Retribution - Part 2

One other person in the inn was watching Arun as he ordered his drink. A heavyset dwarf with a thick black beard peered over the rim of his ale mug and nodded to himself. That was Arun all right, he would recognise that bearing anywhere, even after all these years.

He turned to his companion with a faint smile. "That's him," he said, nodding towards the ranger. "He wears it always, around his neck."

The dwarf shrugged. "He was all muffled up from the cold. I wouldn't have expected you to see it. But he will have it, I promise ye."

The other man scowled. He was an Eyan, and not used to the freezing winters of the Southeast. "Then you had better get it, dwarf, or you know what'll happen."

The dwarf returned the scowl and went back to his drink. He scratched his beard, and wondered, not for the first time, how he was going to steal the amulet.

Arun felt uncomfortable being back in a city. For years he had roamed the wilds, hunting, fishing, and only returning to civilisation out of necessity. The village of Wert, just south of Kettinmoor had been his home for the past twelve years, and now a petty theft had driven him back here, to Aina, the stinking cesspool of a town that was his birthplace. He swore a promise that he would find the swine responsible and return home as soon as possible. There was nothing here for him, there never had been.

He finished his drink and turned to go to his room. A sudden prickling on the back of his neck warned him that he was being watched, and his eyes swivelled to the left quickly. A young Katrin and an older human wizard were sitting in one of the far booths. It was the Katrin that was watching him, those fur-rimmed eyes concentrating heavily on his money pouch.

Arun smiled to himself. He had been caught off guard once too many times in recent days, and he was damned if any cat was going to steal from him. He made a show of hefting his money pouch then made for the stairs, whistling a nonsense tune. If that didn't bait the hook, nothing would.

Afeek felt his confidence swell. The ranger was obviously a dolt, judging from the way he flaunted his money. He nudged the wizard again, and watched in amusement as a second spray of ale was coughed across the table.

Shandar scowled at him and dabbed the puddle half-heartedly. "Well? What is it? I suppose you have a good reason for doing that?"

"But of course Effendi," said Afeek. "I have been watching that ranger closely. He is a fool. I could have his money and be gone from Aina before he could blink!"

"Forget it," said Shandar. "I'm still recovering from that time when you tried to steal an ogre's club. I never knew those brutes could run so fast!"

"Hah!" said Shandar. "And have you forgotten all the trouble you got us into in Shagrim?"

"Trouble, Effendi?" said Afeek, dipping his head quickly and drinking from his ale. Shandar scowled but said nothing. He took a long pull of his ale. "You can just put any thoughts of theft out of your mind for good," he said at last. "At my age, I don't need you stirring up trouble. I should be relaxing. I nice beach hut somewhere. But no, I'm off gallivanting with probably the worst thief in existence."

Afeek put on his insulted expression and sat back in the booth. He grudgingly had to admit that Shandar was at least half-right. He could not remember the last job that had gone well. Too many variables, he had told himself at the time; it was a good excuse by anyone's standards and he was sticking to it. But this, this was different. Anyone watching would have been able to see how much of a fool the ranger was, and Afeek would have been a bigger fool to pass up the chance. He hid his smile from the wizard and finished his ale. It was almost time.

Arun settled himself on a wooden chair behind the stool and waited. He had set up the bed to make it seem as if someone was sleeping in it, a simple trick, but one suited to the theiving Katrin.

His wait was soon rewarded when a faint knock came at the door. Testing to see if I'm sleeping, though Arun with a smile. The knock was repeated several seconds later, and when it was not answered, the knob on the door began to slowly turn. The big ranger tensed and watched as the heavy oak door began to open, the hinges creaking softly. A hand appeared, gripping the edge of the frame.

Arun inched forward and watched as the figure moved quietly into the dark room. All he could see was the outline, but that was enough. Like a coiled spring, he leapt forward and tackled the intruder to the ground. There was a muffled yell, followed by a brief struggle. Arun's superior strength and weight won over, and he was soon sitting astride the unlucky thief.

Puzzled, Arun stood up and lit the nearest lamp. The bright, flickering flame sprang to life, and illuminated the figure that was getting slowly to his feet. It was not a Katrin, but a dwarf.

"I see that I was mistaken. Although I admit, it has been a long time since I met a dwarven thief. I especially did not expect to see you, old fool!"

The dwarf grunted again as he finally gained his feet. "And I see you still have no respect for my age Arun, you never did. Hoisting me around like so much old rubbish."

The dwarf sighed and sank down onto the bed. "It is a long story, but you can probably guess some of it at least."

The dwarf nodded sourly. "The dice favoured me for a long time, and then Dreckuss, damn him, took me for it all. He was going to kill me Arun, I swear it, or I would not have listened to him. As it was, I had no choice. He wants your amulet Arun."

Gardin nodded. "Aye, your amulet. He showed me a drawing, asked if I knew aught of it. It was your amulet Arun, with the strange markings and all."

"Not a word," said the dwarf. "He just said it was very important, and that I had to get it, whatever the cost. Sent one of his bullies along to keep an eye on me. The man is downstairs right now."

"There is no need to worry about him, Gardin, I can take care of Dreckuss's men. But I AM interested in why he wants my amulet."

They were interrupted as the door suddenly swung open again. Arun turned around in time to see a furry head poke itself cautiously through. "Oh," said Afeek.

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