Chapter16

"N-n-no! I didn't mean that at all! I mean..." The poor guy was flabbergasted.

'Don't worry about it, Jonas... I'll be sure to put in a good word for you..." Kendra turned to leave.

"Wait! Um..." Jonas looked left and right before continuing. "Fingers asks that a message be passed to everyone. Did he tell you yet?"

"No... I don't believe so. What message? And spare me the code, eh?" Kendra put her hands on her hips impatiently.

Jonas nodded slowly and hushed his voice to a bare whisper. "There's to be a meeting in a few hours at his place near Skara Brae. All the big thieves will be there to discuss British's new decree."

"Ohhh... that message. Of course... who do think is the one arranging it? Well - keep up the good work, bub." Kendra waggled her fingers in a mock wave and Recalled out of there as quickly as she could. Kendrik would be very interested in this news she was most sure.

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Kendrik paced back and forth nervously in the cabin. He worried unnecessarily, he realized, but nonetheless... she was the only real family he had. There was of course Krynn... but he did not count in Kendrik's eyes. What kind of family member calls for the death of one of their own?! A key rattled in the lock, scaring Kendrik out of his thoughts. He immediately drew his kryss in anticipation.

"Easy, killer... it's just me." Kendra chuckled as she opened the door to see her brother poised for attack.

"What the hell took you so long?!" Kendrik relaxed and dropped his kryss to his side.

"Ken... I was seriously gone for maybe ten minutes at the most... Besides, they changed the code!" Kendra reached into her pack and tossed the kit to her brother.

"Changed it... to what?!" Kendrik set the kit down on a nearby table, looking it over.

Kendra thought hard before she repeated the riddle. "It lurks in the night to steal things away... Um... yet stands vigil over a flock by day. Made of wood or flesh, blood, and bone, heavy as a man... light as... three stones? I think that's how it went."

"Wow... heavy duty stuff nowadays. Fingers is getting wiser in his old age, heheh. You figure it out?"

"No... I bluffed the kit out of him." She paused as her brother laughed to himself. "What's so funny?"

"Huh? Oh... nothing..." Kendrik snickered again.

"No, seriously, Ken... what're you laughing at?" Kendra's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Nothing... just... if you were a member of BUB, you'd get that riddle right away is all..." Kendrik could hold it in no longer and burst out with riotous laughter.

"Wait... are you telling me you know the answer to that riddle?! I've been wracking my brains since I heard it!" Kendra walked over and socked her brother in the shoulder.

"Ow!!" he managed to get out in between fits of laughter.

"It's not funny..." Kendra pouted. She walked halfway up the steps to the second floor before she turned. "Get dressed. We have somewhere to be in a few hours."

"Oh? Where? To seek out a wise scholar to get you the answer?" Kendrik clutched his sides which were sore from laughter.

Kendra shot her brother a seething glare. "No... to Fingers' house. Jonas told me there was a meeting to discuss the Decree amongst all the major thieves. I'm thinking you had better be there to explain yourself."

The thief sobered up immediately. "Fingers' place, eh?" He nodded to himself. "You're staying here when I go. I don't trust any of those guys around you."

"Whatever, Ken. You know I'm going as well as you know there's nothing you can do about it." She ascended the rest of the stairs before she heard his reply.

"Oh... we'll just see about that, sis..." Kendrik smirked. He grabbed the disguise kit from the table and headed to the back of the cabin.

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