“How dare you touch her? Your greed for power will be your undoing,” Sebastian yelled.
The entire foyer was filled to the brim with people as they watched the two men duel. The orchestra had stopped playing and even those guests who came for the food and drink paused what they were doing to watch the fight.
Sebastian countered the attack, smashing his saber into Alain again and again, sending the man up the stairs.
Meanwhile, Sebastian had misjudged the distance and Alain came toward him, kicking him with all his might and sending him flying down the steps into several casual observers. The spectators moved back as the duel was gaining momentum and ground.
Sebastian had the wind knocked out of him but recovered quickly, just in time to defend himself as Alain came towards him and slashed into the air again. He blocked it, but not before Alain’s saber pierced his arm.
Sebastian gasped out loud, as did the people watching. The blood seeped into his coat and Sophie covered her mouth with her hand. Alain sliced into the air, meeting Sebastian’s saber and then hitting him in the face with his elbow.
Sebastian countered the attack with a quick punch to the inspector’s stomach.
When Alain doubled over, Sebastian stood with the saber held under the other man’s chin.
“It’s over, Vennard,” he said calmly.
Sebastian made eye contact with Etienne and his father, who nodded. They would have the inspector arrested for threatening Sophie and for threatening to kill Sebastian.
Slowly, Alain straightened and was seemingly defeated and apologetic. His sword hung at his side. As soon as he moved almost next to Sebastian, he whirled around and grabbed Sophie by the waist.
“Bash!” she cried out.
Alain held her tightly while his saber was underneath Sebastian’s chin, keeping him at a distance.
“Let her go, Vennard. You hurt her and you’ll spend the rest of your days looking over your shoulder. I promise you,” Sebastian swore.
Holding Sophie close to him and using her as a shield, Alain moved through the crowd, trying to find an opening. He slashed at the people in front of him and watched as Sebastian moved just out of reach but still close enough to pounce.
Sophie felt the grip of Alain on her waist, her eyes on her husband, who kept her in his sight.
Suddenly Alain saw his chance. He threw Sophie at Sebastian and muttered, “This isn’t over.”
Sophie made contact with Sebastian but then stepped out of the way. Sebastian sliced the air and his saber hit home across Alain’s back. The inspector turned, crying out and tried to retaliate but his saber met with only air not hitting its intended target.
The crowd had parted behind him just as Sebastian’s saber found home again, this time in the inspector’s arm. Alain clutched his arm in pain and yelped. He was swinging wildly and made a hasty exit using the saber as a weapon so people would move away.
Sebastian tried to chase Alain, but it was dark outside and once the inspector left the house, he blended into the Paris night.
“The man is mad!” several people exclaimed as Sebastian returned, holding Sophie tightly in his arms.
***
Eugenie, Katharine and Leila sat beside the fire while Mohammed, Sebastian, Etienne and Jean Pierre discussed their plan of action.
Sophie was looking out the window, as if waiting for the inspector to return.
“He’s finished in Paris. Word is already out that he attacked a young woman with hundreds of witnesses,” Etienne remarked.
“I’ll speak to the commissioner tomorrow. He’ll sack the inspector—I’ll see to it,” Jean Pierre said, watching his daughter at the window.
“Yes. But with France on the brink of revolution, he is just the sort of man who will rise from the mud,” Sebastian countered.
His wound was not serious and Sophie had bandaged it herself. She had been concerned and worried for his safety and Sebastian had calmed her.
“We’ll be prepared for him, son. See to your wife,” Mohammed said. “She needs you.”
***
Sophie lay curled next to Sebastian on their bed watching the fire crackle and spit. She had not expected to see the inspector again, and his threats of retaliation against her husband had been real and venomous.
“He will not stop. If it is not me he uses, it will be someone else. He is power-hungry beyond all reason.” She shuddered.
“I spoke to my parents. Leila and Etienne are traveling to the continent and your family is headed to England. I think it best we go to Arabia,” Sebastian told her.
Sophie looked at him expectantly. “Arabia?” She sounded hopeful.
“Yes. France is unsafe and the inspector is dangerous. It’s time you had a taste of my homeland anyways. I think the time to journey to Arabia is now.”