My Unfinished Stories" Part 4 :-)))) CHRONICLES OF THE LHYDIAN REALMS Book III Book Three: "The Artifact"

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Boniface. BONIO to my friends. I owe the nickname "Sticky Hands" to my profession. For I must tell you that I belong to the thieves' guild operating in the largest city in the lands – CHARLESDAM. This city lies on the coast and is the capital of the kingdom of WINDHIR. It was built centuries ago by the elves on two picturesquely situated islands connected to the mainland by bridges, at the mouth of the LESDAM River, which flows into the ERPHA Sea. The city was conquered three hundred years ago by the great CHARLES the Conqueror and rebuilt into an impregnable fortress. It is protected from the land by fortified walls and a naturally flowing river. From the sea, the entrance to the harbor is guarded by four towers soaring high into the sky and a flotilla of fifty ships, ready to repel any attack.

Did I say I belong to a guild? Well... The events I became embroiled in by a certain WALTER DE something or other meant I could no longer practice my profession. But first things first.

It all began around the end of the Year of the Unicorn, in the winter of 1240. As a young gnome, I was enjoying the pleasures of life offered by CHARLESDAM. I had just moved into a new apartment in the KIMBERL district, rented from Mrs. Rhona, the widow of a merchant from Altersberg. As befits a dwarven woman, Mrs. Rhona was stocky, with rosy cheeks and a lush mane of red hair. But the strength of her arms rivaled that of a human man in his prime. I won't mention her beauty out of politeness; you know how it is with dwarves. I'll just say that she was distinguishable from a dwarf only by her lack of a beard.

I moved from the docks, where I'd previously lived. As luck would have it, thanks to my innate talents and acquired skills, I received three lucrative assignments in a row. Successfully completing them increased my standing in the guild, and consequently, my salary. It increased enough for me to abandon the musty hole in the docks I shared with five thugs and rent an apartment in a better district. I never saw the person who commissioned my assignments. The assignments were distributed by the guild secretary, my compatriot, a gnome like myself – MOLL INKWALK. For stealing Duchess MANDYLLA's jewels from her private apartments, the priest THEFT's book from the temple of the goddess of harvest, and the diamond eye from the statue of the wind god DE MONN standing in the center of the marketplace, I received a handsome reward. A thousand ducats allowed me to pay Mrs. Rhona's rent in advance for a year and secure a place to stay for a while. I felt that fortune had smiled on me. As my position in the guild rose, so did the price of my services. I also had a wide range of offers, as I had become famous throughout Charlesdam.

You're probably asking if anyone was after me for the crimes I committed. The law stipulates the legal, or rather semi-legal, profession of thief. If you don't get caught red-handed, kudos to you. Otherwise, you'll pay the penalty. Depending on the gravity of the crime, the penalties varied: from a hundred lashes to imprisonment in the prince's dungeons, to the removal of a hand. The risk was high, but the payoff was even greater, so none of us thieves hesitated long to complete the assignment. Seeking additional income, King DONOVAN permitted our guild's activities. In fact, sometimes he even used our services, simultaneously collecting a silent tax of ten thousand ducats annually. This allowed for the satisfaction of Queen ANNA'S otherwise expensive whims.

One evening, sitting in the two-story port tavern "Mętna Woda," decorated in dwarven style, I was drinking beer with a young friend just beginning his burglary career. He came from my home village, near Noshil. I agreed to take him in. I decided we would begin with a very important aspect of his education – beer drinking. We had already had a few drinks when I explained to him how to survive the first weeks at thieves' school. WOODPECKER, that was his name, listened intently, squinting—I thought it was from concentration, but he quickly dispelled my suspicions by vomiting onto the table in front of him. "Damn! May lightning strike you!" I cursed. I regretted now that I had let him drink at such a young age. I grabbed him by the jacket, and we crept toward the exit. The innkeeper, a burly dwarf, did not tolerate rudeness and absolutely hated having his establishment filthy. He dealt with such behavior with a long oak club, which I was reluctant to become familiar with. Just before the door, two thugs whom I hadn't noticed before blocked our path. Big even for humans, bald, in black capes. I began to suspect they were brothers. "Gentlemen... Ugh, if this is about the peacock, we'll clean it up. There's no need to get upset right away."

