by Chris Labonville

A warm wind sent the thick canopy of leaves into a tremble, showering the forest floor with a rain of vibrant green leaves. Elven Haven was a lush place, filled with various trees and unique animals. It was one of the few places in Calimshan where such things could be found.

Nestled into the east side of Calimport, Elven Haven is a haven for members of the elven race from the South. Magic is used to keep plants and animals in the area, allowing them to flourish. Wonderfully quaint cottages, and strange treehouses provide those who live there with unique dwellings they call home.

At the heart of the haven, is a beautiful clearing, decorated with flowers and shrubs. To one side is the Elders Hall, a large cottage set between two wondrous oaks. To the other is the Fairie's Reach, a strange building that's home to a wizards conclave. Between the two is a large statue of a valiant looking elf. From a fountain trickles a steady flow of clear blue water.

On this day, a group of elven children were gathered before the statue, laughing and clapping in appreciation of the day's entertainment. Their parents were nearby with full purses and loose strings, not expecting any trouble within elven wood. The source of their mirth was a small monkey, swinging and jumping around the statue while waving an extravagant purple hat in the air. Across from the audience was a jovial fellow who wore gaudy robes of purple, waving his fists and yelling playfully at the monkey.

Kestra glanced from the children, to their parents, then back to the monkey. He always had been known to put on a good show. Kestra was a bard, now guildless since the fall of the Crimson Shade, but that didn't bother him. Now he could claim all the money he brought in, not just a small share. A smile briefly crossed his face as he began to circle the statue, moving towards the children. A blur of movement, and Kestra was flat on his face, eating dirt. All part of the act as the monkey scooted down and around his ankles, tossing the hat to the children.

The children roared with laughter, one young girl catching the hat with a giggle. Her parents looked over as she rose to hand the man his hat, even the elders found themselves smiling at this strangely dressed fellow and his monkey.

Kestra smiled as he stood, his hand lightly gripping the edge of the hat while he jumped. His hand moved quickly, and the hat tumbled up and onto the girl's head, seemingly by accident. He fell to the side as the monkey stood behind him with a smile, pinching with its fingers. The children and elders alike were laughing. The girl just stood there, giggling.

The monkey did a small little dance, then ran up one side of Kestra and down the other, twirling about the girl and snatching the hat with a chattering sound. The lass squealed in delight as the monkey took to running in and out of the crowd of elders that had gathered. The children rolled in fits of mirth as the man chased after the monkey with his hat.

After nearly five minutes of these exaggerated antics, the monkey bolted from the clearing and climbed up a tree. Kestra at the crowd with a sigh. " Well, looks like I've lost myself another hat," he said. "I rather liked that hat." With that he wandered into the woods, looking to be in a pout and leaving behind him a round of applause and fading chuckles.

Little did the elves know it, but the monkey had relieved them of their purses as he ran among them. But they would know soon enough. Kestra didn't wait long before he ran from the woods of Elven Haven, jumping over a small wall, that landed him in Halfling Shires. Slipping into a small niche in the wall, he took off his disguise and walked away leisurely. He would meet Sebastion, his monkey, at the north side of Halfling Shires. It had taken him years to train Sebastion properly, yet this time, it had worked better than he had hoped.

The monkey ran between the trees, swinging between branches, with the hat tucked into its grasp. It leaped over the wall, ran between hillocks, under fences, over small cottages, and then stopped just as it reached the appointed spot. It crouched into a small bush, and sifted through the items. Much more than just coin in this take. It chattered quietly and peered out just in time to see Kestra approaching the bushes.

Moving into the cover of the shrubs, Kestra reached down to pat Sebastion on the head and to take the hat into his care. He knelt down and began sorting through all the loot, a smile widening on his face. " My, my, Sebastion," he said. "You did better than I could have ever hoped. Purses and jewelry! I will reward you well tonight. "

He sorted quietly through the items, quite oblivious to the monkey behind him, a monkey that no longer looked so sweet and innocent.

It shifted behind him, nimble on it tiny feet, and slipped Kestra's dagger from his belt, who was too busy counting to notice the red gleam that came over the eyes of his so-called pet. Leaping up into the air, the monkey came down, driving the dagger into Kestra's spine, right at the base of the neck.

Monkeys are known for their great strength, and this one twisted and pulled the dagger right down to the small of the back, then thrust it in deeper. Kestra could only gurgle, not making much of a sound, except for the thud of his falling body. Sebastion stood on the mangled back of his former owner, and bent his arm back, biting one of his fingers.

Snap! The finger came off, as did the ring that was secured on it. The monkey spit out the finger but kept the ring in its teeth. It grabbed the hat and ran from the bushes, no one the wiser. It ran and leapt its way across the city, resting only when it reached the darkened alleys of Rogue's Prospect. It dodged into a small alley, a dead end alley, followed by silence.

Half an hour passed before a figure emerged from the alley, a woman with flowing movements dressed in red silks. She smiled as she tucked the strange purple hat into her silks, filled with various items of wealth, off now to a meeting with the person who had hired her. She would report that Kestra of the Crimson Shade, was no more. The proof still was in her mouth, being cleaned of any gore that may have been attached to it - simple black band with a crimson stone set in the middle, a simple guild ring.

She kept to her business but felt nonetheless quite unclean. She hated the monkey form above others she has taken, and hated it even more that she had had to use a weapon. So much did she want to feel his blood on her skin, his heart still pounding in her open palm. But on this job, it was done as easily and effectively as possible. She would cleanse herself later, in her meditation.