Chapter One pt 2

Thane walked through the streets of the slums on his way to one of his many hideouts scattered throughout the city. The weather was warm and bright when he left the church but the walk from the church to the slums was a long walk and the sky was beginning to darken. He walked down a particularly dark street and wasn't two blocks away from the hatch that led to his underground hideout when five kids that couldn't have been more than twelve to fifteen jumped out in from of him holding small knives or sticks. Five more jumped out behind him and one stood on the roof of a house over looking the scene. Thane removed his hood and stared down the five in front of him but didn't make a move. The boy on the roof yelled down to him.

"Would you be kind enough to hand over all of your gold please."

He was clearly the most educated of the slummers here.

"Call off your goons and I wont kill them all" was Thane's response.

The boy must have had a quick temper because he launched a knife straight for Thane's chest. The knife seemed to be on target but at the last second Thane vanished into thin air. The boy was confused and looked all the other kids who shared his expression but soon their expression turned to shock and fear as they all stared at the boy on the roof…not at him, but behind him. Thane appeared behind him and grabbed both of his arms and lifted him off the ground.

"You had your chance to save yourself, now your life and the life of your friends must end." Thane said in his patented blank tone.

"Please sir, if we don't get any money we cant get any food. We haven't eaten in a week" he lowered his head in shame and his words trailed off.

"What is your name kid?" Thane asked

"Kyrre sir" he replied.

"Mmm, this was a well executed assault Kyrre. If it was any one other than me you may have had success this evening…You didn't attack at night. Why?" Thane asked

"Well sir, I figured most people wouldn't expect an attack so early. But it also was dark enough to remain hidden easily." he replied, looking up now and proud of his plan.

"Impressive. But listen, I travel this way often so remember my face. If you and your slummers attack me again I will not show you mercy." Thane gave him eleven gold coins. "There, that should be enough to buy a loaf of bread for each of you." Thane jumped down from the roof and walked off.

"….Thank you so much sir! I will not forget your face and the charity you have done this evening!" Kyrre bellowed after Thane.

XxXxXxXxX

Thane got to his hideout and removed his cloak. I suppose I will just leave in the morning so I can gather my strength and organize my arms he though as he grabbed vials off the cupboard and shoved knives into the scabbards on his belt, then removed his belt and hung in by the door. I'm getting to old for this. What has it been? Two hundred years? Three hundred? My body feels young but I occasionally catch my mind wandering…SHIT! I'm becoming the damn Priest! Thane sat down at the table and sharpened his knives using leather rather than magic so he could burn time. He heard foot steps outside the door…forty paces away. Small feet. Moving quickly. I should not be concerned. Whoever tries to open my door without knowing what to do will know terrible pain. The handle started to jiggle and Thane pointed his ear at the door expectantly. Then, as if on queue… "AHHH!" then loud sobbing. Thane went to the door, unlocked it three times, knocked twice and opened it. The boy from earlier named Kyrre sat at his door step screaming in pain in the dark. The hatch at the top of the stair case was shut.

"What the hell are you doing here boy?" Thane asked in annoyance.

"I…followed…you." he said in between gasps of pain.

"That's jelly fish poison running through your veins right now, you shouldn't move."

Thane said.

"You're a cloud…aren't you mister." Kyrre stated.

"Very observant. So let me get this straight. You thought it would be smart to follow a cloud back to his secret hide out and try to enter like it was an abandoned shack?"

"Well, I…um" Kyrre pasted out before he could finish.

Damn it. Now what am I suppose to do? After all my years am I going soft? For better or worse he is stuck here. This kid is really pushing his luck.