by Aaron Thomas
“Right on time. I have some wild hog for you. They are found easily in the lands of the Kapal and its one of their most used dishes. Of course here wild hogs are harder to come by, but Gortus was able to point me to the right butcher in town.” Leroy beamed with pride at the plates he had been able to prepare. There seemed to be a rather large hog on a spit inside the oven spinning and roasting as Leroy cut slices from the shoulders, legs, and rump. He pulled a pot stewing in the back and produced potatoes and carrots from the boiling. The pig smelled so good Kilen didn’t waste any time sitting down beside the oven. He watched Leory make several more plates for different nobles in the castle. Seeing that Leroy was too busy helping with the troops leaving and the nobles’ Kapal dishes, Kilen left him to work in peace. He would have to tell him how good the hog was when he got back to the room tonight.
He wondered if Jace would be back where he was yesterday during his test. He made his way to the guard house near the front gates of the castle and found Jace right where he thought he would. He was sitting on a barrel with his hood pulled up around his face, whittling on a small piece of wood. Kilen walked up and stopped a couple paces in front of him, “I’m ready whenever you are.” He stopped whittling and looked up, just as Kilen felt someone approach from behind using the water vision. The man in the cloak sitting on the barrel looked up with a wrinkled sun blotched face, smiling a gap toothed smile. Quickly, Kilen turned to face the man approaching, knowing that he had failed this test already. Jace stood smiling at him as he turned with his open hands raised in front of him. Suddenly Kilen felt something poking him in the ribs from behind. It was the small wooden piece that then old man was whittling, a small wooden dagger.
Jace spoke softly as the pressure remained in his rib, “Death can be waiting at every corner. Never assume you know who you speak with until you see their face. Any man, woman, or child can kill you, even despite your skill and power with magic. Never assume that your best friend, trainer, or even lover hasn’t been bought by your worst enemy.” He took a step closer to Kilen and stared deep in his eyes, “If I had been, you would be bleeding out where you stand.” The old man released the pressure in his ribs and went back to wildling his wooden dagger. A shiver ran down Kilen’s spine, “Come on then, we have more lessons to learn today.”
Kilen followed Jace out the main gate and tried to slouch and walk just like Jace did. They both covered their heads with their hoods, but let their faces be seen. Kilen assumed it was so they wouldn’t draw suspicions of having their faces hidden. Having their hoods up made them less recognizable from anyone that really wanted to look. Jace once again made multiple turns weaving in and out of alleys and back yards, passing busy streets only when necessary. Finally, in a dark alley he stopped and faced Kilen, “Up we go.” Jace leaped up to the rooftop and landed without a sound. He disappeared beyond the ledge. Kilen attempted the same but over shot the ledge my several feet, making a large amount of noise as he landed. His weight knocked a couple clay tiles loose from the roof. They made even more noise as they crashed onto the ground below. Kilen tried to recover and slunk along the roof to join Jace squatting just to one side of the peak, so that only his head showed above. He whispered to Kilen, “You must practice that. You not only alerted anyone inside this building to our presence, but you also gave someone a trail to follow with the tiles on the ground below.” Kilen nodded to Jace that he understood.
“What are we doing up here?”
“Well, I was about to tell you. Now be quiet and listen.” Kilen nodded again at his command. “This is one of the most important lessons I can give you. I learn and teach by performing tasks and tests as you should know by now. So here is your task: Keep your eyes open. Down on the other side of this building is the marketplace. I want you to get to a place on this roof that you can see everything but remain hidden. Watch the market and tell me anything that you see. You need to be observant of all that happens. This is not only a test of memory, but your observation skills.” Kilen nodded that he understood his test and looked around the rooftop to find a good vantage point. The building that he was on joined another that had a roof top that was slightly lower. Kilen backed away from the peak and slunk along the roof until he dropped down onto the lower roof top. Crawling on his belly, he went over the peak and slid down the other side until his head reached the edge of the roof. Slowly, while on his belly, sliding down the roof with his feet above his head, he poked his head out and had a great view of the marketplace below.
