Haplo’s First Adventure

Stories tend to start at the beginning, and this is no exception.

Haplo was happy to follow in his father’s footsteps. Eager to please, the youth was looking for adventure and responsibility. He always had a perchance for luck. His father realized that and sent him on his very first right of passage into the Smiling Dragon Trading Company’s ranks by making him in charge of over-seeing the delivery of valuable goods to another town.

But life often throws twists, and this time, life threw a bunch.

Follow Haplo on his very first journey into the life of a merchant and the mysterious items he discovers about himself and the life he is about to embark upon.

Tentative First Chapter

The small Halfling approached his target stealthily, making sure his footsteps on the perfect cobblestone were silent. The noises of the sleeping town were alive as always – the occasional drunk, the night watch, the screeching echoes of a cat fight in a nearby alley – but he was quite certain he was not adding to the activities. The charm of the town was that something was always happening, no matter what time of the day it happened to be. This time, however, the noises only raised his anxiety.

With his eyes darting left and right to the empty street, he assured himself that he should go through with the plan. He rubbed his small, rotund form out of nervous habit, removing the excess perspiration as he stared at the immaculately kept exterior of the house. He knew every vine, every sill, everything that made the house unique. His hairy hands trembled as he pulled out his custom-made metal tools. He stepped further into the shadows and strained to see in the dim street lamp’s illumination just which pieces he needed to start the job.

Waiting for the night watch to pass, he closed his eyes as he counted to himself, as he had done every night for weeks. The images of everything he had seen started flashing in his mind, almost throwing off his count. Just as the guardsman moved past his goal, he bolted to the house, making it to the massive oaken door in a speed that defied his small form.

Pausing at the door to run his fingers over the familiar lettering that spelled out ‘Brandletuck’, he smiled. Inserting the bladed tool into the lock, he defeated each spring until the tip hit the back of the chamber. While still counting the seconds, he was about to use the hook, when the sweat from his hands caused him to lose grip on it, sending the metal bit to the cobblestone.

To him, it sounded like an explosion; the sound of metal on stone echoing throughout the town. He froze, listening for the footfalls that he was sure would be coming, but silence was all that was returned. With caution, he bent over to pick the piece up still eavesdropping to the sounds. The pounding of his heart beating in his ears made it difficult. His fright caused him to lose track of his count, and he cursed himself silently for it, debating whether he should just stop.

He placed the bit back into the lock, twisted, and was rewarded with a satisfying click. He chuckled to himself as he removed a flexible wire that possessed a small bluish glow. Slipping it pass the side of the door he murmured, “Cha`ta,” as he lifted it up. The enchanted wire became hardened and straight, easily able to support the weight of the beam that braced the door from inside. I shall never lose you my friend. You were well worth the effort to get he thought to himself. He lifted the wire high above his head, until he felt the wooden blockade slip a little, and he knew that is was enough to try the door. With one hand still held over his head, he slowly opened the door, the creaking of the wood sending another volley of shivers down his spine.

Inside, the dying embers from the fireplace warmed a well-furnished sitting room. Everything was in its proper place. He could see the many wondrous golden items that were on the mantle alone. In front of the fireplace was a large, hand-woven rug imported from someplace he didn’t know. Even the lavish, plush chairs screamed of wealth. Crystal goblets half filled with wine were on red pine tables next to each chair. The aroma was so strong he could pick up the bouquet from the door.

His ears picked up a familiar sound. At first, the noise didn’t register because of being enraptured with the room. But when his mind finally equated the disquieting noise as approaching footsteps of the night guard, he panicked. He fumbled with the beam in his hand, sliding it back up on the wire. Stepping out the door, he let it down with a thud, pulling the wire out and storing it. Shutting the door awkwardly without any regard to the noise he was making, he cursed just as the guard came into view. He spun around quickly to face the watch, leaving themetal pieces still lodged within the lock.

“Good eve’, young chap,” Sargent Hillomon stated. “What brings you out so late on this night?”

“I was just thinking,” he said with a shaky voice, “and I wanted to get a breath of fresh air. I didn’t plan of going far.”

“Well, just be careful,” the guard cautioned, “there are many thieves about, and I’d hate to see what they might do to the likes of someone like you.”

“Well, like I said, I wasn’t planning on going far.” His looked left and right, hoping no one else was going to approach as he felt his heart pounding in his chest again. “Do you think any are about?” Stopping for a moment to catch his breath, he added, “I am sure the guard would keep me safe.”

“Aye, that is true but,” he paused as his eyes darted in the same fashion and the Halfling. He leaned in real close to the small figure, like a father addressing his misbehaving son. The young Halfling was certain he’d see the metal in the door, considering how much the guard towered over him. The guard whispered, “I don’t trust all my men either, so be careful.”  With his warning stated, he continued down the cobblestone path on his watch.

The would-be thief watched the guard as he slowly walked away until he disappeared into the darkness. When the Halfling was certain the guard was gone, he let out a sigh of relief as he retrieved his tools from the door. He smiled to himself at the ease to which he was able to gain access to the house, making mental notes on how he could improve his encounter. Shuffling his feet in almost a jig, he went around the back of the home he had just unlocked and opened the back door, going straight to his bedroom. He went over the scene in his mind, and even when the guard confronted him, he thought it was exhilarating.

Reaching under his pillow, he pulled out a small, red leather book. Like he had done at the door, he ran his fingers over the gold etched lettering on the surface that spelled out his name: Haplo Brandletuck. Opening the book with care not to rip the gold leaf pages, he read aloud the first message every written in the volume.

“To my wonderful son so you can always record your future adventures, Love Mom.” He flipped through the many blank pages that the diary had. Up until now, he hadn’t had anything to record. Taking a moment, he quickly jotted down ways he could improve upon his performance. Jumping off the bed, he walked over to his bookcase. Putting his diary down on one of the shelves, he looked left and right for the correct volume. Pulling out the massive codex, The Quintessential History of the Port City of Bardox with both hands, he opened to the pages that contained a secret compartment, placing his book perfectly within the chamber. He closed the text returning it to its resting place with a grunt, before leaping back into bed. As he pulled the silken bedspread over his form, a large smile emerged on his face. “More adventures to come for sure,” he said with a chuckle. He remained there on his back with his eyes opened wide, but his tiredness caught up with his excitement as he fell asleep.