A cold wind howled through the valley, carrying whispers of a storm yet to come. The moon cast an eerie glow over the ruins of an ancient outpost, its once-proud stone walls reduced to crumbling rubble. Among the remnants of a forgotten battle, a lone figure sat by a dying fire.
Kai adjusted the tattered cloak draped over his shoulders, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword—a blade once revered, now worn and dulled by time. He had long since abandoned the life of a knight, but even in exile, old instincts refused to die. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness, ever wary of the dangers that lurked beyond the fire's reach.
The world had turned against him. Branded a traitor, stripped of his honor, and cast out from the kingdom he once swore to protect, he had learned to live as a ghost—unseen, unheard, and untouched by the affairs of men. But fate had a cruel way of finding those who wished to be forgotten.
The snap of a twig shattered the silence.
Kai's grip tightened around his sword as he rose to his feet. His breath remained steady, his muscles poised for action. Then he saw her.
A young woman stumbled into the firelight, her cloak torn, her breathing ragged. Strands of auburn hair clung to her dirt-streaked face, and her emerald eyes flickered with both fear and defiance. Behind her, the unmistakable sound of horses thundered through the trees.
"Halt!" A gruff voice rang out. "Surrender the girl, and we won't gut you like a pig."
Kai sighed, rolling his shoulders. He had planned to avoid trouble, to let the world pass him by. But as the first of the pursuers emerged from the shadows, swords gleaming under the moonlight, he knew fate had other plans.
He drew his blade.
"If you want her…" Kai said, his voice cold and resolute, "…you'll have to go through me."