Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Through the crisscrossing gaps in the haystack, I watched the water carrier and the clerk tugging at each other.

In another twenty counts, the water carrier would slip the clerk some copper coins, the gate would open, and the bailiffs from the outer street would happen to come over.

Winter was dry. It would not take long for a haystack to catch open flame.

Everyone’s attention would be drawn to the fire.

I opened the fire striker. Sparks flew, landing on the dry grass closest to me like fireflies suddenly taking flight in autumn. All it took was the tiniest bit of light to illuminate the darkest hour before dawn.

Then a hand shot out and crushed that little glow into nothing.

“What are you trying to do?”

That hand moved even more smoothly than mine. After pinching out the spark, it grabbed me by the neck while it was at it.

“Even if you want to set a fire, don’t you know to wait until you’re outside first?”

The man’s lowered voice seemed to carry endless anger. He sounded like he was speaking through gritted teeth.

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone set a fire and plan to burn themselves along with it.”

Me: …

That made so much sense. I had not thought this through. I would definitely pay attention next time.

“Listen. If you want to run, I have no objection.”

The messy hay was pushed aside. Sparse moonlight spilled down, but it could not illuminate the other face hidden in the shadows.

Not far away, the water carrier and the clerk had already finished their transaction.

I could even hear the metallic scrape as the key entered the lock.

There was no time.

The hand clamped around my neck tightened. I steeled myself and pulled out the fire striker again.

The dry grass caught. The winter wind swept through, drawing out the crackling sound of burning kindling.

I never managed to shout the words that would throw everything into chaos: “Fire!”

Because before I could force my mouth open, that hand simply and efficiently snapped my neck.

I was a little depressed.

I had hidden in that haystack at least close to ten times, yet somehow I had never noticed there was another person inside.

But on second thought, it made perfect sense. He had hidden first and I had slipped in afterward. If I had not suddenly decided to burn the haystack, he really could have kept crouching there until everyone’s attention fell on me, then taken advantage of the chaos to slip away.

After causing such a huge commotion, I had ended up doing all the work for someone else.

As I mixed rat poison into the porridge, I wondered how I could make use of this brave fellow.

The hand he had used to choke me had thin calluses. His fingertips were strong, his movements decisive. One glance and you could tell he was no frail scholar.

He was definitely faster than me.

So, beneath a bright moon and scattered stars, on a dark and windy night, I timed it perfectly to avoid the night watchman and once again sneakily burrowed into the haystack.

The donkey cart hauling water creaked to a stop at the gate. The footsteps of the patrol on the outer street sounded right on schedule. The market ward gate was pulled open with a heavy groan.

I took a deep breath and aimed in the direction that hand had reached out from last time-

Then kicked it with all my might.