“Stopping a Thief, Part II” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 54: Karendle

I’ve lost him. I’ve lost the thief, lost the wizard, lost it all.

The sun was much brighter, shining down in mid-morning glory, and making the market air warm. Karendle wasn’t feeling it. She had just spent the last hours limping up and down the alleyways of this little town’s center. Back and forth, over and over, looking for some sign of the man in the dark cloak that had robbed her. By now, her leg was hurting her less, or maybe she was just getting used to it.

This is a small town! There isn’t that much to see! Where could he be hiding? She looked up and down the street. There were vendors lining far side of the street, away from the docks, mostly squatting on blankets with grains or cloth spread out before them. The de facto marketplace only went for a few blocks either way. She had asked a few of the vendors, but no one had seen the man she described.

The street was getting more full as the sun kept rising. Karendle found a bench near some bushes where she could rest and rub out the pain in her leg. I’m sure that by now, he’s opened the pouch up and tried to sell the oculi. Is there a jeweler in this town? Maybe he knows they’re magical. He can probably get some good money out of oculus stones.

The sun was getting warm on the side of her face. Of course, stones like that would have to be sold in a dark market. There’s no way anyone would have those out in the open. I wonder if there’s a dark market jeweler? 

She sat up and raised her head. Something familiar caught her eye. It was DeFrantis stepping out of a shop onto the main road, not more than ten yards away! A man was following her. It was Antonneri, but he was dressed differently. His church tunic was gone, and replaced by a finer shirt. His five-day beard was gone, too, and she was suddenly struck by how handsome he looked.

Quickly, she jumped up and stepped behind the bushes near the water. She leaned and watched them closely. What are they doing? Shopping? I thought they were going to go find some kids they were looking for. They talked to each other, but she was too far away to hear. They looked too focused, intent, to be casually shopping. They walked eastward down the street, into the sunlight.

She watched them go, wondering, then came out from the bushes. All that time I spent chasing her, and now, here I am, without my oculus to catch her. They could probably lead me back to Thissarill, too. 

Her mind was racing. So many things. How can she find her gems? How can she find a secret, dark market? Where would she look? Her mind drifted, then suddenly focused. Wait! I’ll bet he knows! I’ll bet he’s seen a lot more than he lets on! He’ll know where to look!

With an unsteady gait, she took off to find the alley.

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This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing.


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