Narra sighed and rolled over so she lay on her back. She draped an arm over her forehead and narrowed her eyes at the sun creeping through her curtains. “They want to begin my training.”
Erik’s eyes rounded and he sat on the edge of the bed. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know exactly. Ria said she’d be teaching me a few spells and prayers.” Narra glanced at her harness laid atop her dresser. Inside the thigh pouch were the Daughters beads.
“Spells?” Erik’s eyebrows furrowed. “So you’ll learn magic?”
“I really don’t know, Erik.”
Erik stared at the empty doorway for a long minute before he shook his head and stood. “All right. You’ll find out soon enough.” He glanced back at her. “We should head back to check on the Guild today.”
Narra stiffened. Cold settled inside her and twisted her insides. He was right. It had been a few days, which is how long August had instructed her to stay away. She had to return eventually to find out their verdict. She only hoped it was good news, and not the awful punishment she feared.
Narra and Erik arrived at the new Guild Headquarters not long after noon. They stepped out of the dark stairwell from the basement up onto the main floor. For a house filled with Thieves, it was surprisingly quiet.
The whisper of wind flowed through the manor, and she heard the distance murmur of voices. There were no fights, no clash of blades as thieves trained. There was just a sense of stillness.
It made her far more uneasy than a ruckus would have.
They exchanged a look, and Narra was relieved to see the same look of confusion reflected on Erik’s face.
“It’s too quiet,” Erik said.
Narra nodded. “We should check the courtyard.”
Erik agreed and led the way down the long main corridor to the foyer. Bright afternoon sun shined off the crystal chandelier, tossing brilliant rainbow patterns onto the dark wooden walls.
Though it was very pretty, it only served to remind her how strange this new arrangement was. This did not seem like a place for Thieves. This was a home for the rich, not a pack of criminals.
She shook her head as they passed below the upstairs balcony and out the front doors into the courtyard.
The same dry fountain occupied the center, and a few thieves milled around the edges. Most looked warily at a pair standing near the fountain.
Narra looked from the Thieves to the pair and a gasp flew from her lips.
“Alden?” Erik said it before she could.
Alden looked over at Narra and Erik, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw them. “There they are!” He grinned so large he flashed his teeth.
Narra’s heart raced as Alden crossed the courtyard to meet them halfway. Before all the questions she had could fly from her lips, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Alden chuckled and hugged her. He was warmer than she remembered and smelled like pine trees. “It’s good to see you too, Narra. ”
She squeezed and buried her face against his shoulder. “Where have you been?”
Alden stiffened. “I had to find someone to fix this mess. That’s all.”
Narra’s eyebrows furrowed and she pulled back. “What does that mean?”
“Narra.” Erik’s voice was sharp and put Narra on edge immediately.
Narra stepped back out of Alden’s embrace and looked beyond her uncle at the cloaked figure with him.
The woman’s face was partially shadowed, but her full lips twisted in a pretty smile. Delicate fingers appeared from inside her cloak and pushed her hood back to reveal long orange hair—not the color of fruit, or flowers, but the deep orange of the setting sun.
“Narra,” Alden said gently. “This is your mother.”
Her chest constricted and it was like all the air was sucked from her lungs as she stared at an older version of herself.
Khlara Rheka was beautiful, with pale skin, soft freckles, and a beauty mark below her large green eyes. She smiled gently and brushed her hair behind her ear as a breeze caught her long strands in its grasp. “Hello, darling.”
Narra took a step back, right into Erik’s chest. He held her arms, and Narra wasn’t sure which of them was shaking so intensely.
“You’re dead,” Narra said.
Khlara’s eyebrows furrowed, and she regarded Narra with pity. “No, darling. I’m not.”
Narra’s heartbeat sped up, pounding violently in her ears. She didn’t know what to say or do. For the last twenty-five years she’d believed she killed her mother so that she could enter this world. And there she was. Alive.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you sooner, Narra,” Alden said. “But when everything went south, I had to find Khlara. I thought she was the only person who could help get the Thieves back.” His lips twitched sadly. “But I see you saved them all on your own.”
Khlara took a few tentative steps closer. Narra felt Erik tense behind her, but she couldn’t bring herself to move. It was like seeing a zombie come back to life. Khlara shouldn’t exist. She should be dead. But she wasn’t.
“I’m so proud of you, Narra.” Khlara’s eyes welled with unshed tears. “You’ve accomplished so much in your short years.”
Before Narra could do anything about it, Khlara wrapped her arms around Narra and squeezed tightly. Erik took a step back, and Narra had never felt more frozen.
“Congratulations, darling,” Khlara said. “Your father would be so proud.”
Narra stepped back abruptly. Mentioning her father was like throwing a bucket of ice water over her entire body.
“My father never gave a damn about me, and apparently neither did you.” Her fists clenched as fire shot through her chest. “You left me with that abuser! You let him twist and shape me into this heartless thing that no one could care about.” She knew that was a lie. Erik cared for her, and so did Alden. But she still felt it deep in her bones, like a shard of glass she could never remove. If Quinn hadn’t trained her to be the thief she was, then she might not be a villain among thieves. She might have had friends. She might have loved and been loved by more than just family.
