If You Give Mouse A Ruby
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
I’m not given to long drawn out plans but I was also not up to a physical confrontation with the nice man behind the counter. A ruby as beautiful as this belonged in the hands of a gnome. Only I could appreciate it in the way it deserved to be loved. Only one thing to do. Come back after the shop closed and liberate the ruby and place it in its rightful place. With me.
I left the shop, impatient for night to fall. The rumble in my middle let me know the time, lunch time. I swaggered on down to a tavern, placed some of those dull metallic disks that the other races tend to get so excited about on the table, and ordered up an ale and the fish stew.
My face buried in the bowl, tongue worked busily to lick up every last drop of the savory meal. My mother taught me to clean my plate at each meal and I always listen to Mama Minmat. She’s a great and wise gnome. An irritated throat clearing drew my attention to the pair of shadows looming over me. A pair of angry shadows matched up with a pair of angry friends.
“Hiya Karnage. Syggy. How’s it going?” I caught the last little shred of fish with my finger and sucked it off with a long slurp.
A red skinned palm with carefully trimmed black nails appeared right under my nose. My eyes crossed looking at it.
“You need something? More of those coins you collect so religiously?” I grinned up at them, grey eyes wide open. After staring into their unsmiling faces a long moment even my expression slipped.
“All right, all right. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. You use to take me on all your adventures. You always said I was a great help. I don’t understand why you have to be all secretive. Just let me in on your job and everything would be so easy.” I slapped the key into Karnage’s hand.
“Mouse, you aren’t invited on this job. The client is very particular about who he wants in on this endeavor and you aren’t a part of those particulars.” Karnage patted me on the head, his big hand palming my scalp. I winced when a couple of those friendly pats were delivered with a tad too much force. “In a couple weeks when this job is done, I promise we will get together and do a job for old time’s sake. However for now, you stay out of it.” Judging by the glare in his eyes and the frosty look on Sygmund’s face, charming my way in was not an option.
“Oh all right. You two go off. Have your little adventures. Don’t be surprised if you can’t find me around when you are done. My feet get mighty itchy when I’m bored and I’m not hanging around for long where I’m not wanted.” I slid to the floor and without a backwards glance, I departed the eatery, imagining the guilty looks on their faces as I marched across the worn wooden floor.
As I stepped out onto the dusty cobbles, I slid around the corner of the building. My Mama Minmat always use to say there is more than one way to palm a sparkly. And as I said earlier, I always listen to my Mama Minmat. I stepped into the shade draped opening between the two shops and waited. A moment later, Sygmund and Karnage passed by deep in conversation, headed towards the docks. I slipped into the traffic and followed. The large black minotaur horns and the fruity elf perfume easy to track in the rumpus of market day.
