Hiding behind a brick wall, Clod watched the men looking for him run off in a different direction. He held the right side of his belly tightly, trying not to pass out. Looking down, he could see the dark splotch on the side of his tunic and could feel the blood oozing out of the wound. If he could have rested somewhere, maybe he could have wrapped up the wound, but being hunted as he was, Clod just dealt with the pain. It was not any worse than being kicked by a cow back on the farmstead.

Thinking back to his peaceful family home, Clod cursed ever having begged the master to take him to the city. This place was like a dung pile, with its vicious dwellers and outrageous prices. He still couldn't believe the price of that damn woolen tunic that one of the cloth merchants had tried to sell it for. He had almost punched the thieving bastard, who had called Clod a yokel, who knew nothing about fine wool or some crap. Shaking his head, he tried to focus, realizing his mind was wandering. Maybe it was the blood loss, but he was feeling dizzier than before and like his chest was hurting.

Stumbling through the muddy street, Clod regretted having ever crossed paths with the master. He had only met the stuck up noble many years ago, when they had both been youngsters and the lord they paid taxes to had come to exterminate a goblin tribe that had gotten too big. Master had already become a Chosen One at that time, and Clod remembered envying him and trying to kiss up to him to get out of that damn farm. Unfortunately, their paths had split up until the master came back from his travels, ready to do some big things. That was how Clod's father had put it, anyway.

His vision getting blurry, Clod threw up his dinner, becoming a little confused as he wondered why his mouth tasted so bloody. However, he tried not to loose focus, as he almost fell over. He remembered how his mother had always told him that he was too greedy for his own good. Clod wished he had listened, considering what led to him being chased like a dog. His master had sent him to pass on a message to some bard. But when he got the place, it ended up being whorehouse with more than a few willing women. Unfortunately, he learned after some fun, about the prices the damn whores were demanding. One thing led to another, and some shifty bastards had pulled a blade on him. Thankfully, he got away with most of what he had on him, especially with the gold he was supposed to hand over to the bard.

Feeling like he was going to pass out, Clod collapsed against a nearby wall, and he tried to force his eyes to stay open as looked at the cross streets he was at. He had no clue where he was, since this whole damned city was like a demon cursed maze. He didn't know what happened next, but the next thing he knew, he was lying on the ground and staring at the beautiful night sky spreading out above him. He remembered the same sky from back on the farm but wondered why he had hated it so much back then. Closing his heavy eyes to rest just for a bit, Clod remembered his family and them waving him goodbye as he trudged beside his master's horse away from home. He had only looked back once, something he regretted only now. Then, there was a sharp pain.