By: Matt Eckert

"This way!" Came the bark of a sergeant over the sound of pounding boots.

Gerris looked over his shoulder, his blue eyes narrowing. Moving his legs faster he raced down the narrow street. Bits of trash lined both sides of the street and buildings pressed in on both sides. The street ran into a busier thorough fare where people were milling about.

Seeing this as his opportunity Gerris nimbly made his way into the crowd, narrowly avoiding crashing into people. The soldiers, on the other hand, were not so fortunate. They were yelling for people to get out of the way and were having a much more difficult time.

The last thing that Gerris heard was the swearing of the sergeant as Gerris made his way onto another side street and continued on. He slowed his pace, knowing that he had lost the city guards. He smiled as he imagined the frustrated sergeant having to report losing the thief.

Gerris was a thief and as good as they came. He had lived in Merridan all his life and grew up the hard way, without a family or trillium. He had been a unwanted child, and had been raised his early years at an orphanage until he was seven.

From then on he had been on his own. He excelled at what he did. Thief, burglar, or pickpocket; he was all of them. People sometimes came to him for his "services." If the price was high enough he would perform the job. The price had to very high for him to ever risk his life on a job.

This had been one of them. Running a hand over one of his inner pockets, he felt the jewel tightly against his chest. It was a dragon stone, one of the rarest stones of all. This one was flawless, the size of a man's fist. Worth a king's ransom, it had almost cost Gerris a lot more than trillium.

The dragon stone had been in the possession of one of the highest ranking court officials and zealously guarded. Magically animated creatures, golems, had been protecting it. A very dangerous job and one that Gerris was glad to have done.

He would leave Merridan as soon as he got the trillium. Things were going to be hot for a while and he wanted to be far away when they searched the city for the thief. The port town, Kasaran would be nice this time of the year.

Making his way across several more streets to make sure that he was not being followed, he entered into a shady inn. The Willing Wench was dark and smoke filled the air. The tavern for the most part was crowded. It was one of the more popular places for the drudge of Merridan.

*****

The barkeep was an attractive young woman, in her early twenties with long, light brown hair and brown eyes who greeted him. She was voluptuous, wearing a revealing short dress but had a dagger in plain sight to make sure no one got the wrong idea.

"Melissa, how is business?" asked Gerris running hand through his blonde hair.

She flashed him a smile. "Good as usual. What can I do for you?"

Gerris' angular face was set in thought before he spoke. "Send a message to Trademaster Herron. Tell him that the job is completed."

Melissa nodded and Gerris walked past the bar and through the door at the side of the room. Entering into the back where barrels were kept on hand, he walked up the stairs. Coming to a hallway Gerris took a final set of stairs to the top of the tavern. Pulling out a key he unlocked the door.

Pushing the door open he disarmed the trap so that he could walk through the door. It was an extra precaution. Even if someone made it this far past Melissa and got the door open, there was another trap that would at least kill the first person to enter, a lethal poison that took only a few seconds to kill.

The entire third floor belonged to Gerris. He had an arrangement with Melissa and she was his eyes and ears as well. There were many things that could be picked up in the common room that might interest a thief. Who would suspect that a barkeep would secretly be listening in on gossip and conversations while pouring drinks?

For her trouble, Gerris paid her a share of what he made. He made sure that it was worth her trouble and paid her well enough not to cross him. She made trillium with almost no risk. Something that she couldn't turn down.

Gerris crossed the lavishly decorated room. A thick lavish rug, silken curtains and fine wooden tables. A sweet aroma of incense lingered in the room. Several priceless carvings of rare stone figurines dotted the room. A fascinating collection, each depicting a scene. They had caught his eye once while he was on a job and he took them for his own collection.

Opening the door he crossed the room, into his bedroom. A large feather bed imported from Freydon, across the Levathon Sea, was covered in silken pillows and thick comfortable blankets. Going to one of the walls, he pressed a certain spot and a panel nearby slid up. Withdrawing the jewel from the inner pocket, he opened the black velvet bag.

