Chapter 3:

Rogues on the Run

2 Years before present day,

The Kingdom of Nentir, Nentir Vale,

Approaching the City of Stormhaven,

3rd Month of Summer, Evening.

The journey through the Forest took four days. With a stop for each nights twenty five mile journey at one of the fortified inns. The road had been exceptionally busy as it always was at this time of year. Many of the Tigerclaw villages were either traveling to Stormhaven or were returning from the city laden with all manner of fine trade goods and food. The weather had been particularly hot this year and everyone would be glad to reach the city to get out of the sun for a few hours.

Wulfgrimm studied the road leading to the city. Ahead of them were hundreds of wagons. People travelling on foot. Those traveling by horse and some even in the fine ornate carriages that were favored by the kingdom's nobility and the wealthy.

The road seemed to stretch on forever but he reckoned they must be no more than a mile away from the distant view of the city. It would undoubtedly take hours for them to reach the city with the road so busy, probably not before nightfall.

The number of settlements along the road to Stormhaven was many. Both permanent villages and the more numerous temporary tent settlements all seemed to be doing brisk business with the seemingly endless number of traders and what Wulf increasingly thought must be refugees. As the caravan got nearer to the city. The settlements grew larger until they were the size of small towns of thousands of occupants.

The first thing was to sample some of the city's infamously strong ale. He had never had ale before but had heard stories of it from his brothers and the older warriors of the village. He knew Briana wouldn't approve and neither would his father. He would stay out of their way and ask Alessia to accompany him. She was always ready to try something new.

By the time they reached almost to the city gates the tent settlements had grown to the size of a large city itself. Camped all around the walls of Stormhaven where many tens of thousands of people either looking to get into the city or doing their trade outside the city walls.

Those who looked travel worn and looked to be carrying their worldly possessions on mules and rickety old wagons were undoubtedly refugees. Wulf had not heard that there were any wars within the region and the gnolls had been quiet since their last attacks ten years earlier. He wondered what had brought them all to seek safety behind the formidable walls of Stormhaven. Only to be prevented from entering because he assumed there was simply no room for everyone.

Once the wagons were safely inside the city and guards had been posted to protect the Tigerclaws' goods, Many bedded down for the night either taking their chance that they might find an inn with rooms to spare or sleeping in the warehouses where the wagons were stored.

Wulf and Alessia had other ideas for the night ahead. After persuading his father that he would not get himself into trouble. Wulf and Alessia set out to discover what there was to explore and find in the busy city.

After a whole day of planning on how to get away, it had been relatively simple in the end. Wulf and Alessia simply waited until everyone was either sound asleep or too blind drunk to notice.

The city had already faded into blackness. The complaints of people on the road who were in the way of the pair's hasty getaway were now long forgotten. Wulf was full of excitement and Alessia hadn't stopped grinning and laughing since they had left the city behind.

Before their desperate flight from Stormhaven they had at least had the forethought to ask how far it was to Nentir City and on which road to travel. The merchant they had asked told them to avoid the capital city if they were new to the region and hadn't visited the city before or to get themselves a good and trustworthy guide.

He had instead pointed them in the direction of a small town to the south of the city named Fallcrest. The town was on the main road from Stormhaven although they would have to pass through the Old Woods on a well travelled path. He told them not to make the journey at night as the woods had become something of a haven for bandits and highwaymen over the last few years. He also warned them that they had at least a two hundred mile journey by road and the best way for them to travel would be to hire on with one of the merchant caravans going in that direction.

By first light the well sign posted road had them thirty miles closer to Fallcrest than they were when leaving Stormhaven. The horses were getting tired and they both felt like they needed to rest. A small settlement could be seen in the distance. They would need to find an inn and rest till midday if they were to carry on at this pace. Although the horses would undoubtedly need some time to recover after the distance they had traveled.

Wulf steadied his horse to a slow trot and waited for Alessia to catch up. She slowed beside him and she looked the happiest he had ever seen her.

"Anyone would think you couldn't wait to get away from the village with the look you've had on your face since we left the city." Wulf said.

"I feel like I'm finally free. Free to do what we want and not have anyone telling us what to do." Alessia replied smiling.

"We need to find some work if we're going to stay free. Otherwise we'll have to go back to the village if they haven't made us outcasts."

"There are other ways of getting what we need, Wulf." Alessia grinned wickedly.

"You mean steal. This is not the village, Lessy. We could get in real trouble. I've heard all kind of stories about what they do to thieves in the cities." Wulf replied with a worried frown.

"Don't worry, Wulf, I'll make sure we don't get caught. Leave the thinking to me and we'll be rich by this time next year."

"Or dead." Wulf said looking more than a little scared.

"Ahhh…, is the big strong hunter scared?" Alessia teased.

"It's not a joke, Lessy. And yes I'm scared you're going to get us into trouble we can't get out of." Wulf said looking deadly serious.

"We'll be fine, Wulf. I'll always be there to save you, I promise."

Wulf didn't look reassured in the slightest. But he also was well aware that Alessia almost always got her own way, especially with him.

Now that there was at least some light they could see the land around them. As far as the eye could see was settled land, farmers' fields and herds of sheep, goats, cows, and horses. People were already up and working their land. Those that saw the two riders paid little attention to them. This was a busy road between Stormhaven and Fallcrest. It was well traveled by hundreds maybe thousands of people every day and the people were used to seeing travelers pass through.

"We need to find an inn, Lessy. I could do with a few hours sleep before we set off again."

