"He thinks he can still bargain." One of the soldiers laugh, advancing with his sword drawn. His commander doesn't attempt to stop him.

"I don't have the authority for that, Prince." He glances out of the window. The two guardsmen are nowhere in sight. "There's no reason to be concerned about them anyway. They abandoned you."

The small circle of soldiers is beginning to close, bit by bit. Many of them wear matching smiles, sharp as blade. A sense of anticipation hums in the air.