Handling the dragon stone with care, he held it up to the light. It was ruby-red, and seemed to glow with power. What made the stones so unique and rare was that wizards used the stones to store magical power. A last resort in case for some reason they could not conjure up power themselves.

This particular dragon stone was exceptional, he had seen several before, but this one surpassed them. Selling it for almost any amount of trillium would seem an insult. Then again, the coins would make sure that he did not have to work for a while.

This might be one of the last jobs that he was going to perform. While still in his twenties, he had amassed a lifetime's fortune and this job will have been the greatest one of all. Gerris laughed, not to mention the most profitable.

From the first room a small bell rang once. That meant that a reply to his message had gotten here. To ensure that no one knew he lived here, for safety reasons, he had installed a bell to send code words to his room. The string was located in the back room of the tavern on the first floor. Melissa used it when ever she needed to communicate with Gerris.

Pausing in front of the full-length mirror, encased in gold, he checked himself over. His small, compact frame belied his great strength and agility. His loose clothes enabled him to betray his muscular frame and also provided him room to move. It also gave him plenty of places to hide objects of all sizes.

Giving himself a few minor adjustments, he made sure that the dragon stone was securely hidden and then, resetting the trap on the way out, he left his quarters and made his way down to the tavern.

Making sure that no one was in the back room he made his way down. He glanced around the room and then slipped into the common room. Melissa was moving between the tables: filling mugs, taking mugs and orders, and trying to keep order.

*****

Waiting patiently until she came back, he noticed that it was late afternoon. Blazes! He had lost track of time. Melissa finally came back; and, smiling, passed him a small envelope.

"The usual?" Gerris nodded and made his way over to the corner table that she kept empty for him. The envelope was sealed with the personal seal of the trademaster. Opening the envelope, he read the note that was written in the hurried hand of Herron.

It stated that he would have the trillium ready by tonight and to meet him at Bathal Plaza. Bathal Plaza was an area on the south part of Merridan. It was part of an older style of the city that had been abandoned for the most part. The buildings were now just warehouses and places for storage. He was supposed to be there at the midnight toll.

Melissa came over and brought him a glass of red liquid. A berry juice that had fermented to provide a refreshing drink. Lifting the cool glass in his hand, he stared into the dark liquid in thought.

*****

The sound of the city bells would be tolling the midnight hour, which was originally the time when the guards changed. It had come to be known as the time when most of the hard working people went to bed and those who preferred the night rose.

Gerris was one of the people who worked just as well at night as he did in the day. There were also many merchants who worked only at night to cater to those who preferred things you could only purchase in the late night hours.

Coming from one of the streets that led to Bathal Plaza, he stopped before entering. Dressed all in black, Gerris made sure that there was no one waiting for him. The dragon stone was safely concealed within a hidden pocket, and there was no chance of it being lost or stolen.

His eyes narrowed, it seemed to quiet here. Usually there were at least some people seeking more privacy here during the night. The entire city seemed too quiet. He shook his head. The job must have been harder on him than he had thought.

Still with a deep suspicion that it was a trap, he sneaked into the plaza and kept to the walls. Gothic pillars were ornately carved from a gray stone and supported the second level of the plaza. There were small walkways that led through the plaza, but for the most part it was earth that was once kept neatly trimmed and pruned. Gerris did not know what the original idea was but he assumed it was to have an indoor forest of sorts to rest after they shopped in the plaza.

From years of neglect, the trees had grown wild and now beams of scattered moonlight danced across the dark forest. Looking up into the sky he saw that the moon was partially covered by clouds. He hoped that he could get this over with so that he could leave before a storm broke.

Standing there in silence, he waited until he saw a figure that appeared to come almost from no where, walk into the plaza. Gerris' sharp eyes recognized him as a nervous Trademaster Herron. The large man was looking around, presumably for Gerris. Giving one last look around he decided that it was Bathal Plaza that was giving him the strange feeling, and he quickly moved into the small forest.

