Finally she went to buy a map. She found one of the kingdom of Manaan and a little of its bordering countries. She reached down for her purse and her hand closed around someone else’s. She spun around and came face to face with a dirty faced young girl.
The girl had an expression of sheer panic. She shoved Tara as hard as she could, sending Tara stumbling backwards, nearly falling. The girl grabbed her money pouch off her belt and began to run. Tara ran after her. The girl ducked into an alley and Tara nearly lost sight of her. A small flash of dirty blond hair gave the girl’s position away. It took her four blocks of running to catch up to her and grab her by the shoulder.
“Let me go!” the girl screamed.
“Return my pouch.” Tara answered.
“I didn’t do anything!” the girl cried.
“I saw you take it.” Tara said.
The girl stopped struggling and produced the pouch. Tara took it from her and checked the contents.
“You’re rich, you don’t need it.” The girl said.
“It is all I have, and I have no way to get more. I am not rich.”
“You look rich.” The girl pointed at the necklace.
“It was a gift.” Tara answered.
“A very expensive gift.”
“Yes it was. But it does not mean that I currently have a lot of money.”
The girl’s eyebrows bunched together as she thought for a moment. “Are you going to turn me in?” she asked.
“What’s your name?”
“Emma.”
“Where are your parents Emma?”
The girl shrugged, “Momma died, Daddy got caught stealing.”
Tara pulled a few talens out of the pouch and gave them to Emma. The girl’s eyes widened and she quickly snatched them.
“I won’t turn you in,” Tara said, “just don’t steal from me again.”
“What’s your name?” Emma asked.
“Tara.”
Emma backed away and then took off running down the alley. Tara didn’t chase her. Instead she went back and bought the map. She went to the nearest inn and asked the innkeeper if he had ever met a sith named Eldan. He did not, so Tara began to walk from inn to inn and tavern to tavern asking the same question. After four hours of wandering she finally collapsed in one of the taverns and ordered a small supper. She began to wonder if she’d ever find him.
Suddenly Emma walked in and plunked herself down in front of Tara.
“You missed a couple of taverns.” She said, “There’s a man in the one down the street who has heard of a sith named Eldan.”
“Are you following me now?” Tara asked.
“You were nice, and the information might be worth a reward.” Emma casually eyed Tara’s food. Tara pushed the plate at her and let her finish it.
“Thank you Emma.” |
