Lord Highwater reveals himself

Becky was about to say something to Robin about conserving her energy, when to her total surprise, the door did swing open. Both her and Robin stumbled backward out of the way as four large and well-muscled men stepped in. Their massive chests were bare and marked with more scars than one could count. Their arms were nearly as thick around as Becky's slender waist, and they each worse a tight pair of dark pants, complete with black leather hoods, stilted with eye holes--the traditional mask of the torturer and executioner.

The two women slunk back into the cell away from the intimidating procession. Becky noticed that Robin kept glancing behind her and adjusting her position, making certain that she was always between Becky and the four men.

"Where is he?" she demanded, when the men continued to stand, still and stoic like statues. "Where's Highwater?" she stepped forward, rising up on the tips of her toes to try and look past the men through the door behind them. "Cowering behind your minions, you weasel? Show yourself--I dare you!"

"Such a lot of drama for such a silly little girl," a voice spoke form the darkness. It was quiet, and deep, twisting around it's syllables like a snake. He was elegantly dressed in a long, fashionable suit, and was holding a crystalline glass of wine. His eyes narrowed with a distinct annoyance, as though the two of them had just dragged him from a delightful party to lecture him on tax law. His face was pale, and framed by a well maintained mane of black hair. He gave a pained smile, the annoyance leaving his face replaced by a look that could almost be called kindly if it weren't for his eyes, which had as much emotion as a pair of black pebbles.

As Becky watched, utterly out of her depth with the threat that stood before them, she noticed Robin reaching a hand behind her back. A silent shimmer of lightning traced between her fingertips, arcing around back and forth, growing brighter and brighter, with each revolution, but still dim enough to avoid notice.

"Before you try anything foolish, I'll tell you that there is a neutralizing spell in place that will render any of your minor arcane tricks worthless. Resistance, I believe the correct word is, is futile." He smiled at the Bravos again, then pointed lazily at Robin and snapped a cold order to his men. "That one first. Bind her to the bench. Face up."

"Not happening, Highwater-- you made a big mistake coming in here yourself!" A victorious smile crossed Robin's face. With the ferocity and elegance of leopard she leapt forward, arm outstretched for Highwater's face as the lightning surged into a explosive ball of power, about the size of the man's head.

***

This chapter was co-authored by Shandy (https://chyoa.com/user/Shandy) --please check out his stuff! :)