-1prologue
the humble beggar
Her eyes narrow; she shifts into a fighting stance. "What are you doing here?" she asks angrily. "What are you doing here?"
He doesn't answer, just keeps walking forward: one step, then another, then another, until he finally stops, inches from her face. His palm just grazes her side. Neither moves; they simply stand there, staring at each other, for a long time, utterly still, utterly silent. Then, slowly, he falls to his knees.
"At your service," he whispers; his entire body slumps as if in defeat. She cannot see his face; it is cast in shadow.