“The Shrouded Vale”
Episode 9: Profit and Pressure
April 1, 2025
Fingers moving with practiced precision, Tavi Falconheart begins the work carefully. One coin. Two. A third. About halfway through, he pockets his glimmering prize—thirty gold pieces, each one gritty and damp, but real.
He exhales, allowing himself a rare grin. But it doesn’t last.
The ceiling groans above. A long, grinding sound like the throat of the mountain clearing itself. The noise is closer now. The air thinner.
He eyes the remaining plates. More gold. Maybe thirty more. He could do it again—apply the same technique, disarm the traps safely, take what others would leave behind.
A memory plays out in his mind. An elder rogue from years past. Borra had tried the same thing once, back in the vine-choked ruins of Aelvarien. The overconfident thief had laughed as he leaned into a trap, muttering something clever about greed being a virtue—just seconds before losing both hands.
Tavi had saved Borra’s life that day. But it was a hard lesson for them both.
Thirty gold. Still breathing. A fair trade.
There’s still time—maybe grab a few extra coins on the way out. But not yet. Not until he’s free.