For a long time nothing happened. Vendors shouted their prices to draw attention to their booths. A woman played a small flute with a mug laid out for donations. People passed through looking at wares, buying breads and food. Some stopped to listen to the girl playing the flute, one man tossed a copper from his purse into her mug and continued on his way. At the edge of the marketplace a boy ran into the man who made a donation and fell down at his feet. The man snatched up the boy, and started to yell at him for dirtying his robe. The boy offered a tiny excuse, “Sorry I’m trying to get to my sister.” The boy pointed at the girl playing the flute, and the man let him go with a command to be more careful. When the small boy in ragged clothes got to the girl he tossed a few coins into the mug and ran off through the streets without saying a word. The streets once again became quiet as Kilen paid closer attention to one merchant measuring out beans on a scale. A man paid for a pound of beans and then the merchant took the plate of measured beans off the scale and poured them into a bag. While talking to the customer he poured out a quarter of the bag behind the counter and quickly tied it off. The action was so swift Kilen had to watch it done twice more before he could believe he had seen it. The closer he watched the more thieves he found. A jewelry merchant traded his items for something of greater, value boasting of a cheap item’s history of kings or of the brights themselves. When the trade was made he would sell or trade the newly received item with much the same grand history of value. No one in Humbridge would have conducted their business like any of these street thieves. He wondered if he had been ripped off when he bought his things in Basham. He pushed it from his mind when he saw a young boy bump into a man at the market corner then point to the girl playing the flute. The man waved him off and the boy went to drop money in the donation mug. He then quickly ran out of the market.
Kilen felt Jace slip down the slope of the roof to join Kilen at the edge, “Have you seen anything yet?”
“Every one of these merchants are thieves in one way or another,” he whispered back.
Jace pulled out an apple and started munching on his fruit spitting a little while he talked, “Isn’t every merchant a thief in one way or another? Anything else you saw?”
“There is something odd going on with the flute player. Her brothers keep running into people, then putting money in her cup.” Jace laughed at Kilen’s innocence.
“Boy, those kids are thieves. They are taking their prize to the girl playing the flute. You see she is some sort of collector for the thieves of this town. Keep watching, it’s really quite clever.” Jace kept his head below the higher roof top, leaning on the clay tiles. He continued to munch on his apple while Kilen watched below. Soon yet another boy ran into a man that had made a donation, and then pointed at the girl with the flute. The boy ran over and dropped several coins into the girls mug and then ran away. This time something else happened, the man felt the lighter weight of his purse. He marched over to the girl playing the flute while shouting to guards.
“This girl’s brother just picked my pocket and put my coins in her mug,” he pointed his finger and shouted the accusations at the girl. Kilen was sure he would see justice done, but the girl coolly stood and pleaded with the guards.
“I don’t know what he is talking about. I have been earning quite a lot of donations today for my music, besides I don’t even have a brother. The reason why I work playing the flute is because my parents died long ago and I have had to make a living with this.” She held out the fl
ute to the guards as a single tear made a path through the dirt on her cheek.
The man started to rant to the guards, “She has my money! I demand that you take her as a thief and return my money to me at once!”
The girls face turned red and she returned his rant, “A thief for what, what did I steal? A boy happened to make a donation because you cannot hold onto your purse. Perhaps if you were a little more giving you wouldn’t jingle so loudly you attract every thief in Deuterium. If I am guilty of something you had better voice it now. I did not touch you or your purse. The only money that is in my mug now was given freely. If you spent too much at the brothel that is a problem you will have to take up with your wife, not me and the guards. Do not try and take my earnings because you over indulged!” The man was now shaking fists at his side as he dove for the mug at the girl’s feet. The guards caught him and dragged him to a merchant stall, slamming him into its post. Fruit spilled down off of the rack into the street as the merchant scrambled to pick them up. The girl simply watched as the man in fine clothing received a bit rough treatment from the guards. She smiled as the merchant, picking up his fruit, began retrieving those around the rich man’s feet. Finally she turned away as the merchant cut the purse from the man’s belt even as the guards were berating him. The marketplace settled as the girl started playing her flute once again. The man stomped towards the exit and then felt the weight of his purse missing. He patted down his sides and searched the ground at his feet. Knowing the money and purse was gone he continued to stomp down the street, cursing those that got too near him.
