"No, I don't need your charity," Vince told the kid. In truth, Vince felt warmed by the kid's reluctance to simply turn him in. But he was already abashed and had a façade to maintain. Moreover, Vince already had a few loaves in his satchel.

Without responding, Vince pulled himself up and nodded at the shopkeep in an impassive demonstration of gratitude. 

Oradi propelled the mysterious stone onto the floor. "By the way, do either of you two know where this is?" he said. 

After a few seconds of staring at the stone, something vague popped into Vince's mind. "I've seen one of those before," Vince averred. "Somewhere…"