“I’m sorry, Narra,” Khlara said. She reached for Narra’s hands, but Narra stepped away. “I know there’s nothing I can say to fix what your father has done, but I had no other choice.”
Narra laughed. “No other choice? Really? What was so bad it could have made you abandon your own daughter?”
Khlara’s eyes darkened, and she shook her head. “It’s a long story, Narra.”
“Oh, I’m sure it is,” Narra growled. Her fingers itched to grab her daggers and throw them at something. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and made her want to unleash her anger on something—anything.
“Narra,” Alden warned.
“No, Uncle,” Narra snapped. “She needs to explain herself.”
Alden twisted his jaw, but didn’t say anything more .
“Fine, Narra.” Khlara took a deep breath. “But once I tell you, you won’t speak to your mother like this again, is that clear?”
Narra scoffed and couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. What a joke.
Khlara narrowed her eyes. “A long time ago I took a contract that resulted in the death of someone important. Talcotta assassins were contracted to kill me. I spent weeks fending them off. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I hid away for nine damn months until you were born.” She sighed, and it was like the fight drained out of her. “You were the most precious, most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, and I knew that if I stayed, I was putting you in harms way. So I left to keep you safe.”
Narra took a shallow breath. Her lungs felt tight like she couldn’t get enough air. She had to be lying. There had to be some other selfish reason that her mother would abandon her. It went in tune with everything that had ever happened to her. No one cared for her that much to give up their own child.
But the look of hurt and desperation in Khlara’s eyes told another story. Narra didn’t know what to
believe.
“It’s true, Narra,” Alden said gently. “I helped her escape after you were born. There were a lot of close calls before your mother hid with you.”
Narra’s heartbeat raced and her fingers clutched her cloak. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t forgive the twenty-five years of neglect her mother had bestowed upon her, but she also couldn’t hate her. If what they were saying was true, Khlara had left Rova City for her . She’d stayed away for so long because of Narra. To protect her.
Tears burned the back of Narra’s eyes suddenly, and it took every bit of strength she had not to shed them. She looked her mother’s face over again. They were so similar, it was ridiculous. She’d only seen pictures of her mother before, and when she did, she understood why her father seemed to hate Narra. They looked even more alike in person.
A thought occurred to her suddenly. Talcotta assassins. They were the ones after Khlara. A few weeks ago, when she’d emerged from City Records in Tallis Library, she’d been attacked by a man she believed to be a Talcotta assassin. She’d never heard from or seen the assassin again. Had he been after Khlara all along?
Khlara took a careful step forward and reached for Narra’s hands again. Narra didn’t pull away this time. Her mother smiled and clasped their fingers together. They were so warm, but calloused like Narra’s. She’d been a thief all her life too, and now she was on the run.
“It’s true?” Narra asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Khlara nodded. “It’s true, my love.”
Tears burned tracks down Narra’s cheeks, and then they were embracing. Her whole body shook as she clenched her teeth on a sob. Her mother was alive . Not in a thousand years would she have ever guessed such a thing.
Khlara let her cry for a few minutes before Narra got a hold of herself. She leaned back and brushed her sleeves across her face. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment. She’d lost herself to her anger many times, but never to sadness, or relief, or whatever she was feeling now.
“You’ve gotten yourself into a real mess, darling.” Khlara smiled ruefully. “But you got the Guild back, and that’s what matters.”
Narra nodded, unable to speak just yet.
Approaching footsteps made her take a step back, and then the remaining Thief Commanders were standing in the doorway to the manor.
“Khlara?” August gasped.
Narra’s mother smiled. “Hello, August. Long time no see.”
T he Thief Commanders flooded the yard, crowding Narra and her little family. They launched question after question at Khlara, asking many of the things Narra wanted the answers to herself.
“Calm down, one at a time,” Khlara snapped.
Narra’s eyebrows rose. It was the first time she’d heard her mother’s ‘commander voice’. It reminded Narra of her own.
While Khlara stepped off to the side to explain what she’d just told Narra, Alden gripped her arm gently and turned Narra to face him.
“Narra,” he began. “I’m so sorry for what’s happened. I know you’ll never forgive me for your father, and for keeping your mother’s secret, but I just want you to know how sorry I am.”
Narra blinked in surprise at the sudden apology. “You’re sorry? I should be the one apologizing to you. I said such awful things before you disappeared.”
Alden mimicked her look of shock. “But you were right. I… I killed my brother.”
Narra’s chest tightened unexpectedly. It had taken her some time to get over that fact, but after finding Quinn’s secret room, she understood why Alden had done it. Quinn had betrayed the Guild. He was a traitor, and the worst kind of thief. He deserved to die for his crimes against the Guild. Narra had only wished that Alden explained it all to her in the first place.
“It’s okay,” Narra said. “I forgive you.”
Alden’s eyes widened further and she swore tears glazed them. He wrapped her in his arms and squeezed. “I love you, Niece.”
Narra smiled, and her cheeks heated. She wasn’t used to having so many sappy feelings, but today seemed full of them. “I love you too, Uncle.”
