ROTR Session 20

Return & Reward

In the golden haze of late afternoon, a long column of guards approached Sandpoint’s northern gate, with Belor Hemlock and the battered-but-victorious Sentinels at the forefront. A crowd had already gathered, buzzing with anticipation. As the first soldier crossed under the archway, the streets erupted in cheers and applause, the air alive with celebration.
Not even the shadow of Rabie’s uncertain fate could stifle the heroe’s elation.
"A bit unexpected, such applause, such praise." Cletus remarked, looking both amused and confused.
Rabie and Jinx exchanged a glance, they knew how word spread in Sandpoint. A gate guard must have spotted them from afar, and from that moment, the news would’ve moved faster than a summer storm.
"Sandpoint loves us." Rabie said, his tone somewhere between grateful and cynical.
"I don’t think I’ve ever gotten applause in my life before."
"Let this be the first time of many, Cletus." Belor replied, a rare smile breaking across his usually stoic face.
"...Or maybe they are just clapping for Vannrik." Jinx added with a crooked grin, glancing at his stoic Jadwigan companion.
"I mean, I am awesome." Vannrik said, half-joking, playing along.
"Ahh, prettyboy." Jinx mused, rolling his eyes.
"Well, smile to the crowds lads. Give them what they want!" Cletus urged, his voice rich with mischief. The Sentinels complied, offering tired grins and humble nods to the cheering townsfolk.
  Jinx kept his cloak’s hood low, shadowing the blinded third eye on his forehead. Rabie sat tall in the saddle, steel in his posture. His gaze swept the faces of the crowd, many of whom he had once shared stories with, healed, or helped. They called out to him by name.
Their spontaneous parade wound its way down Church Street, past familiar stone and timber, the crowd trailing like a river of joy. At Junker’s Way, the Sentinels stole a glance at the towering ruin of the Old Light, its ancient silhouette outlined against the sea, and the haunted shape of Chopper’s Isle in the distance.
Then it was down Main Street, where the march came to a halt between the Town Hall and the Garrison. The guards peeled off toward the barracks while the Sentinels and Belor pushed through the tall oak doors of Town Hall.

