At night the desert was cold and the three moons cast a pale light on the dunes. Erentheca and Ji’zoran crept up on the city of Eseron slowly, staying below the dune line. The city was surrounded by high walls, which were uniform and white all the way around. The gates were closed which was unusual this time of night. A slight breeze rustled across the tranquil desert. Erentheca felt the sand start to slowly seep into his tunic.

Just then a rocking creaking sounded in the distance. Behind them, a small wagon rolled on the road. It slowly approached the gate. Erentheca pulled at Ji’zoran to keep his head down. The wagons slowly pulled up to the dark gate, the beast of burden pulling it snorting heavily. The two guards came from the shadows where they were previously invisible. They walked up to the driver of the wagon and conversed with him in a quick manner. The voices were raised, but Erentheca could not quite discern what they were saying.

"The wagon driver wants to get inside the city but they have orders not to let anyone in," Ji’zoran whispered, demonstrating his superior hearing.

Erentheca nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the guards “The guards are watching the gate rather zealously considering this is a small desert town.”

"It is odd to be turning travelers away, they have always been their main income," Erentheca pondered.

Ji'zoran finished his sentence, "Unless something is amiss or they have well funded guests who like their privacy."

Erentheca nodded, "You are right, there is something very wrong. We will have to enter discreetly, and determine what is going on within the walls of the city."

The two slinked around the perimeter of the city, staying silent and out of sight. Guards stood atop the walls, interspaced about fifty meters apart. Light from inside the walls painted a light outline on their dark silhouettes. Some paced back and forth while others looked out towards the desert or inward to the city.

Erentheca quietly mumbled, "Looks like we are going over the walls. Erentheca put his hand firmly on Ji’zoran’s staff and looked into his apprentices unseeing eyes “Remember we don’t want to attract unwanted attention.” He tapped Ji’zoran’s staff lightly with his finger “Stay your weapon unless we are involved in a situation that absolutely calls for it.” Ji’zoran gave a quick nod of understanding as both he and Erentheca silently put their staffs in their respective sheaths on their backs.

Erentheca found the place in the wall that seemed to have the least light on it and found a spot right in between two of the guards. He felt around his belt and found his grappling hook at the end of a coil of rope he kept inside his robe. Ji’zoran produced a grappling hook of his own.

Ji’zoran and Erentheca both tossed their hooks over the wall, pulling back on the ropes until the hooks caught. Then they climbed silently up the wall, making sure to obscure every sound they produced.

Erentheca slowly peeked his head over the edge. A dry breeze that smelled slightly of burned oil played lightly with Erentheca's hood. Erentheca looked over to the right and saw the half lit armored back of one of the guards. To the left, another moon lit silhouette was sitting down; by the way his head was slumped, Erentheca could tell that the man was asleep. Erentheca lightly tapped on Ji'zoran's shoulder and quietly scaled over the wall. The walkway on top was four feet wide and it was inset into the wall at least one foot. Erentheca pulled up his grappling hook and silently tossed the rope over the side, latching the hook itself to the inner edge of the walkway. Ji’zoran did the same, and both lowered themselves down the other side, using their feet to pinch the rope and thereby slow their descent. Both silently touched down on the dusty earth and rolled into the shadows cast by the wall.

Erentheca inspected the wall and decided that the presence of the ropes there would be too obvious in the rising moonlight. He crept over to the wall slowly, staying low and silent, letting each foot press softly into the sand, until he was at the wall. He cracked one of the ropes like a whip and it rode like a wave to the top until the hook pulled free and came falling to Erentheca. He caught the hook in his hand, silently tossing it to Ji’zoran’s feet for him to coil. Erentheca then did the same with the other grappling hook. He had to repeat the motion a couple of times, but eventually it loosed and he yanked it over the wall. Erentheca stepped backwards caught the hook soundlessly, and rolled back into the shadows. He coiled his own grappling hook and reattached it to his belt. Finished with scaling the walls, the pair both drew their staffs.