Both of them frowned, clearly not understanding my point. One of them asked in common, "Which one of you little guys do they call Sticky Hands?"

"Huh... Little guys?!!" my young companion hiccupped. The beer served here

gave him courage. "Be careful, bald guy, or I'll punch you when I want to bloom!" he threatened, and immediately regretted it. The bald guy slapped him from above with his open hand, sending him sprawling on the wooden floor. The other quickly pulled out a dagger and held it to my throat. Through clenched teeth, he hissed, "So what's it going to be, are you Sticky Hands or the one down here?"

Sweat broke out on my forehead. I felt sick with fear. The tavern's patrons, mostly sailors, watched the whole thing with wide eyes, but no one was eager to help us. Through a choked throat, I croaked, "I am Boniface Sticky Hands. At your service."

The bald man smiled and slapped me just as he had Woodpecker.

I woke up in a dark chamber. My companion was sobbing beside me. We were in an oval, windowless chamber, the only light coming from a torch on the opposite wall. I couldn't tell if it was day or night; judging by the growling in my stomach, at least several hours had passed since we'd been kidnapped. I touched the painful lump on my forehead. I saw that Woodpecker also had a bruised, swollen spot above his right eye. "How long have we been here?" I asked. Woodpecker raised his tear-filled eyes and, sobbing hoarsely, said, "I haven't the faintest idea. I woke up about an hour ago. No one came, and they couldn't revive you. What will become of us now, Bonio? What will happen?

" "Don't whine, little one. They're keeping us here for a reason. I have a feeling they need us for something."

I stood up, feeling dizzy. Staggering slightly, I walked around the room, observing the walls. They were perfectly smooth, except for the door, carved from what looked like bronze, where the frame protruded from the wall. I decided it didn't matter. Whoever imprisoned us knew we were trained to escape various rooms and traps. There was no escape from this place, however. Small ventilation holes were placed near the ceiling, but too high to even reach them on our backs. The only thing we could do for now was wait.

We sat there on the cold floor for another hour, barely speaking, when footsteps echoed behind the door. The bolts on the other side of the door creaked, and with a groan, they swung open. The bald twins we had become familiar with beckoned us. "Come out, you little guys!" one of them ordered in a voice that brooked no argument. I helped Woodpecker, who was shaking with fear, to his feet. They led us down a dark corridor to a staircase that, it turned out, led to a similar, but larger, chamber. On the walls hung tapestries depicting the siege of Charles Dam during the reign of Charles the Conqueror. We were seated on wooden stools that didn't match the decor. Opposite stood a large table, behind which sat a man gazing at a large turquoise diamond. I recognized De Monn's eye, which I had stolen from a statue not a week earlier. I noticed the other items I had stolen on the table: the duchess's jewel box and the pegasus-skin-bound book of Theft.

"Greetings, Grand Master! I am very pleased to meet

Boniface Sticky Hands himself," the man said sarcastically. He sat casually, one leg over the backrest, dangling in the air. His face was hidden in shadow, though the room was quite bright. He waved the bald men away, who wordlessly left through the door that, to my surprise, opened between the tapestries.

"Forgive this brutal treatment," he spread his hands, "Rinad and Koil are not

They are delicate, but they work efficiently. They are my bodyguard. I also use them as messengers.

He had a low, rustling voice that sent shivers down my spine. He leaned forward so I could see his face. His pale, ageless face shone with dark, lively eyes that bored into me. He paid no attention to my companion. He wore a black and red cap on his head; when I looked closer, I discovered it was an elaborate tattoo. I didn't like it any more than the man did. "As you probably guessed, Master, I assigned you your last tasks. I had to make sure you were worthy of my attention. And your talent will allow you to complete a much more difficult task. You owe all your glory to me, so to speak, and in return, let's say you'll perform a certain task for me." Unable to contain my natural curiosity, I asked, "Sir, why didn't you assign this task through the guild?" There are many excellent and better professionals than me who would surely be up to the task?

