Xoriat sat in the back of the Boar and Moon tavern, nestled in a dark booth as he plotted his next move.  None knew him and he recognized no one himself.  All that had happened so far had seemed exceedingly odd, and his current situation felt like a bad dream.

It felt like a bad dream.  Joseph Luella had gotten turned around in the city before, but never this badly.  He didn't recognize any of the streets, despite traversing them regularly.  His head began to ache just thinking about it.  Perhaps he had been drugged or maybe this was an elaborate prank.  Either way, those he spoke to referred to the city as "Paridon", pronounced "PAIR-ih-dun" in some unidentifiable accent.  He'd never heard of the place, but they did speak the same language.  His head began to pound again as he tried to understand what was going on.

A man with all the bearing and manners of a rodent suddenly skittered across the tavern.  His sharp features and beady eyes leered at Joseph and Xoriat, whose booths abutted one another, back to back.

"Gentlemen," he said, his voice stereotypically oily, "Could I interest you in some fine baubles?  Something for yourself, or a lady friend perhaps?"  With this he spread his dark cloak to reveal a variety of rings, pendants, bracelets and chains, all pinned neatly for display within its folds.  "I've got quite the selection," he continued.  "Perhaps this one which has recently graced my inventory?"  The man's twitchy fingers pulled forth a locket, silver with fine filagree.  The decoration was that of a stylized lilly over a full moon.  Joseph immediately recognized it as his daughter's locket.

...the locket!  An image flashed in Xoriat's mind, unbidden and disconnected from any other thoughts or memories.  It graced a long neck, without a face, nestled just below the intimate indention of a pale collarbone.  Music played in the background, familiar music but a tune he couldn't quite catch.  He came back to his senses in time to see the other man, with his finely tailored clothing and tall hat resting in his lap, showing a keen interest in that very same article of jewelry.

"Well?" said the fence, obviously pleased to have encountered a seller's market.  "What'll it be?"