The Way of Thieves

by K.N. Lee

  “Is it ready?” Mirabelle asked.

  Brenden glanced over the execution again before nodding, holding the Scepter of Reverum high. “I believe so.”

  “Excellent,” Mirabelle said.

  Brenden released the spell. The static noise from around him disappeared and silence filled the air. Everyone held their breath as a beautiful rainbow shattered all around Brenden, and colors sprang through the air in every direction. A tingling sensation traveled through Brenden’s body as he was thrown onto the ground. He glanced around and noticed it had done the same to everyone else. Hundreds of people laid on the ground.

  Keira was on the ground as well, and Brenden was tempted to rush after her, but Mirabelle’s on was on him after an instant.

  “Did it work?” Uriah asked.

  “Let’s find out,” Mirabelle said. “Bring out the prisoner.”

  Brenden’s brow furrowed as he looked for who they were talking about. Keira gasped behind him. He turned to look at his sister. Her eyes were wide, mouth agape, and face horror-stricken. Whoever this prisoner was, she knew him. Two thieves brought a young man, a noble by his attire, though it was stained and bloody now, to Mirabelle. Mirabelle’s face lit up with glee as she saw the young noble.

  “Benedict, it is good to see you,” Mirabelle purred.

  The young noble didn’t speak.

  Mirabelle strode up to him. She held a dagger in her hand. She kissed the noble’s lips, then stepped back, and slit his throat. He gagged, his eyes growing wide, then he sagged to the ground, blood gushing all over the ground.

  Cheers erupted all around Brenden as he watched the scene with horror-struck eyes.

  “It is done!” Mirabelle yelled. “The nobles are no longer protected!”

  She looked over to Brenden and Keira, a sinister smile appearing across her face. “Kill them.”

  Brenden was weakened from the spell, but he had enough energy and sound of mind to release the scepter, letting it clang to the ground, as he spun around and ran in the opposite direction. Everything around him turned into slow motion. He saw the dagger pressed against Keira’s neck. He saw who was holding it.

  Uriah—the man he had trusted.

  The man he had called father.

  Brenden clenched his teeth, then released a massive blast of energy he’d been holding in.

  Ice swirled through the atmosphere, turning a light blue as it connected with Uriah’s forehead. His entire body froze in place as Brenden dashed toward them. He grabbed Keira’s hand, and dragged her behind him. More energy swirled around him, and he gathered it all in. He let go of another blast, this time it was firelight, and it slammed into over a dozen thieves surrounding them.

  Brenden pulled Keira with him to the two wyverns who had pulled the wagon back to Forscythe. He threw Keira on top of one, then jumped on behind her.

  “You were right, Keira,” Brenden whispered. “We never belonged here.”

  He jerked the reins of the beast, causing the creature to leap into the sky. The wyvern wouldn’t be able to travel far with two people on its back, but anywhere was better than Forscythe.

  They had stayed well past their welcome.

  50

  Areshia was as far as they made it before their wyvern could travel no longer.

  It was dark, and Keira clung to Brenden as they slipped through the shadows. Fear crept up her spine. Mirabelle had killed Benedict.

  Benedict!

  He was a nice young man. Keira had met him several times, and the last time she’d seen him was in his bed before she slipped out of the covers. And why had they killed them? For no other reason than to see if they could. Rage filled her, but she could do nothing. The Thieves Guild was too powerful. Especially now.

  “Where do we go, Brenden?” she asked.

  Brenden stopped running. His breath came in gasps. Their wyvern had crash landed just north of Areshia by the lake. They’d snuck into the city, and were heading south to the exit. They couldn’t stay in Areahia. It was too close to the Thieves Guild.

  “I don’t know,” he answered.

  “We can’t stay here. They will find us.”

  “I know. I don’t know of anywhere where we would be safe. With that spell they forced me to do, they will be coming after the Nobles Guild and possibly the Sorcerers Guild. I don’t know who else to turn to.”

