Why am I awake? Wait, what's that tapping? It sounds like... it must be Jacob!
A disheveled-looking man, apparently in his early twenties, quickly rose from his blankets on the floor. Creeping to the back door of the dark, disorganized storage room, he paused to straighten out his tunic somewhat before unlatching and opening the door. A moment later, the second man had slipped through the door, and the two stood silently in near darkness for a moment.
Why is he here so early? It can't be later than midday!
"Detah, you're probably wondering why I'm here so early... feast your eyes on this!" Reaching into the sleeve of his tunic, the dirty-blond man drew out a hefty-looking pouch and tossed it to his still-drowsy friend. Catching it, Detah shifted the small bag back and forth between his hands, feeling its weight.
"Go ahead, open it," suggested Jacob, nodding toward the pouch. Reaching in, the slightly older, brown-haired Detah delicately drew out a string of jewels... then another... then another.
By the gods! We won't have to steal for months! But... someone is going to miss these necklaces... How did he get away with this stuff??
"Foreigners... A merchant and his wife, my guess is from Opulens. She was wearing so much of the stuff that I bet she won't even notice these are missing," boasted Jacob, smiling.
"Magic?"
"Not as far as I could tell... they weren't dressed it, anyway. As for the necklaces, I already pawned one. The dealer said he didn't think it was enchanted."
"Looks like this is our big break, eh?"
"Well, I think we should ditch this place... we have the cash to get to Veneficus, at least! I hear there's a lot of gold for the taking there, if you're clever."
Probably a lot of watchmen, too... Chances are, we'll have a squad of assassins after us for these necklaces, though, so maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to leave this place...
Detah reached into a pouch at his side, and began fidgeting with the amulet it contained.
It was all he had left from his parents; he had been orphaned very young, and the streets had been his mother and father for the past twenty years. The amulet always seemed to comfort him; the slightly warm, large, red gem bound to its fine steel chain had a soothing effect on Detah. The only reason he hadn't sold it was because it gave him some sense of a history. Sometimes he felt so alone... he had known Jacob for as long as he could remember, but his ignorance to his own heritage unsettled him... he felt very distant, alien almost...
"Sounds like a good idea. How are we getting there?"
"Transport ship, top notch. It leaves in an hour; I've already booked passage. I suggest we find some decent clothes and get ourselves cleaned up a bit, so we don't stand out too much," offered Jacob. Detah nodded thoughtfully, then followed his friend outside. Pausing, he gave the cluttered, abandoned storage room one last look before closing the door for the last time. It latched shut with a click that seemed to express a great deal of finality.
I don't think I'll miss this run-down old place...
