A small shadow slinks from building to building, disturbing great puddles of the sludge and street slime of the Dock Ward that has run together in the rain. Even still, the little figure is silent and moves unnoticed in the gloom of night and unheard in the pouring rain. The smell of the days catch mingled with the grime of this section of run down warehouses can keep even the most experienced tracker off the trail. The little cloaked figure knows these streets well and makes its way to a hidden door in an abandoned alley way. It’s warm and cozy in the room beyond the door and the Halfling is greeted by a loud “Caw”.
“Welcome home Master Quinn.” The pearl white feathered raven perched on the mantle of a warmly burning fireplace said as he entered the door, “I expect tonight’s business was successful? Shall I set the wards for you?” The Halfling stomped off his boots by the door and hung his cloak on the rack next to it.
“Yes set the wards Sizrit. I don’t plan on going out again tonight!” Quinn said with glee, “Look what I found!” Quinn reached into the pocket of his vest and pulled out a gem the size of his head that wouldn’t have fit into the vest if it wasn’t enchanted with extra-dimensional pockets. The diamond glittered in the firelight as Quinn held it up triumphantly. “Weeks of scoping out Triamere Manor finally paid off.” Quinn set the gem on the table and began drying off his shaggy damp hair by the fire. Sizrit suddenly flapped his wings in alarm.
“I wouldn’t start celebrating just yet Quinn. It seems you’ve been followed. I sense magical energies coming from outside the door. They seem to be probing the wards.” Quinn shot up quick as a snake and grabbed the gem, stuffing it back into his vest. He quickly grabbed a dry cloak and his bag that was filled with his gear.
“How long do we have?” Quinn asked as the iron door to his safe house started to glow an angry red. Sizrit closed his eyes and began concentrating. The red on the door began to glow purple and crackled with electricity.
“That should hold them off a little…” The door quickly turned back and shone hotter than before “Oh dear. I’d say less than a minute.” Sizrit flew over to where Quinn was searching in a hidden floor compartment.
“It has to be here somewhere. Aha!” Quinn snatched up a small, fragile orb the size of a marble.
“Is that one of Master Yenir’s orbs?” Sizrit asked. Quinn looked to the raven and smirked.
“Yup! He gave this to me for just such an emergency. You’d better hang on.” Quinn held out his other hand and Sizrit perched upon it. The door to the safe house shattered behind him and Quinn spun around. The force of the blast and the wind from the storm outside put out the fireplace so that all Quinn could see was the silhouette of a Human standing in the door way. Seething fury and magical energy emanated off this man.
“Give me back what you’ve stolen Halfling!” The figure roared. Quinn only smiled as lightning illuminated his face.
“Only if you can catch me” He said and with that shattered the orb to the floor in front of him. The world lurched and the room vanished around him in a flash. Then all was spinning and then dark…
To Be Continued…
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