Sanguine was breathing heavily and his skin tingled from the adrenaline coursing through his veins. The smell of blood, the sound of feet scuffling into battle stances, teeth grinding; all these things were signs of conflict and they were so familiar to San that he reacted on instinct alone.<br/><br/>With his left hand holding the wires, Sanguine’s right hand was crossed over his body to grip the handle of his broadsword called “Siren”. Several of the soldiers had already drawn weapons, but San had been trained never to draw his sword with mere intention. The drawing of a sword is an open sign of aggression, and one should never draw on one he doesn’t fully intend to kill.<br/><br/>The Fool’s bells and her reassuring rhymes reminded San where he was and what he was doing. He was the Queen’s guest, a welcome guest, he had no reason to try and fight his way out of this hall. He could leave peacefully if Lady Fool was as agile with situations as she was with words. He just had to listen to her quiet, heartfelt plea.<br/><br/>“Let him go.”<br/><br/>San swung his arm forward, tossing slack into the line and deftly loosing the wire from the cuts it had made in the man’s neck. The wire whistled as the spool under his metal arm-piece spun the wire back into place, the metal orb locking into place at the heel of his hand.<br/><br/>“My apologies, good soldier. I admit, I reacted hastily.” San apologized, lowering his still blood stained fingers for Eyes to lick clean. “Please, accept a bottle of wine from the kitchen as my penance for doing you harm within your own palace. Lyra, please bring a bottle for-”<br/><br/>“Bring a barrel, ya blind bastard!” The soldier answered, rubbing the cuts on his neck, many self inflicted. “Ya nearly choked me damn head off!”<br/><br/>Sanguine just bowed, taking Lady Fool’s hand in his own and Eyes’ harness in the other, making his way through the crowd of angry soldiers, parting them like a hot blade through butter. All wanted to kill him, many even hated him, but none made a move. Perhaps it was Lady Fool who kept them at bay, then again it was more likely Eyes.<br/><br/>As the trio left the mess hall, through the front entrance instead of through the kitchen, Sanguine felt the night air wash over him. It was refreshing, and felt like a new life. The air smelled of flowers in bloom and somewhere a cricket provided a chorus to greet the dusk by.<br/><br/>“Lady Fool, you have my thanks. Perhaps soon enough you will thank me as well.” San said quietly, still holding the Jester’s hand. “If in defending my own interests, I could find a means to make us allies, and in turn earn for you your freedom, would you thank me then? Could I trust you? Would you trust me enough to do what needed doing, even if you didn’t know why at the time?”