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Nodding, Orlander says, “It seems I recall such a pair passing through. Don’t know as what they may or may not have liquidated here in Illion. If those items were to turn up, say, what would you be willing to pay for their return?”

“What do you mean?” James asks.

“I mean,” clarifies Orlander, “how much gold would you be willing to give me to expedite their return?”

“We don’t have much on us right now I’m afraid,” admits James.

“Then why should I even bother with you?” he asks. Snickers can be heard coming from those around them.

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” James tells him.

Breaking out into a laugh, he says, “Get them out of here.”

“Let’s go,” the man with the swords says as he lays a hand on Jiron’s shoulder.

Spinning around fast, Jiron knocks the man’s hand off as the men with the crossbows take aim.

“We should leave,” James says to him. Then in a barely audible whisper he says, “Later.”

Swallowing his anger, Jiron backs down and the man with the swords gives him a grin and then precedes them from the room.

Following him across the barroom, they move to the door and are escorted outside. “Don’t come back unless you have gold,” the man says.

‘Red’ is there looking at them and their eyes lock for just a moment before James turns. Then he and Jiron move off down the street.

Once they’re out of earshot, Jiron asks, “Why didn’t we do anything?”

“I wasn’t sure if he had them or not,” he says. “I can’t just go around and indiscriminately kill everyone who crosses my path.”

“What are you going to do now?” he asks.

“Find out if our stuff is there or not,” he replies.

“And if it is?” prompts Jiron.

“We go back tonight and reclaim them,” he states.

Nodding, Jiron follows him down the road a ways until James ducks down a deserted side alley. Moving away from the entrance, he comes to a stop. Glancing around quickly to make sure no one is observing them, he creates his translucent seeking bubble which he has used before.

Letting it go, it begins floating through the air as it hunts for the medallion bearing the Star of Morcyth. Moving out of the alley, it’s barely perceptible as it drifts along through the people on the street. One young girl does a double-take as she takes notice of it but then her mother pulls her along and she dismisses it.

They follow it from a discreet distance, just far enough to be able to keep it in view. Even though they know exactly what they’re looking for they still at times lose it only to pick it up again a second later. It bobs around people as well as over and under wagons and carriages as it continues making its way through the street.

When it begins nearing the thugs outside of Orlander’s establishment, James watches it carefully. If it’s not in there, the bubble should go around the building. If it is, stop at the door. He made it so as not to go through walls, he was afraid he might lose it if it went through a building.

Sure enough, it floats toward the door to the tavern and comes to a stop. Just as the red haired thug begins to notice something there, James cancels the spell and the bubble disappears. ‘Red’ squints his eyes and with a shake of his head returns to his conversation with another of the thugs.

“So it is in there,” states Jiron.

“It would seem so,” replies James. They turn and move back further from the tavern, coming to stop in front of an ironsmith. The sound of the smith’s hammering creates quite a din.

“What are we to do?” Jiron asks. The hammering coming from the building next to them drowns out their conversation.

Glancing back down the street in the direction of the tavern he says, “Let’s find an inn and get some rest. Tonight we’ll pay them a visit.”

Grinning, Jiron says, “I like that plan.”

They return to collect their horses and then find an inn. Eating a quick bite, they retire to their room for some sleep before the coming of night.

“Doesn’t look as if anyone’s around,” Jiron says as they watch the tavern from across the street.

They waited until well