32 Only for now

It all happened in an instant.

Illysa felt her world slowed as the words 'viscount's daughter' and 'shitty witch' echoed around her. Bloodlust eyes that were earlier against each other now all veered in her direction. She couldn't breathe, couldn't--

Leonel snarled, shouting into the curve of her ear, "Hurry!" and grabbed her by the arm, startling the girl out of her shock.

Her were were frantic, dazzling with sparks of gold; the spell that kept her pupils normal had worn out.

The Inquisitor tugged her forward, punching a man that reached forward for the wanted mage. The barkeepers eyes were sharp, and his mouth watered for the bounty on her head. "After that girl!" He yelled.

Leonel cursed when he turned around, meeting gazes with the crippled doctor. How were they going to make it out of this. But he didn't think about it too much and did what he thought he had to do. First he let go Illysa and told her to run on ahead. The girl did not need much encouraging. Next came a step he was growing for used to time went on, scooping Julian up in his arms.

Only this time, the doctor offered no resistance, allowing himself to be carried off.

They ran out into the black streets; with and angry roar of men chasing after them. Julian got the best front seat view, slung over Leonel's shoulder. He groaned with annoyance as he watched men chase after then with blood lust in their eyes and weapons raised. There was the stench of sweat, blood, alcohol and vomit about them. Julian thought that if one of the three of them were the bite the dust first it would surly be him.

He grinned at the thought. The inn receded in his vision and he raised a hand to steady his glasses on his face as he raised his other hand. A man rushed up to them, sword swinging but Julian already knew that he would be too slow, and only had to tilt his head to the right to avoid the pointed tip. A few strands of hair was cut. Blue lightning danced at his fingertips but Julian held his magic back.

Leonel rounded a corner, and a few of them stumbled and fell, causing the others that followed to fall as well. The alcohol and dumb adrenaline made agility difficult.

Julian laughed with a hyena-like shrill, mocking in his voice, "You fools can't even keep up with a little girl and a man with a deadweight on his shoulder! Pathetic!"

Leonel almost threw the doctor off right at that instant. "Says the deadweight!"

A few baddies made it past the sharp turn and chased them down the narrow alley. The guys that made it through were the more sober ones, chasing them with a clear mind and eyes on the prize. They did not bellow or shout like rabid animals but instead had their weapons at the ready, waiting for an opening to strike.

There was one fast little fucker that had insanity and bloodlust in his eyes. Julian recognized that look and it brought back such exciting and visceral memories. Laughter was bubbling at his gut again but he held back, he had to. And when the bloodthirsty man came too close he unleashed a shot of magic, aimed right at a nerve in his leg.

It wouldn't have caused much damage but the pinpoint accuracy at the attack seized up the man's muscles and he tumbled before he could even recognize it.

His sudden fall caught others following off guard and they tumbled like dominoes. Leonel seized the chance, speeding up with a sprint an caught the girl by her collar.

A little squeal left her lips as the Inquisitor pulled them back onto a bigger street, running until they came toward a public square before making a sharp turn down into another alley on the opposite side of the street.

Illysa's breath came out panting, her eyes bright with panic. She was looking over her shoulder and slowed them they turned into the alley as the sound of shouting and footsteps came into the square they just passed.

Leonel nudged her a little, "Keep going. Hurry. You know the city the best, so lead us somewhere quiet." He emphasized the word quiet with a hiss.

She nodded quickly and ran off. Just as Leonel was about to go after her, he felt pounding at his back.

"Let me off!"

Leonel was stunned a little and hissed at the impossible doctor, "You'll die if they chase you down."

Julian rolled his eyes and lamented the fact that Leonel couldn't see the exasperation on his fact, "Oh please, they've barely any interest in me. So put me down. Go protect the girl and make some ruckus. Have there be a chase."

The words confused Leonel a little and convinced him enough to let the doctor down, deciding that if the old man died, Leonel would have nothing to do with it. He put the Doctor down gently. And with an hand enveloping a thin arm they kept moving down the narrow alley but kept a slower pace and voices hushed.

"What exactly are you planning?" Leonel asked.

"While you two were busy having your beauty sleep I learned some valuable information," he hummed, "Lade Anderina's execution is scheduled to take place tomorrow just after dawn and thus we really don't have much time to think this through."

"And what's a chase going to help with that?"

"Patience! I was getting there."

"..."

"The Inquisitors are obviously more interested in Illysa than they are with Lady Anderina. Draw them away and I'm quite confident in my abilities to slip into the dungeons to free the poor woman."

"Do you even know where to go?" The night was dark but luckily, so long as Julian stuck close to Leonel, he had a nice block of meat to lean against if his steps faltered over the uneven cobbled paths.

"Easy," the Doctor chuckled, "The man I spoke to told me was a mercenary that hunted down Lady Anderina when she tried to make a run for it. He told me where she was imprisoned."

The Inquisitor still wasn't wholly convinced and glared at him with sharp blue eyes.

The Doctor only laughed and nudged him playfully, "Don't give me that look, young man. If you're oh-so-worried and poor pathetic me then make sure you return tomorrow at dawn. Make sure that Lady Anderina's execution isn't on schedule. You may even look from afar."

"And if it is? On schedule."

"Simply assume I've failed and make a run for it! As simple as that."

"I don't like it."

Julian snickered, "And why's that? The stakes aren't too high. Even in the worst care scenario only two lives are lost out of four."

Leonel truly disliked the way this Doctor spoke. He opened his mouth but got distracted by the men that shuffled about in an adjacent street.

"Where did that little mage bitch go? Fuck, did you lose her?"

"Maybe they went down that little alley, let's go check it out."

The Inquisitor inwardly cursed, his grip only tightening around Julian's arm, instead of loosening. His voice came out like with a hissing sound, "Are you crazy? One of those lives is yours!"

But Julian shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "And not yours. So stop your worrying! It's not like I can run on my own right now and having you carry me is seriously slowing you do. Just go! Catch their attention or something go protect that silly little girl. I will be fine on my own, so long as you get them off my back."

Leonel wanted to do nothing more than grab the doctor's collar and shake some common sense into him.

And yet, a part of him saw the logic on Julian's words. As the voices him closer he swore under his breath. "Fine, but I'm coming back at dawn and you better be okay!" He shoved Julian into a narrower alley and drew his Witch Slayer in one motion.

"Come on you fuckers! Come and fight me!" The challenge was bellowed out, but there was something about Leonel's voice that sounded almost lazy and insincere. Though it was like his opponents cared, perking up at the promise of contest, cheering with bloodthirsty rage. And only when they were in sight, did Leonel turn the other way and run, drawing them farther from the place Julian was hidden.

Just like that, they parted ways.

But only for now.