Lith's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the guards were on high alert, and it wouldn't be long before they started searching the alleys for any signs of trouble.
Lith's mind raced as he thought about the guards' conversation. Blood trails leading to the forest? It could only mean one thing. The monster that had been plaguing Ravensworth had struck again. He knew he had to be careful if he wanted to avoid unnecessary issues.
With a deep breath, Lith stepped out of the alley and quickly made his way down the street, his eyes scanning the buildings for any signs of movement. The streets were empty, and the only sound was the distant rumble of thunder as the storm drew closer.
As Lith approached the shopping street, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. The crowds were thick, and it would be easy to blend in and avoid detection. He weaved his way through the throngs of people, keeping his head down and trying to remain inconspicuous.
He knew that stealing a cooking knife would be a risky move, but he couldn't afford to be caught without one. He made his way to a local market, where vendors were selling various wares, including knives.
Lith scanned the stalls, searching for the perfect opportunity to snatch a knife without being noticed. As he reached out to grab one, his hand was suddenly slapped away.
"What do you think you're doing?" a gruff voice demanded.
Lith turned to face the vendor, trying to act innocent. "Oh, I was just admiring the knives," he said with a nervous laugh.
The vendor narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Admiring, huh? Well, admiring doesn't pay the bills, does it? If you want a knife, you'll have to pay for it like everyone else."
Lith fished in his pocket for his 12 copper coins, hoping it would be enough to buy a knife. But as he held them out to the vendor, he realized that it wasn't going to be enough.
"Sorry, kid," the vendor said with a smirk. "That's not nearly enough for a decent knife. Come back when you've got some more coin."
Defeated, Lith walked away from the center of the market, his stomach grumbling with hunger. He knew he needed to find some more provisions if he was going to survive the next few days. But where could he get them without drawing attention to himself?
He had only a few copper coins to spend, so he needed to make every coin count. He scanned the stalls, looking for the best deal.
He finally found a vendor selling dried fruits and nuts. The vendor seemed kind enough, so Lith decided to approach him.
"Excuse me, sir," Lith said, "I only have 12 copper coins, but I need some food for my travels. What can you offer me?"
The vendor looked at Lith for a moment, then nodded. "I have just the thing for you," he said, pulling out a small bag of dried apricots. "These are sweet and will keep you full for a long time. And for 12 coppers, it's a steal."
Lith inspected the bag of dried apricots, and they looked decent enough. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the coins, handing them over to the vendor.
"Thank you, sir," Lith said, taking the bag. "I appreciate your help."
The vendor smiled. "Safe travels, young man," he said.
Lith turned away from the vendor, his spirits lifted. He now had some food to keep him going on his journey, and he was one step closer to reaching Stonewall.
As he passed by a particularly crowded booth, he spotted a gleaming metal object that caught his eye. Pushing his way through the throng of people, he made his way to the front of the booth and saw that it was a set of cooking knives of all shapes and sizes.
"Excuse me, sir," Lith said to the vendor, trying to keep his tone friendly. "How much for that one?" He pointed to a large knife with a sturdy wooden handle.
The vendor eyed him suspiciously before replying, "Three silver coins."
Lith's heart sank. Three silver coins were more than he could afford, especially if he wanted to buy enough provisions to last him for a few days. He tried to haggle with the vendor, but the man wouldn't budge on the price.
As he walked away from the booth, Lith couldn't help but feel disappointed. He needed that cooking knife, but he didn't have the coins to buy it. He remembered something another orphan used to say to him when he was a child: "If you can't buy it, steal it." Lith shook his head, wondering why the orphan's voice was suddenly echoing in his mind. There was no time left to earn more coins. He knew stealing was his only option.
Lith scanned the market for a vendor who wasn't paying attention to his wares, and he spotted an elderly woman selling some herbs and spices. He approached her stall and began browsing her merchandise, trying to act like a legitimate customer. While she was distracted, Lith quickly snatched a small, sharp cooking knife from her booth and slipped it into his pocket.
He tried to act casual as he left the stall, but his heart was racing. He felt guilty for stealing, but he knew he needed that knife if he was going to survive. As he walked away, he could hear the vendor shouting and cursing in the background.
Lith chuckled to himself. "Looks like I'm not the only one having a bad day," he thought.