I spent the rest of the morning moving through the market, keeping my hood low and my eyes forward. The streets were crowded now, merchants shouting prices, children running between carts, dogs barking at passersby.
The man from yesterday wasn't anywhere in sight. That didn't mean I was safe. My reputation was already spreading. Every whisper, every rumor, made people look at me differently. Not as a normal traveler, not as a low-ranking guard. As a dangerous figure. A villain.
I wanted none of it.
I just wanted to survive.
That was when I saw her.
A young woman, maybe eighteen or nineteen, was being harassed by two men near a fruit stall. One grabbed her arm roughly, trying to pull a small purse from her shoulder. She struggled, shouting, but they were strong. Too strong for her to fight alone.
People were watching, but no one stepped in. Not a word, not a hand. Fear, I guessed. Or maybe curiosity.
My stomach tightened. I should have walked past. I wasn't a hero. I wasn't here to save anyone.
But something in me… shifted.
I stepped closer, my hand on my knife.
"Hey!" I shouted.
The men turned. One smirked. "What's this? You think you can stop us?"
I didn't answer. I didn't need to. I moved quickly. One step forward, a swing of my arm, and the smaller of the two men stumbled back, slipping on the wet cobblestones. His partner cursed and lunged at me, swinging a fist.
I ducked and sidestepped. Simple movement. No skill. No flair. Just instinct.
The crowd gasped.
"Get off me!" the woman screamed, pulling her arm free.
The man who lunged at me slipped slightly, but regained his balance. "You're going to pay for that!" he yelled.
I grabbed a nearby crate and shoved it between us. He stopped, startled. The crate fell with a loud crash, and the noise drew attention from the rest of the market.
People started moving back, giving me space. Their eyes were wide. Whispers spread quickly: "The Right Hand…" "He's dangerous…"
I didn't correct them.
I didn't want to.
The men cursed and looked at each other. Then, without another word, they ran. Faster than I expected, but I didn't chase them. The danger had passed.
The woman stared at me, her eyes wide, breathing fast. "Thank you," she said.
I shrugged, brushing some snow off my coat. "It's nothing," I muttered.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. "Nothing? You just… you just stopped them. People are saying… you're the Right Hand."
I looked away. I didn't answer.
"I'm Lina," she said softly. "I… I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you."
I froze. Trust. That was dangerous. I didn't want anyone trusting me. Not anyone.
"I… I'm just passing through," I said, keeping my voice flat.
She nodded slowly. "I understand. But… maybe we could walk together for a while? Just to be safe?"
I stared at her. I didn't like walking with anyone. I didn't want to be followed or seen with someone who could be in danger. But something about her voice… calm, but not scared… made me pause.
"Fine," I said. "Keep close."
She smiled faintly and fell in step beside me.
We walked through the market, past the stalls, past people who whispered and stared. I kept my hood low, my eyes scanning every alley and street.
"Why are people afraid of you?" Lina asked suddenly.
I glanced at her. "Rumors," I said shortly. "Stories. People think I'm someone I'm not."
She nodded, but didn't press further. I wondered if she believed me. Probably not. But it didn't matter.
We reached the edge of town, near a bridge that crossed a small river. The snow had stopped falling, but the cold wind made it difficult to see far.
"I should be moving on soon," I said. "I can't stay in one place."
She looked at me, her eyes serious. "Then I'll leave too. But… thank you. Really. You saved me."
I didn't answer. Words weren't needed.
But then… I noticed movement in the distance.
A group of riders approached quickly, their horses kicking up snow. I counted at least four, maybe five. Their cloaks were dark, and their swords glinted in the weak light.
One of them shouted. "There he is! The Right Hand!"
I stiffened.
Lina noticed too. Her hand went to her chest, clutching the small bag she carried.
"They're coming for you," she said softly.
I cursed under my breath. There was no escaping this time. Not through the roads. Not through the town.
I glanced around. Narrow streets, market stalls… the perfect place to disappear if you moved carefully.
Or… the perfect place to make a statement.
I didn't want to fight them. Not really. But if they came closer, I wouldn't have a choice.
I turned to Lina. "Stay behind me," I said.
Her eyes widened, but she didn't move.
The riders were almost at the bridge. I could see their faces now. Hard, determined, trained. They weren't ordinary guards. They were bounty hunters. Professionals.
I tightened my grip on my knife.
And then I realized something.
Even if I didn't want to be the Right Hand…
The world was going to make me one.
And maybe… just maybe… I could use that.