The Next Morning in Ethshar of the Sands
Xander had had a busy night. His guess at the complete recall of Tobas' life and skills up to four years in the future, i.e. when his part of the book Spell of the Black Dagger would have ended, meant he had a very good idea of what the black dagger meant. But to make sure he wasn't completely jumping to conclusions, he stepped out and stealthily made some rounds of the area. As he now felt more comfortable than immediately upon his arrival, gaining better control of his improved physical and magical Self. Also drawing on his new knowledge of such things, he was almost invisible as he crept through the stockyards. He knew he'd feel guilty later, but at last he found his way to the butchers' section.
Approaching one of the workers securing a bull for slaughter, Xander let himself be seen for the first time.
"Excuse me, is that animal about to be slaughtered?"
"Yes it is," said a wary foreman as he came into the area, "We still have a busy evening ahead of us. Can we help you?"
"Yes, I've been hired by a demonologist to 'bless' his ceremonial dagger by killing a strong animal of some sort. It doesn't do anything to the meat, just kills it." Xander found a silver coin from a purse of golds and silvers that had remained true on transit from Sunnydale to Ehtshar. He handed it to the man, "Mind if I, uh, make you some money and make a short night for myself?"
The man looked at the coin, "Just slit its throat from ear to ear, that'll do it."
Xander grimaced, but did as bade, and gritted his teeth as the strength poured into him. He could feel something happening inside as he left, the strength reaching deep within his body.
He fell into thought as he made his way back toward 'his' lodgings, and as he skirted Wall Field, he thought he'd heard a woman scream for help up ahead, and as he neared the source, four rough hands grabbed him as two men from a side alley came into view. Unfortunately for those concerned, including Xander, he wasn't used to his new abilities. Within twenty seconds, he'd broken ribs and arms, and twisted necks, tossing the bodies into a couple feral dogs attacking a cat. He smiled and drew out the black dagger as a fifth man kicked the cat at his face. Xander slashed his blade aside, then at full speed raced forward and stabbed the man in the heart.
"Murderer," spat one of the dying men, "all we wanted was your money."
Xander looked around, then made a decision: they were dying and he was damned if he'd let them identify him to the guard before kicking off. He moved forward, and quickly stabbed the men and then a badly wounded dog, in the hearts. No sense in letting a poor animal suffer. That left a stricken woman without wounds on her. Now unsure of his power, he didn't know if he could risk a memory erasing spell on her, he instead cast 'sleep' on her for the time being.
After secreting the robbers' bodies deeper in the alley, and removing valuables such as they were, he took a few deep breaths, calmed himself, and carefully cast a day's removal. He then left as fast as possible, throwing up three alleys over when it all came back to him. It took him three hours to get back to the room.
Xander had had an uneasy sleep that night, but due to the spell he'd put on Tabaea, at least he didn't have her to worry about for the time being. Waking up when a light started to shine through a small window, he looked around for a few minutes, trying to figure out what to do.
He remembered the Ethshar books, and he also had Tobas' future perspective for consideration. Right now, Tabaea was a fifteen year old girl turned to thievery but who still might turn out alright if someone took a guiding hand. Xander shook his head, the extra memories of Tobas giving him a more mature perspective. Sighing as he readied everything, even her belongings, he hid the black dagger away and woke her.
"Don't be afraid," he suggested to her as she awoke, "And take it easy. Are you recovered from your attempted spell?"
The girl didn't confess to anything, just nodded as she warily looked around the room. Xander smiled slightly.
"I'm heading for the Small Kingdoms after a trip to the market. Would you like to try something other than thieving?"
"Like what?" she asked warily, but a gleam of hope sparked in her eyes.
"I don't know. Maybe you'll end up a farmer's wife, maybe you'll find someone willing to take you on as a servant at a castle for a noble. Maybe you be the rare one to discover lost treasure. I don't know. I'm new to this world. But since you're here, I'll at least hire you as a traveling companion. And I don't expect, well, you know. None of that. Because of magics that occurred last night, I have some knowledge of the world, and of you, but not everything."
"Are you a wizard?"
"I guess I am, so I'm heading to one I have knowledge of, and we'll go from there. What do you say?"
"How much will you pay?"
He named a price on the very low side, but since he would include expenses, it would be fair. She sighed and accepted it.
"Good," he responded, "the life of a thief is not a very long and happy one. You'll at least have a chance at something better."
"How old are you? You don't seem much older that me?"
"Hmm, that's actually a hard question to answer. I'll think about it. Now, let's go to the market, find something decent to eat and be on our way. Alright?"
"What do I call you?"
"Hmm, Xander'll do."
