The contents of the locked drawer were laid out in front of me on the desk. I�d not been able to make out and details Inside the drawer but now I could see things a bit better.� Front and center was what looked in the dim light like a curved figurine of a creature.� A dragon or wyvern maybe.� I wasn�t going to touch that; it was too easily identifiable.� Then again, I was wearing a stolen guard�s uniform, but even so it seemed a silly risk.
There were also some papers, and in this light, I had no chance of reading them, so I found myself in a quandary.� Possible risk versus the possible value of the papers.� If they were valuable enough to lock up, perhaps they had some use, but if they were really worth anything would you leave them at work?� In the end, I had to make a quick decision and the uniform decided for me.� If I was caught, I would be hard pressed to explain it away, so carrying papers wouldn�t make much difference.� With a shrug, I shoved the papers into Crazy Steve�s backpack.
Here was the real prize.� A thick leather-bound book.� By tracing my fingers over the cover, I could make out the symbol of Faircrest.� If I was right, this was the book of regulation that all guards and other such employees of the city had to sear to uphold.� Taking this was serious business, but I was committed now.� Before I stashed the book in my pack, I marked the occasion with a few words and made ready to leave.
The troubling pain from my ribs had lessened slightly, but was still a reminder that I needed to keep moving.� Time was not my friend tonight, so I hurried towards the door
A sudden thought stopped me and I grinned evilly.� I went back to the desk and collected the figurine.� Picking a locker at random, I put the carving inside, tucked away behind what felt like some waterproof oil skins.� I took care to close the locker.� My realistic hope was that this would sow some confusion when the guards came to investigate the break in.� My long-shot, but wouldn�t it be perfect if it worked out, hope was that whatever run of bad luck was ruining my night would suddenly reverse and it would turn out to be the Jackalman guard�s locker and he�d find himself with some explaining to do.
With that cheery thought distracting me from my injury I set off towards my next stop.