'Pull in!' the officer shouted. 'Protect the War Master!'

'Uncle Sten!' Che cried. She was already halfway back inside the automotive, an arm reaching out for him, when she noticed the Vekken ambassador was sprawled on his back. A moment later he was lurching to his feet, but he had a bolt embedded up to its metal fletchings in his shoulder. His sword was out, offhanded, but he did nothing but stand there in plain view. She rushed over to him, got her hand on his shoulder.

He cut viciously at her. If not for his wound, he might have lopped her arm off at the elbow. She retreated, seeing him loom over her with blade raised, at that moment prepared to kill her without another thought. She was an enemy of his race and had dared to touch him. He must really have been what passed for a Vekken diplomat, however, because he let something stay his hand.

'Get inside the automotive!' she urged him. 'Please!'

'I am in no danger,' he replied, and she thought she had misheard him at first, barely catching the words over the shouting. Stenwold collided backwards into the automotive's side with a curse, as a soldier thrust him back, one-handed. There was a bolt lodged through the man's left arm, and with his other hand he pressed his snapbow into Che's grip.

'Take it and use it. Come on, Master Maker!'

'Wait!' Stenwold crouched lower. 'Wait – look at them!'

The attackers had mostly stopped shooting now, and instead were forming up a line of shields, preparing to rush in and finish the job. Meanwhile the automotive's driver was pointedly letting the steam engine whine and rumble, as if trying to get the idea of escape across. Che looked down at the snapbow, glinting fully loaded in her hands.

If only I could. But it was a deadweight, useless to her. She dropped it into the automotive's waiting hold.

'Look at them!' Stenwold was shouting, pointing for the benefit of the Vekken envoy, and Cheerwell suddenly realized what he meant. The line of attackers, who were moving in even as the Collegium guard tightened around the automotive, were all Ant-kinden. Specifically, they were Ant-kinden of Vek.