The small-man looked back at Rezkin and caught his eye. He must have seen something that frightened him because his smile fell, and his face went a little pale as he clung to the old man. Rezkin frowned at the small-man’s reaction. He had not done anything to intimidate the small-man. He had not made any threats or hostile gestures. He just stood there. Rezkin thought back to his teachings. The small-man would have few Skills at his age, and that, combined with the old man’s words, might make Rezkin seem intimidating. He had no desire to seem intimidating. Neither the old man nor the small-man had done anything to him, nor were they breaking any laws as far as he knew. He had not been ordered to kill either of them, so they really had no reason to fear him.

Rezkin did not think that going around intimidating people with his sheer presence would help him in his purpose. Fitting in with these outworlders was going to be more difficult than he originally thought. Based on the villagers’ reactions and those of the old man and small-man, here, Rezkin was beginning to think that none of these commoners had bothered to practice their Skills. If they had no Skills, then they would be filled with fear and break many of the Rules. How had any of them ever grown big if they had not learned their Skills and Rules? Rezkin brought his attention back to the old man and small-man. He pulled the corners of his lips up into his practiced smile. The small-man immediately loosened his grip on the old man and gave him a tentative smile in return. The old man looked at him speculatively and then nodded in greeting.

Hmm, Rezkin thought, the smile seems to reassure others that I intend no harm. Smiling was not a normal facial expression for Rezkin, and simply holding it for the short time he was in the village had made his cheeks hurt. He would have to practice it more often.

When Rezkin finally made it near the front of the line, he listened carefully to what the guards were saying to those in front of him. They asked for each person’s name, place of origin, and business in the city. Once the information was provided, the guards waved the people through. Rezkin frowned. What was the point of this? Anyone could give any name and say whatever town and purpose he or she chose. The guards would never know the difference. It seemed like a waste of time and parchment to him. These guards could be doing something useful like practicing their Skills.