Chapter 8: A Paradise of Thieves

“No, that’s not what I said, I’m looking for the troll, Warsh Khat.” Alyssa spouted in frustration at the rather diminutive faun who was looking at her in utter confusion. “He’s a dealer in rare and unusual antiquities and artifacts.”

“Oh, you must mean Silas Khast; I can see where the confusion can happen, but he is a rare art dealer. I unfortunately don’t know where he is currently.” The faun said smiling.

“I do not mean him, and I am not looking for him, it is Warsh Khat that I want to speak to. His old shop burnt down and I don’t know where to find him. Zell, told me that you could direct me where I need to go, so can you or can’t you?” Alyssa asked pointedly.

“Oh! Well, why didn’t you tell me that at the beginning. Warsh Khat did have his shop burn down, a bunch of vandals and thieves I hear. Anyways, his new shop Dead Things, Luck and Potions is just down this street, then take a left on Spire Street, and then another left onto Deadman’s Noose Ave. and it should be right there.” The faun said smilingly widely.

“Thank you,” Alyssa said with exasperation as she dropped some gold coins into the faun’s grubby hands.

“Pleasure doing business with you, come back when you need to find somebody again.” The faun shouted after Alyssa, who was already melting away into the crowds on the streets.

It had been several days since her encounter with the assassins at her home. After she had healed the burns, cuts and bruises to her body she needed to prepare for her journey and gather enough supplies for it. Striker’s Realm and especially the city of Thief’s Paradise wasn’t a safe place, but it was far more likely to get pickpocketed and cheated on then die or get gravely injured. Money and threats were what made the city work, and those who knew how to utilize it to their advantage faired very well, those who didn’t ended up leaving the city or realm poorer and dumber than when they arrived.

She had arrived in the city yesterday hoping to find an old contact of hers that she used to consult with off and on regarding some of the jobs that she took, but upon finding his hold shop a ruined husk then began the arduous task of discovering where he had gone. There were no official maps and the city didn’t have any rhyme or reason to it; people simply did as they pleased mostly. This made finding things in a directory or obtaining directions difficult, because nobody truly knew where anything in the city was, and neither did what passed for the city officials.

Despite possessing a reputation as a disreputable place, Thief’s Paradise was a very busy place of commerce, and the streets always seemed to be filled with people and bustling with life and pleasure. This made identifying streets extraordinarily challenging as they placed in the oddest of places, and sometimes were even covered up by throngs of beings and creatures. Alyssa almost missed turning onto Spire Street, but fortunately the crowds thinned out after that and she had a much easier time and then before she knew it she was standing outside rather sad looking store of Dead Things, Luck and Potions.

Alyssa entered the store which was filled with some fascinating antiques and trinkets, but most of the items were simply rusted and tarnished junk. Standing behind the counter was an older looking troll carefully studying a set of diamond studded tiaras when he noticed her entrance.

“Ah my old friend, what a sight for these fat, dreary eyes! Please, please come in and let me see if I can interest you in something.” Warsh Khat, his expression beaming with eager anticipation.

“I’m not in the market for purchasing any items in your shop.” Alyssa stated as she approached the counter.

“You say that now, but let me show you these two beauties. Exquisite craftmanship, and some of the finest emeralds you will find adorning a necklace this side of Thief’s Paradise.” Warsh said as laid down two necklaces across the counter in front of Alyssa.

“Warsh, I want information, not trinkets.” Alyssa said pushing away the jewelry.

“Ah, information; what kind of information?” Warsh asked cautiously as he eyed her suspiciously.

“This kind,” Alyssa said as she placed the bronze medallion from the fallen assassin in front of him. “Do you know what this symbol means?”

“Let’s take a look and see,” Warsh said as he took his eye piece for a close inspection. He examined the medallion but when he came to the image of the coiled serpent and saw it, he let out a gasp and let the medallion drop to counter. “Where did you get this?”

“Someone who won’t be needing it anymore. Do you know what it means?” Alyssa asked curiously.

“Ah….no, I don’t.” Warsh said his dark green skin now a few shades lighter, and he was perspiring more than he usually did.

“I don’t believe you, and judging by your expression not only do you know what this means, but it terrifies you.” Alyssa said as she moved closer towards the counter concentrating her gaze at Warsh.

“Well…ummm….we’re closed.” Warsh said and then reached under the counter and pulled a lever. He then vanished beneath the floor under a trap door that sealed up behind him. When Alyssa hopped over the counter to attempt to open the hidden escape hatch, the mechanism was locked, and all of her magical spells were being blocked by a very powerful enchantment.

“Oh, Warsh, when will you ever learn.” Alyssa said with a sigh, and then taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and crossed her arms. Her body began to shrink rapidly until she morphed into a rather large, and scrappy looking brown rat. She scampered across the floor until she found a hole in the wall which she followed down into what she thought was the basement, but the hole went even deeper and she could feel the temperature drop.

Alyssa emerged out of the hole into a vast underground network of catacombs. At first she had difficulty adjusting her eyesight to the darkness, but a light caught her attention down one of the passages and she hurried after it. As she got closer to the light she recognized the rather fat looking troll huffing and puffing as he hurried down the passage. She managed to get ahead of him and then transformed herself back and he came to a dead stop a few feet from her.

“How did you….” Warsh began to say.

“You should know better; I’m not just a book lover who enjoys studying rare artifacts. Now, someone has been trying to kill me to prevent me from discovering anything about my heritage and I want to know why.” Alyssa said slowly in a very low, and fixed tone. For a moment, Warsh stood there as if paralyzed.

“You don’t know what you’re asking, Alyssa; you would do best to leave the matter alone and forget the past.” Warsh said with an earnest seriousness that she had never heard from him before.

“I can’t do that, Warsh; I have to know the truth. So, tell me what you know.” Alyssa urged.

“Very well, but you one day you will regret it.” Warsh said.

“And I’ll deal with it when and if that occurs.” Alyssa responded.

“The coiled serpent represents a titan of magic; it’s…..” But Warsh’s body burst into black flames before he could finish, and then in a matter of seconds a pile of ashes was all that remained of him. Alyssa knelt down besides the ashes and shed a few tears; they weren’t very close, but he had always been good to hear and was always full of life and joy.

“I hope your spirit finds its way to happiness.” She said softly standing to her feet. Turning around as she wiped the few tears from her eyes, she was startled to see three cloaked figures clad in black hovering above the ground slowly moving towards her.