The door to the bar suddenly burst open and a young man bearing his lyre dashed out, as he took the right side. He clearly seemed to be running for his life but did not care to worry about it.
Just then, the door opened again and a fat man dashed out as he yelled at the top of his voice. "Stop that thief!"
A patrol of officers were approaching from the left and upon hearing that there was a thief in the area, their eyes lit up with so much excitement at the prospect of making their catch.
"Whoever gets him first gets tonight's honorary seat with Lady Sue." Their leader said and instantly they felt rejuvenated.
They all took to their heels in pursuit of the said thief.
Meanwhile, the man from earlier was still running as he dashed into the market area. What better place to blend in than where there would be a lot of crowd.
"Out of my way!" He yelled as he pushed through people.
"You idiot!" A man he bumped into yelled at him.
"Sorry!" The man said as he kept running.
He approached a trader with various fruits on display and as he passed, he grabbed an apple.
"Lysander! That's thievery!" The trader yelled.
"Consider it your donation to the free music I would play at your daughter's wedding." He said.
"My daughter's already married!" The trader yelled.
Lysander slowed down as he thought of something.
"Well, your granddaughter then." He said as he bit into the apple.
Just then, the officers poured in and they were already looking for him. One asked someone who turned out to be the man he had bumped in from earlier and he pointed in his direction.
"Uh-oh." Lysander said as he started running again.
This time, the entire place was in disarray as everyone was getting pushed roughly out of the way by the officers. Lysander was thinking of a way around this as his eyes frantically searched for a way out. He could hear his blood pounding in his ears and his heart was racing.
No way was he going to let them catch him now. The last time, he took a hundred lashes and was confined for a week.
He saw an opening and made for it but just then, the leader of the officers emerged from the other side.
"Going somewhere?" He asked Lysander.
"Who? Me? Absolutely not." He said as he turned back to find the officer approaching him as they were trying to circle him.
They were practically breathing through their teeth as they glared at the man that has had them running around like mad men for the last ten minutes.
Lysander smiled through his teeth. No one was impressed.
"Alright, you got me. But hey, what happens now?" He asked as he was backing away towards a pile of hay.
"Right now, you're coming with us and you'll be punished. I suggest you cease the dramatics and come with us." The leader said.
"Fine." Lysander said.
"Get him." The leader said to his men.
Just as they were approaching him, Lysander suddenly secured his lyre over him as he spun round and started running up the pile of hay in a quick sprint until he made his way to the top. As the hay pile began to collapse, Lysander launched upward, leaping for the roof.
The hay gave way and fell on the officers while Lysander was trying to find balance. He was dangling by the roof edge as he tried to get his foot up.
"What are you morons waiting for? Get that idiot!" The leader yelled at his officers and they managed to get up.
Everyone of them was covered in hay and about three were spitting bits of it that had gotten into their mouth.
One who seemed really pissed about everything found his bearing as he marched towards Lysander with the determination set on capturing the thief. The moment he approached, Lysander suddenly kicked with all his weight against his face, using that force to heave himself onto the roof.
"Thank you, buddy. And with that, I think showtime is over. See ya." He said as he saluted and then started running through the roof until he made his jump.
The officer in charge of course did not find this funny and looking back now, he could see the damage the chase had made to the market.
"Bunch of nitwits!" He yelled at his men as he started approaching the market people who were huddled around. "Who knows where that man lives?"
No one answered. They all stood there like he was not making any sense.
"Does anyone have any information on that thief?" He demanded yet again.
"No. Do you know him?" A trader asked.
"Not at all." The man he had stolen his apple said.
"Liar! Sir, I think I heard something about him." The aggravated man from earlier said as he stepped forward.
"Tell me." The leader said to him.
"They called him Lysander." He said.
"They? Who are they?" The leader demanded.
"Him. I heard him call him Lysander." The man said as he pointed at the fruit seller.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The man said.
"You don't know but trust me, you will eventually. Bring him along, men." The leader said as he started walking away.
The officers went over and they grabbed the trader roughly. When he tried protesting, they struck him really hard and then started dragging him away.
An awkward silence fell over the crowd with everyone too stunned to speak. No one dared to speak out of fear but everyone was staring daggers at the snitch who stood before them like he had won a jackpot.
"What? Is it now a crime to report a criminal?" He demanded.
However, Lysander had made it through and he started running away. He had absolutely no idea of what was happening back at the market as he had a destination set on his mind.
The moment he arrived at the village, he started walking until he came to the house he was seeking.
He entered and there was a woman crying over a little girl that lay immovable on a mat.
"Lysander?" She whispered as she turned over to look at him.
"How is she?" He asked as he came to squat beside her.
"Worse. The healer says if we don't make the payment, he's not going to come see her. Her father went to the market to raise something but I don't think it would be enough." She said to him,
"Don't worry, Mari Lue would be fine. Here, I brought this for her." He said as he reached behind his pocket and then handed her a coin pouch.
She took it from him, skepticism written all over her face as she peered into it.
A gasp escaped her as her eyes widened.
"This is too much. Where did you get it from?" She asked him.
"Don't worry, the man who lent it to me has more than enough." He said as he winked suggestively and rose up. He clearly was feeling good about his successful Robin Hood venture.
"Did you steal it?" She asked him. "I don't want you getting into trouble for this?"
"Whenever have you heard that Lysander the lyre player stole?" He asked as he started backing away.
"Thank you." She whispered as a tear dropped from her eye. She clutched the coins close to her chest like it was going to run away if held lightly.
And with that, he turned away from the home. He had a place in mind where he was going to stay and rest for the night and that was his favourite baobab tree.
He climbed it and then brought his lyre to his front as he started playing a really sad tune in it. His mind, far away as he let himself sail in the moment. Shortly after, Lysander reclined as he started sleeping from where he hung his legs.
**** **** ****
Meanwhile, Martyn went back home to his house after the drama at the market. He felt really angry as he had not been able to raise the money for his daughter's treatment. After what had happened, no one was ready to help him.
His wife was outside pacing around and he was instantly worried as soon as he spotted her.
"Has something happened? Where is Mari Lue?" He demanded.
"Easy, husband. The healer is with her." She responded.
"The healer? What do you mean? I thought he would be needing over half the funds to lay his hands on her?" He demanded.
"Well, I paid in full." She responded and when he tried to go inside, she stopped him. "He must not be disturbed."
"But how?" He asked her.
She smiled brightly.
"Fate shone on us today. Lysander came and he gave me the money." She said to him,
"Lysander?" He asked, his eyes widening.
"Yes. The lyre player. You might not know him but he is a young man with this white lyre and short..." She started speaking when he cut her off.
"...short spiky hair. Purple eyes?" He asked.
"Yes. Did you meet him?" She asked.
He suddenly fell to his knees in shock.
"No but I think I have betrayed him." He said.
"How?" She asked, kneeling beside him.
"I snitched." He muttered, his mouth quivering as his eyes moved rapidly.
**** **** ****
"Lysander! Lysander!!" A young boy called after him.
He woke up as he looked down from where he was sleeping on the tree.
"What is it, Saka?" Lysander asked through sleepy eyes.
"It's grandpa. The guards took him." He said.