>> The Street Mouse
The shadows lining the streets of Ul’dah were growing shorter as the noon sun crested the buildings overhead. The morning commotion had passed, giving way to less chaotic crowds. Merchants still lined the streets, peddling goods of all sorts to passersby, but fewer people braved the marketplace during the hottest hours of the day.
Thankfully, the morning had been fruitful for little Laina Surnet. Hidden, crouched between two baskets, the homeless Hyur girl bounced two shiny gils in the palm of her hand. She smiled softly as she traced a finger over the embossed patterns on the coin. She would have enough to buy some bread and maybe a fresh apple too. It had been a long time since she had eaten one. Her mouth watered at the thought of such sweet taste.
Sliding the coins back into the folds her tattered clothes, she pushed herself to her feet and left her hiding spot. Like a mouse in cat territory, she made her way into the market, moving into sight carefully, her eyes scanning the people around her for familiar faces. She took care to remember the faces of all those who’s pockets she picked. On one hand, she knew who were easy marks. On the other, she knew who she had wronged. She would not be caught if she could help it, and certainly not because of her carelessness!
Despite the hour, onlookers had gathered to watch a caravan pass by. The heavily armed guard that escorted the caravan made it obvious that whoever rode inside was important. And in Ul’dah, that likely meant a member of the Syndicate. If gossip was to be believed, the Syndicate were the real rulers of Ul’dah.
Laina could not care less about the Syndicate, or who it was that held real power in Ul’dah. In fact, she suspected that those little, running, cactus-looking devils from the desert could run the city and everything would be the same. She’d be no richer, that much was certain.
What mattered to her was that the Syndicate’s presence always garnered a crowd; a crowd ripe for the picking. She licked her lips and pushed her way into the onlookers. Humming a tune from her childhood, she plucked a gil from an unprotected pocket. She bumped into a man, slipping an old, tarnished copper ring from his finger even as she apologized. Pressing through a pair of dandy Elezen, she swiped a hander kerchief and another gil. She smiled innocently at an elderly lady who noticed what she had done, and hurried deeper into the crowd, out of sight.
Worried she might have been caught, Laina split away from the crowd and sped across the street ahead of the caravan.
“You there! Girl! Stop!†ordered a guard.
Startled by the voice, she darted into a second crowd, lining the opposite side of the street. Whatever that guard wanted, it wasn’t good. The old hag had probably reported her.
Content with her bounty, she resisted the temptation to see what else she might secret away. Her stomach growled. She blinked down at it and patted it as she scanned the merchant stalls.
Red apples, glistening in the sun, beckoned her. She strode towards the stand, proud as day, and gave the merchant her best smile. The man, a portly Roegadyn with dark skin, watched her come. He was an open book, and his uncertainty was obvious. Laina could tell he was torn between pity and disdain for the homeless girl she was. A tinge of annoyance rose in her: she did not want anybody’s pity. Still, she kept her smile and waved.
“Hullo, mister!†she greeted meekly.
“What do you want, child?†he said, and immediately winced at his tone. He coughed and tried again, “Hello little girl, forgive old Thumper, the sun’s made me irritable. What can I do for you today?â€Â
Laina approached the counter and leaned over it to look at the goods. Loafs of dry bread, wheels of old cheese, some dried meat and a full assortment of fruits and vegetables lined his stand. She could scarcely contain her excitement as she fingered an apple.
“What can I get for this?†she inquired, offering her four stolen coins.
The merchant leaned over and held his large palm out. She placed the gils in his hand. He frowned, incredulous, as he fingered the money. He snatched one between his fingers, bit into it, and finally gave a gruff nod.
“I don’t know how you got this, little one, but its all good. Just don’t try any of that funny business with me,†he warned, thrusting a sausage-sized thumb at his chest.
Laina giggled sweetly and shook her head, “Me? Never, mister Thumper!†Her hands felt moist as she stuffed a stolen apple into the folds of her clothes.
Old Thumper considered his offer for a moment before finally saying, “Two loafs of bread, a quarter of cheese and two apples. How’s that sound?â€Â
Laina blinked. Her stomach churned in anticipation of such a feast. As she contemplated his offer, she stuffed a second apple into her shirt, and finally nodded gleefully.
“Have at it then, little one.â€Â
Old Thumped watched attentively as she gathered her acquired feast into her arms. He gave the girl a warm smile and a stiff nod.
Anxious to leave with her glorious spoils, Laina nodded back.
“Thank you, mister Thumper!†she squeaked.
“Off with you then!â€Â
With a taste of victory, Laina started for her hiding spot. Before she could put much distance between her and the merchant, old Thumper called out after her.
She froze, terrified. She would have to abandon her meal if she made a break for it. Her stomach begged her not to. She slowly looked over her shoulder, expecting the Roegadyn to be coming after her.
“Here, have an extra apple on the house!†called Thumper from his stand. He lobbed an apple her way.
She caught it and grinned. She gave the man a grateful bow.
A thud at her feet caught her attention. Looking down, she found one of her stolen apples rolling at her feet. She gulped and shot a glance to Thumper who stared back with a blank face.
She yelped a meek, “Sorry!â€Â, and with that, she scurried away, goods in hand, to disappear amongst the dispersing crowds.
