The wooden door of the merchant shop in Thornwatch splintered into pieces and crashed onto the floor.
Sera jumped up from the small dining table, her uncle dropped his ledger and grabbed an iron sword from the wall.
A tall man walked through the ruined doorway.
Meriel wore steel armor in the color of blood, carrying a long, broadsword resting casually on his shoulder. He looked like an executioner.
"Where is he?" Meriel asked, his voice was a low rumble that carried no emotion at all.
"I don't know who you are talking about," Sera lied. Her uncle stepped in front of his niece with his hands shaking uncontrollably.
"We run a respectable business here. Get out of my house before I call the city guard."
Meriel swung his heavy sword without even blinking.
The sharp blade cut clean through the old man's neck and sent his head rolling across the floorboards.
"AHHHHHH!"
Sera screamed in pure horror.