He smiled unpleasantly, stretching the thin skin of his face, which wasn't used to smiling. He intertwined his fingers with long, claw-like claws. "How modest. That's precisely the quality I need. I want you not to boast and accidentally spill the beans, because your task will be to steal a certain ring that lies in the treasury of that simpleton DONOVAN."

I gasped, and Woodpecker snorted. Now it was clear why he hadn't assigned the task through the guild. The guild's existence is contingent upon the fact that no thief dares touch the treasury or any of the king's property, and if this task were assigned to the guild, the king would be immediately informed. This is one of the basic guild rules, instilled in young apprentices from

the very beginning of their training.

His smile widened; I got the impression he was enjoying the whole situation.

"As for your friend, I have other plans. He will be my

guarantee that you will carry out my command.

" He looked at us now, checking if his words had the desired effect, then finished his speech. "If you fail me..." He paused and examined his claws, narrowing his eyes. "...He will die!"

I felt the hopelessness of the situation. The woodpecker paled, his tearful eyes

darting between me and the stranger. I felt sorry for him; he was only fourteen, and his fate depended on whether I could complete my task.

The stranger gave a signal, and two bald men dragged the screaming boy to the dungeon. I stared at the stranger. I hated him with all my heart, I wanted to scratch his eyes out. He must have guessed my thoughts, because he burst into a throaty laugh. He stopped suddenly and ordered in a serious tone, "You have three days to make the necessary preparations." He tossed a folded parchment at my feet. "This is the plan of the castle and the drawing of the ring I'm after. "

"What guarantee do I have that after completing the task, you'll free

the Woodpecker?

" "None!"

He cackled again and just as quickly stopped. "My name is WALTER DE RONEX. I'm staying at the Colorful Orchard. You'll bring the ring there."

One of the thugs returned. I was blindfolded and carried out of the building. He carried me for quite a while. He only ripped off the blindfold when we were near the port. He left me there, saying, "Don't get any foolish ideas, or we'll play with that little critter." He turned and walked away.

I sat in my apartment. It turned out we were kept there all night until

the following evening. I ate my fill and, using a small lamp, studied the castle plans until late at night. Two paths led to the treasury. The first was from the throne room, which I didn't even try to enter because of the guards who kept a close watch. The second, less guarded, led from the royal bedroom and was reserved exclusively for the king and queen. I don't know where De Renox obtained such detailed plans of the building, but thanks to them, I was able to get into the treasury much more easily.

II.

Not everyone was allowed into the royal castle. I figured I could get inside hidden in the cart that delivered food to the kitchen. Then, through the servants' quarters, I would make my way to the upper floors, where, bypassing the guards, I could reach the stairs leading to the floor reserved for the royal couple and their guests. At first glance, the task seemed no more difficult than any I'd undertaken before. The challenge was to bypass the guards and breach the castles, which had been crafted for the king by the finest dwarven craftsmen. I studied the construction of one such castle, which I'd scrounged from Master SZANDOR's workshop.

On the evening of the second day, I waited hidden in the shadow of a port hangar when a wagon arrived to pick up fresh oysters for the royal chef. I hired myself out to carry barrels from the ship. I happily accepted the royal wagon's size, driven by a stout, broad-shouldered man named VILL, accompanied by a pale-faced servant named ALBERT. When the loading was finished, I took advantage of the moment when the two were haggling with the shipowner and hid in the wagon, covering myself with a tarp. They led the wagon to the castle's rear entrance. By the time we got there, darkness had fallen, so I had no trouble getting into the kitchen, which was in disarray. No one noticed the small, unassuming gnome. The aromas wafting through the room made my stomach rumble longingly. I took advantage of the opportunity to hide among the various spices, their intense aromas making my head spin. I decided to wait there until the kitchen was empty. Finally, after about an hour and a half, the servant ALBERT closed the kitchen door, extinguished some of the torches hanging on the walls, and emerged via the stairs where the kitchen boys and other servants had disappeared. I quietly emerged from my hiding place and waited, listening, for another half hour. The voices in the castle slowly died down. I cautiously ascended the stairs leading to the servants' quarters. I was pleased to find they weren't patrolled by guards. I passed another residential door, behind which muffled voices could be heard. The kitchen boys were probably having fun with the servants. I reached the door without any problems, where a guard stood, leaning lazily on his lance. I had to lure him out. I pulled out a small copper ball. I took one last look at the guard and threw it into the opposite corridor. The dull sound echoed in the darkness. The guard lazily moved from his position. I nestled into an opening leading to one of the servants' quarters. As he passed me, I heard him cursing quietly under his breath, "Damn scoundrels. I'll let them play at night."

