"Come on you lazy ox hurry up," said Garth running up the street ahead of Pyp.
They had been running up lavish streets made of neatly cut granite bricks for the past three hours and Pyp's legs were beginning to tire. A small dagger bounced on his leg, Erit had given it to him to defend himself, Pyp felt uncomfortable with it on his person, he had never had to carry a weapon around before. Garth had explained earlier why he needed Pyp, he wrongly assumed that Pyp was a local resident of the upper district and wanted him to escort Garth to the wealthiest households so he could loot them before Erit and his band had a chance to. Pyp had no clue which of the richly over designed mansions were more wealthy than the others but he couldn't let Garth know that otherwise he might go to Erit. Breathing heavily he caught up to Garth who waited outside a high iron gate.
"Took your sweet time lordling," he said managing to tower over Pyp despite being smaller.
"This is the house," he pointed past the gate at the a large town house beyond. It was a well made structure with marble pillars at four corners of the house, Pyp chose it as the main body of the house was made out of darkened volcanic brick. That type of stone could only have come from slopes of mount Desolate, an dangerous volcano to the west. It was outrageously expensive due to the lava rivers which crisscross the mountain.
"Well how do we get in" asked Garth pulling at the gate "It's locked."
"You can just climb over."
"Really I hadn't thought of that" said Garth rolling his eyes at Pyp looking up at the gate, it was around three metres high with serrated spikes to stop intruders.
"We'd get impaled on the spikes trying to get over, we need a different way in," said Garth setting off along the fence.
Pyp followed him a while until he turned around and said "Don't follow me go the other way and find a way in" barked Garth.
"Sorry," mumbled Pyp as he turned and walked the other way, when Garth was out of sight Pyp leaned on the fence and took a break. He hated the constant walking and running and climbing, it wasn't fair Pyp hated being pushed around. Erit nor Garth neither of them had respect for him and treated him terribly, he felt like a dog being whipped through the streets. Pyp needed to get moving, his stomach was grumbling and the mansion might have food inside of it. He walked along the fence looking for any gaps but it was well made, Pyp knew there would be no gaps so he would have to find a different way in.
Pyp looked around the streets to find something he could use to get over the fence, there was a small two-wheeled cart which was lying on the cobbled streets. If he could angle it right Pyp may be able to use it to climb to the top of the fence and vault over. The cart had small finely decorated clay pots, Pyp spent some time pushing the pots off into the street enjoying how they shattered on the ground. Once the cart was empty Pyp tried to pull it toward the fence, it was heavier than it looked and Pyp strained with the effort cursing his luck to be in this position until he managed to get it to the fence. Pyp pulled it down and climbed up to the fence. Suddenly the cart fell from underneath his feet and Pyp narrowly missed impaling his chin on the fence. A sharp pain jolted up his leg as he landed on the ground.
Pyp let out a high pitched yelp. Of course this would happen to us me thought Pyp. He stood up and walked to the back of the cart, some weight was needed for the back of the cart or else he would fall off again. Pyp set off into the street to look for something to weigh down the cart. A handful of loose bricks would do the job thought Pyp as he climbed back up to the top of the fence, this time it held firm as Pyp cautiously stepped onto the fence. Once on top Pyp halted, the drop seem much higher from the top of the fence. He realised he hadn't thought of a way to get down, he stood looking at the drop, could he drop down their without hurting his legs, he might break something. Pyp was frozen in place.
"Oh you've found a way over" said Garth from behind him.
Garth climbed up to the top of the fence and leaned directly behind Pyp.
"Well what are you waiting for" said Garth as he pushed Pyp into the gardens.
"Wait NO" Pyp shouted as Garths arm slammed into his back.
Pyp felt a barb dig into the flesh of his leg as he fell headfirst onto the grass, before he hit the ground Pyp pulled his arms over his head and angled his head down. He rolled from his shoulders and slammed his hips into the ground. Pyp grunted with the impact and quickly got to his feet. For a moment Pyp couldn't feel anything, then waves of pain rolled down from Pyp's head to his waist.
Garth landed beside him far more gracefully. "You did well not to crack your skull open there, I thought you were dead for a second" Garth laughed and slapped Pyp on the back. "Well done for finding us a way in, lets find us some treasure!"
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Pyp gritted his teeth and tried not to scream in pain.
"Lets" he said following Garth as he rushed over to the mansion.
Garth was crouched over the lock to the door he had a number of small metal tools in his hands.
"What are you doing," Garth looked at him in confusion.
"I'm picking the lock, have you been outside before?" asked Garth sardonically.
"No I just didn't live in a den of villainy," said Pyp without thinking, before he could offer an apology Garth laughed, a lighter less harsh laugh than Pyp had heard from him before.
"Den of villainy," he wheezed chest bobbing as he laughed. "That was good Pyp, never heard the piss streets of the slums called that before".
He continued picking the lock with a pleasant grin on his face, "You know I should probably show you how to do this." The look on Garth's face changed back to its usual annoyed grimace "Just so I wouldn't have to do it every time."
