Quoted By:
“I … I didn’t want to … mess around with trying to sell swag, so I needed somewhere with talents on hand. If there were any monies on board a ship, then they would be in a strongbox, either in the captain’s cabin or in the stateroom, both of which would be accessible from the aft of –”
“By why the Euthyphro <span class="mu-i">specifically</span>?”
“Oh … I figured that a ship from a foreign port would have to carry talents to buy anything here, while an Imperial ship would either belong to a trading house or keep their money in a bank.”
“That … that makes a great deal of sense, actually. So then you just … what, you walked down the harbor until you found a foreign merchantman that you liked?”
You nod slowly. Where moments ago your mouth was dry, now it is clammy, so you try to swallow as discretely as you possibly can.
“Did you do this alone?”
You nod again, a little faster this time.
“So then, by yourself, you just climbed on to the ship using the stay-ropes, got onto the aft deck, sawed through the drop bar on the doors … with what?”
“A chipped pin-stiletto.”
The man snorts derisively at that. You can see that he is getting a little more comfortable as the conversation here progresses – but his eyes are still on you, and his left hand is still under the table.
“With a pin-stiletto. Then you were inside, and you just … threatened Pharnaces to open the strongbox with the same blade?”
“No … there was a weapon rack nearby. I grabbed a smallsword off of that rack, used that instead.”
“And that was all there was to it?”
“Aye.”
“That gutless coward. So, then where did you find the rope?”
“What rope?”
“The one you used to tie him up.”
“There was no rope, I used sheets from his bed to – ”
The foreigner laughs rather hard at that.
“<span class="mu-i">Sheets!</span> Heh heh heh! Stars above, I would have loved to have seen that, Pharnaces trussed like a pig with his own bedding. How that must have positively <span class="mu-i">boiled</span> him!”
He takes a moment to regain his composure.
“So, then you take the money, his precious snuff-box, and – did you take the sword too?”
You nod.
“Alright. Then you take the money, the famous snuff-box, and his sword, then you just retrace your steps off of the ship? Seeing no one else but him?”
“Aye. If there was anyone else on that ship, I didn’t see them, and they certainly did not see me.”
“That easy, huh?”
You nod again.
“Was that snuff box in the strongbox? Because apparently, the thing is worth as much as you are.”
“No, it was just out in the open. And I checked it over once I heard how badly he wanted it back – as far as I can tell it is just a regular silver snuff box.”
“Hmm. Never really took him for the sentimental type … alright then, just two more questions. How much did you make off with?”
