“Wait, no!” Arthur said, raising his arms in surrender. “We're not to blame for this.” Arthur ducked instinctively as the closest Mori swung for him, his combat programming taking over. A second Mori grasped his arm and Arthur turned, twisting away from his attacker as a third assailant wrapped his large, chitinous arms around Arthur's neck. Resigning himself to having to fight, Arthur thrust his head backwards into the Mori's face, stunning him and knocking him backwards against the bar. The second assailant swung, a move Arthur dodged easily and returned in kind, an open-fisted blow to the throat which made him stagger. Upon seeing his two comrades defeated, the initial assailant paused and, after helping the second assailant to his feet, helped him to the exit. “Not you,” Merlin said authoritatively as Ari-Dun attempted to sneak past them. “We need to have a conversation.” Ari-Dun paused where he was, the sneer on his face becoming a wry smile as he returned to his seat.
