"Finally, a warm house and a bed to rest," Lavinia murmured as she pushed open the door, her eyes adjusting to the sight of the men guarding the carriage.
The abruptness of the scene jarred her from her drowsiness, immediately igniting a surge of protective instincts.
Clad in her golden armor, Lavinia's shield manifested as she leaped into action. A swift kick sent the first man sprawling to the ground, prompting others to reach for their words, not their weapons. But a barrage of spikes ejected from her shield, forcing them to reconsider their intentions.
"Listen to us, you brute!" one of the men yelled, met with a blow that rendered him momentarily incapacitated, not deceased.
"She killed Tommy!" another man hissed, sword hand tightening reflexively.
"He's not dead, just unconscious," a mellifluous voice interjected, diffusing the tension. The men hesitated, their gazes warily tracking the approach of a black-haired woman.