Alden let her go, and they both exchanged an awkward smile before turning to assess the commanders’ conversation with Khlara. Her small family might be close, but they rarely displayed affection so intensely. It made her stomach twist and her chest warm. She wished they’d been able to reunite in private instead of in front of half the Guild.
Khlara approached with the other commanders. “Well, I’m glad that’s over with.”
Narra raised an eyebrow. At least it seemed the commanders didn’t blame Khlara for abandoning them.
Graves cleared his throat to pull their attention, yet he avoided their gazes. “Remember why we’re here.”
Narra’s jaw hardened and her elation died. Right. She was here to potentially face punishment for bringing a non-guild member into the Den and getting the Thieves placed in the dungeons.
“What is this about?” Khlara asked sharply. She stepped slightly in front of Narra as if to protect her.
Narra tried not to be too annoyed. She wasn’t used to having a mother around, as she was sure Khlara wasn’t used to having a daughter.
“Your daughter faces punishment for betraying the Guild,” Klaus sneered. He narrowed his eyes and flashed his teeth. He was far too excited about the prospect.
“What?” Khlara snapped .
August sighed. “He’s right, Khlara. Today, we hold a vote to decide if Narra will be forgiven for her transgressions or punished.”
“This is absurd!” Khlara growled. “She saved all of you !”
Alden stepped up to join Khlara in protecting her. Narra glared at their backs. She didn’t need their protection.
“They’re right,” Narra said. Khlara and Alden turned back to look at her with wide eyes. “I broke Guild law. I have to face whatever the outcome might be.”
“Narra.” Khlara gripped her bicep. “The punishment for treason is death .”
Narra nodded. “I know.”
Khlara spun back to face the commanders, a snarl on her lips. “I’m coming to the meeting. As I was never discharged from my duties, I am still a commander where it counts.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Klaus scoffed.
August exchanged a look with Graves and then with Clint. “Khlara, you were once a commander, and as such I think we should allow you to sit in, but that is all . You have no say here anymore.”
“Agreed,” Graves said.
Clint nodded, and just like that the matter was settled.
“Fine,” Klaus snapped. He spun abruptly and stormed back to the manor. “Let’s get this meeting underway.”
Claudia was the first to follow, then Graves, and then Clint. August gave Narra a long look before glancing between mother and daughter. A rueful smile curved his lips, and then he too turned and joined the other commanders.
Erik grabbed Narra’s bicep and spun her to face him. “We can still run,” he said in a feverish voice.
“No, we can’t. Not from this,” Narra said, trying to be gentle.
“They might kill you,” Khlara said. Her voice was hard and monotone like Narra’s typically was. She looked at Narra with closed fists. “Is that what you want?”
Narra shook her head. “No, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Khlara regarded her with skepticism. “I won’t let you die, daughter. If they choose punishment, we’ll flee together. ”
“I’m coming too,” Erik said.
Alden chuckled and shook his head.
“All right,” Narra said. “Let’s go.”
Narra squeezed Erik’s arm in a show of confidence. They needed to believe this would go well, because if it didn’t, she wasn’t sure that her and Khlara alone could fend off the Thief Commanders to escape.
Erik nodded curtly, and Narra turned to the manor. She walked away from what was left of her family, alongside the mother she’d always thought she’d killed, and they entered the
house together.
Narra took a seat next to Graves on the left side of the table. Khlara sat next to her, and the twins sat across from them. August stood at the head of the table, twisting his white moustache between his fingers. His forehead was wrinkled with worry, and his dark eyes flashed with unease.
“This is the first time something like this has happened in a long time,” August began. His voice was strained, and he kept glancing at Narra. “Though it was an accident, it was that thoughtless mistake that had the entire Thieves Guild imprisoned by the crown and nearly executed.”
The commanders were silent as August recited Narra’s crimes. She nodded to show she understood. Her fingers tightened around the arms of her chair. The suspense was making her nauseous.
“But the actions of this same individual, Commander Rheka, also saved the Guild from execution,” August added.
Klaus scoffed, and Narra glared at him.
“One by one, we will vote. Forgiveness or punishment.” August paused. “I vote for forgiveness.” He turned to his right. “What say you, Commander Clint?”
Clint glanced at Narra, and then back at August. “Forgiveness.”
Narra’s heartbeat sped up. That was two for forgiveness. Maybe she would survive the day after all.
“What say you, Commander Graves? ”
Graves didn’t look at any of them. Instead, he stared at the table. He paused for so long Narra wanted to reach over and slap him.
“Punishment,” Graves said.
Khlara hissed out a breath between her teeth, and Narra inhaled sharply. She was both surprised and not surprised. Graves was a military man. He was honor bound, and took any slight personally. She’d hoped he would find it in his heart to forgive her, but apparently he hadn’t.
That only left Klaus and Claudia. Both of whom Narra was sure would vote against her.
August looked pointedly at the Commander of the Pocks. “What say you, Commander Klaus?”
“Punishment,” Klaus sneered. He wasted no time in delivering his verdict. In fact, it was like he’d waited all day for this moment.
August nodded stiffly. He didn’t like this any more than Narra.
Clockwork Thief Box Set Page 58
