Lancel quickly subdued the men rushing for him, meeting each of them head-on and putting them down before they could properly follow through.
The moment three of them were already on the ground at once, the rest froze in their tracks.
Breathing heavily, Lancel looked up, sweat beginning to bead along his brow as his gaze swept across everyone present.
"As I said," he spoke. "I'm looking for a group of bastards masquerading as clowns. They took two people close to me."
"Clowns?" someone from the crowd spoke up. "The performers from yesterday in the central district?"
Lancel's eyes turned toward the voice. "Do you know anything, Mister?"
Without another word, he removed his foot from the man he had been stepping on and slowly approached the one who spoke.
"I might know a thing or two."
The man's voice lowered as he looked around.
"But it's best we don't talk about it here."
Lancel took a moment to process his words before giving a nod.