The interior of the trading city was much like any other desert town, filled with two story mud brick dwellings and a few stone estates in the wealthier sections. The first thing that struck Erentheca was that none of the mud brick dwellings seemed to be inhabited. The lonely whistle of the desert wind had replaced the usual nocturnal sounds of the town. Ji’zoran and Erentheca snaked silently in and out of the empty buildings but neither could find any trace of population. With each passing moment the town reminded Erentheca more and more of a graveyard. The last time he had seen this town, even the spaces in between buildings had been choked with travelers and natives alike. Now he felt like he was following on the heels of some pestilence or strange spell. When he reached the end of the street, Erentheca eyes were instantly drawn towards an immense, well-lit structure near the center of the city. It shone like an orange beacon amongst the sea of darkness that had enveloped the rest of the town.

Ji’zoran sensed the sudden stop of Erentheca in front of him he put his hand on Erentheca’s shoulder “What is it?” he whispered questioningly.

“I think we have discovered the central location of the activity that is occurring here. Stay close in my wake, we will have to infiltrate the structure to get to the bottom of this.” Erentheca replied.

Ji’zoran nodded to him, his form outlined by the pale moonlight, Both of them started silently towards the lighted building.

They came upon and alley that finally gave a view of the main street and they saw that it was lit by torches down its length. Erentheca and Ji’zoran tried to remain hidden as they crept up upon the main causeway and finally stopped at the edge of a small clay market, which was, to no surprise, empty its thick, ragged, curtains drawn over the windows. From his view, Erentheca could see that the lit building was a mansion or estate of some kind, so that meant that owner was obviously wealthy, Which meant that he also probably had a decent security force.

Shifting his view down, Erentheca’s assumptions were confirmed: two guards stood watch out in front of the great main doors while three additional pairs periodically patrolled the perimeter of the estate. Huge torches that were usually reserved for festivals, stood in holders spaced every ten feet on the estates wall. The grounds surrounding the estate were almost better lighted than if the structure had been set on fire. Erentheca wondered what means of business was being conducted here that required so much security and so much lighting. The common buildings near the estates also looked occupied and Erentheca could only guess that they were residences for the guards and for the workers. Here and there guards and workers walked down the main avenue and the alleyways, showing that there was a great deal of activity for so late in the night. Erentheca and Ji’zoran followed the main street from a distance, moving west to the center of town. Erentheca climbed up the back steps of a deserted building silently, guiding Ji’zoran up behind him. The top of the second floor gave a good vantage point and Erentheca lay down on the roof to keep out of sight. All the clay dwellings had small perimeter walls on their roofs, roughly a foot tall, which gave perfect cover.

Before him was a circular courtyard surrounded by warehouses and stables. In the center, a stone obelisk in a circular pool marked where the town oasis was first discovered. Guards patrolled the area around the pool and arranged in a rough circle around the courtyard were big, heavily laden wagons that were covered in thick brown tarps. By the look of the cheap material, Erentheca knew that the tarps were meant to do little more than conceal the cargo.

Ji’zoran looked over with his blank, unfocused eyes at Erentheca, "Do you see big wagons with burlap tarps?"

"Yes."

Ji’zoran drew his face into a slight grin, "Weapons."

"How did you come across this information?" Erentheca asked, interest coming through slightly in his voice.

"Many a desert traveler came in to the tavern with a thirst to slake and a tale to tell. Good drink loosens the lips. Master Chakrai was the one who had me work in that tavern for that particular reason. He turned to Erentheca and smiled “You’d be surprised what one hears when he listens well.”

Workers cycled through their routines about the shipments, tending to horses and inspecting the wheels. Some carted boxes from smaller wagons to the bigger ones. A man in dark grey with black trim seemed to be the one in charge. Three men trailed behind him, two of them dressed in mostly plain white, the other ornately dressed in red with jewels. The man in grey inspected the wagons, lifting each tarp as he went. At times he would shake his head in disapproval. Erentheca could barely make out the symbols lining his clothes, but he could tell that they were definitely Starpian. Judging by his stride and the quality of his clothing, Erentheca estimated that the man was some kind of regent, the type of man who was often appointed by Dukes to manage their territories or manage large scale operations, especially the not so ethical or legal ones. Workers and guards approached the man in red randomly, reporting to him and asking for orders. He was shorter and had a grey beard that was neatly trimmed. Erentheca figured him to be the mayor, or at least the man who was currently running the city.

They steadily moved in Erentheca's direction and he could begin to hear their conversation. The bejeweled Starpian was speaking, his words carry a coming out in a deep rich tone, "I am assured of the quality of these weapons, however I am displeased with the quantity," the Starpian grumbled, "You are at least half a unit short of our agreement."

