Raisa couldn't believe the events that had just taken place. Han had single-handedly dealt with the rouge judge in front of the entire congregation of wizards. He had healed himself and stolen another wizards power. Right in front of them all. Everyone was still standing around in shock. She looked down at the man on the floor and decided it was time to act.
"Bring a stretcher for this man and have him taken to the infirmary and treated so that he doesn't die from his wounds. Alister and Lord Bayer please come here to me, everyone else go back to your seats. You have tournament to finish." , she said it with as much authority as she could must. Thankfully the shocked wizards did as they were told and quickly too. She guessed they were wary of having their own power stripped by Han.
She walked straight backed over to Han and Dancers seats, her guard clomping behind her. She could hear the swish of softer fabric as Lord Bayer and Han also followed behind them. As they all formed a circle around her she rounded on Han.
"What were you doing! You cannot steal another wizards power! I didn't know it was ever possible. Disregarding that it reflects poorly in a representative of the queen!"
Holding his hands up she saw all of the scars that was now another permanent addiction to his collection, she immediately felt sorry for badgering him. He obviously hadn't planned it.
"What would you have liked me to do? Dreken Mander deliberately had a judge tamper with the wards of the duel to kill me! Your representative! Besides all I did was take what was rightfully mine.", Han finished with a shrug.
"It was not yours! Queen Marianna gave me permission to change the laws before she died!" , growled Lord Bayer.
Right, because "gave permission" meant you gave her two options death or your way, but she instead said,
"If that is true then why was Han still able to exact his price out of the judge?"
"Because Lord Bayer was not able to change to Laws of the High Kings. He may have given that one judge the power to circumvent a rule or two, but to change the whole code? Not possible." , Han said flatly.
"It was changed!" Lord Bayer said his voice rising.
"Apparently not.", Han said his voice dripping with contempt.
"That is besides the point Alister!" , the high wizard spat back at him, "You are not allowed to just steal a mans magic! As well as shove your own hurts and pain upon him!"
Han shoved his newly scarred arm under the wizards nose.
"Doesn't look like I came away unscathed does it? Besides I couldn't have Dreken take it away. He was already dead, and that judge should have died. I sparred his life! Its more than what he would have done for me, what more do you want? When I tried to kill you, you wanted me hanged. Guess I just have the bigger heart between the two of us.", Han said. It didn't seem that he really cared anymore if he upset the man or not. Before Lord Bayer could open his mouth again Raisa stepped in. Hanalea help me she thought, no wonder this place was called vipers nest. Powerful people always seemed to disagree and that always seemed to lead to fighting.
"Han did not kill the man and there is no law stipulating anything about taking a wizards gift." Probably because it wasn't ever thought to be possible, she thought.
"The discussion is closed, there are still two more rounds left to go. Right?" There were about fifty wizards still standing down on the stadium floor waiting for the event to begin.
" Please begin and send for me when you have the finalists. Alister please come with me." ,with that she swished out across the arena the floor carving a path through the wizards who bowed after her. When they were safely away from the rest of the wizards she turned down a hallway into the room she was staying at, two guards come to attention and she waved them aside. Leading Han into the room she closed the door behind him.
"Yes? Your Highness?" He said formally.
"Oh stop it, no one else is here."
He shifted from foot too foot looking nervous.
"Your Highness I mean no offense, but it looks poorly upon us being locked up him here alone."
"Blast what it looks like I brought you here to talk to you." She was so tired of what other people thought, she just wanted answers.
"Are you really healed?" , she asked. Reaching out she grasped his hand and the skin that had been burned. It was flawless and without a hair on it.
"I feel considerably better. Its nice not having your arm not charred halfway through." , he said with his quirk of a smile.
"But how did you do it? You've been training for less than a year! Full grown wizards can't even heal themselves! Let alone know the laws proclaimed by Kings so old no one even remembers them."
"I have very good teachers." ,was all he said, and from the shift in his eyes she knew it wasn't the whole truth, but who was she to pressure him? He was alive after all, that was more than she could have hoped for when she had seen him minutes ago, burnt to a crisp.
"Well, be more careful? Please?" She tried not to sound to worried, but she knew he heard it. He always seemed to notice everything about her and everyone else no matter how small.
He reached out and put a finger under her chin and lifted her face up. Looking directly into her eye he held their gaze. She tried to drink in everything about him. His blond hair so fair it was almost white, which also needed cutting, she thought. His scars, which far from making him look lame or disfigured just gave him and irresistible edge of danger. Then his eyes, they looked so soft, so unguarded. She wanted to put her guards around him night and day to protect this person so many others had hurt. She wanted more than anything to help him. He leaned in and kissed her once on the lips. The sizzle of magic coursed through her lips and into the ring, it was like he was on fire still and he was sharing a little of that flame with her. It tasted sweet and intoxicating, something she couldn't get enough of. Closing his arms around her he hugged her tight and she hugged back. Pressing herself into his hard lean from. With no shirt on she could feel his muscles move as he tightened his hug lifting her slightly off the floor. All she could think was how nice is would be to stay there forever in his arms. Hang the rules she thought, this is a new era. My era. He pulled away and said in his thieves slang, "Just remember I ain't doin' this for me girlie. This is all for you. Ain't nothing careful nor easy about it.", he smiled wide and gave her a wink. Setting her down and twisting out of her embrace he turned and was out the door, before Raisa could stop him.