| 403 No matter what you do you have the sense that this confrontation will surely turn into a fight. Drawing your sword you stand your ground and wait for his attack. Luckily it never comes. With the advantage of surprise gone, the theft of your money pouch will require more than just the quiet slitting of your throat. At the first glance of your unsheathed sword the would-be thief's jaw drops. What he expected as an easy mark has not turned out to be so easy. You can see the fear on his face, and all it takes is for you to move forward and he turns on his heels, and bolts for the safety of the alleys at his back. For a moment you consider whether you should follow him and teach him a lesson, but you don't have the time. You do however have the last laugh. In his haste to leave he has dropped a pouch of his own, probably the ill-gotten gains of a previous theft. You pick it up and find that it holds fourteen silver coins. These you will keep for yourself. (Record this windfall on your character sheet). With the thief gone you turn back to the busy road ahead. From the alley you can see that the volume of traffic has not diminished at all. Unfortunately this is as close as you can get to the gates, the rest of the way will have to be made along the main road. Looking out towards the gates you can see that the guards posted there are only checking travellers coming into the town. Hopefully you will be able to make an unnoticed exit. Taking Pallenten by the reins you lead her out into the flow of wagons and pedestrian traffic. With your cowl pulled up over your head, you stoop like an old man, and hope this simple change in appearance will get you past the gate. It does take some pushing and shoving to make headway against the flow, but in a matter of a few minutes you stand some thirty metres short of the gate. Suddenly from your right you hear a shout. A guard is running down the street gesticulating wildly at the gatesmen and pointing back towards the main town square. There is a chance that any hope of a quiet exit may have just ended.
| Turn to section 373.
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