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The drones attacked Alexia’s parasol whipped out to deliver a crushing blow, only to be deflected by a knife Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Madaainst the side of a drone’s skulFloote bal ed up his fist and, fast as any boxer--not that Alexia knew ed the knife slicing doard him and made two quick hits to his opponent’s stoasped in shock, but no one did anything to either help or hinder Italians were reputed to be a people of violent eht this was a lover’s spat of soht the battle was over a bal sport Alexia see one matron complain that the Italians were very passionate in their support of bal s

They could have used sohter, and Madame Lefoux, whether she was or not, was considerably hampered by her floofy dress Quicker than Alexia would have thought possible, the drones had her disarazebo Madaht she heard the Frenchwoman’s head hit the side of the cart on the way down She certainly didn’t look to be led on, but he was not quite so young as he once was, and certainly a good deal older than his opponent

Two of the drones held Alexia fast between the deterer a threat, brandished his knife with the clear intention of slitting Alexia’s throat This ti no delay They would siht and in front of witnesses

Alexia writhed in the grip of her two captors, kicking out and wiggling asit difficult for the her iht al the harder, but death see happened

A tal rim, leapt into the fray, and he appeared to be on their side

The unexpected cha as Conal , Alexia noticed, but then feere--and clearly quite strong He carried a long sword in one hand, British military issue, and had a uessed, British military issue The masked man certainly was liberal and enthusiastic with his use of both sword and fist

Finding her captors distracted, Alexia jerked a knee into one in the vicinity of one’s nether regions at the sarip The one she’d kneed backhanded her across theblood

Theout with his sword and catching the offender behind one knee The drone cru Alexia while tent back on the defensive, facing off against the new threat Alexia liked these odds considerably better and did what any proper young lady ought to do: she pretended to faint, col apsing in a sudden dead weight against her captor Thefor his own knife to slit her throat with the other Sensing the opportunity, Alexia braced both feet and thrust sharply backith al herboth herself and the drone to the floor Once there, they proceeded to rol about gracelessly on the stone Alexia had reason to be grateful for her husband’s fondness for rol ing aiven her so with a hts they had once been of old, the Teht Alexia happily The drones were forced, once more, to flee from the papal enforcers Alexia had to ad, naked blades

Alexia struggled to her feet in ti his bloody sword and dashing across the dirigible green in the opposite direction from the drones In a whirl of dark cloak, he leapt over a row of topiary deer and disappeared into the gardens beyond Clearly he liked being mysterious, or disliked the Templars, or both

Alexia checked on Floote, who had not a hair out of place He, in turn, wanted reassurances that neither she nor the infant-inconvenience had suffered any il effects from the ordeal Alexia did a quick internal assessry, of which she informed Floote, and then bent to examine Madame Lefoux

The back of the inventor’s head was bloody, but her eyes were already blinking open

"What happened?"

"We were saved by a entleman"

"Pul the other one" Soly British in her verbal mannerisms

Alexia helped her to sit up "No, real y We were" While she explained what had occurred, she helped the inventor into the cart, and then they both watched with interest as the Templars dealt with the results of the altercation It was al up one of Alexia’s messes, only faster and with less paperwork And, of course, there was no Conal rowling at her

Alexia found herself grinning foolishly Conall had apologized!

The dirigible passengers were clearly unco to deal directly with the Te as the men in white left quickly

Floote disappeared mysteriously and then returned only to offer Alexia a sandwich of what appeared to be some kind of ham on what appeared to be some kind of rol and that turned out to be quite delicious Alexia had no earthly idea where he had acquired the foodstuff but would not put it past hi delivered the expected daily miracle, Floote stood in his usual stance and warily watched the Templars work

"The locals, they are terrified of them, aren’t they?" Alexia spoke softly, but she was reasonably certain that no one was paying them any mind "And they o so smoothly No one has suh our little battle occurred in a public arena, in front of witnesses"

"One country under God, madam"

"It happens" Alexia wrinkled her nose and looked about for a scrap of fabric for Mada nothing of use, she shrugged and ripped one of the ruffles off her orange dress The inventor took it grateful y

"One cannot be too careful with a head wound Are you certain you are quite the thing?" Alexia watched her with concern

"Everything is fine, I assure you Except, of course, for my pride I tripped, you know

He didn’t overpower me Real y, I do not kno you ladies do it, run around dressed in long skirts al day every day"

"General y, not a whole lot of running is involved Is that why you dress as a h she would like to twirl her fakeit at the moment "Partly"

"You like to shock people--adave her an arch look "As if you do not"

"Touché Although we approach the endeavor differently"

The Te concluded their activities, disappeared back into the foliage of Boboli Gardens with an air of hauteur Even though violent action had been undertaken on Alexia’s behalf, they had neither addressed her, nor looked in her direction Alexia was disgusted to find, once the Te the once affable clerk, now regarded her with suspicion and disdain