Blazed inside out

Drasus went tumbling backwards from the blow's sheer kinetic transference, only to be hauled upright again by his increasingly tattered collar as Jaegar's nostrils flared in restrained fury.

"You need to learn when to talk and when to stop," Jaegar said, looking at him.

Another slap burst across the foolish lordling's face, this one raising an instantaneous welt that mottled his cheek in blistering shades of crimson. "Consider that a lesson in humility," Jaegar growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The remaining nobles recoiled with shouts of dismayed protest, but none dared physically intervene against this unstoppable juggernaut.

Jaegar turned to them; his gaze was that of an untamed, primitive beast.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Kimon finally found his voice amidst the maelstrom, surging forward with Tavorn at his side like a break-wave against the madness before them. "Release him this instant; I command it!"