Digging (Cerus & Sam)

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

31st Spring, 510 A.V.

Sam was flying solo today. Usually Horse was in attendance, but for the time being, the anti-Drykas was taking care of business without him. Without Horse, there was no way to distinguish him as Drykas. The windmark on his wrist was covered with a leather cuff. The long braids of his youth were shorn years and years ago and never allowed to grow out again. Without a horse, it was impossible to see his rapport with them. And so he was just another young face in a crowd of humans, bereft of a distinct culture. An orphan like all the rest.

He had his eye out for a deal, or a job, or... there was someone, obviously new to town. Vantha; he recognized him from his time up north. Well, it was a dog-eat-dog world, and so he bumped carelessly into the man and nicked his wallet, paying Murdoch's action forward.

"Sorry!" he said. "I'm such a klutz!"

[Cerus]

For Cerus it always felt as if he was never doing one thing at once. He was never simply walking somewhere to get one thing. It was always to get something that furthered another plan, until it spiraled into such magnitudes he would have to stop himself.

It was happening today, again, and what jarred him from thought was a boy bumping into him. “Oh, no worries.” He gave a small smile and moved on, wondering where he'd left off in thought. Food, that's what he was going to get. Just food.

It occurred to him when he was a few paces down the street to check his coin purse. Of course he been in enough cities to know that a bump was never a bump. He turned quickly and took a few steps forward to try and locate the boy.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam, of course, was walking in the other direction and just about to turn the corner when the man started looking after him. So what if Murdoch stole from him? He could make the money back in no time, one country rube at a time.

Now he just had to find a quiet, out of the way place to count his little bag of treasure. Then he could buy some carrots for Horse, and he was saving up for a new bow so he could hunt larger game without inconveniencing Jaeden.

Clearly, life had taught him that the ends justified the means.

[Cerus]

Inwardly he was saying every curse he'd ever heard as he strolled casually toward the boy. At least he hoped it was the same boy. He held his tongue instead of yelling out and alerting the would be thief.

For now he followed, watching as best he could from his vantage point behind Samael. He was still forming a plan as to what he'd do when he actually caught up, and none of them were very kind. He wasn't exactly starving, but money was money and he wasn't so arrogant as to waste it.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

There was no indication that he had anything he oughtn't. His hands were empty, and his gait meandering. Not a care in the world, not a pouch of mizas to count. Perhaps he would find Nel and brag about his score. Or not. Perhaps he would never see her again. So much for friendship.

His guard was still up with Jaeden, too, though he had revealed his heritage in order to secure employment. A person would pay a Drykas more for equitation lessons. It was in their blood.

Thievery, though, that was learned behavior.

[Cerus]

The casual way the boy walked gave him a bit of doubt, and he stopped or a second to think about what he was doing. Then again the other half of him knew that just because he looked young didn't mean he wasn't the best pick pocket in the city.

And by now, it was the principle of the thing. Was he right in his assumption, or was he wrong. This was actually the motivator as he started walking forward again and after him. It was only a small detour in his day anyhow.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam meandered about the market for a while, and then shifted direction toward the gates. He would go back to his camp, hidden in the nearby forests, and count out his booty to Horse, who should be suitably impressed or Sam would forgo giving him an apple with his dinner.

[Stop him already! Haha!]

[Cerus]

"Oh, hey! Hey you!" He said with a smile. "Oh, it's you, I knew it!" He rushed forward to grab Sam by the arm, a smile on his face. "I never thought I'd see you here. Come on, we must go have something to eat."

Perhaps this would work, and perhaps it wouldn't. He would sell it like only he knew how.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

He blinked at the man, but was schooled enough in larceny to know not to show his hand.

"Sorry, sir," he said. "Do I know you?"

[Cerus]

"Do you know me? Ha!" He said it with as much of a smile as he could muster. "You don't remember me? Shame. Come come, lets not harp on small and insignificant things."

Already he was trying to funnel the man out of the main thoroughfare.