"That," spoke Selene, "would never happen and you know it. If you didn't try to switch bodies with me, lay a gaes on me, or just outright have me killed, one of your retainers would. You killed my father and he would have given you anything."
"I'm sorry, honey, but that's just not true and you know it. Your father died the way a King should... driving invaders from our lands. It was just fate that he took an arrow in the eye and died. As for the rest, you know the rule of karma just the same as I. If I did something that mean it would come back to visit me times three."
Selene gave her stepmother a very dirty look. "You only say that in front of your hired help. I know how you really are."
The queen tossed up her hands in irritation. "I've had it! I can't even talk to you. Guards, seize her! We'll continue this back at the castle."
As the guards reached out Selene sank back almost against the wall. One guard, bigger than the rest, shouldered his way through the others and reached out to grab her. Just as he made contact, a hand reached out of the purple light and seized his wrist. He jumped in surprise as a long rapier blade extruded from the light and came to rest under his chin. None present were sure why the tip was so big and red but it stopped the guard cold. His eyes got real big as a man stepped from the light. He was dressed in a purple tunic and black breeches. The part of him that really stood out was his eyes. Selene took a long look into them and she shivered at the outright anger glowing there.
He was a little over six feet tall, not nearly as tall as the guard but it was obvious he wasn't intimidated. As he backed the guard up, she got to appreciate his true size. He was big around and looked fairly muscled. His shoulders dwarfed her and were as big as the guard's.
"Slick, you should be a little more respectful of women." The man said in a quiet voice.
"That's a practice tip on his blade." Came a voice. "It can't hurt you."