The atmosphere suddenly became frosty as Garth flung the door open with an loud thud.
"You know the drill, get moving find anything valuable shout for me" said Garth with an edge in his voice. Pyp took off down the central corridor heading for the back of the house, he quickly came across the pantry which still had a large amount of food. Pyp grabbed a number of hard biscuits and dried meats and crammed them into his mouth pausing only to take long drinks from his water skin. After filling up he stuffed his bag with food and refilled his water skin from a barrel. Pyp went back into the central staircase, he heard Garth fumbling around upstairs as he picked a random room. The room was fabulously decorated, a large oil painting of the previous home owners dominated the room. Gilded wooden chairs were arranged around a small fireplace, silver goblets sat on small platters. He knew that Garth would want those for his loot but Pyp was searching for more valuable trinkets. The many rooms on the first floor didn't yield any quality goods, but Pyp noticed a locked cellar door. It could lead to a simple wine cellar but Pyp knew from experience that many rich people hid some things out of sight.
"Garth!" He shouted up the stairs.
Garth swaggered into view at the top of the stairs "found something?" he said.
"There's a locked cellar, might be something good down there" said Pyp.
"Why would their be? Most cellars I've been in are just storage for food" said Garth looking annoyed.
"Most underbelly soup shops I'm sure, but the rich work a bit differently," said Pyp not caring about Garth's mood, he was too tired to care.
"Alright then lordling lead the way " said Garth waved his arm as he came down the stairs. As they walked to the cellar door Garth pointed toward the tables "Make sure to grab those silver cups and plates," Pyp collected them as Garth began to work on the cellar door.
A loud crack sounded followed by a stream of curses, "I think you're right Pyp this is a tough lock" said Garth as Pyp hovered around watching him pick the lock. He tried to figure out how it was done by watching but all the jerky movements of the little metal instruments had no pattern, after a while he gave up.
"Got it!" Exclaimed Garth as he pulled open the door. A small wooden staircase led into the darkness, "Come on let's go" said Garth leading Pyp down into the cellar. The brick walls of the cellar were lined with large barrels, Pyp turned one of the taps and a dark red liquid came out.
"Wine," said Pyp.
"So it was a wine cellar," said Garth.
"Just keep looking," snapped Pyp he pressed forward before Garth could reply.
Pyp searched through the small cellar and found no trace of any wealth, he turned and looked over at Garth expecting him to shout at Pyp for wasting his time. Garth brushed past Pyp and started feeling the wall at the back of the cellar.
"What is it," asked Pyp.
"Hidden door," said Garth, Pyp looked at the wall and couldn't see anything. Garth pushed down on a side of the wall. "Come on Pyp help," said Garth as he started pushing with his shoulder, with Pyp's help the door slowly opened. Pyp looked inside the small room, their was a small chest sitting in the middle of the room. A thick iron chain tethered it to the ground and a large lock hung over the lid.
"This is it Pyp, what I've been looking for" said Garth the awe clear in his voice, he looked surprised when he went over and touched the chest as if it wasn't real.
"Are you going to pick the lock?" asked Pyp in a mocking tone.
Garth laughed ."Yes, I will, it's just in that chest is the power to change my life forever" Garth said with such tenderness it nearly touched Pyp's heart.
As Garth kneeled to unlock the chest Pyp heard a noise from upstairs.
"Garth, there's people upstairs " Pyp whispered at Garth. Pyp reached down and grabbed his shoulder "Garth" said Pyp shaking him out of his work.
"People" said Pyp point above his head, Garth pushed Pyp out of the small room and began to pulled the hidden door closed. Pyp saw a man at the top of the wooden staircase, he recognised him as Rupert another scout in Erit's band. Rupert was a small wiry man with a bald head and a cruel smile.
"What are you doing here boy" asked Rupert, before Pyp could stammer out a response Garth appeared next to him.
"Scouting" his face stayed a calm disinterested mask.
Pyp tried to stay as calm as Garth but his nervousness was plain on his face.
"That all you doin' down here" asked Rupert noticing Pyp's nervousness, Rupert came down the stairs and stood over Pyp "eh boy not doin' anything else down here two lads alone in a dark cell-".
"Shut it Rupert we were searching the house and there's nothing much of value here" Garth said Rupert's intense stare sent a shiver down Pyp's spine. Rupert broke out laughing, his harsh raspy laughter echoed around the smaller cellar.
"Little lad's shaking" he laughed pointing at Pyp.
"Thing is Garth you're not supposed to be scouting round here. I am. And I don't like it when some puffed up boy and his shivering piglet come to steal my loot" said Rupert his voice dripping with malice.
"We didn't take nothing" said Garth, "Come on Pyp lets go" he pushed past Rupert and Pyp quickly followed.
"Watch your back piglet, that one will get you killed" said Rupert nodding over to Garth, Pyp said nothing and rushed after Garth. All he heard was Rupert's crackling laughter as he left the house.