Jace laughed from behind Kilen on the roof, “Quite ingenious really. There is no reason to hold the girl, and the victim usually follows the money straight to her. The little thieves get away while she keeps the money for later. The only downside is that it takes a lot of trust from the thieves to let her hold the money.” Kilen nodded his understanding and started to pull away from the edge of the roof. “No wait, keep watching. That is only a small bit of why you are here. You must see it with your own eyes if you are to believe it.” Kilen laid back down at the edge and continued to watch. The sun was beginning to set and the visibility faded. Soon the pubs and taverns in the area started to raise in noise as men finished their workday and retired for a dance and a drink. The girl stayed and played the flute, watching all the merchants as they left. A woman came into view and walked over to the girl. She pulled back her hood to reveal a familiar face. Izabel handed the girl a small pouch, which the girl emptied the donation mug full of stolen coins into. She thanked the girl and left without returning any favor, a simple head nod was all that was exchanged. “There that is what I wanted you to see. Come along, let’s follow.” Kilen crawled away from the ledge and followed Jace down the rooftop like a quiet wind through the grass. Softly they dropped to the street below and moved swiftly along its shadowed passageway. Jace, winding his way through the alley, stopped at the mouth and crossed the street after he peeked out to check if the coast was clear. Twice Kilen noticed Izabel enter the street just after they entered the alley on the other side. They would hide themselves and then on Jace’s signal would back track to observe her in the street. They continued to follow and watch her as she moved throughout the city. Three times she stopped to collect money from various people. Finally, she arrived at her herbalists shop.
Jace spoke softly into the night to where Kilen could barely hear him. “I wanted you to see this for a couple of reasons. I followed you here on a couple occasions. If I have seen you here I’m sure there are others that have. If anyone else knows that she is involved with the thieves, you could be seen as a member of this thieving ring also. Remember my first rule was that anyone could be an enemy. If the King heard about you being involved with a thief boss, he could have you hanged.” Kilen let the whisper of words turn over in his head. He was on a razors edge with the agreement made with the king. If the king found out about his interaction with a thief boss it would give the king all the evidence he needed to put Kilen in the traitor bowls and keep his father’s sword.
“I understand now. I have to ask your advice on what to do about Izabel. I have made an agreement with her that I still have yet to honor fully.”
“I will confront Izabel and give her warning to leave the city and see if I can recover some of the money for the poorer masses. You will not go near her store again. Your agreement with her is void. She had indirectly put your life at risk.” Kilen stood in silence, staring at the herbalist’s shop, regretting the day he met Izabel, not because of the interaction with her but because of what it had brought upon him. He had never liked lying. Even though all he had to do was tell no one he still felt as though he was lying. “You walk a curious line with the king. Until the day you are pinned a full weapon bearer you must see everyone as an enemy. Maybe even me.” Kilen turned to see Jace in the shadowed light from the moon in the sky.
“Are you my enemy Jace?” Jace let out a small chuckle before answering.
“If I was your enemy would I tell you?”
Kilen thought it over for a moment then another thought struck his mind. Anytime Jace could tell the King about his involvement with Izabel or even that he had intended to hide it from others. He needed to insure that his intentions were well known. “What if I turn Izabel in for the thieving?”
“I’m not sure that you would have the evidence to turn her in. The king might try and turn it against you, trying to accuse one of the best tax-paying shops in Deuterium. Besides could you turn her in?”
Kilen lowered his head, “I would feel like a traitor. I don’t suppose I would be able to.” Jace pulled his cloak deep over his face and led the way down the alley.
