Spoiler! :
Chapter One
He was going to catch one of them in a trap of his own.
Something fairly simple to design, the trap was the one thing he had been given by his father that sparked his curiosity. Days passed quickly as the young boy watched it being constructed. The sound of hammer upon nail didn’t fascinate him, nor did the sweat soiling the adept worker’s shirt. No, it was something much more than that; the fact that he, a boy of merely twelve, was going to catch a thief. With that device. He had watched closely as many thieves gradually broke into his home over the years, seen their meticulous movements, and kept an eye out for any wrong step… So now, after two years of waiting, he had found their weakness. The thieves were not as cunning as they thought, or so Leeroy was convinced. Of course, he hadn’t actually met a thief. That would be beneath him as one born to wealth.
Despite this invisible status barrier, the stories of a golden-gated utopia known as the Thieves’ Guild enraptured him, made his mouth water and his eyes light aflame. Every soul in the expanse of the human universe knew of the Thieves’ Guild. It was the haven for the lonely peasant, the adventure for the young at heart, and even the gateway to freedom. And now, after praying to the stars for a miracle, Leeroy Bams thought he had found one. His own miracle to save him from the life that was thrust upon him.
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The light click of a window closing seemed to echo throughout the candle-lit hall. Emerald eyes darted from one darkened corner to the next, careful not to miss any sign of movement. A small sigh escaped parted lips as tension seemed to ease off her shoulders. It was a calm night for the Season of Fire, and this wasn’t something Ira enjoyed. Chaotic partying was known to fill the streets of Joyard, but tonight was no such night. The lamps scattered across the cobblestone roads remained dim, but no breeze graced the souls drifting through the streets. No, the ones wandering were left with dust in their lungs and cracking skin. The sun had dipped beneath the horizon many hours ago, and this brought the townsfolk out into the slowly-dropping temperatures and away from their hand-made paper fans.
Ira Levine, not needing anyone in the small town to remember her face, had crept swiftly and silently through the crevices separating households and into the thickening shadows awaiting her, beckoning to her. Shadows knew her well, and they had kept her safe on numerous occasions, just like this one. And now, as she leaned against an inside wall of the Bams’ Manor, she gave a silent prayer to whatever deities that happened to be listening. No one had seen her. Phase one of her mission was complete.
~~
Chapter Two
The stillness of the mansion sent chills through Ira’s body. Upon entering the building, the only movement and sounds interrupting the calm quiet was her own, each step taken threatening to tip the balance. Every breath she took was carefully made, and she was sure to watch the stillness for any fluctuation. Of course, as the night went on, she found comfort in being the only thing seeming alive. It was as though she was center stage, an actress captivating the audience with her movements. Pausing, she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting the moment take over her senses. It was there that she made a mistake; the one Leeroy Bams was waiting for.
The sound of tile panels shifting caught Ira’s attention first. Her eyes snapped open, but by then it was too late. Four gated walls surrounded her, each one consisting of metal bars vertically positioned, and the cover to her confinement was solid steel. Lights were raised then, and she forced her eyes to remain open. Now was not the time to let the sudden change in lighting affect her, and she knew that perfectly well. How could I be so stupid!
Whatever floor panels had been previously moving were already reverted back to their original state, as Ira couldn’t see a single tile out of place. Magic? Her eyes were now adjusted to the light, and they were scouring every surface of the room she could see. She found herself in an immaculate dining area. A large, elongated table was placed in the center of the room, and it had dozens of matching chairs all equally spaced apart. Every object in there could have easily had someone hiding behind it, and this kept Ira’s guard at its highest. Where are they…
The thud of a book closing caught her attention as it broke the silence and echoed through the room. Ira watched as two tiny feet appeared from the edge of the table. Legs eased their way into her view as well, but that was all. No other parts of the body were visible, and she watched as they simply dangled over the edge. Those look like children feet… As she stared, she noticed the intricate detail embedded into the bit of clothing she could see. It was obvious this person had the money to spend on the everything top of the line, from the decorative hangings covering the whitewashed walls to the equally white linen tablecloth. Ira peeked at her shoes and couldn’t help but to scowl. Dirt lightly coated every inch of them, and her toes could be seen poking through a few miniscule holes on the sides.
“Don’t worry, I won’t turn you into a frog or anything silly like that.”
Another thud, and Ira assumed the book she heard earlier was placed upon the dining table. That wasn’t what she was focused on, though. That voice… It was obviously a child.
…And Ira hated children.
There she was, a grown woman of twenty-six, on a mission to infiltrate one of the wealthiest family’s estates, and she ends up in some makeshift cage with a child as her captor. This was easily not something she was going to reminisce about.
As she stood brooding, the young boy hopped off the table and shuffled over to his captive, his footsteps barely making any noise at all. He came within five feet of the cage but wouldn’t move any closer. “Hmm.” One hand upon his chin, he seemed to gaze analytically at Ira, with his left leg stretched out. “I was hoping for someone more fearsome, but I suppose you’ll do.”
Ira scoffed, refusing to utter a word. Instead she took to remembering the boy’s physique so she’d know who to mentally kill later.
“Speak, knave, before I change my mind about transforming you.” The boy now had his arms crossed, but his lips formed a thin line. “Or are you incompetent? Oh, please, don’t tell me I’ve gone through all this trouble for some daft woman who can’t even understand the syllables issuing from my mouth…”
A vein protruded from Ira’s forehead, and she took two quick steps toward the blonde before her, a glare marring her face. “Do you have any idea how old you actually are? Or are you too naïve to realize you’re wearing child attire?”
It was true; young Mr. Bams was wearing what the wealthy children all wore. Matching sky blue shirt and shorts, each hemmed with golden trim and with an elaborate pattern strewn across its surface. Beneath the knee length shorts was some white material that lightly caressed the skin and kept the dust from the road at bay. The hat resting upon his head was puffed up on top, reminding Ira of a muffin. It was the same shade of blue as everything else, and it also had the golden pattern.
The boy seemed taken aback by Ira’s words and jerked a step backwards. “How dare you speak to me that way, peasant! I’ll… I’ll…” He paused, seeming at a loss for words. “No matter! I’ve brought you here for a reason, and you are going to fulfill my every requirement before I release you from your binding to me. Is that clear?” His moment of insecurity had left as quickly as it had appeared, and in its place was sheer confidence. Of what, though, Ira had no idea.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, taking one final step forward and grabbing the cool, metal bars. “In no way am I bound to you, and I shall not be doing any of your—“ Wait, she thought, forcing herself to pause. A few seconds went by before she continued. “Alright then. Name your terms.” She removed her hands from the metal and crossed her arms, watching the boy intently.
Leeroy Bams gave a short nod, seeming not to think anything of her sudden change of attitude. “As soon as I release you from that contraption, you are to take me to the Thieves Guild. You will persuade the most elite of your kind to teach me the ways of the thief, and at no time before then will I allow you to leave our agreement.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I’ll turn you into my guards and they’ll throw you into jail. From what I’ve heard, that’s no place for a lady.” Leeroy eyed Ira for a moment, his eyes shifting to show a look of disgust. “Then again, I’m not quite sure you fit that requirement.”
Ira blinked. She didn’t know what other action to do at that moment, besides strangling the child, and that currently wasn’t an option. Take him the Guild? It was preposterous. Only a fool would agree to such terms, and that fool would be seen on every single wanted poster in the continent. Unless that person isn’t a fool at all, she mused, the thought turning gears in her head. “You’ve got a deal.”
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