Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 9]

I had a moment to wonder when killing had become as blasé as that for me, a simple case of book-keeping, when the door was wrenched open.

Two guards stood there, Vale tabards marking them as the Night Guard, simply the local law enforcement when the sun went down, a rich blue tabard lined with white, designed to stand out as best any colour could in the moonlight. At the sight of them, Lisa let out a relieved cry and surged forward.

I caught her by the arm and dragged her back.

"It took you less than three minutes to get here," I said softly, eyes narrowed. "Three minutes for a cry to reach the street, for you to figure out which building it was, which room, and to make your way here. With reactions like that, you must be the most efficient guards in the Kingdom." I cracked a desperate, angry smile. "Or you knew this was going to happen."

Lisa flinched. "W-What?"

The `Guards` didn't say a word. Both surged forwards, drawing their weapons and making Lisa scream again in fright.

[...]

"You know, the guards wouldn't patrol in such numbers," I pointed out tiredly. "And they certainly wouldn't have burning brands ready to set a fucking building on fire."

This time, Lisa didn't need me to point out the obvious.

—Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 9]