He dismounted in a single fluid motion and strode toward the man on the ground. The child's cries quieted as Lumberling knelt, his expression unreadable. From his belt, he drew a heavy pouch.
It clinked with the sound of salvation, hundreds of gold coins, far more than the guards had likely seen in years. Enough to pay the city's extortionate entry fee and still leave enough for food for months or even years.
The man stared down at the gold, eyes wide and unblinking. His fingers twitched, as if afraid to touch the impossible weight of salvation. Slowly, he glanced around, the ragged faces, the dirt-streaked children, the desperate hands reaching for what they couldn't have.
A whisper escaped his lips, barely audible over the distant clamor. "Th-thank you…"
His voice cracked, laced with disbelief and hope. For a heartbeat, he seemed frozen between despair and the fragile glimmer of trust.
Lumberling gave a curt nod, already turning away. "Share it with the others."