He turned, disappearing into the darkness of the corridor. I waited until the sound of his footsteps faded, then emerged from hiding, quietly slipping toward the door. I narrowly avoided running into two more guards patrolling the corridors. At the last moment, I managed to duck behind a curtain covering a stained-glass window. The castle walls were covered with elaborate frescoes depicting elven nobles. Their elaborately decorated costumes, their silhouettes lifelike against the dancing shadows cast by the torches, seemed to reenact scenes from the daily lives of the rulers who had reigned here centuries ago. Rich tapestries, shimmering with gold and silver threads, cast reflections on the curtains. This was my first opportunity to explore the castle's interior. I regretted the circumstances were so unfavorable. I realized a little too late that I had turned down the wrong corridor, along which lay the guest chambers. Weaving from curtain to curtain, I now had to walk around them. Two more patrols passed me before I reached the corner. I peeked around the corner, and two guards stood by the door. I had to lure them out. I tied a thin rope to the curtain and hid in the darkened recess of the door, behind which someone was snoring loudly. I pulled another ball from my bag and threw it. The ruse worked, because a moment later, the guards emerged from around the corner, alerted by the sound. They slowly and cautiously scanned the corridor. I pulled the rope. The curtain waved, and they quickened their pace, heading for the window. Taking advantage of this, I crept stealthily behind them. I didn't have much time. I tiptoed to the door. Fiddling with the lock with a silver picklock, I glanced nervously from side to side. Soon the guards would raise the alarm when they discovered my ruse. The lock gave way. I carefully opened the door and entered the semi-dark room. It was empty. The only light source, a small lamp on a table, cast a delicate glow. The chamber was lavishly furnished. Richly decorated chests of drawers and armoires made of carved wood tempted me to peer inside. But I didn't have time. I approached another door, which opened without a sound. I found myself in the royal bedroom. The royal couple slept in the large bed. The sight of Queen ANIJA's graceful leg, which she had thrown over the duvet, made me blush. Trespassing here meant death and probably a whole arsenal of torture. I approached the small door. I used the picklock again. With little difficulty, the lock yielded. The winding staircase led down a spiral. I stepped back and grabbed a lamp from the bedside cabinet. I lit it and stepped forward, treading carefully. I wasn't sure if anyone was guarding the vault from this side. Luck was on my side. After a few minutes, I reached another corridor, which, to my delight, led me to a bronze door carved with hieroglyphs in the elven language. It wasn't even locked. The king certainly didn't expect anyone to come this way.Except for himself, he would want to get into the treasury. The door creaked open. What I saw took my breath away. I found myself in a large chamber. Its walls were decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the elven king, queen, and—very rare among elves—the children of the royal couple. Like all works of elven culture, these bas-reliefs were executed with extraordinary accuracy. The artist had preserved the true size of the figures, whose faces expressed dignity and seriousness, and their colorful clothing gleamed in the lamplight. King Donovan was a wealthy man, everyone knew that, but only the sight of his treasury made me realize just how much. I couldn't have imagined such treasures. Gold and silver necklaces hung from richly decorated chests. In other chests, gems glittered: hundreds of emeralds, diamonds, amber. A multitude of paintings, carpets, armor, swords, and daggers. Everything was worth many ducats, the exact amount I didn't even dare estimate. I stood spellbound. After a moment, I remembered my task. I pulled out the parchment. The picture showed two views of a ring depicting an eight-pointed star with the image of a dragon inscribed within it. The man who hired me told me that the ring must be in a red wooden box with the same emblem on the lid. I had no trouble finding it, as it stood on a prominent altar. I opened the lid, and it seemed to me that the room brightened. I carefully removed the ring. It was heavy and made of gold. I placed it in a pouch attached to my belt. I thought my presence had already been discovered upstairs. I became certain when I heard movement behind the second door leading to the vault on the eastern side. I had to hurry, but I took one last look at the treasures. Without further delay, I left the vault. Back in the royal bedroom, I heard muffled voices coming from behind the door. I didn't have much time. I went to the window, through which the moonlight streamed in. I gently opened it. I froze for a moment as the king snored and rolled onto his side. The voices behind the door grew closer. I peered outside, feeling dizzy. There was a great commotion on the walls. Guards were running back and forth with torches. I tied a rope to the window handle and closed it just in time, as a knock sounded at the door. I crouched on the windowsill, praying my presence wouldn't be discovered. Through the colorful stained glass, I saw three guards enter. The sleepy royal couple looked at the soldiers in surprise.The artist preserved the true dimensions of the figures, whose faces expressed dignity and seriousness, and whose garments gleamed colorfully in the lamplight. King Donovan was a wealthy man, everyone knew that, but only the sight of his treasury made one realize just how wealthy. I couldn't have imagined such treasures. Gold and silver necklaces hung from ornate chests. Other chests glittered with jewels. Hundreds of emeralds, diamonds, and amber. Countless paintings, carpets, and armor, swords, and daggers. All worth many ducats, the exact amount I didn't dare even attempt to estimate. I stood spellbound. After a moment, I remembered my task. I