The mayor fidgeted defensively, his words coming out in nervous stream "I am sorry, but the blacksmiths assure me that they are working as fast as possible according to your standards. I have supplied them with more money and have demanded faster results, but I am afraid that no matter what I try, we are still a little behind."

"Don't bore me with your excuses," the Starpian grumbled, "I will not report to my lord that his weapons are not on time because of your problems. I expect the missing half a unit to be made up by the last shipment. The next shipment is due in three weeks, and the final one will be due in six weeks. He turned towards the little man and stared down at him “I expect to see the requirements met to the detail.”

"Yes, of course," the mayor agreed sycophantically, "I like my Starpian friends; I will always do good business with you."

The Starpian’s voice took on a darker inflection "Just make sure our business stays private. If word of our transactions get out, my lord will very unhappy and that would mean dire consequences for you.” The regent smiled at the mayor seeing that is words had visibly shaken the man and the Starpian moved onto other business his voice relaxing, "But without further delay, your money of course." The Starpian motioned behind him and two men came out laden with a brass plated box that they carried on staves. They were followed by another pair with another brass plated box. A figure covered in black and masked followed the treasure out and stood beside the Starpian. Erentheca could tell that the masked one carried an array of weapons under cloak.

At the sight of the boxes the mayor forgot his fear and started greedily for the boxes. With a simple gesture from the Starpian the masked one drew a narrow sword and whipped it quickly to the small man's neck before his hand touched the first box. The mayor let out a strangled cry of fear, his wide eyes staring down at the blade pressed to his neck.

The Starpian words coursed with charged anger "Remember our agreement you little rat, if I do not get compensated by the next shipment for this shortage, I will be sending the next payment to your spouse, along with your head," the Starpian quickly made another gesture and the masked one withdrew to his side again, putting sword in sheath.

With that,The Starpian and his dark minion turned and walked off together, without saying a word of farewell. The mayor watched them go rubbing the spot on his neck where the sword had been. He turned back around quickly his face crushed into a scowl. He no longer seemed pleased with the treasure and ordered the four men carry it back to his estate. The man stopped momentarily to yell some orders out to the workers, and then proceeded to the far end of the courtyard, frowning, his head held low.

Ji’zoran leaned closer to Erentheca, "If we follow the treasure, Master, we can find out if it came from Starpia. It is likely to carry unique valuables," he whispered.

"We are not exactly experts on Starpian treasure Ji’zoran, but we may be able to identify something," Erentheca whispered back, "follow me."

Erentheca led Ji’zoran back down the dark side of the small structure. From the shadows, sneaking along behind the clay dwellings and shops, he followed the four bearers and their cargo. The men were straining from the weight. The four finally turned and went down another street, headed away from Erentheca and Ji’zoran. Erentheca followed them with his eyes until the four reached the doors of another stone estate at the end of the side-road.

Erentheca was wondering how he was going to locate where treasure like that would be kept in such an estate when candlelight shone in a window and the figures of the workers moved into the light still straining under the weight of the boxes. The window was in the North-West corner of the third floor and Erentheca decided that he would make his entrance there from the outside. The workers headed back out and the light in the window disappeared.

Quickly, Erentheca led his apprentice across the main dirt road and they quietly scaled to the top of the clay dwelling on the corner of the two streets. Erentheca looked over across a small alley to the next dwelling in the direction of the Estate. He judged that it was about six feet away. Being that most of the clay dwellings were as close to being identical as possible, Erentheca did not have to worry about a difference in elevation. The only thing that he worried about was his apprentice. He knew that Ji’zoran was excellently coordinated, but jumping a chasm like this required the gift of eyesight. Also, if they approached the Estate on the ground, the streets around it were so well lit that they would not be able to avoid detection.

"Ji’zoran," Erentheca stated, "I will have to get what I need alone and come back for you."

"Why?" Ji’zoran whispered back.

Erentheca grimaced slightly, "Well, in order to approach the Estate undetected, we will have to use the rooftops. Unfortunately, it is a six foot jump between each one. Now I am sure you have jumped further on the ground, but I am concerned that your blindness might make you miss the jump."

