In the Shadows of Clarity

In the Shadows of Clarity

Erthor, a woodland elf from across the sea, and his partner Corvus were the most infamous pair of thieves in the duchy. Nobody knew who the two criminals actually were, but everyone knew thieir deeds. Currently, they are discussing rather mysterious buisness.

"Why?" Exclaimed Erthor.
"Do you have any idea how many treasures are in that house,ungaurded?" Replied his partner Corvus, "The city is to afraid to go in the house, let alone hold an auction there! Even after all these years."
"Of couse they are afraid! Just like anyone in their right mind would be! We know for a fact that it is haunted," Erthor replied worriedly.
"Well, I know it is haunted, but it isn't one those bad ones!" Corvus insisted in defense of his plan.
"Malevolent or benign! It is still a haunting!" Argued Erthor.
"What does it take to convince you?" whined Corvus.
"You can not! I refuse to go in a house that is haunted," Erthor stated, trying to muster up his boldest voice.
Corvus walked slowly away to the other side of thier small hideout on the outskirts of Clarity's poor district. There he brooded over how he would convince his partner. Corvus was not nearly as bright as his elf partner and it would be impossible to coerce him into it with facts. With that in mind, he decided to employ one of many skills he learned as a thief, lying.
"Hey, Erthor!" He called, "Didn't I tell you about Garion's secret?"
"Garion's secret? Replied Erthor, obviously unconvinced.
"Yes!" Corvus called. He then took a moment to think of some way to glorify his ruse. "We could easily double this years income in one hit! Old Mister Garion was a treasure hunter in his early days."
"For some reason I doubt your credibility," Erthor said, and with a sigh, he continued, "You do know my weakness. I will accompany you this time, but you had better make sure you fill the lanterns. I do not fancy being stuck in the dark with apparations floating about."
Erthor was a short elf (even by woodland standards) who had a guant face and piercing green eyes that allowed him to see figures and movement in the darkness. He may have been a master of the shadows, able to hide anywhere and move silently, but he had a few flaws that prevented him from working alone. First of all, he was cowerdly. Secondly, he possesed a deep, overwhelming envy of those who had wealth. Finally, he possesed no skill in picking locks. That is where Corvus comes in.
Corvus had grown up in the dark alleys as a street boy, therefore he had little education or fear. He learned how to obtain what he wanted through many methods. He boasted often about never breaking a lockpick in his work, even when he just began. But that is not his only skill, he could also lie his way out of any situation, create great diversions, and charm ladies into telling him things with his dapper looks.
They waited until midnight before they crept out to the rich district of Clarity. The city was the second largest in the duchy, so their trip took nearly an hour. A full moon reflected off the surface of the Straits of Clarity. Across the water, dim street lamps of the city, Sholron, gave a faint glow.
"It is certaintly a most bright and gorgeous night for such dark and grim deeds," Erthor whispered to himself.
"All the better then!" Corvus said quietly as he slapped Erthor's back.
Soon they had come to Garion Manor. It was once a stately home, but had fallen into disrepair in the two years since they Garion's were murdered. Most people gave it a wide berth due to the haunting, except the children, who bet on who would get the closest.
Erthor was hesitant to go near the house, but Corvus practically ran to the heavy enchanted lock that the city had placed on the door. The elf thief finally crept up behind his partner as he loosed the padlock and slowly removed it.
"Here we go," Erthor muttered to himself. The two thieves then disappeared into the darkness that once was a grand living room.
Silently, they lit two shuddered lantern and began their search. Great cobwebs hung from floor to cieling. A thick layer of dust carpeted everything in the house. The night was completely silent, save Corvus' excited footsteps upon the wood floors.
Erthor took his time in looking. So far he had collected five silver goblets from the dining room, a golden picture frame, and a few other oddities that would fetch a price. Now he was glad he came along. Little to his knowledge, the ghosts that called the manor home where beginning their nightly routine.
"Oh is Erthor in for a fright," mumbled Corvus as a faint white glimmer shown from the next room. Corvus, who found value in things which had none, had already filled most of his bag. With it slung over his shoulder he went to spy on the ghost.
