The surge of speed equaled considerable physical power, giving her that little extra needed to break free of the bodyguards. Tiana cried out with joy as she kicked Conrad between the legs. She made a play for her purse, but he doubled over it. Colleen attacked, so she backhanded the blonde thief turned slattern, grabbed her wrist, and using another surge of speed and power, spun the blonde around and flung her into the charging bodyguards.
"Oh, nice," Tiana said, holding up the silver bangle that came off Colleen's wrist. "I won't leave empty-handed after all."
Tiana raced away, turning up the street and away from the plaza. She didn't want to lead those guys back to her friends.
"I need to hock this bangle and find my way back to the stable," she muttered as she turned down a side street. There were no sounds of pursuit behind her.
Congratulations! You've earned enough experience points to move up one level. You are now a Level 16 thief!
Congratulations! You've earned enough experience points to move up one level in the Skill of Cutpurse. You are now a Level 9!
Congratulations! You've earned enough experience points to move up one level in the Skill of Hand-to-hand combat. You are now a Level 3!
"I lost all my money, but leveled up a little more," she said, shaking her head. "All-in-all a sucky morning."
Chapter 27
Ollie's Stable took up a good acre within the town walls. It made Killum wonder about the price of real estate. The surrounding structures were all three-story rowhouses. The stable yard was surrounded by a three-rail fence and divided into corrals. The actual stable was a half-timbered building right on the street. Killum led Rand and Fergus through the large door in the middle, with a dozen stalls to either side.
"Greetings, friends," a grizzled old man called. "I'm Ollie. How may I serve you?"
Stable owner (Lvl 59). -3 Dark.
He looked a hundred years old to Killum, with a beard and long stringy hair under a floppy gray hat. He was tall and lean, but a little stooped with age. Yet his eyes were sharp and full of crafty intelligence.
"We left a pair of mules here yesterday," Killum said. "I think it was Chucky we dealt with."
"You want me to have them brought out?"
"Well, first we'd like to see about purchasing four or five horses."
Ollie's eyes light up. His smile revealed many missing teeth. "Come with me."
They were led to a spot between two corrals. One held mares, and the other geldings. Each had a single stallion. And the stallions were giving each other the evil eye across the fence.
"Well, cowboy, you're from Texas," Fergus said. "What should we look for in horses?"
"How should I know?" Killum replied. "I'm a carpenter. I rode as a child, but it's been a few years. And I've never purchased a horse."
"Don't worry, my friends," the old horse trader said soothingly. "Ole Ollie is here to help. First thing, if you aren't experienced riders stay away from stallions. You want a nice mare or gelding."
"What's a gelding?" Rand asked.
Killum and Fergus grimaced. Ollie lifted a brow, but answered politely.
"It's a castrated stallion," he said. "It makes him better behaved and easier to control."
"We should consider gelding Rand," Tiana said as she joined them.
Killum did a double-take. He knew she'd fallen behind, but her appearance set off his warning bells. Tiana was winded, flushed, and more than a little tousled. Mostly, she looked like she'd just finished a foot race.
"Ha-ha, you're so funny," Rand said.
"Are there any differences in price between mares and geldings, Ollie?" Fergus asked, pulling Killum's attention back to the horses.
"No. Some folks prefer riding mares, some geldings. But demand is high for mounts nowadays," he said. He gave them an apologetic look. "Demand has pushed prices up."
"What does an average mount go for?" Killum asked.
"About ten silver," he said. "And that's not counting tack, which I assume you don't have."
Killum looked at his friends. "Looks like we have to keep walking."
"Good. Dwarves and horses don't mix well," Rand said.
"Where are you headed, if you don't mind me asking?"
Killum glanced at his friends. Rand shrugged. Fergus looked away. Tiana frowned, but then nodded. He lamented that prior to entering the Hidden Realms they didn't hesitate telling anyone their plans. Now everything seemed to have more consequences.
"We're heading up Forest Road to Warlord's Castle and beyond," Killum said. "I hear the fortress guards the only pass through to the rest of the kingdom."
"It's the best pass, anyways," Ollie said. "And the only one you can expect to ride through, though the way has gotten treacherous since Duke Seth was deposed. I'd suggest riding mules instead of horses, maybe a smaller donkey for the dwarf."
Fergus barked a laugh. "He suggested an ass for our jackass."
Rand screamed and lunged at the ranger. Fergus dodged aside, continuing to taunt his friend. Tiana started laughing, while Rand chased the elf around while shaking his axe at him.
The stable owner gawked at them. Killum shrugged. "Ignore them. They're in love."
"What?" Fergus cried.
"Take that back!" Rand demanded.
"Admit it, you guys are flirting," Tiana said.
Rand turned on her, glaring at the redhead. "If you weren't a chick…"
"What? If I wasn't a chick you'd kiss me?"
Killum had to put himself between them. Tiana and Fergus were having fun, but he wasn't sure about Rand.
"Hey! Calm down," Killum said. It wasn't easy keeping that scowl on his face. "You're embarrassing me in front of Master Ollie here. Act your age."
"He is," Fergus muttered, making Tiana snicker.
Ollie had their two mules brought out to the street in front of the stable. After some discussion, they offered to sell one of them to Ollie. The trader looked both mules over, and then made an offer.
"I'll give you five silver shekels for this fellow and his tack," he said. "Four and a half for the other."
They quickly agreed to sell the first mule and divided the money between the four of them. Asha was killed before they encountered the brigands, so by their group's rules the sorceress didn't earn a cut.
After packing all of their gear into the panniers on their remaining mule, Killum led them back to the plaza. It was decided the Three-legged Dragon Tavern was the place Asha would check first, and it had a small yard in back to secure their mule.
The Three-legged Dragon was a two-story structure with a slate roof. It was all stone with a large common room on the ground floor. The owner's large family occupied the top floor, so no rooms were available to rent.