“You’ve got to be kidding me,” growled Kell. Alucard saw him, and stopped. He made a sound halfway between a chuckle and a cough. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt—” “It’s fine, Captain,” said Lila at the same time Kell growled, “Go away, Emery.” Lila and Kell looked at each other, confused. “You know him?” demanded Kell. Alucard straightened. “Of course she does. Bard works for me aboard the Night Spire.” “I’m his best thief,” said Lila. “Bard,” chided Alucard, “we don’t call it thieving in the presence of the crown.” Kell, meanwhile, appeared to be losing his mind. “No,” he muttered,
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” growled Kell. Alucard saw him, and stopped. He made a sound halfway between a chuckle and a cough. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt—” “It’s fine, Captain,” said Lila at the same time Kell growled, “Go away, Emery.” Lila and Kell looked at each other, confused. “You know him?” demanded Kell. Alucard straightened. “Of course she does. Bard works for me aboard the Night Spire.” “I’m his best thief,” said Lila. “Bard,” chided Alucard, “we don’t call it thieving in the presence of the crown.” Kell, meanwhile, appeared to be losing his mind. “No,” he muttered, running a hand through his copper hair. “No. No. There are dozens.” “Kell?” she asked, moving to touch his arm. He shook her off. “Dozens of ships, Lila! And you had to climb aboard his.” “I’m sorry,” she shot back, bristling, “I was under the impression that I was free to do as I pleased.” “To be fair,” added Alucard, “I think she was planning to steal it and slit my throat.” “Then why didn’t you?” snarled Kell, spinning on her. “You’re always so eager to slash and stab, why couldn’t you have stabbed him?” Alucard leaned in. “I think she’s growing fond of me.” “She can speak for herself,” shot Lila. She twisted toward Kell. “Why are you so upset?” “Because Alucard Emery is a worthless noble with too much charm and too little honor, and you chose to go with him.” The words cut through the air as Rhy rounded the corner. “What on earth are you all shouting about…” The prince trailed off as he...
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Okay, so I said in the notes for A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC that fight scenes were my favorite thing to write. In actuality, it’s probably ensemble scenes involving characters that intensely dislike each other. The banter, you guys. The banter. And the tension. I love adding straw to the proverbial camel's back.