pulled out the parchment. The image depicted two views of a ring depicting an eight-pointed star, within which was inscribed the image of a dragon. From the man who hired me, I learned that the ring must lie in a red wooden box with the same emblem on the lid. I had no trouble finding it, as it stood on a prominent altar. I opened the lid, and the room seemed to brighten. I carefully removed the ring. It was heavy and made of gold. I placed it in a pouch attached to my belt. I thought my presence had already been discovered upstairs. I was certain when I heard movement behind the second door leading to the eastern vault. I had to hurry, but I took one last look at the treasures. Without further delay, I left the vault. Back in the royal bedroom, I heard muffled voices coming from behind the door. I had little time. I went to the window, through which the moonlight streamed in. I gently opened it. I froze for a moment as the king snored and rolled onto his side. The voices behind the door were getting closer. I peered outside. My head was spinning. There was a great commotion on the walls. Guards were running back and forth with torches. I tied a rope to the window handle and closed it just in time, as a knock sounded at the door. I crouched on the windowsill, praying my presence wouldn't be discovered. Through the colorful stained glass, I saw three guards enter. The sleepy royal couple looked at the soldiers in surprise.The artist preserved the true dimensions of the figures, whose faces expressed dignity and seriousness, and whose garments gleamed colorfully in the lamplight. King Donovan was a wealthy man, everyone knew that, but only the sight of his treasury made one realize just how wealthy. I couldn't have imagined such treasures. Gold and silver necklaces hung from ornate chests. Other chests glittered with jewels. Hundreds of emeralds, diamonds, and amber. Countless paintings, carpets, and armor, swords, and daggers. All worth many ducats, the exact amount I didn't dare even attempt to estimate. I stood spellbound. After a moment, I remembered my task. I pulled out the parchment. The image depicted two views of a ring depicting an eight-pointed star, within which was inscribed the image of a dragon. From the man who hired me, I learned that the ring must lie in a red wooden box with the same emblem on the lid. I had no trouble finding it, as it stood on a prominent altar. I opened the lid, and the room seemed to brighten. I carefully removed the ring. It was heavy and made of gold. I placed it in a pouch attached to my belt. I thought my presence had already been discovered upstairs. I was certain when I heard movement behind the second door leading to the eastern vault. I had to hurry, but I took one last look at the treasures. Without further delay, I left the vault. Back in the royal bedroom, I heard muffled voices coming from behind the door. I had little time. I went to the window, through which the moonlight streamed in. I gently opened it. I froze for a moment as the king snored and rolled onto his side. The voices behind the door were getting closer. I peered outside. My head was spinning. There was a great commotion on the walls. Guards were running back and forth with torches. I tied a rope to the window handle and closed it just in time, as a knock sounded at the door. I crouched on the windowsill, praying my presence wouldn't be discovered. Through the colorful stained glass, I saw three guards enter. The sleepy royal couple looked at the soldiers in surprise.From the man who hired me, I learned that the ring must lie in a red wooden box with the same emblem on the lid. I had no trouble finding it, as it stood on a prominent altar. I opened the lid, and the room seemed to brighten. I carefully removed the ring. It was heavy and made of gold. I placed it in a pouch attached to my belt. I thought my presence had already been discovered upstairs. I was certain when I heard movement behind the second door leading to the eastern vault. I had to hurry, but I took one last look at the treasures. Without further delay, I left the vault. Back in the royal bedroom, I heard muffled voices coming from behind the door. I had little time. I went to the window, through which the moonlight streamed in. I gently opened it. I froze for a moment as the king snored and rolled onto his side. The voices behind the door were getting closer. I peered outside. My head was spinning. There was a great commotion on the walls. Guards were running back and forth with torches. I tied a rope to the window handle and closed it just in time, as a knock sounded at the door. I crouched on the windowsill, praying my presence wouldn't be discovered. Through the colorful stained glass, I saw three guards enter. The sleepy royal couple looked at the soldiers in surprise.From the man who hired me, I learned that the ring must lie in a red wooden box with the same emblem on the lid. I had no trouble finding it, as it stood on a prominent altar. I opened the lid, and the room seemed to brighten. I carefully removed the ring. It was heavy and made of gold. I placed it in a pouch attached to my belt. I thought my presence had already been discovered upstairs. I was certain when I heard movement behind the second door leading to the eastern vault. I had to hurry, but I took one last look at the treasures. Without further delay, I left the vault. Back in the royal bedroom, I heard muffled voices coming from behind the door. I had little time. I went to the window, through which the moonlight streamed in. I gently opened it. I froze for a moment as the king snored and rolled onto his side. The voices behind the door were getting closer. I peered outside. My head was spinning. There was a great commotion on the walls. Guards were running back and forth with torches. I tied a rope to the window handle and closed it just in time, as a knock sounded at the door. I crouched on the windowsill, praying my presence wouldn't be discovered. Through the colorful stained glass, I saw three guards enter. The sleepy royal couple looked at the soldiers in surprise.

