“Apologies. I thought the young woman was in danger.”

Meltain half-rose. He had noticed the man before, but not really taken note of him. Ser Dalimont blinked a few times.

“No offense, Ser Mage. Ser Vimel went too far. Although…”

He glanced at Cara. She was shaken. Slowly, Dalimont turned. He nodded and the other Thronebearers strode over.

“We should get Ser Vimel back to the keep. He’s clearly had too much to drink.”

“I’ll help.”

Meltain hurried over. Dalimont glanced at him. Meltain nodded. The other Thronebearers and Dalimont helped pick Vimel up.

“Apologies, again. We will settle the tab tomorrow. Now—with me—”

They made a speedy exit without even glancing at Cara. She barely noticed.

“I nearly died.”

She muttered. The [Bartender] was shaking his head. Also, he’d gotten a mop for the spilled drink.

The other patrons looked similarly uneasy.

“Perhaps you should leave, Miss.”

The man addressed her. But the [Mage] at the bar waved her over.

“Water for the young woman, [Bartender]. She’s had a fright. Water or milk. And we’ll both be out of your way.”

The man hesitated, but Cara was shaken. And then the [Mage] produced a gold coin and put it down.

“For the trouble.”

That changed things. The [Bartender] inspected the old coin, swept it into a pocket, and nodded. He brought some grey milk. Cara shakily made her way to the bar.

“Thank you. I—”

She was sobering up very fast. Fear did that to you. Also? She really needed to pee. The man smiled.

He had brown hair, that too-thin body, but also grey-blue eyes. His hands weren’t that rough as he held one out.

“You talk quite well, Miss. But one tends to need to back that up with a fast pair of legs or a fast hand in a fight.”

“I’ve had to have those fast pair of legs a few times.”

Cara admitted. She shook the hand, feeling a strong grip. She smiled.

“Thanks for the drink. Cara O’Sullivan. I saw you nodding a few times while I was arguing. Didn’t want to weigh in?”

“Feren Jealnet, at your service. My full name is Feremont, but ‘Feren’ is a nickname I prefer. And I don’t tend to like to argue with men with swords. But I thought you were quite right in every way.”

He nodded to her. Cara smiled.

“You put that [Knight] to sleep with a single finger.”

“Ah, well, he was distracted and drunk. I wouldn’t try it normally, but I had few options. I wasn’t about to try to stop him with a weapon.”

“Neither was I. I—don’t know how to use a sword. Pretend to, yes.”

Cara had taken stage-fighting lessons. But that was too real. Feren nodded.

“I don’t know how to use a sword either. But I can cast magic to defend myself. Most [Mages] don’t practice my skill at arms.”