The Siege of Thais: A Tibian Tale

Chapter 6: Within The City Walls

As the team returned to the city of Thais, the devil helmet was safely stored in Arin's backpack, and they had a sense of accomplishment. They had braved the dangers of the labyrinth and emerged victorious with the devil's helmet in hand. Despite the thrill of their success, they knew that more battles were still to come.

As they entered the city gates, everything seemed to be calm and "normal," as much as an ancient city could be. People were going about their daily lives, selling their wares to the local blacksmith, Mr. MacDonald walking around with his food items. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and the city was bustling with activity.

But then, as they made their way toward the castle, one of the team members noticed some commotion. They heard people shouting and saw a group of guards rushing toward the castle gates.

Curious, the team made their way toward the castle gates to see what was going on. As they approached the castle, they could see that the courtyard was filled with people. The king was standing in the center, looking frantic. He was wringing his hands and pacing back and forth. The team could see that he was on the verge of tears.

One of the guards noticed the team's arrival and approached them. "What brings you here, adventurers?" he asked.

"We heard the commotion and came to see what was happening," replied the team's leader.

"It's the king's dog," said the guard, nodding toward the king. "Noodles is missing."

"Noodles?" repeated the team, confused.

"Yes, Noodles," said the guard. "The king's dog. He's the only friend the king has left, and he's very upset."

The team exchanged a glance, knowing they couldn't refuse the king's request. They had just completed a dangerous mission but were still adventurers at heart, always ready for the next challenge.

"Of course, your highness," Arin said, stepping forward. "We'll do everything possible to find Noodles and return him to you."

The king's face lit up when he heard this. "Thank you, thank you!" he said. "I'll reward you handsomely for your help. Noodles is more than just a dog to me, he's my only friend. Please, find him!"

The guards saluted, then dispersed to search the city for the missing dog. The team split up, each taking a different section of the city to search.

As they walked through the streets, calling out Noodles' name and asking if anyone had seen him, the team began to realize just how beloved the king's dog was. People they had never met before were eager to help, offering suggestions and telling stories of their own encounters with Noodles.

"He once stole a piece of my bread right out of my hand!" an old woman cackled, waving her cane in the air. "He's a mischievous little thing, that's for sure!"

"He's always running around outside the depot, looking for anything people may have dropped I suppose," a young merchant added, chuckling. "But he's got a good nose; I'll give him that."

Arin and Faelwen walked down the alley between the castle and the depot, calling out for Noodles, the king's beloved dog. "Noodles! Noodles, where are you?" Arin yelled, hoping to hear a bark in response. Faelwen scurried alongside him, scanning the alley for any signs of the missing pup. "I don't see anything," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

The duo then went to the food vendor's stall, asking the vendor if he had seen Noodles. "I'm sorry, I haven't seen him," the vendor replied. "But I'll keep an eye out for him." Arin and Faelwen thanked him and continued on their search.

Next, they checked the Knights Guild, hoping Noodles might have wandered in. They asked the knights if they had seen the little dog, but none of them had. "He's not here," Arin said with a sigh. "Where could he be?"