "Let your two best step forwards and we shall leave them to feed the crows. I am Korzar, of House Houan. I have killed a fist of warriors this day, and not bled." He thumped his fist against the white pelt that lined his armour. "I have slain the great snow bear with a single arrow, and I challenge for the isorla claimed by House Roshak. What is your batchall."<br/><br/>From the ring around them, the Imperial who had spoken stepped forwards. "Bargained well and done. I am Kurghan, First Warrior of House Roshak. I was first over the wall, and first to the palace. I slew the warrior that commanded the Southern Gate in challenge. I stood with Mortag at the Jaslan Pass, and I am one of the Twenty Seven. I am Dahar Master, and I accept your challenge. Hegira is yours, if you wish it."<br/><br/>The two groups faced each other in silence for several heartbeats, then at some unseen signal the three challengers moved. Kurghan darted forwards and to the right, moving to place one of his foes in the way of the other. His blade caught the sword of the first high, and he drove a kick into his opponents stomach, sending him staggering backwards. Before he could take advantage of this, the second drove in, aiming a blow that sought to cripple his leg.<br/><br/>He hopped back from the blow, flowing forwards again almost immediately. His blade swept low, catching his opponents coming back, and stepping in he delivered a punch to his foes extended elbow. The warrior spun with the blow, robbing it of much of its power, and moving back out of range.<br/><br/>Warier now, the two spread out as wide as the hallway would allow, seeking to come at Kurghan from the sides and trap him between them. As Larissa watched, he didn't give them the chance, driving forwards, blade flashing from one to the next, back and forth. Pivoting as he drove Korzar's blade towards his companion, he spun, his leg arching up and around in a kick that smashed into Korzar's cheek and sent him crashing into his companion.<br/><br/>His blade licked out, opening a small cut on the throat of each of the two House Houan warriors, and he stepped backwards, bringing his blade up to guard. The two stumbled backwards, near identical looks of shock on their faces.<br/><br/>"Hegira."<br/><br/>The word hung in the air, and the warrior who had not named himself stepped backwards, raising his chin, where a thin trickle of blood ran down his neck.<br/><br/>Kurghan turned towards Korzar, fixing him with a stare. The muscles in Korzars jaw worked, his eyes glared daggers but after another breath he snarled "Hegira." as well.<br/><br/>"Hegira." Kurghan replied, and the two House Houan warriors retreated back down the corridor, breaking into a run and disappearing around a corner.<br/><br/>One of the Imperials attached a woven cord around the wrist of each of the women, three different colours strands looping around each other in a braid. "Konahr, Torrag, Grell, take them back to the camp." Kurghan said, looking down at the women. "See that those wounds are treated, and put them with any other bonds taken. Get some food and drink into them too. We'll be back within the next few hours."<br/><br/>"Why take them at all?" asked one of the others. "There are no shortage of palace servants."<br/><br/>"I've had the misfortune to fight alongside Houan before." Kurghan replied, gesturing down the corridor. "Since Marruk rose to be head of that House, they've become little more than dezgra. I wouldn't leave a stray dog to them, let alone a pretty woman."<br/><br/>"Strength and honour." the questioner said, grasping Kurghans forearm.<br/><br/>"Honour and glory." he replied, then led the rest of the warriors off in the direction the two from Houan had taken.