  “What about the Assassins Guild, or the Merchants Guild?” Keira asked.

  Brenden shook his head. “The Merchants Guild works too closely with the Thieves Guild. They would betray us. The assassins … well, I don’t trust them. And I’m a little concerned about going to them.”

  “Why?” Keira asked.

  He shrugged. “Well, if I was in Mirabelle’s shoes, and I wanted to eliminate the nobles …”

  “You would hire the Assassins Guild,” Keira finished.

  Brenden nodded. “I don’t think anywhere is safe.”

  “What about the wildlands?” she asked.

  He seemed to ponder this one for a moment. “I can’t imagine anyone wanting to go there. The people there are uncivilized, and prefer to stay that way. We may be able to hide there for a time, but if the Thieves Guild destroys the Nobles Guild, then comes after the Sorcerers Guild … it will only be a matter of time.”

  Keira tensed. Her eyes widened. “What about the Vaerians?”

  “The Vaerians? Surely you can’t be serious. They’re demons.”

  “I know they’re a bit off-putting, especially their appearance. Blood-red skin gives me the creeps as well, but think about it, Brenden. Even if the Thieves Guild takes over all of Tynaereal, they’ll likely stay away from the vaerians. They’re scared of them.”

  “Kiera … everyone is scared of them.”

  “I’ve met a couple before,” Keira admitted.

  “When?” Brenden asked.

  “It was a couple years ago. I have a mission in Deseria, and a few of them were there to trade. They aren’t as scary as you think. In fact, the few I had a chance to talk to were very kind.”

  “Don’t they live in the northwest in caves and dungeons?” Brenden asked.

  “Yes. They live underground. At least, as far as I know.”

  “Well, we might be safer underground, but I don’t like the idea of it.”

  Kiera’s eyes lit up. “Are you willing to give it a chance?”

  Brenden nodded. “We don’t have anywhere else to go.”

  She grinned.

  “I wish we would have decided this sooner. We could have went around the north mountains by the sea and gotten closer with the wyvern.”

  Keira frowned. “Yes, I know.”

  “The question is, do we cross through the mountains? Or do we travel south to the coast and travel around?”

  “I think we should cross through the mountains,” Keira said.

  “It’ll be a perilous path.”

  Keira gulped. “Yes, but the Thieves Guild won’t look for us there. If we continue down the river, they’ll search for us. If we sneak into the mountains and hide our trail … it should buy us more time.”

  Brenden nodded. “I agree. Let’s go.”

  They wasted no time as they departed the city and traveled west. When they reached the river, Brenden paused. Keira nearly crashed into him, but stopped abruptly.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  Clapping echoed in the distance.

  “Uriah,” Brenden grumbled through clenched teeth.

  “It’s good to see you too, son.”

  “I am not your son.”

  “No, you are not. My son wouldn’t have so much compassion.”

  “Why?” Brenden asked. “Why have you done this to us? Why raise us if you were planning to kill us. How could you look us in the face every morning, knowing what you planned to do.”

  Uriah shrugged. “I did as I was commanded.”

  “That doesn’t make it right!” Brenden yelled.

  “Perhaps not. But one does not simply disobey M
irabelle. As you will find out.” Uriah unsheathed his sword.

  “Wait,” Brenden said.

  “What?” Uriah asked.

  “Who are our parents?” Brenden asked.

  “It doesn’t matter. They’re both dead. I killed them.”

  Brenden tensed. Keira’s eyes bulged. Her blood ran cold. She knew it. All this time. Keira had had nightmares for years, but they’d increased in the last two years. Every one of them had Uriah either killing her parents or killing her. Brenden had wondered why she spoke of or visited Uriah less and less, but she couldn’t. And now, she learned it was all true. First their parents, and now them. Everything had been true.

  “What were their names?” Brenden asked through clenched teeth.

  Uriah smiled. “Aridian and Miranya.”

  “Miranya…” Kiera murmured under her breath.

