Adventure of Frecal 1

Splinters of rotted wood dig into Frecal's palms as he forces his thin frame through the narrow opening in the tannery wall. The heavy scent of lye and decay is replaced by the biting sting of cold rain.

Frecal sprints into the mouth of the labyrinthine alley, his boots splashing into greasy puddles. Ahead, the low-slung rooftops of the harbor district loom like jagged teeth against the grey sky.

He pivots around a stack of discarded shipping crates, catching a glimpse of a hidden climbable drainpipe. It leads toward the high, mossy rafters of the old fish market.

Frecal accelerates, his slight frame cutting through the rain with practiced ease. He weaves through the narrow gaps between buildings, putting dozens of yards between himself and the captain before the man can even round the corner.

He reaches a junction and, with a flick of his wrist, hurls the gilded box into a dark, trash-choked side passage. It hits the wet stones with a loud, metallic clatter.

Frecal slips silently into the northern corridor, pressing his back against the cold brickwork. The heavy boots of the captain thunder past the entrance of his hiding spot, heading the wrong way.

The coast is clear. Among the damp refuse, Frecal notices a small, loose paving stone. Beneath it lies a hollowed cache containing a tarnished silver coin and a half-eaten dry ration.