Most of the way through the night that nagging feeling of being watched persisted greatly as if someone’s eyes were directly boring into the back of my neck. I toasted and had two full real drinks but the rest of the rounds I had were water and several men grew drunk beyond their limit and passed out on their tables. At the end of the night I approached the barkeeps and motioned for them to come to the side of the counter so that we could discuss payment. I had received several bits worth of coin handed to me by patrons as I walked past them and was going to honor my three to one deal with the two and pulled about seven bits worth of coin from my pocket. Giving them seven quarter bits and keeping the rest for me I motioned for them to pay their end of the bargain and I get four more bits worth of coin. Bringing me just shy of a pence worth of coin for one night of work was a great way to make my money back.
I knew though that this would probably be my best night of work though, drinks and coin usually slowed throughout the day as those that drank ran low on coin and the ability to be loose with their hard earned money. I put away my lute and said my goodbyes to the men that had stayed away and the fierce game of dice upstairs. I was tempted to go and play with them but I didn't have the money to risk losing. I had never made much in the way of games of chance throughout the millennia and decided it best to not risk it.
Stepping outside I felt that gaze once more, this time closer than ever. The night was dark and lanterns hung from doorways throughout the street for those that provided night time services. Most though, were filled with darkness below with little light through teh cracks of their shut windows. The stink of filth filled the still air and I sighed unhappily. My mood soured suddenly. The sound of someone pissing against the side of a building trickled through teh air and I shook my head as I walked towards where I thought Featherdown would be. I was tired from the long walk and working throughout the night. My own bladder full I looked around and excused myself to an alley.
A lady of the night emerged from the alley straightening her dress as another man pulling up his pants nodded to her and stumbled off. She fussed and straightened her heaving bosom and gave me a wink motioning me towards her as she pulled out a pipe. I held out a hand in decline, “Sorry miss just looking to piss. I’m sure you're worth the coin but I have none to spare.”
That is when they struck, the stumbling man cleared his throat and when I looked he had a naked knife, metal gleaming in the lamplight. Looking at the woman as she stroked her pipe as two more men came from other alleyways each holding clubs and makeshift weaponry. “Fancy lad such as yourself should be more free with his money. Why don’t you pay me for my time anyway. It should be about all the coins you have and then we won’t rough you up… much anyway.” I started noticing the similarities of the four and could tell they were all part of the same family.
My full bladder screamed as I looked at everyone and decided I wouldn’t want to kill them. It was just a few coins that I needed though. “I don’t have much to spare and I don’t think a lady of the night is worth even that much. How about we go our separate ways and no one gets hurt.”
Her laugh was musical as she put her hand to her lips, “Tough man with the instrument. I bet you can’t even swing a sword to save yer life. We will take your clothes and shoes just because you are being such a lousy man. Leave ya naked on the street like a newborn babe.”
As her eyes glittered I darted forward and grabbed her by the throat twisting and throwing her behind me bolting into the alley she had come from. The men that were close to me stumbled with the woman thrown against them as I ran. One of them was hot on my tail as I took turn after turn weaving myself through the alleys and across streets. Their yells grew closer though as I lost myself in the weaving pathways.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
One man stood at the end of the alley that I was hurtling towards. He had his club out and ready and as I closed he took a mighty swing down towards my head. I stepped deftly aside, twisting my body and ramming a shoulder against his own, knocking him off balance with my charge. He stumbled back slightly as I pushed past him and turned down the street. I needed to find some sort of constable or lawman that could ward them away without me having to hurt them. I had enough blood on my hands and to add a group of fools to it that didn’t know who they were messing with would be pointless. Plus drawing attending to myself this close to the capital and the rest of the dragon hunters would be fruitless.
As I turned down another alley behind a tavern I noticed a stack of barrels and boxes that got high enough for me to reach the second story windows. I dashed up the empty barrels and crates rocking under my feet dangerously threatening to take me to the ground. I lept up and gripped the ledge of the open window and hauled myself inside. The men at the table I slammed on top of hollered in distress as I knocked loose cards and tokens of some kind. I spilled across it rolling to my feet. My bladder cried for relief so I clenched my legs mightily. I could hear the men that were chasing me in the alley I had just come from and many of them tried to scale the barrels but they toppled under their weight. I ran down the stairs and bolted out the door. The barkeep called out to me to at least pay for a drink.
I hid behind another building and watched as the men and woman went inside looking to find me. I ducked behind a building and could hold it no longer. I struggled to free myself and groaned in relief. I sighed and remembered an old wives tale that men ran faster on full bladders and had seen more than my fair share of soldiers pissing themselves at practice and stumbling when trying to make it to the end of a spar only to soil themselves to their chagrin.
I felt watched once more and turned my head to see one of my chasers gape at me as he turned down the alley. I had just finished and looked at his stunned face. Before he cried out I let loose a magical command, “Sleep. This is just a dream.”
His eyes fluttered with confusion as I slipped away. It wouldn’t take too long for him to come to his senses as the spell was rushed and weak compared to what I could harness otherwise. I hurried along after I turned a corner and found myself horribly lost in the town. It would take me hours to find my way back if I wanted to remain unseen and my shoes smelled like waste and piss. Some of it may have been my own. I began to feel a boiling dislike of larger cities that couldn't keep their streets clean enough to walk down.
As I walked I had to straighten my pants and undergarments as they bunched uncomfortably. I came back on the main roads and kept my eyes peeled in each direction. My clothes were too unique so it would be easy for the group to find me if they spread out. I could see no lawmen and wondered where they could be in such a large town there would have to be some form of force to police the town properly. It was so strange that I could find no one about, even at such a late hour.
Wondering if I should look into it while I was here I took random turns. I couldn’t see the stars with all the ambient light shed from the lanterns and sighed inwardly. I was lost and I didn’t have anyone to ask where I was supposed to go. The only people I’ve seen around for the night were passed out drunks and those trying to rob me. Deciding I was tired of walking along the ground I slipped into yet another alley and built up the muscles in my leg, letting them become thick heavy ropes of power. With a mighty leap I rocketed to the top of a building and balanced precariously upon its edge. I then hopped to the next and the next. Featherdown was four stacked stories and I could see few of them throughout the city. So hopping quickly from one to the other I made my way to the nearest one. However I wasn’t in luck as it was some other establishment. I looked at the twisting houses and roads wishing they were more standardized then I could plan my way to the next four story from the road. I couldn’t spread my wings without tearing my minstrel outfit so I continued powerfully hopping from roof to roof.
It was almost sunrise by the time I made it to Featherdown and walked in tired and a little drained. The boy stared at me once more as he manned the counter, his father probably snoozing gently in the back. I assumed they lived on the premises as a lot of innkeepers do. I made my way to the room I was given and made sure to lock everything behind me. I pulled my shoes off and brought them to the window. Most of my things were dry from this morning. I brought over the bucket that still had a little water left in it and rinsed off my leather shoes. I flung water off them out the window and put them down. I shut the window and felt the chill of the room. I would have to ignore it and get some rest. I stripped to my underclothes and climbed into bed quietly. I resolved myself to look into why the constables weren’t around last night while I was here. What else would I have to do during the day?
That feeling of being watched still itched at my senses. Making rest difficult.