The Way of Thieves

by K.N. Lee

  “Excuse you,” Vaeterno said, turning to Daimen.

  “There’s no need to excuse me,” Daimen responded.

  “Do you mind?”

  “No, I don’t mind at all. Thanks for asking.”

  “This is an enclosed room. Could you please wait to light that thing up when you’re outside?”

  “I could not, no.”

  “Besides, what in the blazes is that? Can’t you smoke your tobacco in a pipe like a normal person?”

  “I’m anything but normal,” Daimen said.

  “I’ve noticed,” Barron muttered.

  “Where were we?” a noble asked, clearing his throat.

  “We were discussing the export of petanium across Tynaereal. This season has been more demanding than most. While it hasn’t been requested as much from the Nobles Guild this year, it’s been on high demand with both the Assassins Guild and the Thieves Guild,” Barron said.

  Daimen raised an eyebrow. He’d finally heard something interesting. Most of their discussions had been where to export the minerals to, what the payments would be, and how much harder to push their miners.

  “Why is that, I wonder?” Daimen said.

  “Excuse me?” Barron asked.

  “Why are the Assassins Guild and Thieves Guild pushing so hard for the mineral?”

  “Why does it matter? All that matters is our profits are skyrocketing because of it.”

  “With the high demand, we should increase the price from three gold an ounce to five,” one of the nobles said.

  Several other nobles voiced their agreement.

  Vaeterno shook his head. “No. That jump is too high. We don’t want push back. And we need a story for why the price is spiking. We’ll tell them the demand is high, and we’re having a hard time reaching the demand with our current labor force. We’ll also tell them our current mines are running low. We’ll push it to four gold crowns an ounce for now, wait a couple of moon cycles, then push it up to five if it’s still in high demand. This way we can boost the claim that our mines are low and we have to open new mines, therefore justifying the higher price,” Vaeterno said.

  “Agreed,” the nobles responded.

  Daimen nodded his head, impressed by the logic given by the baron. But he was still concerned by the spike in demand of the mineral.

  “What is the mineral used for?” Daimen asked.

  “What mineral?” Vaeterno asked.

  “Petanium.”

  “Various different things. It can be mixed with several different types of metal to make it stronger. A lot of blacksmiths like to use it with additional metals and melted diamond to strengthen tools or weapons. It also has the added benefit to absorb energy when imbued with melted dragon scales.”

  “Wait … what do you mean?”

  “Dragon scales? Well you know how us non-magic folk have to use dragon scales as magic, correct? We can either grind them together to make potions, or smash them into powder to ingest, which tastes horrible, but this gives us limited magical abilities. Depending on the dragon scales, it can give us limited use of an element. The problem is, it doesn’t last long.”

  “You can also snort the powder,” another noble interrupted.

  Vaeterno cringed. “Yes, though that’s awful. However, it is the most powerful way to use dragon scales. Well, anyway, the effects are limited. Depending on how you use the dragon scales, the effects wear off after an hour or two, if not sooner. It allows us to temporarily sense the elemental spirits around us, but drains us excessively. With petanium, the dragon scales can be melted down with the mineral as well as other metal, to create items that can hold the dragon scale’s ability to capture elemental energy.

  However, instead of it draining from your body, it drains from the weapon, or pendant, or whatever you make. It still has a cool down time like the potion, where after using the magic from the item, it’ll work for an hour or two after activated, but then it will need to replenish over a few hours before it’s ready to use again. However, much more efficient than the potion, which completely wears off, and has horrible side effects with addiction, headaches, and drainage of energy.”

  “Interesting,” he said, brows furrowed. “Do you think the Assassins Guild and Thieves Guild are making weapons like this? Is that why they’re purchasing so much of the mineral?”

