Had she not been wallowing in self-pity and recrimination, Linika may have noted exactly what the swift hissing sound of an arrow portended. The fact was, she had no interest whatsoever in the proceedings. Even when the sudden shift of the crowd's tone marked some incident, she only gave a half-concerned look back.
Her brow furrowed though at the sudden lack of the two primary dignitaries. There had been cheering and hugging a moment earlier, and now they were seemingly gone. But no, now that her interest was piqued, two and two came together quickly into a grim four. There was a definite crouched focus of several citizens upon the dais where the two had been standing, basking in the approval of the crowd, subdued though it was in typical Videnese fashion. The rest of the crowd was milling in shock and alarm.
It took no more than a tick for several eyes to lock on her, and transform the faces to ugly accusing sneers. Linika cursed herself, had she not just drawn unwelcome attention to herself with a cry of dismay and a shout that contained the word 'betrayal'? She sighed heavily and was on the verge of simply raising her hands in surrender, knowing she would come under suspicion in any case.
But she noted that much of the crowd was focused in a direction not aligned with her location. Hesitance began to soften a few of the faces that had turned her way, as they too appeared to notice that despite her race, she was not a logical suspect.
People were hurrying in every direction, some to pursue leads, some to bring aid to the wounded dignitaries, some to simply escape or clear the area for those with more helpfully focused intentions. This last was what was most in line with Linika's decision. She did not care about these Videnese or their politics. Her Xypha mark had been an unwanted affliction, imposed upon her against her will by the malicious Immortal who made her home in a city as cold as her heart.
As if triggered by the very thought, the voice of one of Yvithia's minions burst upon her brain with barely restrained desperation, “Over there! He's wearing green! Headed towards the docks, quick before he escapes!” Verity Talius, by the wretchedly familiar sound of it. She almost staggered with the unexpected mental assault. Immediately a feeling of outrage rose in her heart. Was this supposed to be an order? Given to her? By whose reasoning did she have any such obligation?
Her instinctive impulse was to try to "think" some belligerent response back, but there was no such outward access for her mind. But she was heading that way anyway. In fact she was closer than most of the crowd. She noted a few people, some of them citizens, some in the attire of 'Intelligence' operatives, turning her way. It slipped into her calculations that she may just gain some useful favor by helping out. At the least, it would prevent the likelihood that she'd undergo anther interrogation by the IA.
She spun on her heels to see the one they must be talking about; a man in a green cloak or jacket, sprinting toward the docks. His trajectory was not aligned with her own, but she was still close enough that she believed she could actually cut him off. She began to run, thinking that if she could get close enough, she would incapacitate him with her shadow attack; the same one she had used on that eidisi impersonator, Saeri, the season before.
Her brow furrowed though at the sudden lack of the two primary dignitaries. There had been cheering and hugging a moment earlier, and now they were seemingly gone. But no, now that her interest was piqued, two and two came together quickly into a grim four. There was a definite crouched focus of several citizens upon the dais where the two had been standing, basking in the approval of the crowd, subdued though it was in typical Videnese fashion. The rest of the crowd was milling in shock and alarm.
It took no more than a tick for several eyes to lock on her, and transform the faces to ugly accusing sneers. Linika cursed herself, had she not just drawn unwelcome attention to herself with a cry of dismay and a shout that contained the word 'betrayal'? She sighed heavily and was on the verge of simply raising her hands in surrender, knowing she would come under suspicion in any case.
But she noted that much of the crowd was focused in a direction not aligned with her location. Hesitance began to soften a few of the faces that had turned her way, as they too appeared to notice that despite her race, she was not a logical suspect.
People were hurrying in every direction, some to pursue leads, some to bring aid to the wounded dignitaries, some to simply escape or clear the area for those with more helpfully focused intentions. This last was what was most in line with Linika's decision. She did not care about these Videnese or their politics. Her Xypha mark had been an unwanted affliction, imposed upon her against her will by the malicious Immortal who made her home in a city as cold as her heart.
As if triggered by the very thought, the voice of one of Yvithia's minions burst upon her brain with barely restrained desperation, “Over there! He's wearing green! Headed towards the docks, quick before he escapes!” Verity Talius, by the wretchedly familiar sound of it. She almost staggered with the unexpected mental assault. Immediately a feeling of outrage rose in her heart. Was this supposed to be an order? Given to her? By whose reasoning did she have any such obligation?
Her instinctive impulse was to try to "think" some belligerent response back, but there was no such outward access for her mind. But she was heading that way anyway. In fact she was closer than most of the crowd. She noted a few people, some of them citizens, some in the attire of 'Intelligence' operatives, turning her way. It slipped into her calculations that she may just gain some useful favor by helping out. At the least, it would prevent the likelihood that she'd undergo anther interrogation by the IA.
She spun on her heels to see the one they must be talking about; a man in a green cloak or jacket, sprinting toward the docks. His trajectory was not aligned with her own, but she was still close enough that she believed she could actually cut him off. She began to run, thinking that if she could get close enough, she would incapacitate him with her shadow attack; the same one she had used on that eidisi impersonator, Saeri, the season before.