Disclaimer: If I owned it, I would have made multi-player mode easier to manage.

Chapter 5: Hidden Truths

By this time the sun was starting to set. Even though the Fum caravan was paying rapt attention, the Selkie merchant decided it was time to speed things up.

"Long story shorter: the bandits worked hard and cleaned the crystal while the smiths made the chain. When everything was ready, all the townsfolk helped push the crystal into place and secured it in a wonderful show of unity and teamwork. The bandits were paid and learned that honest work has its perks. And the day was saved, thanks to: the Striped Bandits! Now, do you feel better informed?"

"Yeah, but I've got a few questions."

"Me too."

From their faces the merchant could tell all four had questions they wanted answered, the boys were just too lazy to ask. 'Don't they know the proper etiquette was to thank the storyteller and go? Oh well, they're good customers... I can cut them some slack.' "Ask away, ladies."

"Before you started you said only a few people knew the chain's story, but from what you told us, everyone in town knows." Sheula mused.

"Yes, they know a part of the tale, but not the whole thing. Do you think they would have paid the 'crystal repairmen' if they had known the truth?"

"I guess you're right..." The Clavat thought for a moment, then exclaimed "Wait a minute!" With a crafty grin gracing her features she asked "If everyone in town was tricked, how is it that you know the 'whole story'?"

"That's right! How did you know about the bandits?" Pressed the other girl.

"Uh... well..." The Selkie stammered, taking a step back from their interrogation towards the relative safety of his shop. "You heard nothing!"

"C'mon, you can tell us. Please?" Sheula pleaded, giving her most piteous sad puppy eyes. 'He's not giving up, it's time to play dirty.' Heaving a sigh she turned and started to walk away, "Well I guess I'll have to find someone else to chat with, like the mayor. Isn't that him over there?"

"Whoa!" The Selkie lunged forward and grabbed the girl's wrist, pulling her back with a look of horror on his face, "Don't even joke about that." 'What have I gotten myself into? This isn't worth selling a mythril.' "I knew about the plans, all right? I made the stupid plans! Happy now?"

"Why would you do that? What did you get out of it?"

'What's with this girl? Clavats aren't supposed to be this sharp. Maybe she's half Selkie' "I know when I'm beaten, I got my shop out of the deal. The bandits took the apples and some of the gil, but the rest went to financing this." He said, waving to his tent. "Please... Please keep it a secret. I don't feel like being run out of town just yet."

The girls got that look again, the look of pure, calculating evil. After a bout of frenzied whispering and plotting the two turned their attention again to the desperate merchant. "If you really want our silence, I suppose we could be persuaded keep your secret. For a future discount on everything in your shop? Say... forty percent?"

"Thirty."

"Seventy."

"... Forty sounds fine."

A/N: Who knew Clavats could be so cruel?

And it's done! Sing a happy song, do a happy jig, or not. Thanks for sticking with me, cookies to all and to all a goodnight! (Throws cookies to the masses)