“We will separate now. Go straight back to your barracks and don’t meet with Izabel again. I will take care of any problems that arise.” When he finished, he leapt up onto a roof top and landed as softly as ever. Kilen was alone in the city of Deuterium. He pulled his hood up around his face and started to blindly walk towards the towers of the castle that towered over the rooftops of the city. He walked to his barracks, paying little attention to what surrounded him. As he did, he nearly bumped into Brent who was standing outside his barracks doorstep. He once again chastised himself for being stuck in his own thoughts and not paying attention to those around him. Immediately he started using his water vision, which he hadn’t realized he had let fade from his mind.
“Well, even if you’re too tired to recognize me I have something that you have to see.” Curious, Kilen followed with a quick step as Brent lead him into the castle. His mind started to wonder what Brent could want to show him. After all, this is only the second time he had paid Kilen a visit since he arrived at Deuterium. Brent led Kilen into the castle and tiptoed through its hallways. He felt how tense Brent was and he tried to make no noise while following him. Kilen had never been to the side of the castle that he was going to now and was lost very quickly with the twists and turns they were using. It made it worse when Brent would back track because of a servant in the hallway. He started to wonder if he should trust Brent. Perhaps he could be taking him somewhere he was not supposed to be. Somewhere he might ensue the wrath of the king. But before he could think of how to talk to Brent, they had arrived. A large oak double door with the elemental symbol of the earth carved precisely in it lay before him. Brent held a single finger to his lips, telling Kilen to be silent. On the other side of the door a sword could be heard crashing against shield and sword. Kilen crouched low to the ground and snuck in behind Brent. They were on the upper terrace of a large room, where plants and trees grew in on the floor below. Kilen leaned up against the terrace’s half wall, hiding behind it so that the people playing with swords would not see him. He had a great view of the ceiling above, or more importantly there was no ceiling. The night sky shined down on this garden inside the castle walls, and torches lined the second level where Kilen remained. Brent leaned against one of the pillars and motioned Kilen closer. He pulled Kilen close and
very lightly whispered in his ear, “Look below. The torch behind this pillar will not allow them to see you, but be discreet none the less.” Holding Kilen by the shoulders at arm’s length, Brent looked into Kilen’s eyes as if to say, ‘look over and know the significance of what you see’.
He nodded his head and slipped along the wall to take Brent’s spot. Slowly he stood, making sure that his clothing didn’t rub or snag on the pillar’s surface. He peeked one eye around the pillar and had smoke from the torch attacked his face. He retreated behind the pillar and rubbed his eyes. Needing water, he gathered some from the air and cleansed his eyes from the smoke. He once again learned a trick of magic that no one had taught him. Continuously putting water in his eyes, he leaned around the pillar and looked into the courtyard below. Immediately he recognized Chit holding the sword that Kilen had purchased him. He was swinging wildly at the man he recognized from Bowie’s range. It was Captain Lorusk, the commander of the troops here at training. Chit received a slash on his arm and another to his midsection and the captain took a step back. From under the terrace, a figure in a bright blue robe emerged and approached Chit. Placing a tiny hand on his arm, Chits wounds healed. Then the figure retracted slowly. Chit stretched his arms, “Your starting to slack girl. You were much quicker this morning. I might have to tell the King that you aren’t putting forth a very decent effort and need to be turned loose.” The girl tilted her head slightly and turned to return to the terrace. Kilen recognized the face, but it wasn’t the face that he had first seen. Twilix was worn down, tired, and exhausted. She had black rings forming under her eyes, her shoulders slumped, and her walk was slow and weak. The two started exchanging sword strokes again and this time it earned Chit a cut on his thigh, chest, and face. Twilix returned once again to heal the damage made by Captain Lorusk, and while doing so a door opened at the far end of the courtyard to admit Brandon, looking as energized as ever. He approached Lorusk and rejuvenated his energy, then he did the same for Chit. He made his way to Twilix and healed her energy as well, which took considerably longer than the others.
