Tatsidi slipped into the shadows. Two guards rounded the corner of a dark intersection, both headed his way. A recess in the wall behind a suit of armor afforded him a place to hide as he waited for them to pass.
“Right fucked in the head, isn't he?” one of the guards, his voice deep and gruff, asked the other. His armor clanked as he walked, and Tatsidi noticed as he came closer that it was ill-fitting and loose against his stocky frame.
“Well, of course he seems strange,” said the other, much lighter in tone, almost melodic. His leather gear appeared to be in better condition and of a better fit than his partner’s. “It’s just hard to believe he’d do the things you claim, especially over some jewelry.”
“I claim it because it’s true!” The guard, whom Tatsidi made out to be an orc, hesitated in his steps as he recounted what he saw. “Man, woman, child – doesn’t make a difference to him, as long as he can take what he wants.”
“Remind me not to get on his bad side." Silence followed the guards as they moved around a corner at the other end of the hallway.
Tatsidi stepped out, listening to a voice in the direction from which he came. Following the sound led him to a door flanked by two impressive suits of armor. As he neared the door, he could faintly make out the words being spoken from within.
"The chairman is away on business. That’s all we need to tell them. We can’t start panicking now – you know he’s always late. Just wait for orders from the boss." Another voice, much older and more monotonous, replied.
"Very well. Let’s go and have a drink.”
Footsteps approached the door, closer than Tatsidi would have liked. Within seconds, the latch clicked open and an old, shriveled man poked his head out before stepping past the threshold. A shorter, huskier figure followed, his face obscured by the darkness. The latter individual grabbed a key out of his pocket and locked the door behind them. As they walked by, Tatsidi held his breath and kept as still as the suit of armor which concealed him.
As they disappeared down the stairs, Tatsidi peeked out from his hiding spot to ensure no one else was coming and slunk his way to the door. Pitted against his trusty pick, the lock clicked open with ease.
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He entered in search of whatever items might have been of interest, especially following such an intriguing conversation. What he found was an unsuspecting—or rather, suspiciously empty—bedroom. The hardwood floor was covered with a tattered yet clean white rug, and aside from that, the setup was quite sparse with three simple pieces of pine furniture. Against the wall was a bed with white linens, opposite a short dresser with a vanity mirror. A dark corner at the far side of the room was fitted with a small chair which had a single crooked leg.
Tatsidi swished his tail, sensing an air of good fortune as he pattered over to the dresser. He reached out to slide open the first drawer.
It was empty. He shrugged, figuring the next one might bring him more luck. The second drawer, however, was also empty, and the third bore no dissimilar result.
Tatsidi whipped his tail in disappointment, latently doubting his presumption that he'd find anything of substance. Still, he was unconvinced that the sparse furniture along with a plain white rug were all the room had to offer, and he dropped to all fours to prowl along the floor.
Aside from a few cobwebs and a thin layer of dust, nothing of interest waited beneath the bed nor dresser. As Tatsidi inspected the crooked chair leg, however, he noticed it pressing the rug into a depression in the floor.
"Oh-ho," the Apo'na mused to himself, lifting the chair and placing it to the side. As he lifted the corner of the rug, he found a cutout in the floor. A small hole was adjacent to one edge, so Tatsidi poked his finger in and used it to lift the lid out. It was stuck at first, requiring him to tug so that it came out with a pop and startled him.
A royal blue jewelry box sat in the compartment beneath the floor, inviting him with its intricate flourishes. The details grew in clarity as Tatsidi lifted it into the light. A trail of glittering golden leaves traced every edge, and in the center were three shimmering white roses.
Tatsidi was never one to turn away such a unique opportunity for what could be an easy source of gold; Similar to jewelry boxes he'd seen in the market, he knew it to be well made and quite valuable, even if he were to discover it was empty, though it was far too weighty to be so. He wasted nary another moment opening it, and what was inside left him astonished.
Never had Tatsidi seen such an incredible concentration of wealth and vanity. Several rings presented themselves in a variety of silver and gold. Each one was inlaid with large and brilliant gemstones ranging from rubies and emeralds to sapphires and diamonds, and had a necklace to match.
One lone necklace stood out more than the others, alone without a mate – a thick silver chain studded with diamonds, bearing a large sapphire pendant. A smirk crept across the cat's face as he closed the box. To keep it safe, he stuffed it away among his gear. Endless possibilities for riches flooded his mind, but for the time being, he refocused his efforts on finding the best course to leave without being spotted.