The Thief of Alvera

"No point running" you say with a resigned expression."Let's prepare for the worst and open the door." Vin nods and positions himself behind you, daggers in hand, as you go open the door.

You see three armed men at the door, dressed in scarlet tunics and burnished breast-plates and plumed helmets. Each soldier carries a spear and a short sword. You step back, shocked.

"Royal Guard Legionnaires!", Vin hisses. The man in front, who seems to be in-charge whistles and a party of similar dressed legionnaires march up the stairs.

The man then enter the room, flankedby two soldiers."I, Captian Solius of the Royal Guard Legion, come here with a warrant to arrest the two of you. You may ask further questions when produced in front of the king." Two of the soldiers come forward and bind your hands with stout ropes. Desperation and fear sink into you. You glance quickly at Vin who is allowing the soldier to bind him without protest. The pair of you is marched in silence to a small, rundown hut in the northern part of town.

"Where are you taking us?" You are bewildered and confused by everything that is happening.

"Shut up you little rat". The anger and impatience on the soldier's face discourages you from asking further questions. The slate roof of the hut has crumbled onto the floor at many places and the whole structure reeks of imminent collapse. You are shoved down a small trapdoor in the central room, concealed among the rubble. You land on your back with a thud and groan. Vin comes tumbling down moments later. Your captors cimb down the trapdoor, the last one bearing a torch. You find yourself in a dirty cellar. Rats scurry around the floor, dashing from hole
to hole. The cellar smells even worse than it looks. It reminds you of how exceptionally clean Andon's cellar was.

You are brought out of your thoughts by a sharp jab between your shoulders."Move on you rascal" You turn back and see the captain threatening you with te blunt end of his spear. You oblige immediately and move forward, led by another soldier. You are taken to a torchlit chamber with a dirty, fat man seated at the center, fondling two skinny and dirty young girls dressed in the skimpiest of clothing.

"The two you ordered to be captured are here. Master Grald.", the captain says, removing his helmet."Good." Grald says and then whispers something to te two girls, who immediately giggle and run to an adjacent room.

"Confused, eh?" The man asks you and Vin." Sorry, to disappoint you, but I am not a king and neither are your captors Royal Guard Legionnaires."

"Fact is, a certain man is willing to pay a high price for the two of you. I' being one to never miss an opportunity to make money, immediately had you captured." He then turns towards Solius." Did you find anything of interest in their packs?"

"A dagger and clothes."

"Show it to me." Grald obviously doesn't trust his men much. Solius hands Grald your bag who rummages through it and then throws it in a corner with a disgusted grunt.

You immediately remember the dirk you have concealed in your tunic, glad that the men haven't searched you yet.

"Take them to the cell. You'll take them to Volarg tomorrow." Grald's men then throw you and Vin into a small, damp cell, untying our hands and then chaining the to the wall.

"Such great luck" Vin comments acidly."Though I wonder why we are wanted by someone in Volarg. I personally don't recall any enemies there."

"I think it has to do with the reason I am making this journey.", you reply.

"You were making this journey. It ain't our journey anymore."

"Oh alright, just leave it be", you say irritatedly.

"Now that we are in deep shit, it's time you told me what your little trip is all about"

You sigh heaile, you expected him to begin asking questions sooner or later."I'll tell you later. I dont want anyone to overhear us now."

"Fine. You'll probably have reasons to not tell me anything eveywhere we go."

"That's the very idea"