It takes every ounce of restraint Evangeline has not to react wildly, to lash out and tackle her attacker, call upon every shard of metal at her disposal and all but put an excruciating end to him. But that wouldn’t be wise. She knows that. Instead, she cried out, dramatically attempting to put out the flames licking at the hem of her pants, a look of horror on her face as she does. All to ensure everyone is watching, to make sure everyone can see what a cowardice act their little princeling has committed. Eventually a nymph puts on the small flames that nicked at her with a splash of water and a healer works their ability on her as well, paying careful attention to her burns before they even so much as glance at Maven, whom she hopes is still bleeding silver all over the arena. When the commotion dies down, and her friends see to it that she’s well, Evangeline shoos them away to stalk back over to Maven. “Coward!” she hisses the insult before she’s finished approaching him. “Don’t take it out on me if just because you can’t win a single match. It’s not my fault you’re so weak, is it, my Prince?” Evan dares to punctuate her accusation by shoving him in the shoulder. After all, he wouldn’t dare try his trick again, would he?
When she comes back at him, he thinks he’s in for it. Flames curl up his arms as he prepares to defend himself, and they extinguish when her palms shove him rather than spikes of metal going through his body. His eyes fall shut for a brief moment in relief, and when his eyes open, it’s as if his fire is burning behind them. She won’t hurt him-- she’s merely Cal’s betrothed. And while he’s never been cherished by the king, he would not sit behind and allow some girl to kill his son without being punished. She would certainly DIE for trying to kill him. Maven crosses his arms over his chest, settling back onto his heels from where he’d lifted himself to meet her hit. He is far more relaxed now as he tells her, “Maybe I’m so weak because I know no one here will actually hurt me. If I were to have a horrible accident during practice, it would be taken care of, wouldn’t it?”
