[hr][center][h3][u][b][ShieldTown - Interior - Markets District][/b][/u][/h3][/center][hr]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Our [i]Rep-U-Tations![/i]"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Abhorrent!  Despicabable!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Siding with Templar!  Crusades upon us!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Upon us!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Nononono!  Knife-Lady and Cat-Kitty, Rat guides them!  Rat is their Guide!"[/color][/b]  Rat shook his fist defiantly.  [b][color=#9e8659]"When the Grabby-Chomps came, saved Rat they did!  Rat has prowess over the blade!"[/color][/b]  Rat clumsily pointed the sword that he refused to let go of.

[b][color=#9e8659]"The blade!"[/color][/b] Echoed the others in hushed tones.

[b][color=#9e8659]"Rat must [i]DELIVER![/i]"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"For Fred!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Yesyes, for Fred.  Rat will Deliver (For Fred).  Rat will also PROTECT! (For Fred)  Rat has prowess over the blade!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"But... what about... The Rain??"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"The Rain, the Rain!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Rat's blade will protect, (For Fred)!"[/color][/b]  He held up the sword.  [b][color=#9e8659]"Rat!  We must deliver (For Fred)!  Not Rain, nor Sleet, nor Darkest Night..."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Not Deepest Fear,"[/color][/b] piped up someone with renewed confidence.

[b][color=#9e8659]"Not Death!"[/color][/b] Called a voice from the rear.

[b][color=#9e8659]"Not Threat of Death,"[/color][/b] continued Rat, holding the sword out clumsily... it was getting heavy.  [b][color=#9e8659]"Not Perceived Threat of Death, Temporary Death..."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Creature Bringing Death."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"Mmm hmm!  Suffocation Resulting in Death, not Death by Starvation."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"N-no... but,"[/color][/b] Rat stammered, dropping the point of the sword to the ground and trying to catch his breath.

[b][color=#9e8659]"Not Long Sleep Resembling Death but Not Actually Death!"[/color][/b] Someone from the front called.

[b][color=#9e8659]"Shushush!! Shushush!  Someone Comes!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#9e8659]"She comes!"[/color][/b] They echoed.  The market alley filled with the sounds of scurrying and scampering, some hushed tones and whispers as Rat collected himself.  He turned towards the alley mouth as Doll and Maire came into view.

[b][color=#9e8659]"Knife-Lady!  Lady-Knife!  Deliveries completed, yesyesyes,"[/color][/b] he chattered, as he struggled to drag the sword towards her. "(For Fred)" echoed in hushed whispers in the darkness behind him.  [b][color=#9e8659]"Rat guides you.  Rat is your guide!  Yesyes, Rat's... [i]responsibility[/i],"[/color][/b] he emphasized, casting a pointed look into the alley behind him.  Rat shoved his free arm to the elbow into his pouch and dug around noisily.  A plate crashed in the distance, and the darkness broke out into gasps and whispers before being loudly shushed by someone around a corner.

[b][color=#9e8659]"Doll-Boy.  Rat thanks,"[/color][/b] he intoned imperiously, withdrawing a single Clat from the bag and placing it in the boy's hand.