  She recognized the name, but it took her a moment to realize where she’d seen it. Her eyes widened. The journal. She’d forgotten about the journal. Her senses had led her to it. Could it truly be her mother’s journal?”

  “Why did you kill them?”

  Uriah shrugged again. “They had the blueprints we needed.”

  “Blueprints?” Brenden asked.

  Uriah’s face split in a grin from ear to ear. “Yes, the blueprint you used to cast that spell.”

  Kiera’s heart sank.

  Uriah’s laughter echoed all around them. “Ironic, isn’t it? The spell your parents developed to protect all the nobles and sorcerers of Tynaereal … you have reversed. All the hard work your parents did to make that spell are for naught … all because of you.”

  Brenden growled.

  “You know, I’m sorry I have to do this. I love you like a father.”

  “Love us like a father? You killed our real father!” Kiera yelled.

  Brenden and Kiera rushed toward Uriah. The older thief was quick. He side-stepped the two of them, slapping both of their weapons to the ground in two solid strikes. Kiera and Brenden repositioned themselves and came at Uriah again. But he was ready. No matter how quick they fought against Uriah, he was able to defend against the two of them. Keira didn’t know he was such a skilled sword-master, but she wasn’t surprised. He had hidden a lot of things from them.

  Brenden escaped the brunt of Uriah’s attacks, leaving Kiera to face him alone. At first, she was scared, but soon she grew her confidence, and was able to parry against him. It wasn’t easy, and his attacks came swifter than most of her deflections, but she was managing. He’d sliced a minor wound into each of her arms, but other than that—she was holding her own. Brenden on the other hand, began tossing magical spheres of light toward Uriah. Each sphere simply bounced off of him. It didn’t affect the thief. Each magical attack simply dissipated as soon as it touched the old thief.

  Uriah pushed forward, slamming his sword into Kiera’s short sword, then punching her in the face. She slammed to the ground, hard. Her sword fell away from her, and it was out of her reach as she stared up at him. He reached into his shirt and pulled out a dragon pendant necklace that he let hang in front of him.

  “I thought the spell reversed all pendants,” Brenden snarled.

  Uriah shook his head. “No. You see, your parents were talented, but even they could not find a way to make a protection spell for everyone. It only protects all nobles. And some sorcerers, we’re unsure. However, we’re only concerned about the nobles. And you, reversed their spell. The pendants are only useless on nobles. For me, it works just fine.”

  Brenden tossed Kiera a sword. She caught it in the air as she stared at Brenden with confusion.

  “Cut the pendant from his neck,” Brenden hollered as he tackled Uriah from the side.

  Uriah’s blade reached down and cut Brenden into his stomach.

  Kiera’s mouth dropped open. Brenden was hurt. And she continued to stand there, unknowing what she should do.

  “His pendant …” Brenden repeated through gritted teeth.

  Kiera snapped back to attention. She stepped forward, slashing the sword in an uppercut. The necklace cut free, and the blade nicked Uriah’s chin before the man spun around, and threw a dagger into Kiera’s shoulder.

  She screamed. The pain tore through her, and she had a hard time concentrating as she collapsed onto the ground.

  A blast of green magic slammed into Uriah, and he flew through the air and onto the ground. Another blast of magic struck him, red this time, and his entire body caught aflame. Then a blast of blue magic struck the old man, momentarily freezing him in place. Brenden strode over to him, grabbing Kiera’s fallen short sword on the ground, and plunged it into Uriah’s chest.

  The thief collapsed onto the ground, his eyes growing wide.

  Kiera crawled on her hands and knees closer to Uriah, a dagger in her hands. If Uriah was weak, she planned to end him once and for all. And if she did, perhaps her nightmares could finally stop. When she nearly reached him, a red aura left his body, and fluttered above him, shattering into nothingness.

  Brenden stood over him, short sword in hand. His head tilted as he regarded the man they had once considered a father. He held his hand out, helping Kiera to her feet.

  Tears began to form in Uriah’s eyes. He looked up at the top of them, tears streaming down his cheeks.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry?” Brenden asked.

