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HONORA WAVED ASTER away as he reluctantly walked towards his boss in the distance. He shoved his hat on his head, the fur scratching at his rough hands and the strap beneath his chin pulling at his skin from the wrong angle. He held back his tongue as he forced himself to a stop in front of the man, head held high and salute pressed strong. The Captain barely spared him a glance.
Instead, Gaines stared across the road at Honora. A carriage passed by between them and she was gone, like a town myth disappearing with the wind. She lurked around the corner, hand pressed against the brick of a building as she watched the man stare at the spot she'd once been standing. His lip curled up in a sneer. He pulled his jacket tighter around him before flicking out his coat and walking away, Aster trailing behind him. Honora wished he could resign as easily as anyone else in the guard. His position and their father made it almost impossible.
"Excuse me, ma'am," a man coughed behind her, pulling her out of her curiosity. She turned around, a friendly smile forming across her lips as a flicker of recognition crossed over her sight. The man hobbled towards her, his arm extended.
"Henry," she greeted excitedly, eagerly shaking his hand. "How are you doing?"
He grinned. "Much better, thanks to you. What was your name, sorry? I can't remember much from that night."
"Honora-Rue," she said as her hand fell to her side. "But Honora's just fine."
"Well, thank you, Honora. Thank you." He grabbed her hand again and pressed it between his own. His eyeline grew watery. "Not many people would help someone like me in that situation. You could have ran, but you helped me. I'm forever in debt to you, ma'am."
Honora shook her head. "Nonsense. Seeing you up and walking is enough of a 'thank you' I need."
"I'm walking because of you. I'm alive because of you," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper as his throat grew shaky and uneven. "I must go, but I hope you realise how much good you have brought to me. Thank you, Honora."