The shadows lining the streets of Ul’dah were growing shorter as the noon sun crested the buildings overhead. The morning commotion had passed, giving way to less chaotic crowds. Merchants still lined the streets, peddling goods of all sorts to passersby, but fewer people braved the marketplace during the hottest hours of the day.
Thankfully, the morning had been fruitful for little Laina Surnet. Hidden, crouched between two baskets, the homeless Hyur girl bounced two shiny gils in the palm of her hand. She smiled softly as she traced a finger over the embossed patterns on the coin. She would have enough to buy some bread and maybe a fresh apple too. It had been a long time since she had eaten one. Her mouth watered at the thought of such sweet taste.
Sliding the coins back into the folds her tattered clothes, she pushed herself to her feet and left her hiding spot. Like a mouse in cat territory, she made her way into the market, moving into sight carefully, her eyes scanning the people around her for familiar faces. She took care to remember the faces of all those who’s pockets she picked. On one hand, she knew who were easy marks. On the other, she knew who she had wronged. She would not be caught if she could help it, and certainly not because of her carelessness!
Despite the hour, onlookers had gathered to watch a caravan pass by. The heavily armed guard that escorted the caravan made it obvious that whoever rode inside was important. And in Ul’dah, that likely meant a member of the Syndicate. If gossip was to be believed, the Syndicate were the real rulers of Ul’dah.
Laina could not care less about the Syndicate, or who it was that held real power in Ul’dah. In fact, she suspected that those little, running, cactus-looking devils from the desert could run the city and everything would be the same. She’d be no richer, that much was certain.
What mattered to her was that the Syndicate’s presence always garnered a crowd; a crowd ripe for the picking. She licked her lips and pushed her way into the onlookers. Humming a tune from her childhood, she plucked a gil from an unprotected pocket. She bumped into a man, slipping an old, tarnished copper ring from his finger even as she apologized. Pressing through a pair of dandy Elezen, she swiped a hander kerchief and another gil. She smiled innocently at an elderly lady who noticed what she had done, and hurried deeper into the crowd, out of sight.
Worried she might have been caught, Laina split away from the crowd and sped across the street ahead of the caravan.
“You there! Girl! Stop!†ordered a guard.
Startled by the voice, she darted into a second crowd, lining the opposite side of the street. Whatever that guard wanted, it wasn’t good. The old hag had probably reported her.
Content with her bounty, she resisted the temptation to see what else she might secret away. Her stomach growled. She blinked down at it and patted it as she scanned the merchant stalls.
Red apples, glistening in the sun, beckoned her. She strode towards the stand, proud as day, and gave the merchant her best smile. The man, a portly Roegadyn with dark skin, watched her come. He was an open book, and his uncertainty was obvious. Laina could tell he was torn between pity and disdain for the homeless girl she was. A tinge of annoyance rose in her: she did not want anybody’s pity. Still, she kept her smile and waved.
“Hullo, mister!†she greeted meekly.
“What do you want, child?†he said, and immediately winced at his tone. He coughed and tried again, “Hello little girl, forgive old Thumper, the sun’s made me irritable. What can I do for you today?â€Â
Laina approached the counter and leaned over it to look at the goods. Loafs of dry bread, wheels of old cheese, some dried meat and a full assortment of fruits and vegetables lined his stand. She could scarcely contain her excitement as she fingered an apple.
“What can I get for this?†she inquired, offering her four stolen coins.
The merchant leaned over and held his large palm out. She placed the gils in his hand. He frowned, incredulous, as he fingered the money. He snatched one between his fingers, bit into it, and finally gave a gruff nod.
“I don’t know how you got this, little one, but its all good. Just don’t try any of that funny business with me,†he warned, thrusting a sausage-sized thumb at his chest.
Laina giggled sweetly and shook her head, “Me? Never, mister Thumper!†Her hands felt moist as she stuffed a stolen apple into the folds of her clothes.
Old Thumper considered his offer for a moment before finally saying, “Two loafs of bread, a quarter of cheese and two apples. How’s that sound?â€Â
Laina blinked. Her stomach churned in anticipation of such a feast. As she contemplated his offer, she stuffed a second apple into her shirt, and finally nodded gleefully.
“Have at it then, little one.â€Â
Old Thumped watched attentively as she gathered her acquired feast into her arms. He gave the girl a warm smile and a stiff nod.
Anxious to leave with her glorious spoils, Laina nodded back.
“Thank you, mister Thumper!†she squeaked.
“Off with you then!â€Â
With a taste of victory, Laina started for her hiding spot. Before she could put much distance between her and the merchant, old Thumper called out after her.
She froze, terrified. She would have to abandon her meal if she made a break for it. Her stomach begged her not to. She slowly looked over her shoulder, expecting the Roegadyn to be coming after her.
“Here, have an extra apple on the house!†called Thumper from his stand. He lobbed an apple her way.
She caught it and grinned. She gave the man a grateful bow.
A thud at her feet caught her attention. Looking down, she found one of her stolen apples rolling at her feet. She gulped and shot a glance to Thumper who stared back with a blank face.
She yelped a meek, “Sorry!â€Â, and with that, she scurried away, goods in hand, to disappear amongst the dispersing crowds.
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Shiny, lets be bad guys!