"My lord, there's an intruder in the castle! We're checking every

room.

" The king yawned and ordered, "Double the guard. You are to capture him. Not necessarily alive. No one dares to sneak into the castle without my permission!

" "Yes, my lord. Allow these two

guards to remain here for your protection."

The king nodded, and the soldiers stood at attention by the door. The guard commander stepped out, closing the door. I had no other escape. I slowly, silently, began to slide down the ledge. Below me, I saw a ledge in the solid rock of the walls. It stretched horizontally along the wall to a bend. I glanced back. Down in the courtyard, soldiers were running with torches. I was currently the most wanted person in the kingdom. I can't say I was happy about this. I reached the ledge, which was wide enough for me to stand on. The wind blowing in from the sea made it difficult to keep my balance. I moved toward the bend. From there, I could jump down onto the inner roof surrounding the castle. When I reached it, all the guards were on alert. I was already very lucky not to have been noticed. I jumped down onto the roof, clinging to its surface. I silently thanked the gods that it wasn't raining, as I wouldn't have lasted long on the slippery surface. I crawled to the edge and looked down. Guards were patrolling the area around the castle. The situation wasn't good. I no longer had a rope to lower myself to the ground. Staying and waiting was even worse. I didn't have much time to think; someone could spot me at any moment. A guardsman who was calling from the window of the royal bedchamber helped me make my decision. My escape route had been discovered. I rose. At that moment, someone shouted, and arrows rained down on me from above. One hit my forearm, slicing through my sleeve and skin. Luckily, the shooters weren't very skilled. Otherwise, I would have been dead. I felt a burning sensation. I ran along the edge of the roof. In an instant, I slipped on a clump of moss I hadn't noticed in the darkness. I staggered and tumbled down into the thicket of bushes growing on the slight slope below the walls. I owed my life to these bushes, as they cushioned my fall enough that, aside from severe bruises and scratches, I didn't break my neck. I lay there, gasping for breath. The pain in my diaphragm gradually subsided. I rose to my knees and looked around. I had to get out of there as quickly as possible. Up on the roof from which I'd fallen, I saw a dozen soldiers with torches calling to their comrades below. They were running around, searching the nearby bushes. It was only a matter of time before they found me. Despite the pain, I crawled to the edge of the bushes. From here, I had a better view of the surrounding area. A wagon stood not far from me; if I could reach it unnoticed, I might have a chance of escaping. The guards searching the bushes were right behind me. I heard their excited voices.

