Sliding the wooden chair back over the floorboards and hoping her knees were ready to support her, Bellora moved to stand. She remembered there being water in the—

   THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

   She almost wet down her own leg at the jolt of a fist banging at the door. The whole wall seemed to shake.

   What the …?

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

   “Imperial Guard. Open the door.”

   Imperial …  Had they followed her? Her mind and heart were in a race to see which could trip the other and kill her first. Was this about the—

   THUMP! THUMP!

   “Imperial Guard! Open the door now, or pay for a new one later!”

   Oh, balls. What could these idiots want?

   Bellora scurried around the table to the door, knowing the potter’s wife—her landlady—would be none too pleased if part of the property was splintered to bits. It felt like an awl was pushing through her temple as she moved.

   This better be important. Assholes.

   THUMP! TH—

   “Yes?” she said in irritation as she yanked the door open to a bracer-clad arm still in mid-air.

   “Bellora Dazhmi.”

   It wasn’t even a question. The blunt-nosed officer smirked down at her, two more of the palace guard flanking him from behind. She was in no mood.

   “What do you want?” Hadn’t Ayzhus said she was free to go?