Prudence's cold, sharp laugh sliced cleanly through the suffocating tension of the study, echoing off the high stone walls.
"Oh, look at that," Prudence purred, her voice dripping with dark, playful malice as the humble facade dropped completely. "The brilliant Grand Duke solved the puzzle. Give the man a medal."
Before the two Vael'ethor guards standing near the threshold could even draw their steel, Prudence moved like striking lightning. In a single, fluid blur of lethal motion, her heavy broadsword whirled from its scabbard.
SWISH-CRACK!
The blade sheared cleanly through the first guard's throat before he could utter a breath. Sparks rained over the marble floor as she spun on her heel, her blade catching the second knight under his jawline, driving three inches of forged iron straight up into his skull. Blood spray painted the dark oak doors in a violent crimson arc. The two heavy bodies slammed to the floor with a sickening, metallic thud.
