"What an excellent idea, one I heartily approve of. Please keep her in chains, too," Eleanor requested, but by now, no one was paying her comments any attention.
I put my hands on my hips as I faced Brother Ailwin. "You seriously think I'm going to let you use me to hurt other people? You're nutso. Hey, now!"
The two robed liches moved fast, both grabbing one of my arms and pulling me forward, past Kristoff.
Cora -
If I can knock them down, do you think you can use me against him?
You will not risk yourself in such a manner.
Yeah, well, I'm not going to let him use me to hurt other people, either. Especially Pia. She's nice. I like her. Eleanor is starting to get on my nerves, but I suppose it would be wrong to hope she's knocked out or something.
It would be wrong, although I understand your sentiment. And I like Pia, as well, but I will not allow you to come to harm. He will become distracted in a moment. When that happens, I want you to run toward me.
How do you know he's going to be distracted?
Because Kristoff is about to strike.
I glanced at Kristoff. He looked furious, but I didn't see any signs he was about to leap forward.
I have a better plan. One that won't put anyone at risk.
Cora -
"Right, here I am," I said, shaking off the two monks, striding forward until I stood next to Pia. "Let her go."
"Gladly," he said, releasing Pia and giving her a shove toward her vampire.
Less than a second later, he grabbed me by my hair, spinning me around, the knife now at my throat as he started to pull me backward through the door, the two monks on either side of him. "Now we leave."
Oh, yes, that was a better plan, Alec said in a disgusted tone.
O ye of little faith. Get ready. You're about to wield a bona fide Tool of Bael.
"No," I said, digging in my feet, wincing when the knife cut into my flesh.
"Come, woman," Brother Ailwin said, jerking my hair backward.
Here we go. Ready?
Corazon !
Rather than fight Brother Ailwin, as he clearly expected me to do, I threw myself backward against him, relieving the tension of the blade against my neck enough to allow me to spin around and face my abductor. I slammed my knee into his groin at the same time I jammed a thumb into his nearest eyeball, sending him to his knees screaming bloody murder.
Before I could do more, an Alec-shaped blur flashed by me, and I was thrown across the room, narrowly missing a table to careen first into Eleanor before rebounding onto Kristoff, who shoved me toward a chair and leaped forward to help Alec. Brother Ailwin had stopped screaming as Alec lifted him off the ground by his throat.
"Now, lichmaster, let me tell you how I deal with those who would use my Beloved," Alec growled, his voice so menacing it made me pause for a moment. It was the voice of the man who had seen his salvation cut down before him, the man who had murdered a woman, the same man who was filled with so much agony, it would have driven anyone else insane long, long ago.
"Dear god, I think my back is broken." I helped Eleanor to her feet from where she lay smashed against the wall, her arms and legs moving feebly. "Seriously, man-stealer, you need to go on a diet. Ouch. Double ouch."
I pushed Eleanor gently onto the couch, and spun around to help Alec.
The spotty monk, who had been sent flying when Alec attacked Brother Ailwin, suddenly yelled and tackled me, throwing me to the floor. "Harm him, and I will use the Tool against you, Dark One!" he cried, one hand clutching my hair, his knees on my back as he pinned me to the ground.
"The hell you will!" I snarled. "I refuse to be used!"
"You cannot refuse. You are a Tool," Brother Ailwin said, his face turning bright red as Alec's stranglehold eased up.