Inside the city of more than one hundred eighty thousand one man sat on his balcony at night. Everyone else was asleep except for him, night watch, guards on patrol, cats, rats, dogs barking, young couples flirting or making love, and of course thieves. He listened to the noise as no one would as if it were music to his ears. Each weekend he would sit on this balcony until dawn. There was nothing more entertaining than watching a thief or assassin sneak in through the night. Every time he looked out on his balcony he would always see a figure in the dark among the alleyways, and on top of the buildings. Whenever he saw he would smile and take a puff of his pipe.
It did not matter how light these thieves, or assassins were on their feet someone would always call them out. To him it was a game calling out to a criminal or a nearby watch or guard. He was not alone in calling out to the criminals or the guards and watch. Every weekend he would hear other voices shouting out to these lurkers. They would either run, try to hide or yell back depending on how close they were to them and the authorities. All those situations gave him and the shouters a good laugh. One some weekends they would get yelled at by neighbors, guards, the watch or any one else roaming the streets. It often turned into arguments then shouting matches then arguments again until one of them was silenced.
To keep track of things he decided to record all the times there was a thief, or assassin called out, an argument, and a shouting match. On the weekdays he would roam the streets getting looks, and glares from people who knew when he was yelling in the night. As he walked through the streets he was surprised to see no one had attacked him since he began three years ago. It made him feel invincible and immune. The authorities loved whoever called out the thieves and assassins. Every week one of these lurkers are caught they would bring a gift to the one who calls them out. Such a gift would be a piece of meat one week, a bottle of fine wine, some bag of coin, shoes, clothing, and some tobacco weed.
He received other gifts including a pie or a kiss from a local gal. In his newest chair he spied a figure jumping from rooftop to rooftop. From the way the figure moved he appeared to be an expert acrobat from a carnival who had become a master. The crime-spotter watched with interest while puffing away at his pipe. As he watched something else caught his attention. Well past the city walls he saw lights appearing in the distance. Many lights appeared in the dark night. He stood up feeling perplexed at what he was witnessing. Who was lighting this many fires at this time of night. Dozens of small fire balls lifted up from the ground as if they were hurled or launched. The fire balls soared into the air lighting the night sky followed by even more fire balls. Scores upon scores of fire balls light the night sky with an orange red glow. His jaw dropped at the sight of many fireballs crashing down on his own city.
The fireballs smashed into the streets, hit multiple structures and homes. Fire began to spread as more fireballs were launched at his city. Each flaming ball of death came crashing into the city causing fires to rise, panic as people screamed with fear. People ran out of their homes to put the fires out while some came out of their house on fire. Guards, and the Watch raced to the gate as the bells rang from the churches signalling their city was under siege. No one was safe during a siege like this. Especially when the ones laying siege sent fire balls of death down upon your settlement. He had seen this before when he was younger in another city. That was when he was just a small boy of six years old. Most of his family had already passed on or lived somewhere else. Memories of that day never left him. Tonight only reminded him that nightmare no little boy should witness. As the fireballs rained down on this city he left the balcony to help put out the fires.
Outside of his home, which was an apartment complex he witnessed the horrors of a siege. Fire balls came down like an endless wave. People screamed with fear, others ran for their lives, some cowered against the walls, many of them raced to get water to put out the fires. There were those unfortunate souls who were hit by the flaming balls. Several rolled down the streets setting fire to some buildings, objects, and rolling over bystanders. He picked up a bucket when one hit the ground next to him exploding. Flames and shrapnel hit him along with the blast. The man was pushed back and slammed against a wall. Everything went dark as he was knocked unconscious. In an uncomfortable position he lay there until he was rudely awaken with a jab in the rib. As he opened his eyes he saw the attackers of his city and finally entered. The two attackers grabbed him as his hearing came back. Sounds of battle could be heard just feet from his location. Most of the city guard, watch and militia were fighting to defend the rest of the city.
It did not matter how light these thieves, or assassins were on their feet someone would always call them out. To him it was a game calling out to a criminal or a nearby watch or guard. He was not alone in calling out to the criminals or the guards and watch. Every weekend he would hear other voices shouting out to these lurkers. They would either run, try to hide or yell back depending on how close they were to them and the authorities. All those situations gave him and the shouters a good laugh. One some weekends they would get yelled at by neighbors, guards, the watch or any one else roaming the streets. It often turned into arguments then shouting matches then arguments again until one of them was silenced.
To keep track of things he decided to record all the times there was a thief, or assassin called out, an argument, and a shouting match. On the weekdays he would roam the streets getting looks, and glares from people who knew when he was yelling in the night. As he walked through the streets he was surprised to see no one had attacked him since he began three years ago. It made him feel invincible and immune. The authorities loved whoever called out the thieves and assassins. Every week one of these lurkers are caught they would bring a gift to the one who calls them out. Such a gift would be a piece of meat one week, a bottle of fine wine, some bag of coin, shoes, clothing, and some tobacco weed.
He received other gifts including a pie or a kiss from a local gal. In his newest chair he spied a figure jumping from rooftop to rooftop. From the way the figure moved he appeared to be an expert acrobat from a carnival who had become a master. The crime-spotter watched with interest while puffing away at his pipe. As he watched something else caught his attention. Well past the city walls he saw lights appearing in the distance. Many lights appeared in the dark night. He stood up feeling perplexed at what he was witnessing. Who was lighting this many fires at this time of night. Dozens of small fire balls lifted up from the ground as if they were hurled or launched. The fire balls soared into the air lighting the night sky followed by even more fire balls. Scores upon scores of fire balls light the night sky with an orange red glow. His jaw dropped at the sight of many fireballs crashing down on his own city.
The fireballs smashed into the streets, hit multiple structures and homes. Fire began to spread as more fireballs were launched at his city. Each flaming ball of death came crashing into the city causing fires to rise, panic as people screamed with fear. People ran out of their homes to put the fires out while some came out of their house on fire. Guards, and the Watch raced to the gate as the bells rang from the churches signalling their city was under siege. No one was safe during a siege like this. Especially when the ones laying siege sent fire balls of death down upon your settlement. He had seen this before when he was younger in another city. That was when he was just a small boy of six years old. Most of his family had already passed on or lived somewhere else. Memories of that day never left him. Tonight only reminded him that nightmare no little boy should witness. As the fireballs rained down on this city he left the balcony to help put out the fires.
Outside of his home, which was an apartment complex he witnessed the horrors of a siege. Fire balls came down like an endless wave. People screamed with fear, others ran for their lives, some cowered against the walls, many of them raced to get water to put out the fires. There were those unfortunate souls who were hit by the flaming balls. Several rolled down the streets setting fire to some buildings, objects, and rolling over bystanders. He picked up a bucket when one hit the ground next to him exploding. Flames and shrapnel hit him along with the blast. The man was pushed back and slammed against a wall. Everything went dark as he was knocked unconscious. In an uncomfortable position he lay there until he was rudely awaken with a jab in the rib. As he opened his eyes he saw the attackers of his city and finally entered. The two attackers grabbed him as his hearing came back. Sounds of battle could be heard just feet from his location. Most of the city guard, watch and militia were fighting to defend the rest of the city.
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