The Thief of Skystead

A Bitter Memory

Libraries have never been his scene, but he's come to appreciate the one in General Thurston's estate. Unfortunately, that makes the transition back to the public library especially difficult. You'd think in a library so big, the librarians would have something better to do than just shush him all the time. But, here they are.

"Shush!" A hoothoot hisses, looking ready to throw a book at them. Angrily, she flutters away, off to shush some other poor victims.

Turning to Gunnora and Alistair, Azazel says, "...I wasn't even talking."

They've been in the library for an hour or so, scratching their heads over the latest developments in their investigation. The ditto turned out to be useless, and even if they wanted to question her again, the general already sent her away. All they have going for them are the threatening letters Azazel nabbed from the station. There's ten or so of them, but none of them stand out from the others. They're all equally violent and bloodthirsty. With these alone, there's no determining which could be behind all this.

Even more aggravating than their lack of leads is their lack of privacy. Although Savaric and Grimald keep their distance, they don't tear their eyes away from them for a second. They're not just following Azazel this time, they're following Alistair, too. General's orders. So now, they're hounded by double the security. At least they stay far enough away for the three to have a semi-private conversation.

Heavily, Gunnora sighs, dropping a death threat to the table and rubbing her eyes. "I feel like we aren't getting anywhere with this. These letters might be suspicious, but how do we know any of these people are behind this? It's not like they're the only people who might want Azazel dead, he has that kind of effect on people. No offense, dude."

"None taken."

"I have also grown troubled by the avenue of thought we've been travelling," Alistair agrees. Or at least, Azazel thinks he agrees. He has a hard time translating his rich and proper speech. "Should it be true what Azazel boasts—that he has never been caught in the act of theft—then I fail to see how a victim of one of his crimes could be the one after him."

Azazel and Gunnora glance at each other, equally lost. They look back at Alistair, and Azazel says, "Explain."

"Well," he begins, picking up a death threat and examining it. "If you have never been caught, how would these people know who to target? Not one of these letters mentions you by name or makes any notion that they are aware of who committed the theft against them. So how could any of them be the perpetrator of your attempted murders?"
When Alistair finally gets to the point through all of his frivolous flowery language, he actually starts making sense. It may be common knowledge in the town that he's a thief, but the rich tourists wouldn't have that same intimate knowledge. And even if they heard rumors and began to suspect him, would they really be willing to pour exorbitant amounts of money and time into killing him based on a hunch? He knows some rich people practically burn their money just because they can, but he has a feeling they'd rather spend it on wild parties or second mansion instead of on a baseless accusation.

So, if it wasn't someone he robbed from, then there's someone after him for another reason. If it's unrelated to theft, he honestly can't think of any other offense he committed against anyone. Why else would anyone would target him?

"Could it be that this has to do with an issue of familial honor?" Alistair muses, deep in thought. Azazel tenses. "Perhaps someone in your family tarnished the reputation of an affluent individual. It could explain why someone would pursue you, perhaps for revenge—"

"No." Azazel states it, firm.

"I do not find the idea impossible," Alistair persists. "Such as the general would do anything to ensure a pristine reputation, so would most of the rich and powerful—"