Memoirs of a Thief
By Sir Edmynd of the Catel Family
Translated by Qubrak Shata
This document is an excerpt from my memoirs. When handling,
please use caution due to the fragile nature of this papyrus.
Month of the Snow, Day 16
This morning I committed my first theft. I when down to the Twisted
Dwarf, the village taverne, and bought a fine ale. I left without paying
that old rotten inkeeper. He is such an old geezer, I doubt any of the
stories he tells are true anyhow. He deservs someone totake from him, to
pay him back for the time we waste listening to him and his foolish stories.
Just today he was rambling on and on about how he and this knight, Sir
Karcas or something like that, were sent on a mission to kill a great wyrm
red dragon by Rikiel himself! Imagine that. There isn't a single man alive
who can killa red dragon, much less a great wyrm. Then ol' Bill pulls out
asword and claims it was the very sword he used to slay that rotten creature.
A bunch of hogwash if you ask me, but Tyaa knows, that sword was sure rusted
enough to be around back when ol' Bill was in his youth.
Month of the Snow, Day 17
Overnight a light snow fell. With yesterday's ale stealing success,
I was going to "borrow" the blacksmith's mule. But just enough snow fell
that my tracks, and the mule's, would be easy to follow. I suppose I'm
going to have to bide my time and wait until the morrow. Then the day after
begins my seventeenth year! I can't wait, my folks promised I would get
to choose the person to whom I'll be apprenticed to. I've been thinking
about Sir Higgins, a fence for stolen goods, though most people just think
he is the general store's law abiding proprietor.
Month of the Snow, Day 18
I almost got away with a new mule today, but the snow didn't melt like
I thought it would. I did avoid trouble by saying the mule followed me
home. The people here in Ghadis are so gullible....
Month of the Snow, Day 19
As soon as I awoke this morning, I told my folks that I wished tobe
apprenticed to Sir Higgins, the general store's owner. I hadalready secured
his approval the week prior and my folks didn't object at all. Then, this
afternoon, I made up my mind that I would get the blacksmith's mule. I
spent the evening hours formulating a plan. I observed his shop for most
of the time, the rest of which I spent thinking about how to succeed. I
am begining to like the planning, it helps with overcoming. I still have
to decide exactly what is the best way to get the mule, but I did notice
the blacksmith leaves his shop unattended whenever he has a call of nature.The
morning began with a travelling merchant riding into town. Hehad himself
a cart full of all sorts of fancy stuff. I didn't geta good look but it
seemed like nothing of interest to me. I'll probably stop by his wagon
sometime before he leaves in a fortnight. I spent some more time at the
blacksmith's and affirmedlast eve's observation that he leaves the shop
unattended on callsof nature. Perhaps if I can create a distraction in
his shop while he's gone, I can get away with the mule. The good news is
the snow has melted away enough that any tracks won't be visible, plus
so many people have walked on it that it would be take the best magician
the world to track anyone. Or maybe on very skilled ranger...
Month of the Snow, Day 21
I poised myself armed with a hot coal and an armload of dry hay across
the street from the blacksmith's, waiting for him to leave for even the
slightest moment. Around noontime he did and I walked into his shop and
made a bit of smoke and heat. While the dolt was trying to save his shop
from those very menacing "flames", I took his mule. Finally. Though here
I am sitting with this annoying mule, writing in my journal. I think tommorrow's
task for me will be to return the mule. I haven't had this much trouble
since we took in that stray dog three or four years back.