  Inside, Mayor Kendra Deverin greeted them with open arms and a gleam of pride in her eyes.
In her office, the Sentinels recounted every detail of Thistletop, the goblin horde, Nualia’s descent into darkness, their own capture and escape, and finally, the titanic battle against both the corrupted aasimar and the demon bound deep within the ruins.
They mentioned Lyrie’s escape, a lingering threat. Then Belor’s tone shifted.
He spoke of Denia Cojoc. Of Rabie. Of the truth buried for years.
The revelation fell like a thunderclap. The light in the mayor’s face dimmed.
  Belor outlined the plan: keep the celebration intact for today, for the sake of the people. Let them rejoice. Tonight, Rabie would be escorted to the Garrison. Tomorrow, they would ride to Magnimar for judgment.
The mayor, clearly shaken but understanding, agreed.
  There was still protocol to observe. Rewards were due. Kendra handed each Sentinel a pouch heavy with coin. But her final gift carried more weight than gold.
She shared news from Magnimar: the Barret family, whose house had once been under siege by a stray goblin, had decided not to return. Rather than resell the place, the town was offering it to the Sentinels.
They didn’t need to think twice. The Rusty Dragon had been home, and Ameiko had generously promised free rooms for life. But taking up space in her inn never sat well with them. Now, they had a home of their own.
Mayor Deverin walked with them down Salmon Street, smiling once more as she handed over the key to their new residence. A house earned not just through valor, but through sacrifice.
The shattered furniture was gone, and the floorboards, once slick with blood, had been scrubbed clean by diligent townsfolk. The house, once chaotic and violent, now stood eerily quiet. The Sentinels wandered its rooms without the looming dread of goblin ambushes.
Only Sheriff Belor lingered like a shadow, his eyes never far from Rabie, casting a silent but heavy judgment.
"What is this place?" Cletus asked, his voice echoing faintly in the stillness.
"This house was infested with goblins but we cleared it out." Vannrik replied evenly.
"From a family who got attacked during the goblin invasion."
"There is a piano here… Fancy!" Cletus remarked, glancing toward the dusty instrument, but his tone was hollow. His gaze drifted again to Rabie and the Sheriff. It was hard to imagine the witch enjoying this house for long.
That thought soured something deep in the tiefling’s gut. He looked to Jinx, guessing the gnome shared his discomfort.
  With quiet resolve, Cletus nudged Jinx and Vannrik into one of the side bedrooms, away from Belor’s gaze and out of earshot.
"Say, you two are Rabie’s friends, right?" he whispered.
"Yes, have been for a while now." Jinx replied, folding his arms.
"Are you just going to let him go to Magnimar to potentially be sentenced to, who knows what, in the worst case death!?" Cletus pressed, tension rising in his voice.
"Well, if he did commit the crime then he should receive the punishment." Vannrik replied with sharp pragmatism. He sighed, glancing toward the hallway. "Well, I guess some leniency would be in order since he saved Sandpoint with us. But you can’t outrun your past."
"Well, technically you can, you know. All you need is some fast horses and to know the lay of the land." Cletus offered with a sly grin. "If you could get him out of the city I’m sure that I would be able to get him to Korvosa in three weeks’ time, and Magnimar has no jurisdiction there." He winked. "He will literally have run from his past."
"But would he do that?" Jinx murmured, almost to himself. Rabie hadn’t shown any resistance so far, just quiet acceptance.
"That’s why I needed to talk to you. I don’t know him that well." Cletus admitted, looking between the two.
  Vannrik rubbed at his stubbled chin. "I’m not familiar with the law here, but I’m sure that assisting a fugitive in their escape would also be penalized by the law."
Jinx slapped him on the back with a grin. "Only if they find out."
"We can go further than Magnimar, I mean, Kaer Maga..." he chuckled. "It’s filled to the brim with criminals. And from there it’s just crossing the lake to the River Kingdoms and there is no one in the world who will ever find him."
  Vannrik groaned, clearly unimpressed by the feasibility of the plan.
Cletus clapped him on the shoulder. "That’s why I need you. I don’t even know if he would willingly go along with an escape plan. And that’s a risk that I’m unwilling to take."
"Rabie is a principled person," Jinx said. "It would be hard to make him think that he could escape. I would be willing to try, but I don’t think he would take that offer."
  That seemed to catch Cletus off guard. "Do you think he would take his chances with the Magnimarian Court?"
Jinx exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing in thought. The Sheriff’s looming presence made everything harder. "You know," he added after a pause, "When I was younger I could relay messages without anyone noticing."
Cletus lit up. "Well, perhaps there is a shop in town that has a spell for that. That’s a great idea Jinx!"
"We will have to. The Sheriff might allow us to speak to him, but not in private." Jinx reasoned.
"Or we can just ask the Sheriff if we are allowed a moment alone with Rabie." Vannrik offered, ever the logical voice.
Cletus shook his head. "He’s like a bloodhound."
"We could just go to that room over there, where there is no escape. We find an excuse about why we need to talk to him alone. Should be fine if he can’t escape and we can still talk to him." Vannrik suggested thoughtfully.
"Who’s talking to him?" Jinx asked.
"I could, but I think it should be you. If anyone can convince the man to save his own life, it’s you. But if for some reason you don’t believe in it, or Rabie doesn’t believe in it, then just… Forget I said anything."
