Lilith lowered her hand slowly. Her fingers closed into a relaxed fist.
"Wait," she said. "I need to speak."
The guard did not move the tip of his lance from the young woman's chest. His eyes, framed by the steel helmet, scanned her with distrust.
"If you need to, do it while walking," he replied. "It's still forbidden to be on the street. Return to your home immediately."
Lilith tilted her head. A lock of purple hair fell over her shoulder.
"I have no home," she said. "I was visiting."
The guard lowered the lance, but not the tension. He placed a hand on his waist, over the hilt of his sword.
"Well," he murmured. "Bad luck. Then you'll have to come with me to the barracks."
The man advanced a step. He grabbed Lilith's arm firmly. She winced in pain, her shoulders tensing under the fabric of her dress. The guard dragged her, forcing her to follow his quick pace.
They walked down the empty avenue. The cobblestones shone under the layer of salt and white ash.
"Where does all this smoke come from?" asked Lilith. Her voice sounded small between the high walls.
"The church is purifying the city," the guard replied without looking at her.
"Why? You never do this. Did something bad happen?"
The guard tightened his grip on her arm.
"That's none of your concern. Just walk and keep quiet."
The smoke began to dissipate slowly. Large shreds of white mist rose toward the rooftops, letting the first rays of sun hit the ground. The light was harsh. It revealed the dirt and ash accumulated in the corners.
Suddenly, a sound broke the rhythm of boots against stone.
A small, sharp growl.
The guard stopped short. He looked at Lilith. They looked at each other at the same time.
Another growl. This time longer. It came from below.
"What is that?" the man asked.
Lilith shook her head. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
A third growl, louder, made the leather suitcase Lilith held with her other hand vibrate. The leather creaked as if something were scratching the inside desperately.
"That," the guard pointed. "In your suitcase."
"It's not coming from there."
The guard released Lilith's arm.
"Step back," he ordered.
He yanked the suitcase away from her. Lilith stepped back two paces, letting the man put the bundle on the ground. The guard knelt. He pulled the straps roughly. The metal of the buckles jingled.
He opened the lid.
The fabrics moved. The guard reached in and discovered what was underneath.
Two small goblins. Wrinkled green skin, milky eyes blinking in the sunlight, tiny claws grasping for air.
The man's eyes widened. He stood up slowly, as if his legs weighed a ton.
"This…" his voice was slow, uncontrolled. "How did you manage to bring them here? These creatures…"
He looked at Lilith. The young woman simply looked toward a side alley, her face expressionless.
"Answer!"
Nothing.
The man trembled. Panic began to replace surprise. He took his lance with both hands. Raised it over his head, the wooden shaft vibrating with the force of his arms.
He struck.
The shaft hit Lilith's head squarely. The sound was a dry, blunt impact. The pole creaked under the pressure of the blow.
Lilith didn't even close her eyes. Only a few strands of her hair moved from the inertia of the strike. Her expression didn't change.
The guard stood frozen, the lance still resting on the young woman's skull.
The man turned pale. He dropped the lance, which fell to the ground with a metallic crash. He stumbled backward over his own feet.
"No…" he whispered.
He turned and fled. His boots struck the cobblestones in desperation. Lilith stood still, watching his silhouette dissolve among the remnants of incense smoke still floating at the end of the street.
She waited for the silence to return to the street.
She crouched down slowly. Her fingers brushed the leather of the open suitcase.
"My little ones," she murmured.
She arranged the fabrics over the creatures, which were now silent, intimidated by the light.
"I hope at least he realized what he had come across," she said, closing the buckles calmly.
She stood up and continued on her way to the perfumery.