Derrick mentally groaned. The man was a lunatic. "And what do we get in return? Either way, we lose our Princess. So why should we let you walk out of here to do who knows what to her." He narrowed his eyes at the man as he mentally scrambled for some way, any way, to save her.

A knight off to one side reached over quietly and pushed a long drape into the fireplace. It caught immediately, blazing up in fire and smoke. The diversion was all Derrick needed. Ducking low and running forward, he rammed one hand into the man's neck and slid his other hand to grip the wrist with the knife. Effectively creating distance, he let the man's sagging body start to crumble towards the ground while he reached with his free hand to wrap an arm around Athena's waist. Wrenching the wrist away from her as the knife clattered to the ground, he saw other knights descending upon the unconscious man while he stepped Athena away from him.

Then he scooped her easily up in his strong arms and held her close to his chest, fear that something might yet harm her filling him. Walking to Erik, he said, "we need a safe place for Athena. She was the target tonight. The castle is compromised. Is there no other place we can hide her until things settle down?"