Begged, Borrowed, or Stolen

The oldest trick in the book is to create a problem on purpose, solve it yourself, and look like the hero. One of the nobles just got word that some prized valuable was stolen from their estate while they were occupied here. It just so happens I might have put one of their servants up to it. Go talk to a man named Seridis over at the livery. He'll hand over the valuable to you, then you'll come back here and pretend you valiantly subdued the thief and retrieved the item. Everyone's happy.