The apparation moved about a ruined kitchen, apparently creating some nonexistent meal. The pale, ghostly knife that it held did not intimidate him as it cut some invisible produce.
"Are you ready yet? I'd like to arive early!" came a faded voice from behind Corvus. Unlike most, he kept his wits about him and calmly turned. Standing a foot away from him was the ghost of the comely Mrs. Garion. Her ghost was attired in the same dress that she died in; a long floral dress inlaid with pearls. Overwhelmed by how gorgeous she was, Corvus stuck his hand out of the shadow towards her, and touched her arm. His arm shot back. He had expected his hand to pass through the ghost. "Oh dear. Best not tell Erthor about that, he would be gone in a flash."
"Yes dear! I just have to finish this dish to bring." This time he was sure he heard it. The ghosts were talking to each other upstairs. His heart beat quickly as he examined a large ornate silver bowl on an end table and decided it was worth keeping. Just as he finished stuffing it in his bag, a white light shone from the marble stairs. Erthor shot up and shuddered his own lantern before sinking into a dark corner. His heart was beating out of his chest when two apparations walked into the room. The man was holding a ghostly bowl and wispering to the woman.
"Oh Henry! We must not! I promised Ms. Caroline we would be early," the woman cold and slightly distorted voice said.
"How could you resist Lily? It is our song after all," the ghost of Henry Garion said.
"Oh, alright. But only this one song, else we will be late," Lily Garion replied. Both of them now smiled.
"How ironic. They seem so happy now, but they are to be murdered soon, thought Erthor. Then dread came over him. He did not want to see this happy couple murdered. As he stared on, Corvus came blundering down the stairs noisily.
"Don't worry! They don't realize we are here. They cannot see, hear, smell, or," then he paused and added, "feel us."
"If you insist," Erthor whined. He crawled out of his corner just as Mr. Garion set down the bowl he was carring on the end table. "I...I have that bowl."
"Good! It looks expensive," replied Corvus, not making the connection.
"No, it means that the murder, it happens soon!" wailed Erthor.
"Don't you worry! We will be well out of here in a minute, Corvus said. The ghosts now danced slowly to the songs of a festival long past.
"What about the basement?" Asked Erthor.
"Oh! Yes! Let's go find it, eh?" answered Corvus, forgetting his own ruse. The door was not hard to find. It stood partially open in a long hall. As Corvus swung it open all the way, a noise came from the other room that made Erthor moan. It was Mr. Garion's voice.
"Hello? Who is there? Out with you! I have heard the door." The thieves froze. Then a piercing scream broke the silence.
"It's happening," said Corvus, "let's go." The pair accended the stairs and Corvus shut the door behind them to stop the screaming from reaching them. They then talked quietly.
"What do you think killed them?" asked Erthor.
"Why a murderer of course!" Corvus answered, "but I did hear a rumor about a monster from a begger." Even in the dark, he could see fear rise in his partners face. "But that's just stupid!" he quickly added. Erthor's face eased.
With that, they reached the bottom of the stairs and split up to find a fake treasure. After searching a while, Erthor felt an odd feeling. He was being watched. He knew the feeling well from sulking in shadows as people starred right at him.
"Corvus?" called Erthor. Then the feeling faded.
"Find it?" asked his partner, knowing the answer.
Then a creak came from the other side of the room as if a man many times the size Corvus had stepped upon a wooden crate. Mustering up courage to ask, Erthor called, "What if it was a monster?" Suddenly a crash came from the dark and both lanterns went out. A grunt from the other side of the room was Corvus' only response. Not an uninterested grunt, but one of a man who has been it very hard. A grunt of pain, followed by the crash of crates and breaking of glass.
Fighting the urge to wail, run, or cry, Erthor boldly continued as he back into a corner,"A hungry monster that murdered the Garions...and hasn't eaten anything in two years?" As he finished his last sentence, a he screamed so loud that he woke nearly everyone that lived near.
A pair of guards walking the streets on patroll are passing just in front of the manor when they heard the scream. They both jumped, and the first guard, new to the job, asked, "What was that?"
"Just the ghosts in the old manor being extra loud." replied the second, "Don't you worry now, It isn't real." And with that, they continued down the road.

 

Feedback is fine here. Thank you! Excuse grammatical errors. I typed late 

 

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