"There'll probably be one in that village." Alessia pointed to the approaching settlement.

Wulf gulped as he read the sign outside the inn. 'The Hanged Man Inn' it read in red flaking paint. He had to wonder who got hung and why. He was certain that whoever he had been he was a thief who had been caught stealing. But he was always a little paranoid. Especially with Alessia as one of his closest friends.

Alessia saw the look on his face and giggled. "Look Wulf it's you." She laughed wickedly.

"Don't even joke about it, Lessy. It's not funny."

"Poor Wulfy. Scared of his own shadow." She teased.

"I'm going inside, Lessy. You can stay out here if you wish."

"And let you sort the room out, no chance. I want to make certain were getting what we pay for."

By that afternoon they were fully rested as were their horses. They left the village with a caravan heading straight to Fallcrest. A week later they arrived in the town they had heard so much about. After saying their farewells to the people from the caravan and getting their pay as caravan guards they decided to explore the town and see if they could find anything interesting.

"Did you see all those tents when we were approaching the city? There must be more people living outside than inside, just like Stormhaven. And look at the people. They all seem to be carrying everything they own on their wagons and mules. Do you think there is a war going on that we haven't heard about?" Wulf questioned his companion as they settled their horses into the city stables.

"That would be just our luck wouldn't it? We finally get away from the village and the whole country is ravaged by war. Then again look on the bright side. There'll be plenty of opportunities for two capable young people such as us. Although I don't much like the idea of joining an army. There's got to be better and easier ways of getting rich without so much chance of getting killed.

I suggest we start with one of the local inns. Preferably one where fat and wealthy merchants do their business and are a little careless with their purses." Alessia said with that usual wicked twinkle in her eye that said she was only too happy to get them into trouble if the risk was worth it.

"Not so loud, Lessy. You don't know whose listening. We've got to be careful if we don't want to spend our first night in the town jail. We could try and find work first. Before you risk getting us in trouble." Wulf complained with that usual worried look on his face.

"Stop worrying all the time, Wulf. We can make a fortune in a place like this if we are careful. We can still find work as well. But there's no harm in making a little more on the side. Think of it as a bonus for all the hard work we have yet to do." Alessia laughed trying to convince her friend that things would be alright.

"You always make it sound so simple. Like it's the right thing to do. I shouldn't let you talk me into these things so easily, Lessy." Wulf groaned in defeat. Knowing he would go along with whatever she decided.

"That's because it is simple, Wulf. You just watch and learn. By this time tomorrow we'll have made enough to keep us for at least the next month."

Wulf grumbled something unintelligible to himself. Alessia simply laughed at him and took it that she had won the argument. Just like she always did.

As they left the stables and paid for the night. They were approached by a roguish looking halfling.

"Excuse me my fellow travelers. I couldn't help overhearing your conversation just now." The halfling grinned toothlessly.

Wulf looked down at the finely dressed halfling with all his silk and lace finery. His over exaggerated gestures and that ridiculous black eye patch encrusted with diamonds over his left eye. He carried a jewel encrusted short sword and matching dagger.

"What do you mean our conversation? We have no idea what you are talking about." Wulf stuttered defensively. Wulf couldn't understand it. But Alessia was grinning from ear to ear. Like she had found a new best friend. Obviously she saw something in the little man that he didn't. What he did see was a big heap of trouble.

"Then perhaps I'm mistaken and you're not who I thought you were. My apologies." The halfling said as he turned to walk away.

"Wait. What did you have in mind?" Alessia questioned.

"I had in mind to make some coin from the fine folks of Fallcrest. I know fellow entrepreneurs when I see them. Call it a gift of mine. So I followed you to the stable to see if I could find a common interest. We seem to share the same idea of how one gets rich without too much effort on our part." Explained the halfling.

"You assume a lot my good fellow. What if we were merely weighing up our options during that conversation? Perhaps we have every intention of finding lawful employment." Alessia said thoughtfully.

"I think introductions are in order if we are to continue in polite conversation. I am the renowned traveler, explorer and adventurer Horatio Maximilian Falconcroft at your service. As to lawful employment. I would certainly encourage you to seek such while you are in this fine little town. But I believe we have a mutual interest. It could be beneficial to all concerned if you were to accompany me to a quiet little drinking establishment and conduct our business over fine wine and fine food." The halfling eloquently explained.

"Lessy, we don't know anything about him. He could be anybody." Wulf grumbled.

"I believe we have an upstanding member of the Thieves' Guild in our presence. It would be most bothersome for us if we were to refuse his most generous offer." Alessia explained to Wulf. Who looked at the halfling suspiciously. Horatio nodded and smiled. A look of cunning deviousness. Wulf thought.

"If it is decided I will meet you in the Blue Moon Alehouse in two hours. Where we can conduct our business in a more fitting manner." Horatio said as he turned and walked away.

"He didn't even wait for us to agree to meet him, Lessy. I say we should just ignore him and go somewhere else." Wulf said nervously.

"I don't think we have a choice, Wulf. He's the friendly face of the guild. We had better hope we don't cross them or we might just meet the not so friendly face of the guild." Alessia explained with an unusually serious expression.

"Oh. It's like that is it? We either cooperate or bad things happen." Wulf questioned.

"Something like that, Wulf. Let's just ask around. Find this Alehouse and see what he has to say. Come on, Wulf, let's go." Alessia said.

Wulf shrugged his shoulders and followed her down the street. He had a feeling this was all going to end very badly for the both of them.