"It looks like you cleaned things up here quite nicely." Marcus said, looking at the nearly a hundred people that had been felled by Mrazivý.
"Yeah, none of them were really a challenge. It only took a single swing for each of them. But it looks like you were even more successful" Mrazivý responded, turning her gaze towards the group of people Marcus was dragging behind him with his iron threads.
Amira for her part looked aghast after what had just happened. She was a fairly sheltered rich girl that rarely witnessed violence. Especially not to this degree.
"Sorry about what just happened. It seems that it was our fault." Marcus said, presenting Talab to Amira and her guards.
Naturally they all recognized him and quickly came to understand what was going on.
"Wake up. You have some explain to do." Marcus said, using his lightning magic to send a jolt through Talab's neck and forcing him to wake up.
For several moments the man just writhed around in pain and confusion before his mind was able to focus.
Calming herself and bringing out her best authoritative demeanor, Amira glared down at the man who had orchestrated the attack against them.
"To think that you were so foolish as to attack a member of the Eazim Clan's main family and our guests. I will make sure that the Guhbaa Clan takes responsibility for this. You will come out lucky if only you and your compatriots have your assets seized and are executed. Now, why exactly did you attack us?" Amira said, disdain in her tone.
Talab kept his mouth shut at first, but Marcus subtly applied a bit of his phantom pressure on the man to loosen his tongue.
While shuddering from immense fear he explained why he had attacked them and tried his best to claim that his actions were not of his clan but his own. Of course, that was not going to make much of a difference. The Guhbaa Clan was going to have to take some sort of responsibility for one of their upper ranking members attempting to assassinate Amira and her clan's guests.
Eventually one of Amira's guards managed to pin down a nearby patrol of soldiers and soon the entire area was filled with the peacekeepers of the city and the Guhbaa Clan members and assassins Marcus had rounded up were taken into custody.
"I kind of feel bad for Amira." Mrazivý said, looking at her with a pitying stare.
After giving their statements about the events just once, they were allowed to simply wait at a table were refreshments such a tea had been brought to them, since they were guests of one of the major clans. However, Amira was having to direct things as the highest-ranking person around and was very busy.
She had to send out several letters and the authorities running the city had several questions for her.
Luckily no one was being rude to her or anything since her status was far higher than the captain of the city guard who was currently commanding the response to the attack.
It was not until dawn that their group was able to leave and head to the hotel where they had rooms waiting for them.
"I am incredibly sorry about what just happened. It shows poorly on our clan that we allowed such an attack. I would understand if you wish to have another guide assigned to you." Amira said, bowing her head to Marcus and Mrazivý once they were in a private room inside the hotel.
While it may have been impossible for her to have known about or stopped the attack, she still felt it was her duty to take responsibility. A part of her duty was to protect her clan's guests, but the two of them had been the ones to protect her. Dealing with all of the assailants on their own.
"There is no need for that. You were not responsible for what happened. There are idiots everywhere that do incomprehensible things like that. You have been a great guide and we have no intention of replacing you. Go ahead and stand up and be proud. Despite how scarred and exhausted you are, you kept your composure the entire time." Mrazivý said, a smile on her face.
In some ways she felt quite bad since it would have been easily enough for them to quash the attack before it even began and save Amira a great deal of grief. However, if they did not catch the attackers in the act then it could have led to more problems down the line.
"Before we deal with anything else, I think some rest is in order. Let us all get some sleep and deal with whatever else requires our attention when we wake up." Marcus suggested.
Feeling too tired to argue, Amira thanked Marcus for his consideration and headed to her own room along with her guards.
"It is unfortunate that we will not be able to explore the festival today." Mrazivy said, whistfully staring out the window.
Thanks to the attack against them, they needed to wait in their hotel until things had settled down. It would likely be a day or two before they could do as they pleased again.
"At the very least the tournaments do not start until next week, so we are not going to have to worry about missing the main event." Marcus said.
After that they spent the rest of the day cooped up inside the hotel. Neither of them really needed any sleep so they passed their time by using the facilities and eating just about everything they could from the hotel's restaurant.
Eventually a very ornate carriage that both Marcus and Mrazivý recognized pulled up, and Akeem along with a contingent of a dozen powerful guards entered the building.
When Akeem spotted them in the restaurant, he made his way over to them asked them where Amira and her guards were.
"Amira is sleeping in her room right now. We were not tired and descried to explore the hotel since we could not leave the premises. Please do not be hard on her. She had been doing an excellent job as our guide." Mrazivý said.
At once the grim expression on Akeem's face softened slightly, as he had been afraid that Marcus and Mrazivý might have been more upset at what had happened and strain the relationship between the Eazim clan and Chelmer resort.
Swiftly, Akeem had a meeting room within the hotel prepared for them and sent one of his guards to fetch Amira.
Soon all of them were sitting at a large table and Akeem explained more of what was going on.
"The Guhbaa Clan is certainly not happy with what has happened. My intelligence has told me that they have called in every favor they have with the other major clans to try and get them on their side. Currently the head of their clan is taking the stance that this Talab who instigated the attack is a thief that stole several precious items from his collection and held an unauthorized event in his clan's name. He is doing all he can to cut off the man and try to not take any responsibility. However, the worst part is that he is trying to reclaim the talon that Mrazivý won. Saying it was stolen property." Akeem said.
Naturally this was all just the Guhbaa Clan's head trying to cover his ass in the aftermath.
"We have no intention of retuning our prize. The talon is ours." Mrazivý said forcefully.
If it was actually just a simple roc's talon then they would have had no qualms about handing it over, but since it belonged to a phoenix it was far to valuable to relinquish easily.
"Yes, I understand. It is a preposterous request. I will make sure that they know that the talon will not be returned under any circumstances." Akeem said, assuring them.
After that he discussed several more details with them and informed them a formal inquire into eh matter would be held in five days.
"All of you will be expected to be present. I understand that this is a great inconvenience but there are several things that need to be address and if you as the victims are not there to state your case our standing will not be as strong." Akeem informed them.
Of course, both Marcus and Mrazivý agreed without any resistance. They were already prepared to deal with a bit of a hassle.
"Thank you for cooperating with us. Until the inquiry you are both free to continue enjoying the festival again starting tomorrow. I have sent for more guards to accompany you. I know that neither of you need any protection, but it should serve as a deterrent. The only reason that imbecile from the Guhbaa Clan attacked is because he thought he could get away with it." Akeem said.
He then took his leave and headed out to continue dealing with the headache inducing situation. Leaving Marcus and Mrazivý to their own devices.