Hey, it's Useli again. I decided to introduce another thief, Nero. He will NOT be involved in anything mature and will play a role in the story. What that is...happens to be a mystery...
- - -
They didn't attract much attention on the crowded streets of the port town. Even Atlas, a wanted man in Solis barely received more then a lazy stare from some unconcerned town guards standing on the street corner outside of a shop.
He walked along side the horses, head slightly lowered to keep his face somewhat hidden from view. It was habit that he had developed over the years. When everyone knows your face, you want to keep it hidden.
They approached a stable, apparently the ONLY one in the entire city as they hadn't seen a single one in quite some time, and were greeted quickly by a stable hand. "We'd like to put the horses up for the night," speaks Atlas.
"That'll be forty coins for the night," speaks the man in a gruff voice. The youth's brows raise in surprise which the stable hand noticed. "And if ya don't like it, go somewhere else." He snorted and handed the gold to the man.
"Fine. Easy on the grain." They hand the horses over to the stable-hand who takes them inside. Illia attracts the attention of several men passing by as she stretches her legs. The amazon looks around at all the people and then for a bath-house. "I guess we part here, huh, Kale?" The scholar nods and shoves his glasses up on his nose.
"I believe so," he agree's. "It's been a real pleasure knowing you, Atlas." The two shake hands, and then both Illia and Atlas watch him disappear into the crowd without another word. For several minutes the young thief doesn't move and then finally he stretches.
"Let's find somewhere to eat, huh, Illia?" The woman nods in agreement and they stride down the streets. It wasn't uncommon for amazons to be stared at by others and today was no different.
They WERE beautiful after all, though the men gave her a wide birth as they passed, careful to avoid offending the sword wielding woman. She was well aware of the Prince's hands as he passed a man garbed in beautifully dyed clothes.
He was a good thief and she didn't even KNOW that he had relieved the man of his coin purse until they were several yards away and he held it up to show her with a wry smile. It was obvious that he enjoyed an audience to such things. "You're going to end up on wanted posters again," she warns. "Keep your sticky fingers to yourself, Atlas."
"Come now. We need the gold more then him." They entered the first tavern that they came across. It was dimly lit by only a few candles and a huge fireplace placed against the wall casting an orange glow on everything.
It stank of watery ale and stale sweat in Illia's opinion but Atlas didn't pay it much mind, approaching an empty table and having a seat. There was only a handful of people in the tavern, but Illia seemed to have the attention of every male there.
Soon, two flagons of ale had been placed in front of them and Atlas lifted his, taking a long pull on it before releasing a satisfied sigh. It tasted horrible, probably the worst he had EVER tasted but considering that he hadn't had anything but water from a stream to drink for the past few weeks it was better then he could remember having in a while.
A bar maid with a cheaply painted face approached them with a smile. She paid more attention to Illia then she did to the Prince, which served to amuse him immensely.
The woman took their orders before wandering back to the kitchen. "I don't like this place. It stinks, and the drink tastes like pig swill." Atlas just laughs.
"Well, after this you can get a bath then. I've got a few contacts here that I need to speak with...I'll see if I can get us a guide to Aer. No doubt it'll be a rather treacherous journey to undertake without one."
Several minutes of conversation passed before the food was served and they ate their fill, thoroughly enjoying a proper meal that they hadn't had time to have while he was recovering. When they had finished, Atlas left some coins on the table and they departed.
"I'll see if I can get what we need for the trip."
"Got it. I'll see you soon, Illia. Remember to watch your back...the dangers aren't always easy to see in the city..."
- - -
Everyone in the underworld had heard of the Guilds collapse and feared that they might be next...except for Lin. He was confident in his ability to bribe or otherwise evade any guards who might come snooping around their smuggling operation. Lin leaned back in his chair and closed his eye's, scrubbing a hand over his face in silence.
He stiffened immediately when he felt a slight breeze. "You've got nerve, I'll admit that," he speaks aloud. "But unfortunately you lack common sense."
