"You're going to pay for that!" Giggled a young girl and splashed more water against other children near her. "Ha, ha!" Laughed a boy while others exclaimed, surprised. It is a hot afternoon in the year of Jaunna, Lady Summer. As her name proceeds, she brings in the hot Summer and lush green to her people and the land in Bhernia for a whole year. After her follows the year of Lafek, Lord Autumn with his harvest, bringing the firey colours in the leaves and cooling down for the Winter to come. Lady Winter, better known as Eneras, brings the darkest and coldest year to Bhernia. After her comes Gerrogh, Lord Spring, who brings in the light and allows the plants to grow and prosper.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVv5X3jbwl
The heat is very noticeable within the great trading city of Aerik. A prominent merchant's city to trade unique goods from the foreign land called Fhairras, the Elvanshee folk's land. A particular portal enables transportation. It will be opened twice a week, so the market is always bustling with people and various goods. The air over the market is filled with murmurs and shouts as sellers and buyers haggle for the fair price. Such as the jingles of coins or gems; different spices, fresh food and other exotic goods penetrates one's nostrils when approaching near the stands. Colourful clothes and textiles shine in the sun, and the precious metals, jewellery and weapons glisten as they are presented.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMedV2NOC8
A small creek flowed near the market square and was built nearby a fountain. A flower stand is always near it to keep the flowers alive and fresh to sell by an elderly lady. She shooed the children away as they started splashing each other. The children giggled and ran off to a shadowy alley to remain cool. "She's no fun. Should we ease her pockets for a change?" Asked the little girl to the others after catching her breath.
"Nah, she lets us fetch some water from the fountain. I think we should leave her be unless you know a better place to get water?" Wondered a boy as he leaned against the cool stone wall. "What's up with you, Ig? Spotted something?" Asked another boy as his eyes fell on Ig. Ig crouched and looked at the market, watching for an opportunity to pickpocket someone. "No, but I have a feeling today's the day we may get a big fish."
"Oh, not you and your feelings again?" Sighed the first boy who spoke and ran a hand through his short wet, dark hair.
"To be fair, Snatch, there was a lot of trouble, but we got ourselves back then a lot of coins." Reminded the girl.
Snatch sighed and crossed his arms. "True that, but I still don't like it, no offence Ig."
"None taken." Noted Ig without turning to the other children.
"Snatch!" Remarked, the girl angered.
"What?"
"You shouldn't have said that."
"Then what should I have said, Hemin?" Gave Snatch annoyed, his ears grew red.
"I don't know but not that what you've said before-"
"Hey, I found a generous owner." Cuts in Ig and points out. His dark brown eyes were fixed on an elderly man with shoulder-length wavy white hair, held a wooden staff in his left hand, and wore a traveller's clothes. Ig clearly knew he was a tourist the way he was dressed, walked and browsed the market. The man's rusty brown leather pouch was at his belt, and it looked heavy with its weight of great value.
"What? That old man? That will be easy." Noted the other boy.
Snatch gave the boy a quick hit on the back of the head.
"Ow! What was that for?" He looked up to Snatch while rubbing his head.
"Did you forget what happened on your first attempt, Stumbler? Looks can be deceiving when it comes to stealing." Reminded Snatch gravely.
"I hate it when you call me that." Snapped Stumbler. "It's Fetch."
"Then get it through your thick skull, and I'll stop," Snatch smirked.
"Guys! Back to the old man, we want to steal?" Reminded Hemin.
Ig stood up but kept his eyes on the old man. "Who's in? I can ease his pouch when someone distracts him, and the place couldn't be any better."
"Ig, are you alright?" Questioned Stumbler, confused about Ig's reaction.
"Usually, I have a saying here, but your plan is sound, and I'm in." Stepped up Snatch.
Hemin sighed. "Fine. Lead us the way, Ig."
"I'll come up from behind. I trust you distract him well with some sort of accident or whatever you have in mind." Ig paced off between various stands, keeping himself discreet and invisible as he learned from watching and doing it over the years. His dark brown eyes never averted from the elderly man. Snatch has never seen Ig being so focused on a person before.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nMamZ5NvN
Snatch blinked as he found himself staring at the deserted market square and the old fountain cloaked in the shadow of the moon. Since Ignatius mentioned Fetch and Hemin, his mind wandered about them. Seeing the market square awakened not only memories but emotions of nostalgia. He sighed, and a faint smile trickled on his lips. Snatch can recall the memory as it happened and how it changed Ignatius and everyone from thereon. Slowly his smile vanished, and he narrowed his eyebrows to the thought of what had turned out of Ignatius. Tainted with necromancy by an evil spirit, "I bloody hope you're telling the truth, Ig." He muttered and paced off to the tavern. Soon his ears met music softly from the Gold Pig tavern, and at the open door, he spotted a silhouette of the young barmaid that he promised to meet. Upon that sight, his mind abandoned all previous thoughts, and a smirk curled its way across his face.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYXL8mwYNA
As soon as the door closed, Magpie spotted Plank's face above the scratched knob, smiling in her direction.