Standing on a round piece of stone with benches on either side of the pathways, Trademaster Herron almost cried out in surprise as Gerris appeared out of the darkness. "A little jumpy, aren't you Herron?"

Trademaster Herron tried to compose himself. He then spoke in a low voice as if there were thugs and muggers trying to listen in. "I am just as eager to get this done as you are."

The thief studied the man's face. He was in his later years with streaks of gray coming into his dark reddish brown hair. He obviously ate too much, his belt on its last holes. Sweat was beading down his face and he was trying to avert Gerris' eyes.

Then the thief knew that it was a trap, perhaps too late. He should have known that the job was too good. He doubted that the trademaster even had the money. With lightning reflexes Gerris drew his twin daggers, magically created for a phenomenal amount of trillium.

The silver handled daggers look very similar. They were lighter than normal daggers, and could cut through stone without dulling the blade. Gerris used them like extensions of his hands. Making an X at Trademaster Herron's neck, he muttered in a low growl, "Who set me up? Before I make you bled to death in ten different, painful places!"

"Imperial Wizard-" but the trademaster could not finish his sentence; an arrow stuck out of his heart. As he leapt away into the trees, three more arrows bounced off the stone and bounced away harmlessly. Swearing under his breath, Gerris ran through the trees. There was no sound of arrows pursuing him.

An assassin? No, Trademaster Herron said something of an Imperial Wizard. Blazes! An Imperial Wizard meant that the wizard was powerful and had the backings of the kingdom. Imperial Wizards held high office and most likely made Trademaster Herron do this, lest he be arrested as a traitor to the kingdom.

How could he deal with an Imperial Wizard? He didn't even know if his daggers would even harm the blasted finger-waver! He looked around the forest. The scattered moonlight swayed with the tops of the trees. A breeze picked up and the cool wind sent a chill throughout Gerris.

He was not alone. There were others within the trees. He could not hear them, but he could sense them. Gripping his daggers he set out, moving as quietly as death. He moved through the trees, starting to head towards the edge.

It was only a matter of time before they would run into each other. He continued moving around the edge of the forest. He spotted something out of the corner of his eye. They were following him. He did not dare run from the cover of the trees. At least he would have some cover from arrows here.

The feeling that there was no escape entered into his mind. Only one of them would come out alive. Him or them. Gerris was determined to make sure they were not going to bury him any time soon. Gerris spun about, catching a glimpse of something.

The blasted darkness! He could hardly make out the trees. He closed his eyes and let the world come to life. If he could not see them, he would find them by hearing. They were making noise; he just had to start listening for it.

All he heard was his heart beating. It was racing inside his chest. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins. His very own breath was making him conscious of how loud he seemed. His daggers gave him some reassurance, but not much.

The sound of a stepped-on dried leaf, or the sound of a person moving. He would turn spin in that direction ready to throw his knives. Then there was just silence. He became accustomed to the darkness, the trees and his prey, and predators.

He did not know if they tired of stalking him or they thought that they could finally attack him, but they suddenly sprung out of the darkness. Opening his eyes he saw what looked to be a half-wolf and half-man. It stood upright like a man and had sharp claws at the end of powerful arms as well as legs, but it was covered in silvery hair and had sharp fangs.

It leaped at him, growling ferociously, with surprising speed. Taken by surprise, Gerris managed to leap away just in time as the creature landed where he was only a moment ago. Angry at being denied its victim, the wolf roared in rage. It leapt at Gerris again but the thief was ready this time, and rolled away while throwing the daggers into the chest of the creature with deadly accuracy.

It fell dead to the ground, the daggers gleaming in the scattered moonlight. Before he could react, another creature tackled him from the behind, the claws raking his back. Falling to the ground, he managed to scramble away before the creature could end his life.

His back burned and pain raced throughout his body. He could not think through the haze of pain. He forced his body to listen to his mind and he struggled to move his arms and legs. Looking around, he saw that the creature was getting ready to attack him again.

