That very day, a group of city guards in matching armor rushed into the area surrounding the courtyard.
At the front, on a horse, was Jacob.
Short sword in hand. Back straight. The expression of a man who had arrived at the moment his entire internal narrative had been building toward.
"You bandits!!" His voice went out at full volume, the kind of projection that expected to carry across a battlefield and probably across several streets beyond it. "You have the gall to take hostage a fair maiden? Today is your downfall!!"
The echo of it moved into the distance and came back slightly smaller.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Inside the courtyard, Ember was already moving.
