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Julianna took a suards’ attention "His nauess it sounds fa’s put a price on his head But if we’re right, he ca for some mercy All ant to know is if he found any, and if he’s still here"

Frouards’ reaction, it was obvious they knew precisely what she was talking about Julianna allowed herself a tiny bit of hope, but the guards were clearly troubled by her words, and so that tiny bit was all she could lanced back at her and s studied the trio at the castle gates and then glanced up to the archers above theet Captain Beck and return ie--lowered his bow and nodded, disappearing below the battlements Kara raised her hands

"Gentlemen, what is the trouble? Our request has been put forth as politely as possible As subjects of His Highness, we desire souard narrowed his eyes "Oh, you’ll have it" Then he drew his sword

Hallient for his gun, eyes flashing with violence, as though he had been waiting for just such ahis hand, preventing hiuards drew their blades with a chime of metal Kara froze, hands still in the air She lowered them slowly, palms forward

"Calm down, my friends There is no need for drama"

Julianna held on to Halliwell’s wrist His chest rose and fell and he glared at her His jaw clenched and unclenched, and she could see that he did not want the moment to pass He invited conflict, bloodshed--even death--as just another distraction, and a way to vent the despair and fury that was eating hian, warily

"This was not the world’sthe how much trouble your fiancé is in…"

"We don’t have time for secrets, Ted We’re not spies I’d rather die for the truth than a lie"

Halliwell relaxed his hands, let theether they turned to watch the two guards who stood with their swords drawn The tableau of these hulkingthere in the dark as though defending the as hell The line of archers on the wall, ready to pin theround, only made it that much worse

"If it’s all the same to you," Halliwell muttered, "I’d rather not die at all"

Julianna nodded "Yeah Well, at the end of your days, when the Reaper comes to collect, that’s what you should tell hi creak of hinges, the gates of the castle’s outer wall swung inward Chains rattled, and they watched the portcullis grate rise upward A sender--Julianna counted nine--e with a tall, formidable woman whose ebony skin was the deepest black Julianna had ever seen Her cloak, tunic, and heavy trousers were all black as well, which only served to make her skin seenity of a goddess, and with such power that the sword that hung at her side seeht

Kara went down on one knee before her

Julianna and Halliwell glanced at one another, wondering if they ought to do the same

"I am Captain Dahness, John Hunyadi I’d have your naan

Captain Beck arched an eyebrow and gazed down at her "So I’m told Curious and a bit troublesoive their child such a mischievous na about? She ht have asked, but then Captain Beck turned her foraze upon her

"And you?"

"Julianna Whitney"

Halliwell crossed his arms "Detective Theodore Halliwell"

Beck’s placid features rippled with curiosity "Detective? Interesting Yes, we get one of you fro in the places no one else bothers to see, so they stuh But you’re not a detective here, you do know that, Mister Halliwell? You’re in the Kingdom of Euphrasia now, the realm of Hunyadi"

"So I’m told," Halliwell replied

Captain Beck sun"

Halliwell flinched He looked at heron to it, if it’s all the same to you"

One of the archers above barked an order and they all leaned over the wall, bowstrings hu as they were drawn taut Julianna held her breath