"Relax," speaks a taunting, yet familiar voice that belonged to one of his near and dear friends. "I'm not here to cause trouble, Lin." The man breaths a sigh of relief and jumps up to look back at the blond thief standing in front of an open window.
"Sneaking onto another man's ship is a good way to end up dead, Prince."
"So is smuggling." A booming laugh escapes from the balding man as he motions to the chair across from his desk. A wry smile appears in the blonds face as he approaches the desk and sits down. "I have to say, it's been quite a while since we last spoke in person, hasn't it?"
"Too long! Far too long! I have to thank you for your help on my last job. We'd never have gotten the cargo into Solis without your help." The Prince kicks his feet up on the desk and nods. "Uh-oh...what's on that genius mind of yours?"
"I need a favor."
"Unfortunately, that's what I happen to be short on these days, Prince." He sighs heavily and nods, letting his feet down as promptly as he had put them up on the cherry wood desk. "But..." Lin takes a deep breath. "...seeing as how I owe you. I cannot rightly turn you down. Let it never be said that Lin doesn't repay his debts!" The blond grins from ear to ear and nods again.
"Good! I need someone who knows the way to Aer."
"Aer? Why would you want to go there?" Atlas holds a hand up to silence the man.
"All I need is a guide...and some new clothes. Something that fits me better then these." The smuggler nodded in agreement and then slid open one of the desk drawers, removing a piece of paper and a quill.
Several moments passed while the man scrawled down an address as well as some other notes onto the paper before folding it and handing it across the desk to the Prince.
"Follow the directions to the tailor on the paper and tell the man there who you are and that I'll cover the expenses. Come back in two days and I should have someone to take you to Aer, Prince." He nods and stands. "And...next time use the door." A wry smile lights the blonds face as he nods again, approaching the window once more instead of the door.
Well, it wasn't like Lin had actually expected him to use the front door in the first place...
- - -
Illia left the shop in a bit of a huff. "Damn shop keepers trying to cheat me," mutters the amazon. She glanced in either direction before setting down the street with the crowd of people. She didn't see him approach, so when a hand grazed her side she reached back and grasped it by the wrist.
The woman glanced back at the Prince, a wry smile on his young face. "Seems I've caught a thief."
"Nonsense," Atlas assures her. "I was simply trying to make sure that your coin purse was secure." He produces the item in his free hand, his smile growing even wider. "It's not, by the way." She releases him and snatches it from his palm.
"I doubt that anything of value would be secure so long as you are around." He scratches his chin, turning his hooded face up in through before nodding in agreement.
She had come to realize he did not apologize or ask forgiveness for how he made a living...but to have it confirmed certainly confused her a bit. "Aren't you ashamed?"
"Nope." They begin walking once more with the crowd of people. Illia tried to keep an eye on his hands as they were walking, but once again missed his actual theft until they were several steps away from the man.
"If you are caught, I will not speak in your defense, Atlas."
"I think you would. It'd be boring if I weren't around to make trouble, right?" She rolls her eye's. "Anyway, we need the money." He held up an empty hand and made a few motions before producing a coin between his middle and index finger. Illia watched as he flipped the coin over the tops of his knuckles again and again.
The amazon once again felt a hand graze her side and turned, grasping a hand she expected to belong to the Prince. As it turned out, it was a dark haired boy. His azure blue eye's were wide with surprise and he yanked back. But the half-starved boy was too weak to free himself from her grip and struggled in vain against her.
"Lemme go, lady!" demands the boy.
"Calm down, boy," speaks Atlas. "We're not going to turn you in." This caused the boy to stop his struggling. "What's your name? Are you hungry?" The boy wasn't the only one confused by the sudden turn of events.
"Nero...and, yeah, I'm hungry."
"Alright. Let's get you a bite to eat, then." Nero eyed him suspiciously for a few long moments before a wave of recognition washed over the young boy's face. His jaw dropped open and he pointed an accusing finger at Atlas.
"You're the--" The Prince placed a hand over the boy's mouth.
"Not here, Nero..."
- - -
