"I began working at the Serin palace in my early teens."
Mr. Thomas lowered himself into a slashed chair near the fire Kel had kindled.
Thanks to the pleasant spring sun shining just outside the cabin's wall, the warmth from the flames wasn't needed. Rather, the purpose of the fire was for its ability to completely erase an object's existence--an object like the crumpled hunting order still trapped inside Mr. Thomas's tightly clenched fist.
"I certainly wasn't the most impressive guard, but I always did my job," Mr. Thomas continued, staring into the flickering orange flames.
Kel nodded, her gaze drawn to the ajar door. Should she go tie up Mr. Thomas's horse before it ran away? The man didn't seem too concerned with the matter, but…
"So when countless enemies swarmed the palace in a coup that seemingly everyone except us lower-ranks knew about," Mr. Thomas went on, "what could I do except my duty?"
