Market Stroll

[Kender Bard]

Twilight sighed inwardly, but smiled a little as well as he took the list that Dusk penned in hand and went browsing her favorite vendors in the market for the unusual things she craved. It would be good to get out of the castle at any rate. He was beginning to get nervous and pester the royal healers about their capabilities in delivering. It wouldn't be long now, and they were getting sick of him.

[Deleted]

A pair of eyes watched him closely and followed behind the tall man. It took a little while for the shabby looking child to screw up the courage...and dash forward, grabbing the coin purse on his belt, cutting the cords and running off.

'Please...please don't follow me!' the child thought desperately.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight paused - something felt off. His keenly honed senses made him halt stone cold. Hairs rising on the back of his neck he spun around in time to see a fleeing form. Since it was a child, Twilight doubted an assassination attempt but he didn't see anyone chasing the kid so not bullies.

His hand snapped to his pouch, found air, and he growled before taking off after the child. "Stop!"

[Deleted]

The child gave a mild whimper and kept on running, clamping the hat down hard so that it wouldn't fly off into the wind.

"D-don't chase Shui!" cried the child, desperately taking turns down and into all sorts of streets and alleyways.

[Kender Bard]

Well whether or not the kid had his money (which he suspected he did), Twilight had to see what was up now and kept up doggedly as best as he could. Finally, panting out a quick chant as he touched his sign, he held out one hand and sent a blast of water to try and knock the child down.

[Deleted]

Shui turned just in time to see the water blast coming. Desperately, he reached for his sign, but got hit and knocked back with a squeal. Hitting the ground, Shui tried to scramble back to his feet but just couldn't get a firm enough grip.

"D-don't come near Shui!" he cried.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight all but pounced at the kid, landing nearby and grabbing firmly at the arms, pinning his arms to his side. "Okay kid, up we go." Pulling, he tried to right the child. "Did you take my money or do I have to double check and make sure?" He gave a light shake for emphasis.

[Deleted]

"Shui...Shui doesn't have your money!"

Squirming around, Shui kicked and thrashed about until he got free. "Ah!" Shui just glanced at Twilight and once again ran, weaving his way through the people.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight frowned and was about to let Shui just go - after all he said he didn't and it's not like Twilight didn't have more money - but spotted his coin purse on the kid just as he disappeared from sight. Cursing, Twilight picked up the chase again.

[Deleted]

Shui was quick to disappear into a small alley that opened up into a slightly larger area with a doorway leading into a small building. Panting, Shui grabbed the coin purse and thrust it out.

"Shui got the money! So you'll let Shui's dad go, right?"

[hisdivineshadow]

The man waiting there had just finished rolling a wad of tobacco, and took the time to light it with a flame from his fingertip before turning to look at Shui. He eyed the child apathetically, took a deep drag, and then blew a cloud of smoke at her. "Is that so?"

Taking a step forward, he snatched the coin purse and gave it a heft, checking the weight and the clink. "Hmm . . ." Pulling it open, he took a brief look inside and nodded. "Congratulations, kid." He smiled. "You get to see your daddy again. Come on." Turning, he opened the door and stepped inside, going down a flight of stairs to a dark, dank cellar.

A single, guttering torch provided the only illumination, which wasn't quite enough to make out details. There were two other figures clearly visible, though: one standing, the other slumped over in a chair.

[Deleted]

Shui followed the man and proceeded to run to his father. "Dad! Shui got the money! Shui didn't let you down!"

[hisdivineshadow]

Her father's head rose slightly and he looked blearily around. "Shui? Where did you . . ." He shook his head and struggled against his bonds.

The man standing by looked to his associate and frowned, a hand brushing against the Mind sign on his arm.

"Hmm . . . you know what, I don't think this will be enough after all, kid." The man with the coin purse tossed it up and caught it in one hand, while flicking tobacco ash aside with the other hand. "See, we already made an arrangement to sell your dad to a businessman in Ekaitz. We can't go back on our deal, so . . ."

[Deleted]

"What!? But you said if Shui got the money you would let Shui's dad go..." he looked at his father with large eyes and then turned to the man holding the money bag.

"Wh-what can Shui do to get daddy free?"

[hisdivineshadow]

"Well, we promised them a slave, didn't we? And we can't go back on our deal, we promised to deliver and deliver we shall." He looked to his associate, who nodded agreement. Turning back to Shui, the man removed the cigarette from his mouth and blew another cloud of smoke down at the child's face. "I suppose," he concluded with a smile, "you could just take his place."

Shui's father froze, eyes wide. "No! Don't do it, Shui!" He was abruptly silenced by a blow to the throat, and doubled over again, gasping for air.

"So, will you do it? Your freedom . . . for your father's. A fair deal, I'd say."