Tarvin

by Richard Young

  ***

  It's funny how fast news travels. Not a week after the theft, I heard rumours that the Thieves' Guild was looking for who had done it. Whether looking to hire or to rub out the competition, I wasn't sure, nor was I anxious to find out. Even worse, the Asylum was supposedly searching out the perpetrator as well, since they suspected only a Scout could have pulled off the heist. And since no Qui would condone such an action, it would have to be an independent. Which meant the person would have to be brought to the Asylum - for their own protection, of course. Right.

  I had stashed the jewelry in a safe location - at least I hoped it was safe. I didn't dare try to sell it yet. Who knew where the Guild or the Quis had eyes. Nor was I about to burgle another house, not until the heat died down. Which meant I was back to picking pockets instad of locks. I had found a darkened alley from which to pick my mark. Someone rich, but not so rich that they'd have gold or silver coins instead of steel or copper. The higher valued ones would be too unusual, too easy to track, and whoever spent them or tried to trade them would be marked in the merchant's mind.

  Crouching in the alley, my thoughts returned to Pellia. I almost regretted my actions that night. I had been tempted, corrupted by the passion I had just witnessed between her parents. The plan had come to mind unbidden. A finger placed on her lips would use my power to silence her screams, and my knife at her throat to quell her struggles as I stripped her of her clothes. And why not? She'd already accused me of it. And maybe afterwards, the plan concluded, I could slit her lying throat.

  And yet I hadn't gone through with it. Call it honour, call it weakness, call it fear, but I couldn't do it. But she deserved something, so what I had done was leave her a little note, thanking her for showing me the way in. With any luck, her father would find it and little miss princess would discover what it was like to be punished for something she didn't do.

  A couple walking by the alley brought my attention back to the present. Their clothes were nice, but not ornate. The man's purse bulged with what I hoped were steel coins. Most importantly, they weren't paying attention to what was going on around them, which made them ideal targets. No hesitation with this one. It was just too perfect to pass up.

  Drawing my invisibility over me, I approached from behind the couple, knife drawn. A little slice and a catch, and the pouch would be mine. I extended my hand and stretched the knife out toward the strap. Difficult work to do while moving, but I managed. A slip of the knife and the pouch landed in my hand with a clink of coins.

  A clink?

  It was only then that I realized something was wrong. Very wrong. Tools jingled in my pocket. My feet made scuff marks on the ground. And my hand holding the pouch was clearly visible.

  Before I could even think to run, the man's hand clamped over my wrist with a speed that should have been impossible.

  "And here we have our thief," he said, lifting me by the arm and presenting me to his companion. When I say he lifted me, I mean I was literally dangling a foot off the ground.

  "Yes, yes, very good. You're just so impressed your plan worked, aren't you? But how do you know he's the one?"

  "Either way, we have an unjoined Scout off the streets and into the Asylum."

  As I hung there while they argued, I must admit I felt more foolish than anything else. I tried to interrupt. "Um, excuse me?"

  Both of their heads swiveled toward me. I think they had forgotten I was there. "Yes?" the woman said.

  I glanced up to my trapped arm and wiggled my feet. "Little help?"

  "For Rist's sake, Geril, let the boy down. He's not a fish ready for gutting."

  Keeping the iron grip on my wrist, the man - Geril, apparently - set me back on the ground. "We're taking you to the Asylum," he said.

  "I figured that."

  "Is there anything you need to get first?"

  My mind briefly flashed to my stash of treasure, but I decided not to implicate myself any further than I already had. Besides, it would still be there when I got out. "No."

  "Fair enough," Geril said. "Shall we be off then, Opria?"

  "Let's get it over with."

  And so, being led by the arm like a petulant child, I came to the Asylum.