“Gentlemen,” my uncle stated evenly, drawing my attention back to the scene. “Challengers are protected under Veridian law until midnight on the start of the Decemvirate, which is not for another twenty-seven hours. Should word get back to the architects of your interference, you could be held in contempt of—” “Of course, we had to go and pick a talker,” the one to the right said with a scratchy scoff. “Enough of this.” My jaw dropped as the man threw his cloak and lunged, transforming mid-air into a roaring snow leopard.
