Disclaimer: Don't own it.


Chapter 1: Never Noticed

The Fum caravan spent a lot of their time in Marr's Pass. It was on their way home after all. In their many years as part of the caravan the four Clavats had become very familiar with the tiny mountain town. But there are always details to be overlooked, even in the most familiar of places.

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The fifth year of the Fum caravan's journey was drawing to a close. The four yellow-clad friends were headed home, their chalice filled with myrrh.

There were still a few weeks before they needed to be in Fum, so the caravan was taking a break from duty to do some shopping and forge new equipment. (A decision made due to a recent close call in battle against the Orc King in the Mine of Cathuriges.)

The four stood in the main square of Marr's Pass. The boys sat, people-watching and staring off into space. Waiting as patiently as they could while the girls did business with the Selkie traders. You could tell from the spacey looks on their faces that they were daydreaming about the upcoming myrrh festival and the cute Selkiegirl who stopped for lunch with them yesterday.

The girls were almost finished with their shopping when a peculiar glint on the town's massive crystal caught the boys' eyes.

"Hey, d'you see that?"

"Yeah, now stop elbowing me."

"Why would they need to chain down the village crystal? It's not like somebody could walk up and steal it... Right?"

"Of course, don't be stupid. It's way too big for anyone to carry."

The girls, finally done with their shopping, (once Sheula starts talking, she just can't stop) walked over to where the boys were sitting. Their arms full of metallic goodies.

"Okay guys, we got the materials. Give me the scrolls and we can... What are you staring at?"

"Look over at the crystal."

"A chain? How long has that been there?"

"I never noticed it before."

"Most people don't." The Selkie merchant appeared behind the group. "However there are a few select persons who know the full story behind the chain, I am proud to be one of them." He said with a conspiratorial wink. "If you really wanted to hear the tale, I could be persuaded to tell it. Say... for the purchase of one mythril? Hint hint."

"We already bought two mythrils from you."

"... So you did. Well, it happened a few years back. Tell me, have you ever heard of the Striped Bandits?"


A/N: I finally got around to writing/posting this. My plot bunny kept abandoning me, it's a conspiracy I tell you! You may have noticed how I skirted around the caravaneer's names. That's because when I was writing it, the only one who's name I could find was Sheula. (she's the female leader) Later on I found the guys were named Jake and Andy, but by then it was already written and I was too lazy to go back and change it. I'm still not sure what the other girl's name is...