Paladin

Being a Paladin

is his side-hustle 

a little 

after hours

protection racket.

He is not the 

white knight

you expected to find

on this side

of the tracks.

He carries the

double-edged sword

of justice 

to cut through 

your deceptions.

He is 

the defender

of the circle

maybe self-appointed

but that doesn’t 

matter. 

Wherever he walks

the witches

are watching the road

as it rolls out

before him

a shield of protection

(after all)

is also two-sided.

“Jer molle pe oonet. Enel mörd je nej afva trohem verret.”

Nina swallowed hard. She remembered those words and what they truly meant. I have been made to

protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath. - Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows