“I don’t know. Maybe we should try the next town. We might find someone willing to talk there.”
Barlo sighed. “It’s not much of a plan, but I don’t think we should stay here past sundown anyway. I suppose—Hey!”
While he and Iarion were talking, a small figure had crept out from a nearby alley unnoticed and cut Barlo’s purse from his belt. Barlo made a lunge for the thief, but he was already darting away. Barlo shouted a curse and ran after him. He heard Iarion’s light footsteps on the cobblestones behind him.
The young thief led them on a merry chase, leading them to the poorer section of the village, where the streets were unpaved and narrow. None of the villagers intervened. Barlo knew Iarion could have easily outpaced him with his longer stride, but Barlo stubbornly refused to allow
