The Egg Thief of Alungar, ch 4

Rell shouldered the heavy door open, letting Ariella into the tower first before closing it as quietly as he could. The walk from the inn had sobered him up somewhat, but a chill had crept into his bones. Ariella had followed Rell in brooding silence, the joy of the fight leaving her and a listless state taking its place.

“This tower’s a wreck.” Ariella’s words caused a flutter of feathers somewhere up in the rafters. The central shaft was a series of thick black beams supporting a rickety staircase spiralling up with doorways leading to each floor. “Are you sure it’s not going to collapse?” “Hang on, I left a lamp here somewhere,” Rell said, shuffling around in the shadows. He let out a small cheer and worked the lever, pumping it until metal rasped and a small flame leapt to life. Rell’s grinning face was lit up as he turned up the flame, and Ariella let out a laugh. “Is this where you slink off to when you’re supposed to be working?” “I don’t slink,” Rell said, pretending to be affronted by the very notion. “I pretty much just walk off. Say I’m on a delivery and happily stroll out of the shop. I live here most of the time now.” Flickering lamplight fell on damp walls and piles of mouldy books and clothes. Cat’s eyes stared back from an open doorway before vanishing into the shadows. Placing his foot on the first step, Rell gave his home an appreciative look. “I raid the kitchen at the house, but I like it here. The family doesn’t know about it, so don’t go telling anybody.” “You moved out, when was this?” Ariella asked. It had been almost six months since she’d been back home, but nothing ever changed there, or so she thought. “Shortly after you left,” Rell said. “It wasn’t the same, and the kids were a nuisance. You can’t get away from them in that house. Everywhere you turn is another grubby child waiting to pounce.”

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