The men watched the silent battle in equal silence, their assessing looks warning her they were looking for something. The man A'Ran fought was more than a foot taller, with light skin and black hair resembling one of the observers. They fought with the grey swords, combining the sword dance with hand-to-hand combat moves for a ferocious battle that surprised her. It was more intense than sparring, and she wondered what was at stake with the simple fight.
She considered retreating but suspected that would draw the attention of the men focused on the battle. She gripped her notebook.
The battle continued, and the men around her grew tenser when the first fleck of blood appeared on A'Ran's opponent. His opponent faltered, and A'Ran smashed him to the ground hard. Kiera was more than a little surprised when he raised his sword for what would have been a death blow. The sword implanted next to the downed man's ear, and her small gasp drew the attention of the observers.
The feel of several sets of eyes assessing her made her heart beat harder and her mouth dry. She resisted the urge to leave, instead riveting her gaze to A'Ran.
A'Ran pulled his opponent to his feet, offered several quiet words, and turned his gaze to her. It was the intense, fierce look of a leader and a warrior, and she was surprised to note a difference in the way he regarded her not more than an hour ago.
She felt silly seeking him out for something as simple as a notebook. He was, after all, equivalent of a king on this world! How ridiculous would she seem? She awaited some sort of reprimand, already wounded by the thought of being publicly embarrassed. A'Ran's intense gaze swept over her before turning to the observers.
"Council members, dhjan nishani," he announced.
The men around her offered stiff bows. Kiera looked around uncertainly before returning her gaze to A'Ran.
"We will meet in two. Opal, meet me in the command center," A'Ran directed.
Opal, the tall, thin man, nodded and stepped toward the house. The men around her broke away, the two with dark hair joining A'Ran's opponent while the alabaster giant joined Ne'Rin. She wasn't surprised to see the man in the thick robes move to the cooler shade of the house. The small man with white irises drew near her, his eerie, unblinking gaze making her uncomfortable.
"It is not often I find another smaller than I, nishani," he said in a thin voice. "The dhjan has granted us permission to address you. Be not alarmed."