"Honestly," Vannrik said with a weary sigh, "I do believe Rabie is innocent. I didn’t think he was lying when he talked about what happened. And if they would use truth revealing magic in court that should exonerate him… Right?"
  Jinx and Cletus locked eyes. They both knew the truth: Korvosa, Cletus’s home, was a place of strict codes and harsh consequences. Magnimar, on the other hand, had been born from rebellion, its laws fluid, its courts more interested in compromise than justice. It left too much room for corruption, and not enough for certainty.
"Let’s go back and keep it simple." Cletus said, straightening up. "I will find a scroll in town, and offer our help telepathically. How about that one? It’s the safest way."
"It is indeed the safest way." Jinx nodded. "However, I would also like to have some time with the Sheriff alone. So I’m still going to ask the Sheriff."
  It complicated things, but not beyond repair.
"All right. I will ask the Sheriff if Rabie can have some time alone to at least feast with his friends. All the Sheriff has to be convinced of is that Rabie can’t leave." Cletus said
"I wouldn’t even mind being locked up in the cell with him." Jinx added with a small shrug, a quiet defiance in his voice.
  The trio stepped into the bedroom where only recently chaos had erupted, a place where a goblin once fell and blood had been spilled. Now, Rabie stood there with Sheriff Belor looming beside him, like a sentry carved in stone.
"Sheriff," Cletus greeted with an upbeat tone, attempting cheer. "We would like to raise a drink to our success tonight in the Rusty Dragon, but," he hesitated, his brow creasing with unease, "How do I say this? I don’t want Rabie to feel like he is a prisoner during the festivities. Is it possible to station some soldiers around the building just to make sure that he stays there? It would be good if he could move freely within the tavern."
"I agree, you will also have our word that he won’t leave." Vannrik quickly chimed in. "If he tries to escape we will personally catch him for you."
"That’s true, yes." Jinx added with a nod.
  Belor paused, taking in their words carefully. "I don’t want to ruin this night for the people of Sandpoint," he said slowly, as though weighing the mood of the town in one hand and his badge in the other. "And I do understand that we have to keep appearances." He cast a sidelong glance at Rabie. "That’s the plan as I have explained it to Rabie." The Sheriff gave a small shake of his head. "My presence in the tavern will also be good for the morale of the people. The guard mustn’t seem to be distanced from the common folk. Of course, you can enjoy yourselves despite the circumstances."
  "Jinx will serve as Rabie’s barrister, I think it would be appropriate to let them speak in private."
  Belor narrowed his eyes, the thought catching him off guard. The concept of “barrister” hadn’t crossed his mind.
"He could use one of the rooms here that has no other way out, so you know that Rabie can’t escape." Vannrik added, quickly offering a practical compromise.
"I did not know Jinx had any legal training, but if they wish to talk, then they can talk. That usually happens within the confines of the prisons." Belor said, with a slight, measured nod toward Jinx. "You are free to visit the Garrison tonight and talk to your… I guess, client?"
"I will, thank you for that!" Jinx replied, standing straighter, his voice laced with resolve.
  The rest of the afternoon passed with the Sentinels winding their way through Sandpoint’s bustling streets. Gems clinked into Maver Kesk’s coin pouch at Rings and Things. The delicate dress recovered from goblins found a new home in the hands of Rynshinn Povalli, the graceful half-elf at Vernah’s Fine Clothing. Their unused armor and weaponry were passed off to Savah’s Armory, while the eccentric Vorvashali at the Feathered Serpent paid handsomely for anything strange or arcane, he even supplied the scrolls they needed for their plan.
Cletus made one last stop, Sandpoint Cathedral. He emerged with a charm from each deity worshipped there, small tokens clinking in his pocket like borrowed blessings. Rejoining the others, he caught wind of their latest debate: where to live now.
"I was kind of hoping of staying in the tavern." Cletus said, sliding into the conversation with a grin.
"I don’t want to impose on the tavern keeper." Vannrik replied, shaking his head. "The house is good for me."
Cletus chuckled, eyes gleaming. "Do you think she would take it badly if I plan to live the rest of my life in that tavern?"
"Probably not, but she would need to rent out the room to other people as well." Vannrik answered with a shrug.
"I’ll opt for a room in the house, then. Who knows when we will be returning to Sandpoint..." Cletus said, half to himself.
"So you’re staying?" Jinx asked, a hopeful smile tugging at his lips.
Cletus hesitated. A flicker of conflict danced in his eyes. "Why would I be staying?" he asked aloud. "There’s nothing to do here. Adventure is out there, you know?" He gestured toward the horizon beyond the Turandorok River, toward wild Varisia. "I’ve done what was asked of me, what I was hired for."
"You could join us, we might have some jobs for you within the team." Jinx offered sincerely.
"For now, I’ll just need a place to stay for the night. The tavern most likely." Cletus replied, still uncertain but open.
Their final errand before heading to the Rusty Dragon led them to the grim little shop known as the Pillbug’s Pantry. Its owner, Aliver Podiker, as sour-faced as ever, barely greeted them as they entered. Still, they gathered what they needed, the last piece of their plan now in place.

Celebration & Sabotage

When the Sentinels stepped into the Rusty Dragon, it was immediately clear, Sandpoint had already kicked off the celebration. The tavern was bursting at the seams with townsfolk and guards, a loud swirl of laughter, clinking mugs, and off-key songs filling the air.
Cletus grinned as he glanced over at his companions. "So, what is Sandpoint’s specialty dish?"
"Ameiko has a gift for cooking," Jinx replied, squeezing through a trio of patrons to snag a menu off a nearby table.
"Ooh! Salmon, I love Salmon." Cletus confessed with a sparkle in his eye.
"That’s the specialty, you’ll enjoy it, I promise you.." Jinx winked.
"I must admit I wasn’t a fan of all the shellfood in Korvosa," Cletus added, making a face. "Salmon will do nicely."
  Navigating the twenty feet to the bar felt like crossing a battlefield, but the effort was well worth it. Ameiko greeted them with a smile wide enough to brighten the whole room. The bruises from her past ordeal had vanished, and tonight, she looked radiant.
As she slid bowls and mugs across the bar with graceful efficiency, she sang out: "You know the rules, if you tell good stories of your adventuring then food and drink is on the house."
Jinx’s eyes lit up. "Does that count for the Sheriff as well?"
"It counts for anyone who is willing to tell a story," Ameiko declared for all to hear.
"Sheriff, please tell us the story of how you rose to be a hero of Sandpoint. How we defeated all our enemies at Thistletop. You are the best storyteller that I know."
The Sheriff was anything but, and Jinx knew it. That didn’t stop the mischief.
"I’m sure that you can tell a decent story," Rabie offered from beside the Sheriff.
Vannrik chimed in with a chuckle. "Come on, you guys saved us. You should tell the story."
Belor looked puzzled, just about to protest, when Cletus jumped in to save the moment. "I’ll get you started, Sheriff!"
With no way to reach the podium through the throng, Cletus vaulted onto a barstool. "Our ranger Shalelu so did tell that there in Thistletop the enemy dwelt!" he declared dramatically, casting an expectant look at Belor.
Taking the cue, the Sheriff reluctantly stepped up onto a nearby table. "It was a good battle, and now the people of Sandpoint are safe." He added with all the enthusiasm of a tax collector. "Huzzah!"
Eyes rolled. Drinks were refilled. The crowd turned back to merrymaking.
Vannrik had a solution. He slammed a handful of gold onto the counter. "Open the Raspberry mead barrels!"
Cheering erupted as casks labeled “Two Knight’s Brewery - Sandpoint” were cracked open. Even Bilivar Wheen, passed out at the bar, roused just enough to welcome a mug.
Jinx reached for his ginger powder, dosing ales left and right. The spicy concoction, known as the Seer’s Special, had earned a spot in the hearts of the guards, and possibly soon on Ameiko’s menu.
The joy swelled as people moved like tides between bar and tables. Cletus took center stage again. "In the forest the Sheriff and the soldiers fought while we snuck into Thistletop without getting caught. Or at least… for a while!"
As the applause died down, Cletus made his way to his companions, handing them the scrolls they’d picked up earlier. "Well guys, Here are the scrolls. I have a very important question for someone else first."
Jinx and Vannrik exchanged a look. Neither could use the scrolls, Vannrik had no magical training, and Jinx had lost the knack.
The tiefling sighed. "Okay, just, give me a moment."
  With his back turned, he spotted the Sheriff and Rabie deeper in the crowd. Producing a scroll, he whispered carefully:
"Raaabie, don’t turn around. It’s me, Cletus! I’m using a spell to talk to you. I want to know if you’d like us to get you out of here before they get a chance to drag you before the Judge in Magnimar. I could get you out of Varisia."
A whisper came back through the crowd, crisp and urgent: "I need to get out of Sandpoint tonight or tomorrow morning. I’m not going to Magnimar."
Cletus unrolled a second scroll. "Do you need our help?" he asked. "We could use horses, or use the smugglers tunnels under Sandpoint to get outside. We could distract the Sheriff for you."
A brief pause, then Rabie’s answer: "Yes. I just need to get to Chopper’s Isle before I leave."
Cletus turned back. "What’s Chopper’s Isle?" Vannrik asked.
"That’s where Chopper lived, the serial killer who killed over twenty-five people a couple of years ago." Jinx answered
Cletus nodded, his eyes drifting toward the bar. "We’ll make it work. But first I have to either prove or debunk an old myth." Then he vanished into the crowd.
  He emerged at the bar, flagon in hand, facing a whirlwind of activity. "Hey Ameiko," he said, his voice a melody of charm.
The innkeeper was in full swing, pouring drinks and collecting coins with the grace of a maestro. She glanced at him, arms still flying. "You know what they say about bards..." He nodded toward her shamisen behind the bar. "..and strangers, and towns, and taverns."
Without missing a beat or her rhythm, Ameiko raised an eyebrow. "Tell me kind, stranger named Cletus, what do they say about Bards and strangers in towns?"
Leaning in with a roguish smile, he said: "That if they meet strangers, wanderers with great tales of adventures to tell, they try to get the most out of it."
She snorted, amused. "If I had to do that with every traveler I met I wouldn’t have time to run an inn." Her gaze flicked over the packed tavern. "Besides, I am making the most out of it." She accepted a handful of coppers from a customer. "Off you go."
  Cletus returned, a little less flashy. "Okay guys," he said. "Now I’m ready to leave town." He glanced out the window. The moon was already high. "What would be the most opportune moment to sneak Rabie out of town?"
"If it were up to me it would be simple. Someone needs to distract the sheriff, and someone needs to ready some horses."
"I’ve got an idea," Vannrik offered. "Isn’t there a way we could get the Sheriff drunk tonight?"
"You think he would fall for that?" Cletus asked.
"We’d need the right angle. He seems a bit stuck up." Vannrik mused.
Jinx’s smile was pure mischief. "Yes, we could try to loosen him up. That’s a very good plan, pretty boy!"
  The plan was rolling. "Oh! Maybe we could get someone else to do it. Then he would be even less suspicious. I wouldn’t be able to, but I’m pretty sure someone else can." Cletus added.
"There is a brothel close to here..." Jinx said slowly, thoughts clicking into place. [
"That would be too obvious!" Cletus hushed.
"You know… Sheriff Belor Hemlock has been seen close to the brothel far too many times..." Jinx grinned. "He’s always talking to Kaye Tesarani. There are rumors."
"Then that’s our angle." Vannrik nodded.
The three agreed, if coin was needed, they’d invest. But first, they eavesdropped on the local gossip. The crowd didn’t disappoint: "I’ve seen the longing in her eyes."
"He called her Kitten."
"He always blushes after talking to her."
Rumors of a hidden romance were rampant.

    "I will try to loosen him up here," Vannrik said. "Just to celebrate, you know."
"So you just want me to invite her to the festivities?" Cletus confirmed.
"He just needs to be distracted for a while." Vannrik agreed.
"What time is it?" "Almost midnight."
"If we invite her with flowers from the Sheriff, all eyes will be on them." Jinx plotted.
"Jinx, you shrewd dog! That’s genius!" Cletus laughed.
"We could get Rabie to Chopper’s Isle in the chaos." Jinx said.
"However," Jinx raised a hand, "we might want someone else to deliver the flowers."
"This is getting complicated.." Cletus groaned, then turned dramatically. "Hey Jacob! Remember that promotion that you wanted?"
Jacob blinked, cheeks flushed, then leaned in.
"Maybe tonight is the night." Cletus continued"..If the Sheriff was in a better mood."
"We have to make sure he doesn’t tell Belor why." Vannrik whispered.
"He’s not going to say that he tried to manipulate the Sheriff," Cletus scoffed. "Will he?"
Jacob nodded. He was in.
  Cletus vanished, then reappeared with a makeshift bouquet. Jacob, grinning like a fool, stumbled off toward the Pixie’s Kitten.
The Sentinels returned to the bar. Vannrik passed a fresh ale to the Sheriff. "I’m glad that you’re here Vannrik."
"I’m glad that you are here too." Vannrik smiled.
"We couldn’t have done this without you." Belor said.
"Or without you," Vannrik and Cletus replied in unison.
Jinx slipped ginger into the Sheriff’s ale. Another swig, and the Sheriff chuckled. "I’ve heard people say they’re going to add this to the menu now."
"I don’t think Sandpoint will forget your deeds." Belor said, taking another drink. "This is different than that piss we were drinking at the docks."
"In Magnimar?" Cletus smirked. "Can’t argue with that. Bottoms up. To your health!"
Every so often, eyes darted to the door. Jacob had yet to return. Another round was poured.
Then the Sheriff turned to Rabie, his tone unexpectedly warm. "I’m happy that you grew out of your shell. That you accepted the past for what it is. This is what it means to be a good person, Rabie."
"I’m glad that you said that." Rabie responded softly.
Then, they made their way to the bar for another drink.
    When Rabie and the Sheriff vanished into the buzzing crowd, Vannrik, Jinx, and Cletus exchanged tense, uneasy glances. Cletus opened his mouth to speak, likely to voice the fear they all shared, but the tavern doors burst open before he could utter a word. A thoroughly drunk Jacob staggered in, swaying as though the floor beneath him were a boat at sea. Spotting the Sentinels, the guardsman gave what might have been a wink, or perhaps he was merely losing the battle with gravity and sleep.
He lurched forward, narrowly missing a startled patron.
“I did exactly as you asked.” Jacob slurred with a proud nod.
“I’ll be sure to remind the Sheriff about what you did for us back in Thistletop.” Cletus assured him. “If it wasn’t for Julia from Magnimar I’m sure that you would have shot down Nualia.”
“Of course, of course. Everybody knows it. But, you know..” Jacob trailed off, his words dissolving into the ale-scented air.
“You’re the best.” Vannrik added with a grin.
“Everybody needs to celebrate. Even the grumpy old sheriff. So I did as you told me. I went to Kaye, the madame of the brothel, and I told her that tonight is the night! The sheriff wants to.. Wants to.. Wants to be with her. And that it’s time to stop pretending. And eh you know. That it’s time for love because he almost died.”
Jacob blinked, his foggy brain struggling to recall.
“I think I have improvised some parts. What are the parts that you wanted me to tell again?”
“Something like that.” Cletus replied with a forced smile.
Jinx grabbed Jacob by the arms, urgency sharpening his tone.
“But where is she?” he demanded, giving the guardsman a good shake.
“Where is she?”
“Where is who?” Jacob asked, confused.
“The madam!” Cletus nearly shouted.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. She smiled, she laughed, she went inside, and she said a thing!” Jacob grinned proudly.
“She said a thing, so I think that’s good.”
Vannrik leaned in, brow arched.
“And do you happen to remember what that thing was?”
“It’s important for your career.” Cletus said gently.
“Yeah, and I’m really excited. And that’s why I did the thing.” Jacob assured him, patting Cletus on the shoulder.
  Then, bang!, the Rusty Dragon’s doors slammed open, nearly bowling over a nearby patron. All conversation died.
There she stood, Kaye Tesaranni, radiant in fine silks, a humble bouquet in her hand. The chandeliers above painted her in soft amber light as the crowd instinctively parted. She strode with purpose to the bar, where Belor and Rabie stood.
Without hesitation, she took the sheriff’s face in her hands, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him deep.
The Sheriff froze, still holding his ale in one hand and bracing the counter with the other. A breathless silence swept the tavern, until Jinx began clapping. Then others joined, like rainfall growing into a storm.
The Sheriff, perhaps finally catching up to the moment, wrapped his arms around Kaye and kissed her back. The Rusty Dragon erupted in cheers, laughter, and pounding mugs.

