By Barclay Totten Copyright ©2025 Lalla started to lead him up the stairs to her apartment when Jake noticed a burnoosed figure in the shadows toward the back wall. He was propped up against a pile of rugs but hunched over as though asleep. The hood of the burnoose was pulled down over his face with any distinguishable features hidden in darkness.  "Who is that?" Jake queried as he stopped and turned around to look.  "He is the guardian of the market," she replied. "How can