power_

Cap’s group was wedged against the walls of the narrow street. Keilin lowered his face, wishing the wall would open up and swallow him. This was no alley, but he had his back to a wall again.
The Guard Commander’s eyes washed across them . . . across Keilin’s face, and on without pause. Keilin started to breathe again, as the man passed by. He felt the tension run out of him.
“Yeth? And what do we have here?” The lisping voice was cruel. There was no fear in the voice now—just power. Silence fell. “Commander.” Kemp turned, the forty armed men of the bodyguard halting too, readying weapons. Keilin looked for a place to run, and saw no breaks. “That girl. I want her.”
His beringed plump white finger with its exqui­sitely manicured nail poked at Leyla.
The silence was torn by the sound of Beywulf’s terrible jagged-edged sword being drawn. His lips drew back exposing his own yellow snaggle teeth. “Leave her alone.”
Cap looked over the heads of the crowd, who were doing their best to melt away in a hurry without being obtrusive. “Bey. Let me handle this.”
“Withe. Tell your thervantth