The rider lifted the front of their helmet.
Surprisingly, the knight was human, or at least looked that way. I didn’t stretch my shadows out to verify.
The brave human dismounted and landed with a heavy clank. He approached, halting a few paces away.
For long, tense seconds, nobody spoke.
I examined the knights.
There was nothing impressive about them. They stank of stale magic, sweat, and fear.
Not noticing an immediate threat, the knight dropped his hand from his sword.
His voice broke the silence. “You have summoned the King’s Men,” he boomed. “Do not fear. We have arrived. We will keep you safe.”
“Safe?” a female voice snorted from somewhere behind me, followed by another voice shushing.
Tommins cleared his throat. “We did not receive much information. Care to explain before we proceed?”
The soldier glanced at Tommins before his gaze jumped to me. He stiffened. “Is this the one?” he asked nobody in particular.
My mouth curled in a threatening smile.
Tommins stepped in front of me, hiding me from the man’s view.
What thefuck?
“There might be some sort of misunderstanding,” Tommins said, voice flat. “What does the King intend to do?”
The fingers returned to the sword hilt and tightened. “That is no concern of yours. Who are you to question His Majesty?”
“With all due respect, the King stays out of our business, and we stay out of his. He hasn’t set foot in this town in years, since I’ve been Mayor. What right does he have to step in now?”
“Watch yourself, sir. You’re the one who contacted us.”
“Like I said—a misunderstanding.”
Another knight stepped out of line. “I can smell him.” He pointed in my direction and shuddered dramatically. “It’s that one.”
The folk could smell me? I wasn’t sure if that was annoying or… convenient.
“I don’t think so?—”
“Step aside, Mayor.”
The watching crowd broke into anxious murmurs.
A hiss of metal screeching against metal signified that at least one sword was drawn.
A quiet inhale of breath behind me snagged my attention. Ginger.
I risked a glance in her direction. She was a few paces behind me. She had stepped out of the crowd, her friends not far behind her, looking like she was going to somehow intervene.
Not that that was possible at this point.
Her gaze was zeroed in on that drawn sword.
Tommins didn’t move. “I think it’s time for you folk to leave.”
