Magic Of Light

Stolen values

Lord Condredar stared at the empty cabinet. Where his chest of coins had been there was nothing. He kept a small fortune there, and now it was gone. Someone was going to pay for it! However, the most disturbing thing was that the small statue of the knight was gone too. That was bad, really bad. He felt the anger boiling in his chest. He gritted his teeth and stormed out of the room.

Prefton, the head of his guards was waiting in the corridor.

"Where is he?" Condredar snapped. Prefton had briefed him when he got home, telling him about the diversion and the break-in and the burglar they had caught.

"Locked in the cellar," Prefton said.

"Show me."

Condredar followed the tall man, staring at his back. He had to restrain himself from kicking him. That could wait. Prefton took one of the torches from its holder on the wall, and lead his lord down the stairs.

Two of Prefton's men guarded the door of a wine cell that was currently empty. They stepped aside and opened the door for Condredar.

"Light," Condredar ordered, and Prefton held the torch closer. The thief was lying on the floor, his hands tied behind him. He was a man in his middle ages. His right eye was swollen and blood dropped from his split lips. Good. A few feet from him were the items he tried to steal, neatly arranged on the floor. The statue wasn't among them.

"Did he say anything?" asked Condredar.

"Not much," said Prefton. "I asked him about his accomplice, but he says he doesn't know where he run."

Condredar bent down, grabbed the hair of the thief and leaned close to his ear. "Where is he?"

The man winced. "I... I don't know."

"Don't dare to lie to me, bastard!" shouted Condredar. "Where... is... he? Where is your hiding place? What's his name? How can I find him?"

The man didn't say anything. Condredar let the man's hair go, straightened and kicked him in the ribs. The thief cried out painfully.

"You play the tough one, heh? I'll catch your mate. Then I come back and we'll have a nice chat." Condredar turned to Prefton. "Continue questioning him, but keep him alive."

Prefton nodded. Condredar left the cellar. He had to find the knight at any cost.

xxxXXXxxx

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I would greatly appreciate your vote. Your comments are also welcome, I'd be glad to hear from you.