  Uriah’s eyes crossed. “I wanted to save you two. I didn’t want to harm you. I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Brenden said.

  “And you shouldn’t. But listen to me … I’ve been under a spell. Mirabelle isn’t as she seems.” He gagged.

  “What do you mean?” Brenden asked.

  Uriah continued to gag, coughing out blood.

  “What do you mean Mirabelle isn’t as she seems?” Brenden repeated.

  “She is a sorceress.”

  “A sorceress?” Brenden asked.

  But Uriah didn’t respond. His eyes closed and his breathing slowed. He wasn’t dead yet, but he wouldn’t last much longer.

  “We need to leave,” Kiera said.

  Brenden nodded. He wrapped his arm around Keira’s shoulders, and the two of them left Uriah dying in the darkness.

  They didn’t know where their journey would lead, but at least they had each other.

  Epilogue

  Quinn knelt next to the body.

  His blood was warm, but he was no longer there. By his attire, he was a thief. She searched the area for any tracks. Whoever had committed the crime had done a good job concealing themselves. Quinn had to give them credit. However, she was talented at finding people. She reached out with her senses.

  Earth elements were all around her in the air. She harnessed them, directed them, commanded them. Dust collected, and sprinkled to the ground. Footprints formed on the ground. The footprints themselves were gone, but her magic had directed the dust to collect on recent footfalls. She saw two sets of footprints, one wide, and one thinner—that of a woman, and they both led to the river.

  Not wanting them to escape, she swiftly got to her feet and followed them. She looked at the large river. It flowed south and into the sea. If they had a boat, they could travel near Tulini, but that didn’t feel right.

  Quinn wrapped the air element around her, and used it to levitate to the other side of the river. She gathered the dust particles once again, and when they settled, she saw footprints leading west, toward the mountains.

  “Why did you flee into the mountains?” she whispered.

  She took one last glance at the footprint, then released her power, letting the dust do as it wished again. It stayed over the footprints, but one light wind would blow them away, making the footprints untraceable again. She looked to the sky. Gray clouds covered the darkness, hiding the stars in the night. The storm would wash them away.

  Quinn ambled into the mountains. She couldn’t continue to use her ability. The magic would drain her, and she needed all the energy she could to
track the two of them, and to stay awake. She had to find them.

  The mountains were rough, but she managed to climb them. Snow filled the peaks, and once they climbed up them a few hundred feet, they had to walk through snow. Another storm would soon approach, erasing all sign of them, but for now, she saw footprints. They were partially covered and appeared older rather than fresh, There was no doubt the snow would try to cover their tracks.

  She followed the footprints for another hour before she found them. In the mouth of a cavern, they hid. Quinn approached slowly. She took one step inside.

  “I know you’re in here.”

  Her voice echoed through the cavern, but no on responded.

  “I need to talk to you.” She paused. “I mean you no harm.”

  She waited for several more minutes in silence.

  “Who are you?” a voice asked.

  “A friend.”

  “We don’t have friends,” the voice said.

  A figure appeared out of the darkness. Tall, handsome, and deadly. He wore a cloak, his hood pulled down, revealing his tanned complexion, defined cheekbones, and hard eyes.

  “Brenden?” she asked.

  His eyes widened, showing the complexity of his beautiful green iris’.

  “How do you know my name?” He paused, his head tilted, as he examined her. “Quinn?”

  She nodded.

  “Why do we keep running into each other?” he asked, his hand touching the hilt of his sword in his scabbard.

  “Fate,” she said.

  He scoffed. “There is no such thing. If there is, fate is not a kind thing.”

  “I know you’ve been through a lot. I can only imagine what you’ve been through at the hands of the Thieves Guild after losing your parents.”

  His eyes hardened. “What do you know about it?”

  “I know a lot. At first, I wasn’t sure who you were. When we first met in Cappria, and you touched my hand, I knew there was something to you. It wasn’t just that you were magical. It was that I have met you before.”