As he grabbed for anything that could be a weapon, the creature leaped again. The fangs were ready to bite into his flesh and the claws ready to rake his body again. Waiting until the last possible minute, Gerris used all his strength to strike the creature with a heavy branch.

Taking it by surprise, the dead wood struck the creature against the side of the head. It landed heavily on the ground, blood spilling into the dirt.

Breathing hard, Gerris retrieved his daggers from the first creature and quickly left the plaza before anything else found him.

*****

"Blazes Gerris!" swore Melissa, cleaning his back with a damp cloth.

Gerris grimaced. "How bad is it?"

"Well, the wound looks to be deep but it doesn't look like it hit anything vital. You were lucky that you just got away with this. It could have been a lot worse."

Melissa dabbed the wound again and he gritted his teeth. "I will try to remember that."

Being a competent healer, Melissa was able to apply salve and bandage it without too much trouble. It was early morning, and in several hours it would be dawn. Melissa had just closed the tavern a little while ago.

"Will you tell me what is going on?" asked Melissa as Gerris walked into the bedroom.

"Trademaster Herron wanted me to retrieve a dragon stone for him from Lord Kael. When I went to go and finish the deal, I was ambushed by some creatures that looked to be a mixture of wolf and human."

Melissa sat in the front room, looking out the window into the darkness. "You said that somehow an Imperial Wizard was involved?"

Gerris walked back out, wearing dark colored clothes. He looked tired and weak from the loss of blood. "Yes, Trademaster Herron said something about an Imperial Wizard. I am assuming that those creatures were sent by one of those blasted mages."

"Are you still going to leave Merridan?" asked Melissa, looking back out the window.

"I am not sure, I want to know what is going on. I don't like to have business left open like this. Besides, what I am going to do with the dragon stone?"

Gerris looked over at her. "Melissa? What's wrong?"

Melissa did not turn away from the window. "I don't like it, everything out there seems too quiet."

There was a loud pounding on the door to the tavern and a soldier yelled loud enough to be heard from the open window, "Open up! This is the city guard!"

"Bloody ashes!" swore Melissa. "I will try to stall them, get out while you can."

Gerris nodded and she left the room going down the stairs. Looking around, he picked up the dragon stone, and making sure that it was secure ran for the large window on the opposite side of the room. He had always been prepared in case something like this happened.

Downstairs, Gerris could hear the soldiers swarming in and Melissa yelling and cursing, more for Gerris' benefit than her own. Opening the window, he made sure that the rope was secure. A rope was attached from his room to the next building a story shorter.

Grabbing onto the pulley, Gerris hung on tight as he flew down the rope across the open street and to the next building. Quickly cutting the rope to make sure no one could follow him, he started to run across the rooftop.

Making it to the end of the building, he quickly leapt down the side, using window ledges as footholds. Silently falling to the ground, he heard the voices of soldiers crying out that the thief had escaped.

*****

Gerris sat at the table. It was crowded despite the early morning. Late night gamblers playing dice and cards sat at several tables. The drunks were being thrown out now and people were starting to leave. Looking down into his glass of untouched ale, he wondered if Melissa was all right. The only person he had ever cared about, he hoped that she was safe.

He continued to watch people slowly start to leave until he was the only customer left. A woman was cleaning up the tables when a man walked into the room. He was of average height and build. He wore expensive clothes that would cost more than a year's salary to a normal person. With a neatly trimmed beard and a gold earring, Ovlan was not an ordinary person.

"Ahh, Gerris. I am surprised to see you here," commented Ovlan, smiling, his dark eyes upon Gerris.

"I need information from you," said Gerris not returning the smile.

Ovlan laughed deeply. "You? The greatest thief in all of Merridan? Why of course, all you need to do is ask."

Gerris narrowed his eyes. "Trademaster Herron was killed last night."

"Yes, I heard. It is a pity."

"There was talk of an Imperial Wizard being involved in this. Have you heard anything from your associates?"

