The village of Ravensworth was a desolate and eerie place situated at the edge of a dense forest. The air was thick with the scent of pine and smoke, and the only source of light was the flickering torches that lit up the narrow alleys. It was a place where even the bravest of souls would think twice before venturing into.
The villagers lived in constant fear. They were poor and lived off the land with no real protection or means of defending themselves. They were a community of hard-working people trying to make ends meet, but something sinister lurked in the shadows.
For weeks now, rumors had been spreading around the nearby villages that people were going missing without any explanation. The villagers of Ravensworth tried to brush it off as nothing more than wild animals or a lost traveler, but the disappearances were becoming more frequent.
Lith, a young thief who had been living on the streets of Ravensworth for as long as he could remember, knew that the life of a thief in a village like Ravensworth was not an easy one. But he had learned to survive on the scraps he could steal and the occasional job he could get his hands on. He was always careful, always watching his back.
As he walked through the alleys, he overheard a conversation between a guard and a traveler about a missing farmer's wife named Helen. Lith's ears perked up; maybe this was an opportunity to earn some copper.
The guard spoke in hushed tones, "We searched the nearby woods, but there was no sign of her. It's as if she vanished into thin air."
The traveler nodded in agreement, "I heard about the disappearances. It's a dangerous time to be traveling alone."
Lith couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. The eerie environment, the disappearances, it all added up to something much more sinister than just wild animals. He needed to be careful, but he couldn't let this opportunity pass him by.
He approached the guard and traveler, "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear. I might be able to help you find this woman, for a price."
The guard eyed him skeptically, "And how do we know we can trust you?"
Lith smirked, "You don't. But you need all the help you can get if you want to find her before it's too late."
The guard considered Lith's offer for a moment before declining, "We can handle it on our own. But thanks for the offer."
Lith shrugged and watched as the guard and traveler walked away, continuing their conversation. He couldn't help but notice the iron dagger that glinted under the traveler's cloak. It was worth at least a silver, maybe even two.
He thought about his options. He could try to find this missing woman, but with no leads, it could take days, maybe even weeks. Or he could follow this traveler, wait until he fell asleep, and steal the dagger. It seemed like an easy decision.
Lith decided to bide his time. He carefully followed this traveler from a distance, waiting until the traveler left the center of the village and entered a small inn. He watched from the shadows as the traveler rented a small room on the bottom floor of the inn. As the traveler opened the door, Lith used a risky trick that he had learned during his time on the streets. He went back outside and after some time used a piece of wood to soundlessly open the window shutters. As it was already dark outside, no additional light entered the room. Lith lowered his breathing and soundlessly entered the room without the traveler noticing. Once inside, Lith quickly hid in a space behind an old wardrobe.
He waited until the traveler had fallen into a deep slumber, but suddenly, he heard the door open again. Lith tensed, his heart beating faster as he saw another unknown person enter the room, only to wake the traveler. The person was tall and cloaked, with their face hidden in the shadows.