Day 17

	The second moon was moving away from the sun.  A glorious ring of light 
appeared on one side.  Slowly it grew in size until the ring became an arc, and 
the arc became a full circle, spreading light across the countryside of 
Dunnhizigyz.  Nick watched the eclipse ending.  It was a wonderful sight.  Since 
he was a child he hated the yearly week long eclipse, and this year had been a 
particularly bad one for him.  At least when he was a child he only had to worry 
about monsters under his bed.  Now it was fanatical Manotics, tricky 
Reflectionists, and whomever that guy was who stabbed him.
	He put his hand over his wound.  It was getting better, but it was the 
only thing that kept him from leaving this town yesterday.  Basarigon, as odd as 
he was, was hospitable enough to let Nick stay for one more night until the 
eclipse ended.  Besides, Nick was a little curious about the mysterious island 
of Kinshou.  He'd never met anyone from there.
	Nick got up and walked outside.  He was going to go to one of the local 
shops to get some breakfast, or was it lunch?  With the sun having just come 
out, it felt like morning even though it was the middle of the day.  People were 
unboarding their houses and checking out of the Inns.  Nick's thoughts turned to 
what kind of business deals he could make before he left, assuming he even felt 
like staying that long.  Suddenly, he heard a voice from a tavern close to him, 
"Thief!"  
	On instinct he darted to a small alleyway between two buildings across 
the way from the tavern.  He'd been called a thief and chased down plenty of 
times, but he wasn't the thief this time.  From the alleyway he saw a man 
frantically running from the tavern.  Before he could get very far two figures 
came seemingly out of nowhere.  They looked like knights, but wore a strange 
kind of black armor.  They were quick to beat the man to the ground and drag him 
away.
	Nick decided to forego lunch.  This town obviously didn't have much 
tolerance for . . . those trying to further their wealth in less than honest 
ways.  He went back to Basarigon's house to get his things so he could leave.  
When he got there and was about to open the door, he heard Basarigon talking to 
someone.  He put his ear to the door and listened.  
	Basarigon was speaking, "I don't have many events to report this week.  
This town's order hasn't been deteriorating much.  I got word that you've been 
quite busy."  The man he was talking to said, "Yes.  There was a whole town in 
disorder.  West Market.  We got some from the Shadow, the Twin Moons, and 
Spyre."  "Then you did have an eventful day, Signus."  "We also found two 
brothers outside the town settling a family dispute with violence, a violation 
of the 45th statute.  They were taken to the prison with the rest."  Basarigon 
nodded as he listened to Signus then said, "My men haven't caught much except a 
few thieves, vandals, and gamblers.  I have a feeling we will see many more 
statute violations, though.  Is there any news from the homeland, from Kinshou?" 
 Signus thought for a moment, then decided to relay only what he'd been told, 
"The F.H.E. is safely at bay for now."  "What about The Beloved?"  "No one knows 
yet."  Basarigon looked concerned, The Beloved was something most in Kinshou 
didn't even like to talk about, "That's fine.  Ushamo himself probably couldn't 
predict what will happen next.  But I suppose everyone has a lot of faith in 
Zochi.  Do you think he can succeed?"  Signus looked almost offended, "Mr. Zochi 
can bring order to Monic.  There is no one richer, wiser, or more able on this 
whole continent."
	Something Signus said caught Nick's attention.  Apparently this Mr. 
Zochi was the richest man in Monic.  Those are riches Nick wanted a chance to 
get a piece of.  He waited at a nearby Inn until he saw Signus leaving, and set 
out to follow him.