Menachem immediately frowned, certain the kid was messing with him. He took out the cloth. "Then why?"

"Ye're a pirate, an' yer gonna make me walk the plank!"

Menachem stared then laughed. "No.. I'm not. And I don't have a plank. I am a man of circumstances. Now, I snuck into your dad's house to see if he had anything valuable. You'd be surprised how often people who are poor have some family heirloom and they just keep it in a drawer or something. Better to sell it and help out their family, but I guess the connection to it is important or something."

He wasn't sure but then looked at the kid and ruffled his hair. "I kidnapped you because I could. Now when I let you go, you can make up some story about how you fought your way tooth and claw. Right?"

Bram nodded innocently.

He was super going to the constable straight.

Menachem sighed as he sat back. He waited and yawned a little. "You should sleep, it's late. I'll letyou go in a few hours."

"My father must be worried, ser..." Bram said.

Menachem rolled his eyes. "Fine. Give it another ten minutes then."

Bram sat and waited.

Menachem looked at him. "You aren't scared of me, are you? Even though I knocked your own dad down."

"You ain't a real pirate." Bram explained.