Flight & Feathers

Amidst the joy, Jinx leaned toward Rabie and whispered.
“Now, or never.”
Swift and practiced, Jinx crafted a hasty brew from ale, wine, ginger, and mysterious pouch ingredients. He poured it into a shortglass and offered it to Rabie like a shot.
“Hide and go.” said the gnome.
Rabie looked down; his skin had begun to shimmer, darkening like moonlit stone. He cast a glance at Belor, still in a daze, and turned toward the door.
Cletus was already there, nodding at Rabie.
“Leave your bird here for a moment longer, if the sheriff sees your bird he might think you are still in the room.”
Rabie gave a quick nod to Ghurab, then slipped out into the night.
  Vannrik dissolved into the crowd while Jinx hopped up onto a barstool, tapping Ameiko’s shoulder.
“I think we need some music. We need a dance from them! Go Sheriff!”
Jinx climbed fully onto the bar, beginning to move in something that might be called a dance. The sheriff and Kaye took each other’s hands and headed toward the podium.

  Meanwhile, Rabie and Cletus crept through the first two streets at a casual pace, but when they reached main street, they bolted northwest like shadows fleeing the light.

  When Belor and Kaye stepped onto the podium, they basked in the cheers, until the sheriff's brow furrowed. His head jerked side to side, scanning, searching. He leaned close to Kaye and whispered.
Jinx and Vannrik felt it like a thunderclap: the jig was up.

