She slowed her steps, approaching the alley to view it before making her move. Seeing it empty, Natalia entered, taking her time, walking as if in doubt. Halfway down, she paused to straighten her dress, killing time to make sure she was still being followed.

Sure enough, the man appeared behind her, at the entrance, and, as soon as their eyes met, he yelled out. "She's down here, cut her off."

She resumed her journey, more hurriedly this time.

"I've got her," someone called out, the voice echoing from in front of her.

The back corner of the cobblers drew closer, and then she rounded it, ready for action. Two men approached, the first armed with a crossbow, the weapon carried at the ready, but not yet aimed. Behind him came the second, with sword drawn.

The words of power sprang quickly to her lips, and then a wall of ice appeared between Natalia and her two new adversaries. The crossbowman gave a cry of alarm and skidded to a halt and then was obscured by the icy wall, only a rough outline visible through its surface.

She turned her attention back to the man behind her. He was halfway down the alleyway, another behind him, axe in hand.

She readied her spell, intending to let loose with ice shards, but as she cast, the axeman grabbed her pursuer by the arm in an apparent effort to stop him.

"Leave her alone!" the second man called out.

The shards of ice flew towards them but Natalia's target, pulled by the arm, twisted just before they struck, saving him from the full force of her attack, his arm taking only a few shards. Unfortunately, that left the bulk of her spell to fly past him into the chest of the axeman, tumbling him to the ground. Her pursuer, now free of the downed man's grasp, turned and ran from the alley.

She thought of casting another spell his way, but her attention was pulled back to the other two as the swordsman had moved forward and was using the hilt of his sword to chip away at the wall of ice. Cracks began to appear on its smooth surface, and so she readied herself. A loud thud signified the final strike, then the ice gave way, sending pieces flying.

As Natalia cast another spell, she could feel the power surge through her; it felt almost out of control as a solid bolt of ice flew forth, striking the hapless swordsman in the head. There was a spurt of red as the spike carried through and then the headless body dropped to the alleyway. It took her a moment to react, so stunned was she by the effect, and then she saw the crossbowman retreating around the far corner of the cobblers.