On The Run

Previously on Gielinor

(Brief summarry of The Lady in Black)

Lumbridge

Stan sat on his comfortable rocking chair, quietly sipping a cup of milky tea and considering the past day's events. What had Xenocrates come for? What bounty other than gold would she find in the Exchange? What secrets lay behind her veil? All of these questions ran through Stan's head as he stared into the depths of his marble fire. He knew one thing - if Xenocrates could escape, he would be on her bounty list.

But would she know where to look? She may ask for an elderly bank teller. Would that poor, poor person know him? Was Stan safe in his squalid little town? He looked out of his window at Lumbridge's daily ramblings. New adventureres came blinking into existence, and the souls of the dead culminated in Lumbridge courtyard. Stan dismised these worries and went over to the stove to make himself another cuppa.

Before he could do this however, there was a sharp knock on the door. Stan sauntered over and opened it half-way to check who it was. Standing on the door-step was a rather plump Varrockian Guard. He was humming to himself with his eyes closed, and was tapping his foot on the ground.

"Yes?" said Stan in a voice that was louder than he would have normally used. The guard stood bolt upright, clearly embarressed.

"I have a message from a politician in Varrock." He then handed over a scroll tied in a frilly blue ribbon over to Stan. He then casually marched over the river Lum, begining to skip as he did so.

Stan closed the door and sat down. Carefully he unfurld the scroll, placing the ribbon in his pocket. The first thing he noticed was the hand-writing. It was, in a way, perfect. It was not too posh, yet not too illedgible. There were no serifs, no curles and not a hint of a joint letter. He was more interested, however, in the contents of the letter itself.

''Dear teller,

''Our first meeting I felt was quite brief and abrupt. I will wish to meet you again, not to argue but to apologise for the fact that I had to kill your good colleague. You are a long-lived man, and your wisdom must have been gathered over a very interesting lifetime. I fear that soon you will forget me, and I do not wish to be forgotton by such a noble man. I suggest we meet in your home. Send this message back with that in-competant guard and we will be able to meet again. I am sure that my message is clear. ''

Your friend (and brief enemy),   Xenocritus 

Stan read through the note with dis-beleif. Was this the clinically insane woman that had attacked his place of work? Why were some of the words underlined? What did she mean by " I am sure that my message is clear. "? Then he had a brain-storm - he put the words together.

'' I will kill you very soon. I am sure my message is clear. Xenocritus ''

The game was up. Xenocrates (or "Xenocritus") was at large and there was only one thing Stan could do to avoid certain death.

Run.

'''I regret that I may not finish this episode due to my two-week holdiay to Cyprus begining Saturday 26th July. I will try my best.