Ral - Reacts to throwing dagger

        The door opened, quietly, and the serving girl re-entered, bearing a tray with a steaming pot of tea. Emmara looked up.

          "That's not necessary," she said. "Please, leave us be."

          "Sorry, Mistress Emmara." The girl came over and set the tray on one of the tables. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

          Emmara waved a hand, dismissively, and the girl turned to go. Turned—

          And reached behind her back—

          Ral moved fast, leaping out of his chair and throwing himself toward Emmara. The girl's hand emerged with a long, slim dagger, which she swung overhand in an arc that would bury it in Emmara's breast. Emmara herself was looking up, startled, as it came down.

          His arm took her around the waist, pulling her down and knocking the lightweight chair out of the way. The assassin's dagger missed its target, slashing a line of red across Emmara's upper arm instead.

***

The Gathering Storm, Chapter 5