Oopsie!
When he got to the front, Michael had likewise already climbed down from his wagon, and was talking to somebody that looked maybe familiar? It was hard to tell in the gloom and the torches. Michael jerked his head at Gregor, and said, “That the man?”
“Yeah. Yeah, it is.” The other man fumbled in his belt pouch, his staring eyes locked on Gregor’s. “You have to take this back, you basta… Traveler. You take it back right now.”
Gregor blinked at the sudden flash of gold in the lantern-light; it took him a moment to realize it was that tree amulet he had given up yesterday. That meant… “Oh, yes, you’re that guard!”
The guard grimaced. “Yeah, good eye, you see far, now take the da… the thing.” He held it forward.
“Ah,” Gregor hesitated, holding his hands up. “I did say that it had no powers or virtues that I knew of, sir. If it has proved to be possessed of anything inimical, I assure you that it was not by my will…”
“What? No!” The guard swallowed, once. “It’s not cursed. You hear me say that it’s not cursed, right? But it turns out… there was a mixup, see? You shouldn’t have had to hand it over.” The guard wiped sweat off his forehead. “Sorry about that.”