Nathan Coburn

            Kastryd Veda walked briskly down the cobblestone street, grinning from ear to ear. The light breeze whistled softly in his ears, and he could detect the sweet smell of the pastry store on the comer drifting on the wind. This was where he was most alive, alone among the streets and alleys of Jhakia, without a care in the world. This was his home.

            He halted briefly in his morning jaunt to grab a fresh scone from the counter of the bakery window. He smiled slightly as he walked away, amused at the yelling and consternation of the baker. Without turning his head, he called over his shoulder,

            "Ye might check yer hand b'fore doin’ anything rash, friend.” Kastryd grinned to himself.  It was always amusing when people convinced themselves to ignore the obvious.

            The baker slowly unclenched his raised fist, and goggled at the coins that had suddenly appeared in it.  He stared after Kastryd, but made no further movement against him.

            "People these days...no respect." Kastryd shook his head ruefully as he continued down the street. "They need to just learn to pay attention to the little things.” As he turned the corner, Kastryd reached casually down to his pocket to snag the hand of an overeager pickpocket just before it nabbed his coin purse. He kneeled down to look the young thief in the eye and held the pickpocket’s hand in front of his face with one hand, while waggling a finger with the other.

"Ye should know better, young’un." Kastryd admonished. "Lots o' people round here'll fall fer that. I ain't one of 'em."  Releasing the child's hand, Kastryd grabbed him by the shoulders and held him at arm's length. "I ain't seen you before, kid. 'You new to the guild?"

            The boy's jaw dropped as he tried to stutter out an answer. "Um, wh-wh-what guild, sir?”

Kastryd scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Don't play me stupid, boy. I know all about the Sparrow Guild." Suddenly his eyes glittered, and a dangerous edge grew in his voice. "They didn't put me back on the list again, did they?"

            "Um, er..." The boy trailed off, only to be shaken roughly by his captor. “Yes, sir!" He managed to squeak, before being nearly thrown to the ground in anger.

            "Damn them..." Kastryd muttered. "DAMN THEM! Just when I thought I had taught them a lesson!” Realizing he still held the boy by the collar, he kneeled down again. "Listen, boy." He said in a flat, dangerous voice. "You tell them to get me off their damn list. An' you tell them that if they don't, the next little “messenger” they get from me'll be a dead one!" He released the boy, who fell to the ground.

            "Y-y-yes sir!" the boy babbled as he scuttled backwards away from Kastryd. "I'll be going, sir! Y-y-you won't see me again, sir!" He nearly made it around the corner when he felt a hand on his collar stopping him once again.

            "Boy, I'm not an idiot. Give me back my purse."