He kneeled next to her -- whoever she was -- but hesitated before daring to put hands on her. Not even to help her up. A strange electric lamp at the edge of the plaza did manage to cast a little light and he was relieved to see no obvious injuries.

But the woman didn't look well.

"No lords here," he cautioned. Then for a moment the only sound was that which was produced by his sword's sheath scraping clumsily on the cobblestones. "Just a soldier, looking to lend a hand."

And so he did finally reach out for one of the downed woman's arms. It would be nothing, he thought, to lift her up to her feet.