DAR SLOWED AND LOOKED around. He found himself surrounded by skeletal trees, dead grass and pale stone rather than the life of the city. The cemetery had crept up on him unawares.
It wasn't good to be so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he couldn't see what was right in front of him. Or sense what lurked behind. He pulled his hands from his pockets, and slid his left hand to his right hip, under his jacket. He tilted his head down, chin to shoulder, as his fingers found the handle of his short sword, then he turned around to face his stalker.
"Hello, old man." Matteo stood, his hands behind his back, where Dar couldn't see any weapon they might hold. Not that Matteo wasn't weapon enough on his own.
"Why are you following me?" Dar asked, his fingers itching to pull out his blade. Inst
