The Chaos Of Knowledge

Chapter 2

Twenty years later...

The crowd moved out of the way of the man running through them. Nearly every person in Adorea knew about the Vulpine Bandit who seemed to show up once a week or so. He was a slender gentleman and moved easily around the crowd. His blonde hair moved behind him quickly as e he looked back at the man chasing after him with a large knife as he was screaming obscenities.

"Get back here you thief," The stout man demanded as the weapon was swinging wildly in the air. The man frowned turning back to his path as a pair of guards turned the corner having heard the commotion taking place ahead at the end of the street.

The thief stumbled as he was forced to slow himself down to avoid the pair of bronzed spears suddenly thrust in his direction. Stumbling on the cobblestone the thief ended up sliding between the guards barely managing to avoid the sharpened points.

Catching his footing a few feet behind them he was at full sprint again. It wasn't meant to get this loud and he should have been in and out in a few moments. Not having no less than three men after his head. Muttering curses under his breath his bare feet hit the stone ground hard as he moved through the city.

He knew he should have waited a few hours longer before heading in, but it would have been gone at that point. Looking down at the catch he smiled brightly, the mask was pristine, and he hoped it would keep its luster after this fight ended. Carved from copper it was the perfect reflection of a fox.

The man he had just stolen it from meant to use it for decoration among others similar. But he knew better, this was worth something more than just decoration. If all went well this would be part of his new ensemble, he was tired of being forced to hide his face behind a scarf and this mask for him perfect.

As he ran past the center of the city he knew that the guards would be pulling more men into the search for him. As he turned the corner he was taken by the collar and his hood removed as he was shoved against the wall.

The pair of vulpine ears unfolded from beneath as they turned quickly to face the man who had just assaulted him. He raised his sword quickly to the shorter man looking him hard in the eyes. But the hand against his face was hotter than he would have expected and knew the spell was prepared to brand his face if he even tried to use his weapon.

"Quiet," The caster demanded pressing his hand over the thief's mouth. The heavy sound of boots ran by as he saw the men running by lead by a man quickly casting some kind of spell before them.

As they disappeared the hand removed from the thief's mouth he smiled. "Sampson." He said quickly lowering the blade. "I could have made it without your help." He said as the sword was replaced in its scabbard and Nomas started towards the street.

Sampson frowned pulling off his hood revealing the long black hair that hung down to his neck. A small golden crown adorned his head as he lowered his hand letting the heat radiate off of it. "No, you didn't Nomas. You know that if you get caught outside the people will start to speak. It is bad enough people know there is a thief out and about, but if they hear it is you... They'd be at the gate demanding your head." He said pulling his sibling back.

"And where did you get that ridiculous thing?" He demanded with a scoff. Nomas laughed pulling the copper mask out from his cloak and offering it towards Sampson.

"It's a prop," Nomas said with a smile flashing. "Keeps the guards from seeing my face, thought it would preserve my anonymity." He said with a shrug. "If a guard was chasing me down one day and the next he was protecting me then he would turn me in for sure." He said with a wide smile. Nomas had nearly the same complexion as his father, a constant light tan despite the fact that little light made it through the canopy of large trees above the city.