  Barron shook his head. “Not likely. While petanium can be used this way, it takes a very skilled master blacksmith to be able to accomplish it. There aren’t too many in all of Tynaereal who can pull it off. “

  He took another puff of his cigarette as he contemplated the news. Even if the baron and the other nobles of Utoplolios didn’t suspect something was going on, Daimen was no fool. There was a reason the mineral was being targeted. There was also a reason why out of all the nobles, the baron, the leader of Utoplolios had been gifted the magical pendant.

  On the outside, Utopolios was a run down, despicable city. However, the leader of the city had been given a pendant to protect his life from physical and magic attacks. He’d been given the pendant by the Sorcerers Guild. And he’d been given it for a reason. Daimen scrunched his lips as he leered across the room.

  He would need to inform the guild of the information he’d just learned.

  19

  The smell of old parchment and dust overwhelmed Brenden as he perused the library.

  It was dark, though not as dark as the library in Forscythe at night. In Forscythe, they didn’t use gaslamps at night. The thought of leaving gaslamps on in a library frightened people. Though, thieves didn’t read too many books, except, of course, books on great heists, or study guides on how to best infiltrate a stronghold. In fact, compared to the Forscythe library, the one in Kathrael looked like a mansion.

  Sorcerers, he supposed, didn’t need the use of gaslamps. They had something that was similar in outside appearance. It did look like the glass enclosure of a gaslamp, but instead of oil to light fire, or gas, there was a small ball of light, spiraling in its center. Brenden had found a way inside before it grew too dark, and was amazed as he watched the library’s lantern’s glowing orbs turn from white to red.

  It had changed shortly after the sun had set outside. Instead of the library being bright, it was now dull with the dozens of glowing lanterns glowing a deep red. He could still see fine, though everything he looked at had a reddish tint.

  Brenden was glad for the change though, as it meant he could more or less explore in the dark. At least no one would notice him in the dull red light as much as if it had stayed the bright white. The library wasn’t empty however, and he found himself doing his best to dodge the other sorcerers who perused the shelves. With how massive the library was, he had no idea where to start.

  First, he would need to determine what type of organization the books were in. There seemed to be no order, or none that Brenden could determine.

  He continued down the aisle, then turned down the next. He’d never seen so many books in his life, and he stared in awe at it all. All the spines were dark browns and blacks, and all were leather-bound. Each book only had one copy, and he noticed a few empty spots littered the shelves. They were probably the books that one of the sorcerers were borrowing. Brenden hoped no one was borrowing the book he needed.

  Brenden approached one of the books that intrigued him. It wasn’t too much different than the rest. Black leather bound with gold letters on the spine, but it was the text that intrigued him.

  Forscythe: A Land of Thieves

  He opened it up and began looking through it. At first, the pages were blank. But words began to fill the pages as he concentrated on it. He skimmed a few pages and learned that the book went into great detail about the forming of the city, as well as the formation of the Thieves Guild inside of Forscythe and their claim to power. It also referred to several other books to read for more information about the Thieves Guild specifically.

  “Looking for something in particular?” a voice asked.

  Brenden
tensed. He looked up from the text to see an elderly woman with a cane approaching him. She wore green robes and her eyes squinted as she neared.

  “No, I just find history fascinating,” Brenden admitted.

  “Ah, yes. There are many things we can learn in history. It’s a shame it doesn’t interest more people. If everyone took a keen interest to history, there would be far less problems in the world today. People would discover, I think, that history often repeats itself, and conquest to power never ends well, no matter how well thought out the plan initially is. It’s all there in the history books. Time and time again, some young fool, or even an old fool, mind you, thinks they can overcome what others cannot. And it’s always too late when they realize that they cannot.”

  “Mmm…”

  “What is your name? I don’t believe I’ve seen you before. And you’re not wearing the traditional robes. Black is it? Such a depressing color. In fact, without the sacramental sorcerer robes, one would think you’re in here up to no good.”

  Brenden shivered. “My name is Havar. I am slow learner. I have not been accepted yet to be a sorcerer. I am here to learn.”

  The woman raised her brows. “Ah, I see. Yes, you are slow. I can see that now. If you’re hoping to study the arts of magic, you’re in the wrong section.”

