Page 18 of His Noble Ruin

His eyes were afraid but tinged with exhaustion as he dragged his feet forward. I carefully touched his bony shoulder and turned him around. At the back of the branks was a keyhole.

“Don’t be afraid.” I pulled out a knife and raised it to the lock.

When my blade touched the metal, he flinched, letting out a muffled cry.

“I’m sorry.” I twisted the razor-sharp tip of the knife until something released. “This will hurt.”

He gripped his hands and whimpered while I lifted the bridle off his tongue and over his head.

“There.” I threw the branks into the shadows, where they landed with a clatter.

He turned to me, his round eyes welling with tears. He opened his mouth to say something, but it came out as a mumble.

“Do you have a home?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Take this to your family.” I reached into my bag and pulled out the very last of my cowry shells, placing them in his shaking hands.

His mouth lifted just a little before he turned and scurried along the brick wall.

I had only taken two steps when a nasal voice spoke behind me and I heard the unmistakable click of a pistol. “Stop. You are under arrest.”

ChapterSeven

I turned around,slowly raising my arms in the air.

The Enforcer had followed me after all. He came toward me with his pistol extended. He nearly walked on his toes, but it did little to hide the fact that he was at least six inches shorter than me. “You have bypassed justice and deprived that child’s family of the opportunity to earn an honest income.”

I should’ve stayed quiet, but the state of the child had made my blood boil. And this pint-sized Enforcer didn’t intimidate me, not even with his weapon pointed my way. “That was not justice.” My voice burned with fury. “It was torture.”

“How dare you speak with such disrespect to an Academy Law Enforcer!” His face twitched beneath the redness. “Rank card, now!”

I glanced at his pistol, trying to decide if he’d dare to use it. The hint of fear in his eyes made me bolder.

“Yes, of course, sir.” I reached into my bag and gripped a knife, not even bothering to remove the sheath. In one rapid movement, I launched it toward the man’s pistol.

The knife collided with the barrel and both weapons clattered to the ground.

The Enforcer’s eyes widened in shock.

We both dove, scrambling for the pistol. He reached it first, but I pinned him down, wrestling the gun from his hands. Then I grabbed the fallen knife and stood up, pointing both weapons at him.

He raised his arms and slowly got to his feet, panting hard. “Mercy, please.”

“Mercy?” I asked. “Just a minute ago, you were going on about justice.” I cocked the pistol.

He choked on his words as he begged.

I smiled. “Don’t be afraid. I’m sure it will go right over your head.”

He ducked.

I breathed hard, gripping the two weapons tighter to keep myself from actually using them. I’d promised myself no one would die because of my plan. That included this pathetic Enforcer. “If you follow me again, you won’t get a second chance. Now leave me alone.”

With a final whimper, he turned on his heels and ran into the closest alleyway.

I tucked the knife and pistol into my bag and took off before Cael could show up to tell me what a terrible mistake I’d just made.

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