Horus's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Horus stood at the warning post and watched the stranger's hands. No name. No reason. Just a tired face and quiet eyes. Hightree was bleeding people by the week, and Horus had sworn to hold what was left of it standing beside Titus. He weighed the cost of trust against the cost of refusal, and neither felt safe. "Walk," Horus said. He kept one hand near his belt and steered the stranger down through the empty street toward the stone barracks. Lothar opened the heavy door without a word. Horus guided the man to the cell at the back, motioned him inside, and slid the bolt. "Sit. Wait. We'll talk when my partner gets here." Titus arrived as the light failed. He looked through the bars, then at Horus. "You did right. We learn what he is before we decide." Horus nodded. The stranger watched them both and said nothing. Outside, the town went dark earlier than it should have, and Horus felt the line move again under his feet.