Voss studied him for a moment longer, then gave a small nod, as if acknowledging something unspoken.
"We're here because we were hired," he said.
The town lord blinked slightly.
"Hired?"
Voss adjusted the grip on his saber, resting it more comfortably against his shoulder.
"Clear Water Sect," he said. "They sent us to help defend this town."
For a brief moment, the tension on the town lord's face cracked.
Relief spread through it again, deeper this time.
"…Clear Water Sect," he repeated, almost in disbelief. "I didn't think they would pay attention to a place like this."
A faint, tired smile appeared on his lips.
"Thank you," he added sincerely. "Truly."
Voss didn't answer right away.
Instead, he looked past him again, toward the people in the streets, toward the guards who still looked like they might bolt at any second if things went wrong.
In his mind, the thought came and went, quiet and cold.
They're not doing this for you.
