"That's enough."
The gang froze, unable to believe their ears. Was someone trying to... stand up to them?
Petry turned slowly, his amusement cooling into a smirk as he faced Ren.
"Well now," he said, "the herbalist speaks."
Ren's eyes didn't leave his.
Gerran looked up, eyes wide, shaking his head slightly in warning. Ren ignored it.
He stepped further into the alley, his cloak catching in the breeze.
"I said," Ren repeated, his voice low, "that's enough."
The whole alley went quiet. Everybody was staring at Ren, who stood before the gang.
They all thought he was normal. Just like them. Just like the rest of the gang. After all, why would a powerful man be selling herbs in a corner shop?
There was only one way for this to end. With Ren getting his ass beat.
As if the thought just occurred to him too, Ren's expression shifted in an instant.
He replaced the tight-lipped stare with a disarming smile, stepping forward with a casual shrug.