Ignatius sighed and removed his cape while looking around the room; he soon followed her glance and gave a soft snigger. "Its magic is made to guard the door, nothing more. It won't do you any harm."
"That may be, but I still don't trust it, especially when it has a face, a voice and a mind."
"Aw, come on! Can't I have some fun every once in a while?" Moaned Plank with a drooping frown. "Especially from a pretty one at that."364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgPKLpB87K
Magpie smirked. "Then you met the wrong pretty one; you won't get anything from me." She walked into the other room to inspect. A shiver went down her spine as she felt Plank's eyes following her. The room was dark due to the shutters covering the windows from the outside. As she wanted to head out to find a tinderbox and rushlight to make some light, she walked straight into Ignatius. Their glances met, and their faces so close that their breath brushed against each other.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO80JgZ7fE
"Sorry." Whispered Ignatius and held Magpie by the arms. "Are you alright?"
"I am." She gave a smile, but Ignatius felt a 'but' in her tone. She sighed. "I love you with all my heart, Ignatius, but I'm beginning to doubt there is hope for us clearing the taint Shadow has left behind. Snatch did mention a valid point earlier. Being on the run isn't life. Being a thief is different when moving from place to place, but not like this. Watching our every step and move day in and day out, avoiding leaving any traces behind for the bounty hunters to follow if unlucky one of them can be a caster on our heels." She paused. "I'm sorry. It's been a long day." Magpie wrapped her arms around him and rested her heavy head upon his chest.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUOls0nmbt
Ignatius gave a soft scoff and leaned his head upon her's. "Too right you are there. Tomorrow is a new day, but I have a feeling that we are nearing our goal. Maybe Snatch could be of help?"
Magpie looked up to Ignatius with a questioning gaze. "How so be of help? He's a thief like us."
"I wonder how much help we were to entrapping Shadow in that other world, just us two as thieves?" He smirked at her.
"Point made." Magpie smiled. They kissed.
That night went somewhat different for Snatch, but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it; something was not right. He had his usual fun with blonde women, and with this one would have gone the same, but the feeling he had gnawing at the back of his mind kept him distracted. Instead of sleeping soundly beside her, Snatch slept light. Every sound he heard made him turn to see what its source was, and he gave up on getting proper rest as the cockerel crowed with the rising sun. The barmaid was sleeping soundly as he rose, wore his clothes, and headed out. Snatch paced back from the Golden Pig tavern with his hood folded up. The sunlight was too bright from the lack of sleep and being lightly hungover from the amount of spice beer he drank with the maid. The daylight stung his eyes which caused a severe headache as if the light was piercing his skull.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29DCOMNdQO
Snatch halted as he noticed the market square, smelled the spices and fresh-baked bread. Water gathered in his mouth, and he remembered how he used to steal bread from around here and some coins at times. He never did it alone, Ignatius, Fetch, and Hemin was always there to help him steal or cause distraction. He blinked in recollection that Ignatius and his love, Magpie, stayed at his apartment and grabbed for his coin pouch. Bringing in breakfast wouldn't hurt, and hopefully, the strange feeling will ebb away with talking to them. Snatch walked past multiple stands and followed his nose to find the bread stand, some cheese and a few apples as a treat.
Suddenly he felt a glance and rapidly turned around. He found himself staring down the small dark alley that he and the other children used to hide and spot out their victims to steal. Within a blink, he saw a dark silhouette retreating out of sight. Rapidly he sprinted to the alley but found no one there. He blinked as doubt clouded his mind, and with a scoff, he walked off to his apartment. The feeling he had at the back of his mind crept to the back of his neck like an icy hand that made him turn over his shoulder. Something is definitely not right, he thought. Soon his mind wandered to what Ignatius and Magpie told him about, are the bounty hunters here for them? If that's the case, he must warn them that they need to move on. Snatch picked up his pace and made sure no one followed him to his apartment. Shaking off followers was his forte, along with carrying some expensive magical smoke curtains in small glass bottles at his belt and wearing different clothes as disguises if needed. Hopefully, he won't need any of them this time as he is slim on the number of coins.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0xyr35yx3