"Hellboy!" He roared into the bushes. He won't make it out alive.

- Speed ​​up! Don't talk. Rickens.

- Sorry, boss, this had to happen on my shift too.

I couldn't wait any longer. I gathered myself and, despite the pain throughout my body, moved. My desperate idea momentarily surprised my pursuers, who froze. Only their commander recovered from his surprise.

"Shoot! Rams! Shoot!"

All around me, bolts from the guards' crossbows whistled. Perhaps the darkness and haste meant that none of them had hit me yet. As I reached the wagon, the horses neighed wildly, terrified. I felt a stabbing pain in my right thigh and heard the joy in the soldiers' voices. Only their commander shouted, "Don't let him reach the wagon! Don't let him reach the wagon!" A second bolt struck me in the shoulder just as I made a desperate leap from my good leg onto the wagon. The startled horses surged forward, rescuing me from the pursuers. I heard curses being hurled and the sounds of bolts digging into the wood of the wagon. For the time being, I was saved. My shoulder and leg were numb, and a searing pain ripped through my body. Soon they would send pursuit. The wagon had to be abandoned. The horses carried the wagon deeper into the city. They slowed in the alleyways enough for me to find the reins. I stopped the wagon near the docks, where I had a few friends. However, I rejected the idea of ​​hiding with them. Not wanting to endanger them, I slid to the ground. The pain was so excruciating that I almost lost consciousness. The knowledge that I was marking my escape route with blood pushed me to another desperate act. I stopped in a dark alley. I examined my leg. Fortunately, the bolt hadn't broken any bones. I gripped it tightly and broke it. The pain was excruciating. I howled, and the scream echoed off the buildings. Slowly, breathing rapidly through clenched teeth, I pulled the remaining bolt from my thigh. I made a tourniquet from my sleeve and tied it around the wound. The second bolt was still lodged above my shoulder blade. Blood trickled warmly down my back. I reached over my shoulder. The touch intensified the pain, and I barely suppressed another scream. However, I felt it slide down the bone, so I tried to remove it. The first time, I couldn't manage it; the pain was unbearable. I took a deep breath and jerked. I felt faint, staggered, and fell. I lay there for some time, unable to find the strength to get up. I knew that if I didn't stop the bleeding, I would faint. With the last of my strength, I managed to move. Fog clouded my vision, but I staggered through the shadowed streets toward my house. Twice, I almost fell into the clutches of the guards patrolling the streets. After about an hour, I finally made it to my apartment. Mrs. Rhona was waiting for me on the doorstep.

"Mrs. Altersberg, I've gotten myself into quite a mess," I said.

Supporting me, the landlady led me to her own apartment.

"I know, I know, the guards were here. They're searching all the houses inhabited

by your guild members. What have you gotten yourself into, you idiot? You must have done something terrible if the royals are looking for you."

She laid me on the sofa and tended to my wounds. While I was doing so, I told her everything. It became clear that after a few days of my absence from the guild, they would surely find out who was responsible for the break-in. I didn't have much time to save myself. I fell asleep before Mrs. Altersberg finished dressing my wounds.