  “Oh,” Brenden said. He pointed to the books on the shelves in front of him. “History?”

  She nodded. “Magic is in that corner.” She pointed behind her.

  “Thank you,” Brenden said. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he walked past the woman toward where she pointed.

  “Oh, and Havar?”

  He flinched as he turned around.

  “You may want to study earth magic. The brown sect is the easiest to get into.”

  “Thank you,” he said, nodding to her before he scurried out of the aisle.

  When Brenden arrived to the corner section the old woman had mentioned, his jaw dropped. He had no idea there were so many books on magic. Intrigued, he pulled one off the shelf and glanced at the inside. It went into great detail about how to form a spell and it wasn’t that different from an alchemy book, but instead of potions and herbs, it was filled with mind techniques, and mind imagery to support the right ingredients to perform the spell.

  He put the book back, pulled out the scroll and studied the image of the book he needed once more. There was no information about the book. He didn’t know if he was looking for a history, alchemy, or magic book. But Brenden had his suspicions, as well as a pull into the magic section he was in. He wished he had his sister’s innate ability to know exactly what she was searching for.

  For the next several hours, he checked the spines of every book in the magic section of the library. At first, he’d hoped the books had been categorized by title, but he soon learned that wasn’t the case. There seemed to be no order to the chaos. He’d nearly given up, planned to hide out for another day and try again, when he spotted it.

  Reverium.

  It sat on the top of the second to last case. Brenden reached for it, but it was too far away. He hadn’t noticed any ladders or steps anywhere in the library. He looked around and didn’t see anyone. In fact, he hadn’t seen anyone in a while. He’d dodged around a few others after the old woman had questioned him. But now it seemed everyone else had gone home. And why shouldn’t they? They had access to the library any time they wanted.

  Brenden grabbed the shelf at eye level and pulled himself up. His right foot stepped onto the first shelf, pushing the books on it deeper. He stretched again, reaching for the higher shelf, and moved his feet to the next shelf up. Brenden stretched with all of his might and grabbed the book. He lost his grip and his foot slipped. His body crashed to the floor.

  It hadn’t made too much noise, but it had been enough to worry Brenden. He set the book on the ground, quickly fixed the books on the shelf to make it look like no one had been there, then he slipped out of the aisle. Brenden zigzagged through several aisles, clutching the book, as he made his way toward the exit. As he turned a corner, he bumped into something. The book fell from his grasp and crashed to the floor, opening.

  “What are you doing?” a man in red robes asked.

  “Sorry,” Brenden muttered.

  “Who are you?”

  “Havar. I’m sorry.”

  “Havar? I don’t know any Havar.”

  “I’m sorry,” Brenden said.

  He reached for the book.

  “What are you doing with that?”

  “Reading,” Brenden said. He tucked the book in his arm pit and stood.

  “That book doesn’t leave the library.”

  “I need to read. Read good,” Brenden said, trying to act incompetent.

  “Not that book you’re not.”

  Brenden ran.

  The sorcerer took a scepter out of his cloak, and pointed it toward Brenden.

  Brenden ducked and rolled as a sphere of red light blazed toward him. He crawled to an aisle, set the book on a shelf, retrieved his dagger and took a deep breath. Clutching his dagger tight, he stepped out of the aisle. The sorcerer didn’t miss a beat, and another sphere of magic soared toward Brenden.

  He wasn’t fast enough to move out of the way, but as the sphere came within an inch of him, it dissipated.

  Stunned, and breathless, he held his dagger steady and focused on the sorcerer. He needed to incapacitate him. A tingling feeling crawled up Brenden’s skin as the sorcerer tried another attack. Brenden slashed his dagger in the air to strike the sphere that flew toward him. It dissipated like the last, but an orange glow appeared in the shape of his dagger in its place.

  The magical dagger rotated in the air toward the sorceress until it struck his shoulder, making him cry out in pain.

