Crossed Lines - Part 1

"Very well," Oliver said after a pause. "I am in agreement, and I extend the same to you. Stay as much the same Nila Felder as you can afford to – the same Nila beloved by so many. And if you do decide to marry whilst I'm away – it seems likely with all the requests coming your way – then be sure it to be a man worthy of you."

He'd thought he'd been rather level with that request of his, but Nila's slap came searching for him regardless. He traced the strike with both Claudia's and Ingolsol's eyes – they saw far more than he. He saw both how he could dodge, and how he could counterattack, tearing apart Nila's defence.

Before he could, however, a more logical part of him kicked in. He diplomatically accepted the slap sent his way, and the room echoed with a resounding THWACK.

Both Judas and Greeves looked stunned. Greeves, if anything, looked distinctly uneasy, as though he was afraid he was about to witness a murder.

"Fool!" Nila declared.