Ovlan was a fence, a good one. He had eyes and ears everywhere, especially when it started to affect those who made him a profit like Trademaster Herron. If Gerris knew one thing about Ovlan, it was that he did not like it when people made him lose trillium.

"I have heard that an Imperial Wizard has taken interest in the thief that has taken the dragon stone. It seems that Lord Kael was going to give it to an Imperial Wizard by the name of Pryst. When Pryst found out that the dragon stone was gone, he was furious. It seems that Trademaster Herron learned that too late, you see he had clients that would want such items. Foolish man."

Gerris nodded, satisfied. "Where can I find this Pryst?"

Ovlan chuckled. "I do not think that that will be a problem. You see, you were being followed and you did not realize it. The city guard as well as Pryst will be here soon."

Cursing himself for his own ineptitude to realize that he might be followed, still he jumped up. Running at the door without another word to Ovlan, he started to run down the street. Behind him he could hear the sounds of the city guards following him.

Turning the corner he spotted a pair of city guards coming towards him. Running at them at full speed, he waited until he was only several feet away when he drew his daggers from his sleeves. Before they could react, their necks were slit.

The two soldiers dropped without a cry. Running on, he looked over his shoulder and saw that there were at least a dozen guards behind him. Making his way down the street he saw that there was a cart blocking it.

Thinking that they had him, the guards slowed.

Sheathing his daggers, Gerris moved with blinding speed towards the cart. Leaping up he swung up onto the cart, and with another leap caught hold of a nearby roof. Pulling himself up, he made his way carefully along the roof as the city guards tried to follow him.

They were soon lost among the streets as Gerris made his way across the city towards the eastern gates. The river stood out in the distance. If he was lucky, he could book passage up river at one of the towns.

As he leapt to a flat roof, near to the river, he stopped to catch his breath. He was almost there; in a matter of minutes he was going to be as good as safe.

"Sorry," came a high pitched voice. "You are not going anywhere with my dragon stone!"

Turning slowly around Gerris saw the man, standing a little over five feet tall and dressed in the red robes of the Imperial Wizards. He had a small frame but carried one of the thunder staffs that all Imperial Wizards possessed. Imperial Wizards used thunder staffs when they could not use their own magic.

When struck by a thunder staff, it sent a powerful shock throughout your body, usually shattering bones, thus the name. Gerris had never had the experience of being struck with one and he did not want to find out what it was like.

"Pryst. It is you, isn't it." It was more of a statement than a question.

The wizard smiled, his eyes widening in delight and his pointed teeth showing. "Of course! Now give me the dragon stone and I will make sure your death is not too painful."

Gerris shuddered against his will. "Why should I give you the dragon stone? You are going to kill me anyway. You are going to have to come and get it from me."

Drawing his daggers, he waited patiently for the wizard to smite him with a spell. He would rather die fighting than to give up after all this. He was always a fighter, even to the end. The wizard snarled at him, and then lunged suddenly.

Gerris rolled away as the thunder staff sent cracks across the roof where he had stood. Snarling again, the wizard feigned to strike and then spun, striking out with his staff. The thief barely managed to escape, getting a slight shock in the ribs.

Pain from his ribs made him lose his breath. Pryst was out to kill, there was no doubt about that. Thinking he had the upper hand Pryst, struck again with a forward lunge that Gerris blocked with one dagger, while he sent the other straight into the man's stomach.

Stumbling back, Pryst grabbed the dagger in his stomach. "Impossible. No weapon could get through unless..."

"Unless it was magic, using your own powers against you," finished Gerris as the Imperial Wizard crashed to the ground, dead. Retrieving his dagger, he wiped them off before he sheathed them. The sun was now rising above the water, sunlight warming his body.

The death of the Imperial Wizard would make him have to leave for longer than he thought. Not that he minded a little rest. Looking down at the dragon stone, he realized that the reason why the wizard did not cast spells at him was because he did not want to harm the dragon stone. All this for a stone, thought Gerris. Once again, Gerris remembered the price of greed.

Copyright (1998) by Matt Eckert.