Chapter twenty-five: The Stranger POV
Sitting on a roof and overlooking the city was something normal people usually didn’t do.
That didn’t apply to me in the least – I was anything but normal.
However, despite the fear many felt at heights – I found it exhilarating.
The vantage point itself also gave me the comfort of not having to look over my shoulder every few minutes.
I tossed an apple back and forth in my hands, wondering when I should put my plan into motion. The sooner the better – but I still needed to wrap up a few things.
The corruption in the city and the heavy influence of the nobles was becoming a rot so deep it extended from market street to the slums.
There’s never a dull day in the city. I thought, sinking my teeth into the apple.
I could stir up some trouble – and might, if I had half the mind to.
Boredom is a dangerous thing after all.
“Make way.” A very bitter, very annoyed, voice snarled from the street below. “Move you fools. Do you not hear me or are you choosing to play dumb?”
Ah, just what I want. Maybe I can pick a fight with him.
I climbed to my feet, walking toward the edge of the roof. I crouched, raising the apple above my head, waiting for the opportune moment to crack the irritating man upside the head.
The entourage weaved through the crowd, unaware I had them in my sights.
I hesitated the moment I realized they were knights. There were seven in total and they were leading a worn down rickety carriage behind them – with a lone woman as the passenger.
She didn’t look out the window, nor did she have any expression on her face. If anything, she looked like a statue made of the finest marble.
Cold and quietly watching the world without giving away her true thoughts.
I knew exactly who she was. I would have been blind and ignorant to pretend otherwise.
It was her.
The one who had called me mad.
The one who leapt from a building into my arms.
The woman I had tried to help flee.
So you got caught after all. I thought, mildly amused. You should have let me help you.
I lowered my arm, stopping halfway when I noticed deep purple bruising on her arm and by her collar bone.
A dark emotion – one I couldn’t quite fathom – snaked through my stomach, clenching and unclenching. How dare they lay their hands on a noble woman.
“Why is she wounded?” I asked no one in particular. Why did they hit her to the point she had gotten bruised?
The rage spiked – burning through my chest. The urge to jump down and slaughter the knights was so strong that I almost gave into it.
I can’t intervene. If I do, my disguise will fall. after all, no common man has the same fighting skills as I do.
They moved slowly through the crowd – shoving people aside as they did. Although I was aware of that fact – I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Eventually, as if sensing me, she looked up.
Her expression never changed – but I saw a flicker of recognition pass through her violet eyes.
She turned her head away the next moment – blatantly ignoring my presence.
“You can ignore me all you want.” I said, climbing down from the dilapidated building.
“Are you ready to leave yet?” Another man – one I wished I could dump into the ocean – asked as I landed beside him.
“In disguise or not – your rudeness will have your head rolling one of these days, Thomas.”
“You’re the one that told me to be informal.” He sighed, rubbing his temples. “I swear to all the gods – every last one – that you’re going to be the death of me.”
“Most likely.” I snatched the cloak he was holding out. “That is if your neurotic tendencies don’t kill you first.”
“Please stop teasing me.” He whined. “I wouldn’t be this way if it wasn’t for you.”
“What a predictable response.” I pulled the hood down – walking toward the end of the alley.
Is she gone already? I turned my head to the left, catching a faint glimmer of a knight's sword in the distance.
“What are you looking at now?” Thomas walked up behind me, craning his neck to follow my eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re about to stir up more trouble. Do you have any idea how-”
“Yes, yes. Trouble.” I stepped onto the street, pointedly walking in the opposite direction she was headed in.
“I’m serious, if you do…” Thomas complained, jogging after me.
“I’ve no plans to start trouble. Not yet that is.”
Thomas let out a long breath, grumbling about how he would have to do more work if I did.
It was easy enough to ignore him, but I couldn’t stop picturing the cold expression on her face.
The woman I had on the streets was anything but cold. She was snarky, a bit wild, and deeply entertaining.
Her attitude had been curt and distant – and yet she was interesting. Enough that she grabbed my attention for an extended length of time.
“I wonder how she’ll feel if she knew who I was.” I mused.
“What are you talking about? Were you even listening to me?”
“No.” I looked over at him. “I wasn’t. No one listens to you. You complain more than any man has a right to.”
“That’s extremely rude.” He grumbled.
“What’s really rude is you pestering me.” I slung my arm around his shoulders – steering us down a different alley. “Let’s get this job done. Then you can go home and complain to the staff about how much of a hindrance it is to work for me.”
“I would never do that.” He flushed a deep red and stepped away. “I haven’t even told my wife about what you’ve been up to.”
“Good. You can live another day then.”
Thomas continued to complain as we wandered through the streets.
I heard little of what he said, as my mind circled back to the woman once again.
I don’t know what is going on, but I’ll find out.
I’ll be seeing you soon, Kyla.