His expression fell by degrees into something grave and troubled, and he looked down at her out of the corner of his eye.

In his search for an army, all he'd found was a single good samaritan. Somehow, with her words he knew there was no such thing as a resistance -- only masses of people ready to blindly walk into shackles and chains, and kings waiting with open arms for the riches that came with them.

His jaw clenched in anger. Rain trickled from the sky, and the guards began to thin and disperse as they took shelter.

"You shouldn't show strangers what you are and what you can do," he said darkly, after a few moments. "Your king has decided to sell his people into slavery, and you'll be first to be hunted down. If there really is no resistance, it's already too late for this city. Get as far from here as you can."