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-----Seth asks, "and when is this supposed to take place? Now? Tomorrow? The next day?"
-----Wain replies, "You will leave tomorrow morning."
-----Kazel leans on the wall looking relaxed as she listens to the proposal. She nods as Gimplefwick asks for five percent apiece. "It won't just be guards and bandits. There's been tales of beasts going mad in the country. Spending two nights out there better be worth it."
-----Wain looks at her, slowly nodding, but the coldness never leaves his eyes. "I hadn’t thought of that. All right, five percent apiece it is. If this is agreeable, I need the three of you to visit Calron at the dock warehouse tonight. He will provide the wagon for you and tell you how the goods are hidden. He will give the directions you need and have the wagon ready for you to pick up tomorrow morning."
-----He once more scans the three young thieves with his dark eyes, "Are we in agreement?"
-----Seth seems disappointed. "Well, all I can say is, I hope the five percent is going to be more than the money I was supposed to get for playing at Brad's tavern tomorrow night!"
-----He turns to Dread and Kazel, "I assume one of you knows how to deal with wagons and beasts who draw them?"
-----Kazel looks at Gimplefwick. "You know how to sail a wagon, Dread Pirate?"
-----Gimplefwick shrugs and says, "Shiver me timbers, how difficult can it be to drive a wagon? If worse comes to worse, then we can simply lead the beasties, rather than trying to use the reins. Anyway, I'm in, it sounds like a good time."
-----"Let's be seeing this Calron then," Kazel says.
-----Wain then points to the tunnel the trio entered the room by. Quickly in one fluid motion, the Fly moves down off the shelf, stands by the tunnel mouth and, with a flourish of his hand, indicates he is ready to escort them.
-----They follow him into the dark tunnel. The light of the lamps behind them shines palely on the back of the elf in front of them. They can see him move from side to side in the tunnel. At a certain point in the dark tunnel, he moves to the left side and pulls open the concealed "door" to the tunnel that leads to the well.
-----As they pass into the next tunnel, the Fly hands each thief a copper coin for the entrance back into town. "Give my best to the guards at the gate!" he says as they leave. He stays behind and waves one hand at them. He then closes the tunnel wall behind them and their eyes adjust to the dark. They move up the tunnel and at the end, Seth pulls open the wall into the well shaft. They then quickly climb up the rungs to the ground level.
-----The trio emerges from the well in the chilly darkness. The sun had set at least an hour ago and the clouds overhead blot out any star or moonlight. The crickets chirp slowly as they move across the grassy plain toward the river-bridge.
-----It especially feels cold crossing the large bridge as the wind carries the chill of the river water. They reach the other side and move along beside the enormous walls of the town. Just ahead they see the open Market Gate and the four guards standing around it.
-----As they get closer, they can see that the traffic on the street has thinned out considerably. As the three thieves enter the torchlight, one of the guards turns in their direction. He quickly whispers something to the other guards and they all turn toward Kazel, Seth and Gimplefwick. They collect the copper pieces from the three and one of the guards then turns frowning towards them. "What buziness be bringin’ ya back ta town? An’ where’s that strange friend o’ yores?" One of the guards pats his sword hanging by his side.
-----Gimplefwick scowls at the questioning guard, "My business be none of yers, ye glorified toll-taker. Why yer harrasin' honest citizens and threatenin' them with yer sword, I don't know. But ye can be assured that it is a matter that I'll be takin' up with yer superior officers. I'll be sure to tell 'em that yer discoragin' honest tradespeople from entry to yer city. I'll be sure to also tell me fellow merchants to be takin' their trade elsewheres. As the duly appointed trade representative of the Halfling Hills community ye can be sure that my words will be heard. My bodyguards can back up me words with yer officers," Gimplefwick gestures at Kazel and Seth. "I'm sure that yer officers will be pleased to know that ye've taken it upon yerself to restrict trade into their city."
-----Gimplefwick continues, his face growing red as he portrays a furious merchant, "As for that so called 'friend', I've never seen him before tonight, so he could hardly be a friend o' mine now could he? That's why I took me bodyguards, in case he planned some trickery or whatnot. He didn't, he was just curious about halflings and what goods we brought into the city. As the ambassador of a large halfling community, it is often me job to talk to strangers and promote goodwill between the races." Gimplefwick glares at the guard, "But in some cases it is difficult to promote goodwill and honest trade."
-----Seth turns to the guard, "Well, we came back to the town to get some sleep, and the strange one is not our friend, he played a mean trick on us and I lost some money. Anyway he left before us so he should have already come back to town. I bid you guards good night" and with that Seth turns and continues on his way.
-----Kazel nods after Seth, "A dirty trickster he was, good sirs. He even told us to give you his best regards. If he be here next time you should fully search him in the back room!"
-----She then bids the guards good night and closely follows Seth into the city.
-----The small oil lanterns dimly light the streets as the trio moves to the right. They make for the street on the other side of the market area. This would take them two blocks up to where the town well is located. From there, a turn to the right and a block and a half more would place them at the dock warehouse.
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