Riona dodged—but not fast enough, because of course, dramatic timing demanded she get stabbed just a little. The knife sank into her shoulder blade, prompting a chorus of shocked gasps as the attacker popped out of nowhere.
Thorin lunged forward to protect her, but Riona was already in full defensive mode. With one hand, she grabbed the assailant by the throat like she was plucking a particularly annoying weed.
Then, in one move, she hurled him to the ground, face-first into the dirt. "Who the hell are you? And why—"
Before she could finish, her vision blurred, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
The assailant scrambled to recover, clearly prepared to make another move, but Thorin was already on him. With a speed born of rage, Thorin tackled the man to the ground and pinned him down effortlessly.
"You're not going anywhere," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.