The Rings Fighter by JC Andrijeski

yet, Chloe fought to reestablish a healthy skepticism around the Ringmaster and his motives. She knew the venom would make her want to trust him.
    She was still thinking about that, watching Trazen where he sat casually on a curved bench, his muscular arm draped lightly over her shoulders as he listened to something another Nirreth said, when a commotion by the door got her to turn.
    She hadn’t swiveled all the way around when a familiar voice rang overhead.
    “Ringmaster Trazen!” it said in Nargili. “I would like a word with you... friend.”
    She froze.
    Around her, the dozen or so Nirreth at their table fell silent, too. One cut himself off abruptly, mid-laugh at some joke a Nirreth bureaucrat had been telling them. That same Nirreth had been flirting openly with Chloe for the past half-hour, but seemed to fear Trazen enough that he wasn’t very aggressive about it, so she’d barely noticed.
    That voice, however, smashed her calm into a million jagged pieces.
    Her whole body stiffened, jerking immediately into fight or flight.
    As if he felt it, Trazen wrapped his arm and tail strongly around her, pulling her against his muscular side. His presence enveloped her at once, dimmer from the diminished venom, but still strong enough to force her muscles to unclench.
    Relax, he murmured in her mind. He won’t touch you, Chloe. I promise.
    She nodded, but no longer believed him.
    I promise, he repeated, softer. I promise, Chloe. Everything is all right. I would not have brought you here if I could not handle this...
    She nodded again, but didn’t meet his gaze.
    She could feel him contemplating stinging her again, fearing she might say something, expose him in some way. Even if she simply came across as too attached to him, to quick to jump to his defense––
    I won’t, she told him, forcing her fear back, shutting herself down. I won’t. You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t do anything stupid.
    Trazen’s arm coiled around her tighter.
    She felt a flush of affection from him, worry.
    Only then did she turn her head.
    Barely giving Trazen a glance, she looked past him instead, focusing on the Nirreth with the crooked tail who stood there, his eyes glassed with drink and venom.
    Agnon flicked his kinked tail in a whip-like arc when she turned, gripping the arms of two mostly-naked human females, one in each hand.
    “I see you brought my property with you,” Agnon hissed. “Very considerate of you... I’d like it back. I have even brought these two in trade... to soften any sentiment you might harbor.” Agnon thrust the two humans forward, one of whom almost fell, teetering on high heels. Agnon didn’t spare her a glance, but stared at Chloe, his deep black eyes cold. “I believe we only agreed on a loan, venerable Ringmaster? I am calling that loan in... if you don’t mind.”
    Chloe heard the threat there.
    She heard it, even as her eyes took in the crowd of armed Nirreth Agnon had brought with him. More walked through the front door of the building as he spoke, muscled and moving like fighters, wearing dark clothes.
    It struck her suddenly, why Agnon would want to do this publicly.
    Nirreth prided themselves on their ability to hold their own––whether via their own fighting prowess or their wealth and hired muscle. Agnon hoped to force Trazen into an unequal fight. He intended to beat him down publicly, thus diminishing Trazen’s status, in addition to taking Chloe from him by force.
    Even if Trazen tried to use political connections to get her back later, he would lose face.
    Moreover, Chloe suspected she wouldn’t survive long enough for Trazen to stage anything similar in response. Trazen may have the last laugh with Agnon eventually, but she wouldn’t be alive to see it.
    All of that flickered through her mind even as Trazen rose from the bench.
    Chloe had to fight not to clutch at him as he left her, watching him face down the half-circle of Nirreth guards who now boxed them in around