  Bringing his dagger to his face, Brenden’s jaw dropped, as disbelief flooded his body.

  Had the dagger done something? Or was it the pendant around his neck?

  He shook his head as he sheathed the weapon, grabbed the book where he’d stashed it, and fled the library.

  20

  Keira scrubbed the elegant dress with soap, then pushed it back into the pail of water.

  She made sure to rinse thoroughly before ringing it out and hanging up the satin dress. Keira didn’t much enjoy doing laundry, but it made the perfect cover for her to watch the inside of the keep. The baroness was cruel with a high opinion of herself.

  Keira disliked the woman, but she was glad she was stuck up because if she’d been a nicer noble, she may have noticed the former servant disappearing. Keira did make sure to replace herself with a servant with similar facial structure to her own, but if the baroness had been a kind woman, she might have noticed. To the baroness, a servant was a servant, and she didn’t bother to try and learn names. It was almost as if servants didn’t stay long with the family. Keira could see why.

  She finished the laundry before going back inside the keep to begin on her cleaning. Keira cleaned the baron and baronesses’ room every day. She also kept up with the dusting in the halls and a few spare rooms as well as sweep. It wasn’t a hard job, but there was a lot to it. The servants stayed away from each other. Each person doing their own task, but none of them spending any time with each other. It was a quiet life. Keira did not want to stay long. She liked social interaction, and the baron’s keep was the furthest from social.

  Keira was quite impressed with the conditions of the keep. From looking at the outside of the building, as well as all of Utopolous, she assumed it would be as awful on the inside. But, she’d been pleasantly surprised. It was obvious it was because of the hired help, and the few slaves as well, not the nobles, who were to thank for the pristine condition of the inside of the keep.

  Near the keep was relatively nice as well, but it still appeared a little run down. Keira imagined the keep was maintained so well to look like pleasant to the eye to anyone who visited the baron. From what she could gather, they mined an important mineral from the mountains.

/>   A mineral so important that it was the financial backbone of the Nobles Guild. Keira wondered what would happen if the city of Utopolous would fall. Then she began to wonder if anyone had actually thought about it. The nobles were rich, and most of their wealth had to do with the mineral being exported from Utoploous, yet, the city was a joke. It would take little force to overrun it. Keira began to wonder if that was the very reason she’d been called upon to steal the pendant. If the pendant did as she imagined it did, if the baron lost it, he would be left without any protection. Anyone could storm into the city with enough men.

  Vaeterno ran a lot of errands throughout the day. He attended several meetings every day, and made a few trips into the city at least three times a week. Keira never saw him alone. A man in blue robes followed him wherever he went. Keira knew this to be the sorcerer. She knew the baron would be hard to reach with the sorcerer watching his every move. And the sorcerer was attentive, much more than the baron.

  The sorcerer didn’t trust anyone. Not the baron’s friends, other nobles, or even the servants. He questioned everyone, and inspected them for weapons when approaching the baron. Keira learned to leave her weapons hidden when nearing the baron. The sorcerer had inspected her once, and it sent chills down her spine.

  Keira hoped to find the pendant inside of the baron’s room. But she’d cleaned it over a dozen times now, and scoured the room in its entirety. She’d searched every nook and cranny, including any hidden compartments, which she’d found several. However, there was nothing of interest in the hidden compartments. All she found were love letters between the baron and his mistress that he hadn’t wanted his wife to find. Ironically enough, Keira also found letters between the earl and the baroness that suggested they were just as guilty.

  She would need to find a way to separate the baron and the sorcerer. Keira watched their every move every chance she had. She learned the right times to clean each room to have the best access to spying on them. They left every morning for breakfast, attended several meetings, came back for lunch, then ended up leaving again for dinner. Some nights they ate dinner with other nobles, but one day a week they would have the other servants bring the dinner to their room. With that dinner came a new container of whiskey, which she knew the two of them indulged in. She knew because one time she was sure to accidentally stumble in while they were eating and drinking.