[ WP ] You feel a slight tug on your pants , and turn to see a terrified pickpocket , trying desperately to return what he just stole .

I leaned against a column of one of dozens of colored stone pavilions overlooking the West Lake. The setting sun painted the mirror-still water with fire. I crossed my arms and enjoyed the brief serenity, recalling memories from childhood of casual strolls along its shores. Those were the days of the old emperor, back when life was dull from prolonged peace, and the streets were lively with merchants and hagglers; when the laughter of children and the cursing of old ladies alike reverberated across the entire city. 
 
 The lake was the same, but the city around it - well, I remembered there being far less patrolling guards. I heard the stamping of boots on cobble coming from somewhere down a far alley. A patrol of guardsmen, no doubt. The merchant manning a nearby stall shot me a quick look, and quickly pulled down the shutters. The old lady hawking her spices covered up her basket and briskly ducked behind a nearby shack. This was the empire now, I reminded myself. The old days were gone. Those days died with the emperor, and now, only fear and uncertainty remain. Cities were purged, good men and women killed without trial, and the empire I once served, well, now only a shadow of that remained. The sound of boots grew louder. 
 
 I was a wanted man, that I knew, but I had nothing to fear from grunts such as these. Even if some of them had come down with a particularly bad case of dutifulness, none of them would have the gall to do anything about it. By the time they'd have made the panicked report to their masters, I would be long gone. That being said, discretion was probably wise. 
 
 I smiled wryly, and tipped the brim of my bamboo hat downwards to hide my face, and reached behind me to make sure my dagger was well hidden. My dagger was gone. I grimaced. I patted my waist and scanned the ground nearby. Nothing. Someone had taken my dagger. 
 
 The patrol passed me by without incident. None of them spared a side ward glance, but I had bigger problems now. It was n't that I was particularly attached to that dagger, but what it represented made it supremely dangerous in certain hands. 
 
 I began to retrace my steps, away from the lake, and onto a nearby street. I saw a boy, no older than fifteen, running towards me. He stopped, and knelt before me. In his right hand was a dagger - my dagger. I quickly looked around to make sure no guards were nearby, and took it from him. I sheathed the dagger, and dragged the boy behind an empty market stall. 
 
 `` That's a silly thing to do,'' I told him. 
 
 He looked up. His voice was trembling. `` I... I'm sorry. I thought I could sell it...'' 
 
 `` Would n't be worth much. A few silver at best.'' I noticed the black rings under his eyes. The boy was emaciated. It must have been some time since his last meal. `` I know times are tough, but...'' 
 
 `` I know who you are. I know.'' He gritted his teeth, and looked straight at me. `` And I want you to teach me how to fight.'' 
 
 I paused, and said slowly, `` And who do you think I am, kid?'' 
 
 `` You're the Red Shadow. The Silver Swordman. The Emperor's bodyguard. You fought through six hundred men that day to get to the palace.'' 
 
 I shook my head. `` Did n't matter much in the end, now did it?'' 
 
 `` No. But you can teach me to fight.'' He pulled my arm and pointed towards an alley in the distance. `` See there? That's my home, now. There are dozens of us. Some older, some younger. We're all starving. But this is still better than if the guards find us - we'll be sold as slaves.'' 
 
 Slavery. I've seen enough of it in my recent travels. `` What happened to your parents?'' I knew I was n't going to like the answer. 
 
 The boy shrugged. `` Killed. Imprisoned, What's the difference? Here, either you can fight and live, or you ca n't, and die. No one cares here. Everyone who cared, died. But you're different. You can help. Teach me to fight, and I'll teach them.'' 
 
 I looked to the tower jutting above then governor's manse in the distance. I put my hand on the boy's shoulder. `` Enough talk about fighting. Let's get you something eat first. Then, I'm going to have a chat with the governor.'' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