"Six feet exactly did you say?" Ji’zoran inquired, touching the perimeter wall and then feeling his way back to a place near the middle of the roof.

Erentheca judged the distance again, this time very carefully, "Looks like five feet and about eight inches." Erentheca had just finished speaking when a blurred form vaulted off of the low wall and rolled perfectly on the other roof, not betraying a single sound. Erentheca almost laughed in amazement. Then with a quick run he vaulted over the gap to join Ji’zoran. Ji’zoran smiled and reiterated one of Master Chakrai’s many teachings “Boundaries are held only in the mind.”

The two leapt from rooftop to rooftop, remaining out of sight while workers walked in the street below. Finally Erentheca and Ji’zoran reached a spot right across from the Mansion's West side third floor windows. The distance in between was about eight feet. Erentheca had assumed the distance would be shorter, but he knew that they could make the gap. The window was merely a stone opening into a dark room. There was a wooden set of shutters that closed from the inside and now hung open. In the desert, the climate did not necessitate having glass windows, but wooden shutters were quite necessary during sandstorms.

Erentheca could not see the space inside the window so he was going to be jumping blindly. He leaned over and told Ji’zoran the distance and the position of the large window. Then he ran and leapt. He flattened his body as if he was diving and passed perfectly through the window before curling and slamming into the stone floor. He let go of his staff and rolled into a chair as the staff clattered across the floor. A burning pain erupted in his right shoulder and right elbow. As he struggled to lift his sore body he realized that he had thoroughly skinned his shoulder. He reached his feet with a grimace, looking around the room for his staff.

In the darkness a shadowy figure furtively glanced up from a large box he was leaning over and then took off running. Erentheca chased after the figure, surprised by the speed and agility of the unknown person, but Erentheca still had the edge. He leapt over a wooden table and rolled on the other side, tripping the shadowy figure with his right leg as his momentum pulled him back to his feet. Pain squealed through his shoulder again but it was now easy to ignore with the adrenaline pumping. The shadowy figure popped back up and the silver flash of a blade came at Erentheca through the pale light of the moons. Erentheca lept upward and landed a kick on the myterious person's chest, launching the figure into one of the side windows as the figure dropped the knife. The window started two feet off of the floor and when the man hit it, his upper body kept going even though his feet had stopped and he tumbled out the window.

Fortunately Erentheca's reflexes were fast. As the man's foot went over the side with the rest of his body, Erentheca caught it and braketted his body against the stone sill to brace himself as he held the mystery man's foot. Two stories below, on the steps leading inside the mansion, two guards sat eating meat and drinking wine. They laughed as they talked and did not notice the darkly draped intruder dangling only feet above them. The man formed the expression of a scream on his face but betrayed no sound. Erentheca pulled him back through the window silently. In a few seconds Erentheca had the man safely over the edge and pinned against the wall of the third floor. Ji'zoran was standing at his side, holding both of their staffs.

"Who are you?" Erentheca growled at the stranger.

Erentheca could not make any discerning features about the mysterious man other than his big eyes that darted around in terror, "Please, I have not done you any harm, how much money would it take to send me on my way? I assure you that I have not touched the treasure and if you could leave but a little for me-"

"You little weasel, we're not theives," Erentheca interrupted.

The man half smiled nervously, "Oh, well if you are assasins, I swear I will never tell a soul about you."

Erentheca released the man, content that fear would keep the man from running again. As he stepped back, he sighed and dropped back his hood, "We did not come to kill either. We are Velcran inspectors investigating the murder of two Velcran ambassadors."

The thief mouthed the words to himself, in awe.

Ji’zoran continued for Erentheca, "This happened about two months ago. We came to Eseron backtracking weapons dealers that we think may have been involved. Do you know anything of the matter?"

"I know a little," the thief shrugged, "I had heard of rumors about the murders, but they happened well before I came to this region."

"So again, who are you and why are you here?" Erentheca asked, hostility still an undertone in his voice.

The thief settled back against the table leg and crossed his arms, "Well, I am what you might call a finder of rare, and eh, expensive, antiquities."

Erentheca made a half grin, "Still doesn't explain why you are here."

The theif sat back comfortably with his arms crossed, "I suppose you have heard about the Myson Crown?"

Erentheca nodded, "Yeah, I've heard of it, don't know much about it, but I assumed it was mythical."