The Burglar and the Thief

As twilight approached, giant attendants came to the resting room to invite the group to the banquet hall for dinner. Andros led the way, with the attendants helping the guests onto cushions at the dining table set with utensils prepared just for them.

Tyrrel, seated at the head of the table, noticed the absence of the man in white who had been accompanying Andros and inquired, "Commander Andros, it seems we are missing a gentleman. Where might he be?"

Andros feigned surprise, glancing across the group and slapping his forehead, "Oh, I almost forgot. Mr. Grayson suffered from the cold after an Ice Phoenix attack on the way here and had to rest back in the room."

"Do we need to provide him with medical attention?" Tyrrel asked with a hint of concern.

"No need, Your Highness, truly. His condition is not severe; a good night's sleep should suffice," Andros quickly reassured.

Tyrrel silently nodded, then furrowed his brows. "You mentioned, Grayson? I believe I've heard that name before. If I'm not mistaken, he's a demon hunter and quite a wanted criminal in your lands. No wonder his introduction was so elusive; he didn't even give his name."

Andros replied calmly to Tyrrel's curiosity, "Yes, that's him."

Tyrrel smiled with recognition. "Indeed, I recall now. Why exactly are you in his company?"

"We met en route as we were both tracking the stolen sacred artifact," Andros explained while discreetly watching Tyrrel's reaction.

"I see. Well, when Mr. Grayson recovers, please bring him to meet me. I would very much like to have a chat with you both," Tyrrel said with apparent interest.

"Certainly, Your Highness," Andros responded solemnly, turning to glance at Seraphine, who had been watching Tyrrel and his attendants for any sign of suspicion. Finding none, she simply shook her head at Andros.

"It seems we must place our hopes in Grayson," Andros thought, raising his cup to Tyrrel in a silent toast.

...

"Everyone's dining on delicacies in the banquet hall, and here I am dodging guards and thieving," grumbled Grayson, hugging the wall in the dimly lit castle corridor of Hurricane City.

"Will you shut it? I've not even begun to complain! Why must I accompany you? I should be by the feast, sampling all the delicacies!" The little owl perched atop his wide-brimmed white hat, venting her displeasure.

Grayson rolled his eyes, retorting, "You just devoured a whole turkey yesterday. Keep that up, and you'll be too plump to fly!"

Elyra, ready to snap back, was promptly plucked from the hat and tossed into the air. "Go stretch your wings, scout out the giants' treasure room!"

"Brute! Finders keepers! Whatever I find is mine!" Elyra pouted, shooting Grayson a glare before fluttering away.

Watching her disappear down the corridor, Grayson looked back. The hall, vast as a hall, stood empty save for the occasional gust above his head. Proceeding with caution, he hadn't gone far when a strange noise from behind caught his attention.

Frowning, he glanced back, but the illuminated corridor revealed nothing amiss. A draft cast a flickering shadow on the ground, and after a moment's gaze revealing no threat, Grayson continued on.

But the peculiar noise persisted, and, spinning around, he saw a massive six-legged dog with a gaping maw charging toward him. Startled, Grayson broke into a mad sprint.

The beast, its long, thick tongue lolling out like a red carpet, closed in fast, propelled by its six powerful legs. Knowing he couldn't outrun it, Grayson, in a flash of inspiration, darted toward the wall.

His legs propelled him with lightning speed, a blur of motion, as he hit the wall and ran upward. The dog snapped, its teeth grazing the air where Grayson had been.

Scaling the wall seven or eight meters up, Grayson pushed off, flipping backward to land squarely on the beast's shaggy back, steadying himself with a knee.

Unaware of its new rider, the dog continued its frantic search for Grayson, sniffing every corner and crevice but missing its quarry.

Suddenly, the dog flopped onto its side, rolling over and casting a shadow over Grayson. Quick as a whip, Grayson clambered up the dog's fur to avoid being crushed.

Thrown into the air by the impact, he clung to the fur, dangling like a climber clinging to a cliff face.

"That's enough!" Grayson scowled, back on the dog's back and glaring down at the creature tearing along the corridor, resentment bubbling within him.

Without warning, something landed softly on Grayson's shoulder. Turning, he found Elyra staring at him with her bright eyes, chirping away, "Lazing around while everyone else works, eh? And look at you, finding a mount. All while I had to scour for the place!"

"Enough chatter, little one. Did you find it?" Grayson eyed her ruefully, then warily gazed back at the dog, which remained oblivious to the owl, and turned back to her.

"Right ahead. See those massive statues? We're close. Get ready to dismount!" Elyra pointed ahead, and Grayson spotted the statues flash by.

Grayson jumped from the dog's back, descending from over four meters up, swinging forward on a clump of fur, executing a smooth turn in mid-air, and landing in a half-kneel with precision.

Lifting his head, he saw Elyra fluttering to rest on his shoulder, patting his head with her wing and offering praise in a mock-serious tone, "Hey, young man, that was quite the show!"

Grayson shot her an annoyed glance, "What happened to your transformation magic to aid my landing?"

Elyra tilted her head innocently, "It's not my fault, the fur blocked my view! I couldn't cast the spell in time."

"I knew I couldn't rely on you, you little trickster!" Grayson poked her head with a finger, standing to make his way toward the treasure room.

Arriving at the treasury, Grayson gazed up at the firmly closed doors flanked by imposing giant statues and asked the owl, "Are you sure this is the place?"

"Absolutely, it told me so!" Elyra replied with earnest conviction.

"It?" Grayson furrowed his brow. "Who's 'it'?"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, the stones of the door retracted sideways, and a vast stone face emerged into Grayson's sight.