Oh, Crap. I got a bad feeling. Robert thought as the commander whispered something else into the general's ear. Who then smiled even more. That guy is the last person I want to be happy with.

“Yes, your very right commander.” The general said softly as he examined Robert over again. The General then put on a fake smile. A smile so fake even a gullible child could see through it. “I have been acting paranoid. since the princess's kidnapping. I have been so upset lately." The old man was not an actor. If Robert wanted to rate this old creep's acting he would only give a three out of ten.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Price for taking out all my anger on you. You shouldn't have had to suffer like that. It's completely our fault and as you have said. You have helped us greatly in finding the princess. Well, anything to say?”

"I.." Robert muttered. He glanced over at the commander. Who was watching him like an owl after a mouse? In other words motionless and ready to strike at any undesired action. " I accept your apology, sir. May I go now?"

"Oh yes. you may." The old man said, as scratched his old graying hair. "Though you're going to need an escort out of this caravan."

“I'll lead him out, general.” the commander said, as he stepped over grabbed Robert's arm. “Come this way. Oh Eww! Oh, night bird you reek? Have you washed ?”

“Well, I have been a prisoner three times this last little while. ” Robert said. “So no.”

“I can smell that. Here.” the commander said, pulling out a bag. he reached inside and pulled out a hand full of coins, before putting them in Robert's hand. “ I saw a bathhouse on this block back there. This will be enough for the fee. Ask around if you're lost.” Robert looked down at the money. It was seven copper coins.

They're going to abandon me in an unknown city, in a world I barely know. Robert thought. Who does that? But if they're giving up money, I can use this opportunity.

“Hey? Are you listening?” the commander asked, as he closed Robert's hand around the money. “Take the money. Now come on.”

"Wait this is only for the bathhouse right," Robert said, stealing the money away into a pocket. The commander looked back at him. " So I can't buy food with this? Do you want me to starve?"

"I... we?" The commander stuttered. He looked shocked Robert even said that. But something must have clicked in his head because the man took out even more coins. "Here. I'm sure you can buy a snack at some food stand. now come on." Robert was handed five more copper coins which he pocketed too.

The commander leads Robert past royal guards, camels, and wagons. The guards looked confused. Until the commander waved them off, giving each a commanding head nod. Soon they reached a larger crowd of guards at the very end of the alleyway. An even larger crowd of people walked by beyond the guards. Some watched the guards suspiciously.

The commander pushed a bewildered Robert past the guards and out onto the crowded street. The street crowd was tiny compared to modern cities. People here had enough space to move around him. The whole city's color palette was mostly browns and reds. Tall buildings surrounded the street. The people's clothes reminded Robert of the forty thieves' stories. Robert, spun to take it all in, then he came back around the commander was gone and the guards blocked the alleyway.

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I'm free? I'm finally free. Ok, this feels nice. Robert thought, as he caught a whiff of animal dung, or was that him? Besides that small, I feel great.

Robert started walking through the crowd. But before getting four meters a scream rang out.

“Stop thief!” cried a male voice up the street. “Help someone! My beg!”

The crowd casually parted for a man with a long knife. He had a bag over his shoulder and was running toward Robert. Robert jumped out of the way and the man ran past. When the thief got out of swinging distance, he suddenly screamed and fell to the ground. Robert backed up surprised and winced when he noticed the cause of the man's pain. A metal rode had suddenly appeared in the guy's right leg.

“Aah!” Screamed the thief, as he grabbed the rod in his leg. He couldn't remove it, he was pinned to the ground. “Oh deep! Who the night B did that! You did you?”

The man turned to Robert. He was bleeding on the ground now. Robert backed up even more. A shadow passed over them both and caught Robert's attention. The shadow was on one of the buildings. The figure jumped off, and a cloaked man landed in the street. A spray of sand and wind-breaking the guy's fall. The thief turned to the figure and swore about the night bird again.

“Stop! Make way. Coming through.” Shouted a male voice in the crowd. The thief and the clocked man stood waiting. “Clear the area!”

The crowd didn't part very fast for this voice. But soon a group of men in armored robes appeared. They each had a spear and a wooden shield. Behind them, a fat man followed. Robert was about to turn away from this crazy encounter when he realized the stolen bag was at his feet.

“There he is. ” the fat man said, pointing at the thief on the ground. The fat man spotted the stolen bag under Robert's feet and lunged for it. “Hey get off of that!" He gathered up the bag and gave Robert the stink eye. "Oh, my lovely. Come to daddy. ”

The armored men, who Robert expected to be the city guards. Ran up to the thief and grabbed him. Finding that they couldn't remove him. The cloaked stranger pushed his way through the guards and walked over to the thief unhindered. He then removed the rod with unbelievable speed. The crowd now uninterested started moving again. The fat guy left with the crowd, but Robert stayed not knowing if he should leave.

“Ow ooh!” Screamed the thief, as he was forced to stand. One of the city guards pulled out a knife. He grabbed the thief's hand. When the thief noticed, the man started screaming. “No, no! Stop!”

Wait, what are they doing? Robert thought. As he noticed that the thief's hands were already missing a few fingers. Oh crap! they're not... They are!

Robert winced and looked away, he had seen worse since coming to this world, but this was different. The cut was skilled and intentional. A punishment nothing more. Blood covered the sand. The guards let go of the thief. He fell to his knees, sobbing and cradling his hand and leg.

"We have this position for a reason, Mr. Smith. You can't just jump in and take over." a guard said to the cloaked man.

"Well thought I should help you a little. " Smith said, as he started walking away with the rod. He glanced over at Robert as he left. A green eye flashed under the guy's hood.

The cloaked stranger's head was still visible as he mixed in with the crowd. The fat guy was already gone, and soon the guards were gone too. Leaving Robert with the crying man on the ground.

What the Hell did I just see! Robert thought looking down at the wailing thief. People walked around them, and show to signs of interest. Crap. Just Crap... They just.. Wow!

Robert backed up as the thief stood and started hobbling away. He was muttering strange profanities under his breath. The man looked defeated and harmless. Robert was about to go the other way. When he noticed something strange about the thief's body. The thief had a small patch of rocky scales growing along his back.

What the heck is that stuff? Is it growing out of him? Robert thought as he looked closer. The rock-colored scales have a bloody outline and some look inflamed. Eww, it looks infested too. Right, this might be another world, but germs still exist. Even alien germs.

The thief vanished from sight down an alleyway, and Robert looked around. The crowd was ever-changing. But the buildings were the same.

Well, I better figure out where this bathhouse is. Robert thought, to himself. He checked his pocket. Good everything's still in here. After seeing all that. I better be careful of pickpockets. Very desperate pickpockets.