Chapter 12: Nothing but Silver

I had been watching from the shadows for hours. The four men were both clumsy and loud as they pried the dockside warehouse door open. There had been a string of break ins along the dock warehouses. The thing was, nothing was ever stolen but damage was done to the warehouse floor.

I drifted out of the shadows and crossed to the open door. These men were really stupid, they had just gone down the line hitting warehouse after warehouse one right after another. I slipped into the warehouse and heard them prying boards up in the back. I walked back as I pulled my sticks and found them trying to light a full sized lantern.

I shook my head and continued forward, “do not move.”

They spun in surprise and one blurted, “we are not stealing anything!”

I reached the first man and used a stick to prod him into turning. I pulled his hands back, “you have broken in and damaged the owners property.”

I moved to the next man as he turned, “we are just looking...”

The others hissed and he shut up. I shook my head, “I do not really care what you are looking for.”

I tied his hands and went to the third man. The last one was looking almost frantic, “we will give you money to let us keep looking.”

I snorted as I spun him and pulled his arms back, “not a chance.”

The first man shifted, “we were looking for treasure.”

I laughed as the other men hissed again, “idiots.”

They looked at each other and the last man cleared his throat, “The river pirate Machenry buried thousands of gold coins in ten large iron chests.”

I grinned as I started pushing them towards the door, “tell the story to the magister, he could use the laugh.”

All the way to the Guard building they tried to convince me of the treasure. I pushed them in and a sleepy looking watch commander turned, “thief taker?”

I smiled, “breaking and entering as well as property damage.”

He nodded to a guard that stood and stretched, “I will read the report.”

I walked to the table, “they were looking for buried treasure under the warehouses.”

He snorted as the guard laughed and shook his head. I sat and accepted the parchment that was pushed across the table. The commander chuckled, “we get treasure hunters every few years around this time.”

I grinned as I began listing the other warehouses that had been broken into and damaged, “somehow I do not think the river pirate Machenry buried iron chest under warehouses without someone noticing.”

He grinned as I continued to write. When I finished I stood and headed for the door, “tell the magister why they broke in and damaged the warehouses. I am sure he will enjoy the story.”

When I slipped into bed Maria snuggled against me, “you are late.”

I turned to hold her, “I had treasure hunters to bring in.”

She sighed and I relaxed before blinking awake at someone banging on the door. Maria was gone and I groaned as I climbed out of bed. I met Maria on the stairs as she came to get me, “a magister and Duke Justice.”

I shook my head as I kissed her on my way past. They were waiting in the living room and smiled as I gestured to chairs, “what can I do for you?”

The duke grinned, “your treasure hunters have drawn attention.”

I snorted and the magister leaned forward, “unfortunately there is a grain of truth to the stories.”

I looked at him and shook my head, “a pirate that buried chests of treasure rather than spending it on drink and women?”

He redden and the duke smiled, “true or not this happens every few years and causes problems.”

I sat up, “why come to me?”

The duke looked at the magister, “well you seem to have ideas on how thieves think...”

I shook my head and leaned back again to think, “I will give it some thought.”

I looked at the duke, “you know the dates the pirate operated?”

He grinned, “almost exactly two hundred years ago.”

I grinned, “two hundred years ago the city was smaller with soldiers guarding it.”

I looked at them and they just looked back. I shook my head, “no bandit or pirate would ever come close to where he could be caught.”

The idea and thoughts swirled around in my mind as I remembered an old ruin on the beyond the edge of the city and beside the river. If I remembered right it had been a baron’s keep. He was rumored to have kept and run a large whorehouse. I looked at the duke, “the ruins on the edge of the city. What was the name of the whore monger Baron?”

He looked at me, “Henry I think.”

I laughed, “the cagy bastard.”

They looked at me and I stood, “think about it. Machenry ... Henry?”

They looked at each other and the duke stood, “it has been searched but go take a look. His majesty said if you find gold he gets half, you can have anything else.”

I smiled, “of course.”

I saw them out and went to find Maria. I borrowed horses and a large wagon from a stable before heading towards the edge of the city. The ruins were isolated with the nearest house a league away. I unhitched the horses and put them on long leads in thick green grass. I walked through the ruins and just measured it in my mind.