Rich Fish In A Barrel|Haven, Ilyamen

[Kender Bard]

Word of the foreign queen and her noble procession had spread like fire through Ilyamen. It was all anyone could talk about. When Virgo had found out, she was ecstatic, like all her fellow thieves were.

This is the greatest thing... ever! Virgo thought with delight. She was not accustomed to pick-pocketing, though she had given the skill some work enough that she wasn't a bumbling incompetent either.

Besides, how hard could it be on a train of babbling foreign nobles?

So she'd found out where a few of them were staying and, essentially, stalked the place until a man came out. Grinning widely, she began to shadow him carefully.

I bet he has a purse bursting with sapphires and rubies, she thought, remembering the currency used on the Firegem islands. That they didn't carry coins didn't bother her. Gems could be worth quite a bit on their own. I'll get a carpenter to mend father's bed and have some new clothes tailored for us both.

Thoughts of spending newfound riches dancing in her head, she moved closer to her mark and observed him carefully, looking for the right moment to slit his moneypouch open or untie it completely.

[Darastrix]

Timothy drew his cloak more tightly about himself as he made his way down the street. He might have been an Ice, but he was still accustomed to a much different climate. And from all accounts, this was mild for the land. People had even been commenting on an early spring. He hoped that summer would be fast on its heels, or that they would travel to a warmer land soon.

Well, one could always find warmth near a smith's forge. That thought in mind, he set off to find the weaponsmith's shop he recalled from the day before.

No, he thought, pausing. This isn't right. He stepped closer to one of the buildings and looked around, trying to get his bearings. One would think a nation that boasted a "grand market" so considerably smaller than Firespice could manage to be laid out a little better.

[Kender Bard]

Good, he's disoriented, Virgo decided when she saw how he was walking. She moved in for the strike, brushing against him.

"Sorry," she murmured, then paused, as though reconsidering walking away. "Are you all right?" she asked quietly. "You seem a little lost." As she spoke, she discreetly worked to get the tiny knife in her sleeve to drop down into her hand. She decided she'd just cut the purse right off and snatch it before it fell.

[Darastrix]

"I'm afraid I am, actually," Timothy replied, looking down at her. Thank the Forces--a local. "I thought there was a weaponsmith down this way, but it seems I was mistaken. If you could set me on the right course, I would be much obliged."

[Kender Bard]

"I'd be happy to," Virgo replied, gripping the knife carefully to keep it concealed in her hand. She took her other hand from behind her back and pointed, then put her arm down. "Ah, it's easier to show." She smiled and walked at a careful pace so she wouldn't get ahead of him more than a single pace or two and led him towards the nearest blacksmith. She could easily fade into the background once his interests were engaged and then she'd make her steal.

[Darastrix]

"Ah, thank you, young lady," Timothy replied. He glanced around at the various shops as he followed Virgo, attempting to draw himself a mental map to go by later. "And what might your name be?"

[Kender Bard]

She wasn't sure whether to give her real name or not. It was daylight, and she generally didn't do these sorts of things during the day. She felt off-balance and wound up saying, "Virgo." Immediately she regretted it but tried to not let it affect her. "Here we are," she announced, stopping in front of the smithy abruptly.

[Darastrix]

"Excellent, excellent," he murmured, glancing into the smithy. "I've been enjoying getting to see the different styles of weaponry to be had in these lands. Well." Timothy looked back at Virgo and smiled. "Allow me to thank you for the direction, my dear."

He raised his right arm to move his cloak out of the way, and reached across with his left hand to dip into the purse at his side, pulling out several topaz chips. He transferred the gems to his right hand and offered them to Virgo while he tugged his purse closed again with his left.

[Kender Bard]

Virgo looked at the chips and felt a twinge in her heart. Damnit, she thought at herself irritably. This is why I don't pick pockets.

There was no way she could rob him now. It'd feel... wrong. My morals are so fucked up, it's crazy, she added to her mental thoughts as she accepted them.

"Thank you," she murmured and transferred them to a pocket. And, because she was a bleeding heart, to her chagrin, she added in a low voice, "There's another smithy not far from here that charges less. Browse here then take your order to him and he'll give you yet another discount."