| Stolen From Chaos |
Hendandra watched the three men closely as she slipped through the crowd. Her small stature made it easy for her to go
unnoticed by those around her. Most people thought she was a child at first glance and many never registered the daggers
or rapier she wore at her side. She ignored several money pouches on the people she passed as she approached her marks;
there was no need to risk drawing unwanted attention to herself at this point.
Two smaller men, both wearing robes, flanked the large burly man in ring mail carrying a large sword across his back.
The cut of the silver-gray robes worn by the oldest of the pair, along with the staff he carried marked him as a mage in
her mind. This was the one she was after. His robes were of a finer cut than others she had seen this day and his dark
brown hair and beard were neatly trimmed. All signs he was doing well. That he seemed to have a bodyguard with him
was also a sign of a fat purse. The other was dressed in simple black robes, and carried no obvious weaponry though he
moved with the grace of a dancer.
She leaned against a nearby post as she continued to study the three men. The mage was the oldest of the group and she
would guess the one with the sword as being at least ten to fifteen years younger. He was clean-shaven, though his black
hair was in disarray and the ring mail he was wearing had seen better days. She glanced at the scabbard on his back as
they walked past her and frowned. No matter his appearance, the scabbard looked to be well cared for.
The one in the black robes was only a few years younger than the one with the sword, though his face was also
clean-shaved and unlined; which made him seem much younger. It was his dark blue eyes that betrayed his age. There
was wisdom in those eyes as they met hers briefly. She smiled and he turned his attention away from her. She frowned as
she looked again at his robes, there appeared to be other colors woven into the material. Colors that shifted and changed as
the material moved. Very unusual, she thought.
The trio paused in front of one of the small shops that carried magic items and components for sale. They talked briefly
and she pressed back into the shadows to watch them.
After a few moments, the one with the sword and the unarmed man nodded and headed to one of the taverns a few
buildings down. The mage entered the shop and she silently moved from her spot to stand at the corner of the building
where she could watch for him when he exited. She risked a quick glance at the other two as they left then turned her
attention back to the door of the shop.
Hendandra didn't have to wait very long before the shop door opened and the gray robed man stepped out. She took
several quick steps past him then tripped on a "loose" stone, falling against him. "Your pardon, My Lord," she said bowing
her head respectfully as she slipped his pouch from his belt.
He nodded, stepped back to allow her to pass then spoke very softly. "Your skills are good, but not good enough. If you
do not wish me to alert the guardsman across the way, you will accompany me to the tavern. Perhaps, you will be willing
to earn that pouch you have stolen from me."
Hendandra turned and nodded. She forced a smile as he took her hand to escort her.
unnoticed by those around her. Most people thought she was a child at first glance and many never registered the daggers
or rapier she wore at her side. She ignored several money pouches on the people she passed as she approached her marks;
there was no need to risk drawing unwanted attention to herself at this point.
Two smaller men, both wearing robes, flanked the large burly man in ring mail carrying a large sword across his back.
The cut of the silver-gray robes worn by the oldest of the pair, along with the staff he carried marked him as a mage in
her mind. This was the one she was after. His robes were of a finer cut than others she had seen this day and his dark
brown hair and beard were neatly trimmed. All signs he was doing well. That he seemed to have a bodyguard with him
was also a sign of a fat purse. The other was dressed in simple black robes, and carried no obvious weaponry though he
moved with the grace of a dancer.
She leaned against a nearby post as she continued to study the three men. The mage was the oldest of the group and she
would guess the one with the sword as being at least ten to fifteen years younger. He was clean-shaven, though his black
hair was in disarray and the ring mail he was wearing had seen better days. She glanced at the scabbard on his back as
they walked past her and frowned. No matter his appearance, the scabbard looked to be well cared for.
The one in the black robes was only a few years younger than the one with the sword, though his face was also
clean-shaved and unlined; which made him seem much younger. It was his dark blue eyes that betrayed his age. There
was wisdom in those eyes as they met hers briefly. She smiled and he turned his attention away from her. She frowned as
she looked again at his robes, there appeared to be other colors woven into the material. Colors that shifted and changed as
the material moved. Very unusual, she thought.
The trio paused in front of one of the small shops that carried magic items and components for sale. They talked briefly
and she pressed back into the shadows to watch them.
After a few moments, the one with the sword and the unarmed man nodded and headed to one of the taverns a few
buildings down. The mage entered the shop and she silently moved from her spot to stand at the corner of the building
where she could watch for him when he exited. She risked a quick glance at the other two as they left then turned her
attention back to the door of the shop.
Hendandra didn't have to wait very long before the shop door opened and the gray robed man stepped out. She took
several quick steps past him then tripped on a "loose" stone, falling against him. "Your pardon, My Lord," she said bowing
her head respectfully as she slipped his pouch from his belt.
He nodded, stepped back to allow her to pass then spoke very softly. "Your skills are good, but not good enough. If you
do not wish me to alert the guardsman across the way, you will accompany me to the tavern. Perhaps, you will be willing
to earn that pouch you have stolen from me."
Hendandra turned and nodded. She forced a smile as he took her hand to escort her.
