Fountain

The alluring siren song of the cool water becomes to much to overcome. Your canteen has been empty for two full rotations of the sun and you've been **** to lick the dew off the grass and suck the sweat from your rags just to keep up the energy to move. The fountain's water could no doubt refuel your body and refill your canteen. Plus, any coins you recover could be useful on the return trip or, if it comes down to it, buying off a mercenary.

With your mind made up, you sneak out of the shadows and hurry to the water. You are in the open, which you certainly don't like, so this has to be quick. You drop to your knees almost before you reach the fountain's edge. You quickly dip your hand in the water and scoop some of the crystal clear liquid to your lips. It's what water from the heavens must taste like, you decide. Whether it's from your near-delirium from lack of water or if Athenapolis water simply is better than everywhere else, you don't know. All you do know, is that you want more. You scoop your hands back into the water for more.

Suddenly, a rough hand grabs the back of your head and shoves your head under the water. You gurgle in surprise, unable to get a breath of air before being submerged. A thousand glittering coins shine up at you from the bottom of the fountain. You thrash and fight until the hand, now tightly grabbing your hair, yanks your head back out of the water. You greedily suck in a lungful of air before the hand slams you down onto the road. Stars explode behind your eyes.

"Skewer that brat!" A deep voice said from above you. You fight past the disorientation of the hit and see two large, muscled men standing over your body, uncivilized, jagged swords in their beefy paws.

"He doesn't look like he's from here..." The other said slowly.

"Does it matter?" The other gruffly replied. "Just impale him and be done with it!"

"Wait!" You cry out. "I'm not here to fight! Please!" You hold your hands out pleadingly. You can't die now...not before getting to Eudora. You at least want to see her one last time.

"He sure begs like he's one of those fucking Athenapolites." The gruff man said. "Is that enough proof for you? Now slit his miserable throat." The other man nodded and lifted up his sword. Your eyes widen in fear.