- Interlude -

“Guild master, as guardsmen Monroe has explained to you multiple times already, your case is closed.” Sir Roland Ironwatch, captain of the guard said with a heavy sigh.

“That’s unacceptable! Thousands of gold worth of potions and gear are stolen.” The guild master shouted.

He leaned directly into the captain’s face, his mead soaked beard threatening to smear the man’s plate armor.

They were in the guild master’s office. Roland barely fit in the chair he’d been offered.

The scene had already been cleared of evidence and he could see at a glance the room had yet to be put back to order.

“Begin again! You caught the thief, force her to reveal the stolen goods!” The dwarf shouted.

His chair creaked and Roland stood quickly lest it break. He opened the folio in his hand again to review the details of the investigation.

The captain was much taller than the furious dwarf before him and resisted the urge to use the top of the man’s head as a podium.

“She did confess to stealing some armor and skill books, but we did not find them amongst her possessions.” He read from the file before continuing.

“The thief, one Claris Woodthrush, was captured last night and confessed to breaking into your private offices. She was a barmaid here for a month a year back.” Guardsman Monroe stated the facts with a nod.

“She has some interesting and rather personal claims against you guild master. But we determined she has not committed this grand theft. She confessed to stealing skill books and light armor. This has been corroborated with officer Monroe’s Detect skill.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Captain Ironwatch read methodically from the files as he paced the room.

“Additionally, officers have inspected the guild hall and found no other trace of any person trespassing, all we are picking up with our spells are you, your staff, the layabouts you employ, and these Skurr that are everywhere. Hardly unusual.” Captain Ironwatch said.

“Is there anyone else you suspect from your staff?” He asked. “Perhaps Vivian? She knows her way around your private office.”

“Impossible, and the thieves even stole from Vivian’s personal belongings. No this was clearly an organized group of professionals! It required weeks, if not months of planning. They knew exactly what to take. And in broad daylight! Nobody else could have pulled this off.” The guild master stomped over to an empty crate that no longer held health potions and stomped it to splinters with one foot.

Roland dismissed officer Monroe with a nod and they both marched out of the back offices of the guild into the early morning.

The guild master had to jog to cut them off at the warehouse doors.

“Wait wait! There must be more you can do. You can’t just let this go. I pay the governor for protection, he will hear about this.”

“Guild master, compose yourself. This investigation has already gone beyond standard procedures. Your outlandish claims as to the wealth stolen from you, wealth that was not recorded in your ledgers, is highly suspicious and would merit its own investigation by the governor’s auditors.” Captain Ironwatch said.

The guild master shut his mouth with a snap.

“The governor has been made aware of the situation already. His office requested a copy of the case folio when you demanded the captain step in personally.” Guardsman Monroe said.

“In light of the available evidence, we have done more than our due diligence and are closing the case for the foreseeable future. There is no evidence to suggest the location of your stolen goods if they existed in the first place. Our investigation concludes it was either the work of a professional team, or an inside job.” The guard Captain snapped the folio closed.

“Unacceptable! You need-” the guild master was interrupted by Skurr excrement hitting his shoulder.

“Damn these rotten birds!” The guild master shouted.

He wiped the hot mess from his shoulder and neck but it was sticky and greasy and the mess only got worse.

“Ha hah ha!” A particularly green Skurr cawed. It was remarkably like laughter.

Guardsmen Monroe made a circular sign with the fingers of his left hand and silently asked the goddess of the moon to ward off bad luck. Miia looked poorly on those who swore against her children.

“Good day guild master.” Roland said and the two guardsman marched off. Leaving a furious Dwarf to tantrum on his own.