Nothing ventured, nothing gained

I moved towards the crowd, though something in the air made my instincts scream. There was something that upset the hunter, though the merchant merely saw it as a chance to gather new information.

So many masks a man can wear, I thought idly. I reached the backs of the crowd and leaned towards the ear of a young man, "What's going on?"

He jumped, looking back at me with wary eyes. He was a handsome lad, with blond hair and a fine beard. "Been some trouble, apparently."

"That so?' I said as I weaved into the crowd. I reached the borders of it, and froze.

"It was a demon who done it!" The plump woman had tired eyes, but I recognised her; it was Ma, from the farm. Anna's mother. I'd left her laughing mad, but now she seemed lucid. She wore an old traveling cloak over a plain dress, and she gestured wildly as she relayed her story to the crowd. It wasn't the first time, apparently, and she kept stubbornly insisting upon the details.

Behind her and to the side, I caught sight of a cloaked figure, hooded and armed. They stood still with their hands folded upon the pommel of a silver longsword; a beautiful weapon nearly five-feet long, with an elaborate hilt and gold chasing. The demon in me recoiled, and I felt the wire-hilt of my dagger.

Dangerous, my instincts screamed.

"A horned demon, with black markings and unnatural eyes." She said. "He headed this way when he were done with my girl."

"Well, May, I ain't seen no demons round here." An older man, bearded and balding, wagged his finger. "We don't even got a witch anymore."

Movement from the side, I glanced at the hooded figure. Something red flashed from under the hood and I felt a chill.

"The witch was slain?" The voice from under the hood was sweet, accented, but gentle with it. She stepped forward, moving with purpose. "By whom?"

Every instinct in me screamed to run.