Chapter 13 The Debt Collector

• The steward arrived three days after the second market, while the morning frost still clung to the windows like white lace.
• I heard the horses first, the heavy clop of hooves on frozen mud, then the jingle of bridles and the low murmur of men's voices. Kaelen was at the counter, counting the coins from the previous night. His hands stopped moving, and the color drained from his face.
• "Stay inside," he said quietly, but his voice carried the weight of old fear. He grabbed his crutch and pushed himself upright.