  “Not that fast, I’m not a runner.” Cletus hissed as they passed Sandpoint Savories.

  The sheriff stormed off the podium and strode straight to Vannrik. Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd, weren’t they supposed to be dancing?
“Where is Rabie?” the sheriff demanded.
“Where is Rabie!?” he repeated louder within a beat
Vannrik, calm and clueless, pointed at the door.
“I think he went that way.”
Belor flung the door open and looked into the street. Empty. His shoulders stiffened. Gone was the warmth, the joy. His voice boomed over the crowd.
He barked names: “Jinx! Vannrik! Yoska! Kennick! Jacob!” and several guardsmen. Once assembled, he growled,
“We have lost sight of Rabie. We need him now! Fan out, call out a signal when you find him. He’s a fugitive, wanted for murder.”
The crowd gasped in stunned silence.

    Cletus led Rabie through the maze of Sandpoint like a phantom, pulling him back from the light of lanterns, guiding him away from barking dogs and patrolling eyes. The tiefling’s instincts for stealth kept them hidden.

  Vannrik, no expert at deception, asked for orders and was sent to the upper district with Yoska. Knowing Rabie wasn’t there, he followed without protest. Jinx faked a quick divination and lured Kennick into a chase through alleys near Rabie’s home.

  Then, a soft flutter in the night, Ghurab appeared, flying low through a side street, headed for Chopper’s Isle. But the raven didn’t come to Rabie. It went on alone.

  From the streets came shouts and orders, but no whistle yet. Not yet.

  “Rabie, please tell me that that’s a good place to hide,” Cletus muttered as they stood at the cliff known as Junker’s Edge. The dark outline of Chopper’s Isle loomed below.
“I don’t see a clear way off the island, unless you made one.”
Rabie, quiet and resolved, began climbing down.
“It will be okay, don’t worry about it.”
“I would have gone for the tunnels underneath the town.” Cletus grumbled as he followed. “I hope that you know what you’re doing.” He whispered a short prayer.
“Calistria, goddess of trickery, guide us please.”
Overhead, Ghurab soared toward the island.

  Vannrik and Jinx ran through Sandpoint, their breath misting in the cold air. The warmth of the Rusty Dragon had long left them, but every minute that passed meant Rabie had a better chance.

  Calistria must’ve listened, low tide revealed a narrow beach to Chopper’s Isle.They reached ruined timbers at the base of a steep cliff. Once, Sandpoint folk built a stairway to Jervis Stoot’s house. After his killing spree, angry drunks burned it down. “Rabie, I’m not a good climber.” Cletus warned, eyeing the 30-foot ascent.
Rabie dropped his pack to the sand and cast off his cloak, the wind catching it. He stood tall with only a dagger in hand, then,
Black-feathered wings unfolded from his back.
Cletus gasped.
“What in the name of the abyss!?”
With cautious flight, Rabie scaled the cliffside, clutching rocks as he climbed. He felt weightless. Free.
With a rope, Cletus made it up.
They stood at the edge of a forgotten island, the ghost of a killer’s domain.
The path, overgrown and broken, led them to what remained of Stoot’s house.
Ghurab pecked at debris.
Without speaking, Rabie knelt to help.
"Is this your escape?" Cletus asked.
"I needed to be here, I don’t know why." Rabie replied.
"You don’t think that dead murderers don’t come back to life after five years, do you?" Cletus asked nervously.
"Just tell them that I couldn’t take it anymore and that I took my own life." Rabie answered coldly.
"But how are you going to get off this island?" Cletus pressed.
Rabie flapped his wings.
"I saw you use them. They’re not strong enough to carry you all the way. You’ll drown before you reach the shore." Cletus insisted.
"Do you really think what’s hidden under those planks will help you?"
Rabie yanked free the last board, revealing a hidden trapdoor.
"Is that an escape route?" Cletus asked.
"I guess." Rabie said.

    Back in town, Vannrik and Jinx raced toward the sound of a whistle. Curious townsfolk had gathered, murmuring and pointing.
At the Garrison, Belor and the guards were assembled, but no Rabie, no Cletus. Relief flickered in Jinx and Vannrik’s eyes.
The Sheriff looked grim. They stepped inside. Time to regroup.