"Stolen Enchantments"
Chapter 1
By: Willow Mae

The blade flew through the air with amazing accuracy, buying itself to the hilt deep in the heart of the body it aimed for. The air hung in silence for a few endless moments as the rope suspended from the ceiling creaked with the swaying weight of the target. The heavy breathing of the thrower seemed to echo endlessly in the large hall. Hundreds of pairs of eyes gazed at the target in amazement, shock staying their voices momentarily. Slowly the thrower rose from her crouched position on the floor and approached the swinging body. The dagger was yanked from its position, dirty hay spilling from the ‘wound’ inflicted on the dummy. In a wave, the crowded hall erupted with applause. No one bothered to keep the noise level down, the assembly was too far below ground to be heart. A resounding cry of “Ava! Ava!” echoed off the stone walls of the majestic hall as the woman sheathed her blade and turned to the crowd.

Her fair skin was flushed a rosy pink from exertion and her white tunic and torn breeches clung to her sweaty skin. She was of average height, and many a man would think her a dainty thing to hold, save for the lean muscles that chiseled her body into a firmness that was nearly unbecoming of a lady. Yet her form suited her perfectly, and as far as Ava was concerned no man would ever hold her close unless he had just killed her. She brushed a strand of damp flaxen hair from her eyes and set her full lips in a hard line. Her black eyes focused on the man seated on the ledge across the room from her. His raven hair, painted grey with time, had been adorned with a crown of pinecones and across his lean torso a sheepskin was draped, clean and warm in this cool and dirty hall. She knew him by reputation and rumor alone, but there was no doubt in her mind that this was Orland, King of Thieves in Southport, the great trading city positioned directly above this underground capital the thieves and rogues had adopted as their own.

“Hail Orland!” she hollered above the din of the hooting men, women and children. Though she wished for quiet, she couldn’t help raising her chest in pride. These people were honoring her this night. Orland waved a majestic arm and slowly the hall quieted to a gentle murmuring. The Thief King nodded for her to continue.

“Hail, Orland, I have successfully completed each of the many tasks you appointed me to prove my worth. I have shown you and all those who are present my talents as a thief, rogue and knave. I now demand my right to the title of Princess Rogue.”

“Ava of the Wayward District Clan, I recognize your worth.” Orland replied in a voice like the rustle of leaves in autumn. “How old are you, girl?”

“In my twentieth year.” Ava replied easily.

“You are young and vivacious. I trust you can handle the title properly, however I am not so sure you understand the burden you take upon yourself this day.” Of course she understood. She had waited for this day to come for as long as she could remember. She stilled her impatience and raised her pointed chin. It would be bad manners to interrupt the King.

“I am ready to learn.” Ava responded curtly. A developing knot in her stomach tightened without warning. Maybe she was making a mistake. The danger of the position was overpowering and frightful. But to be fearful was to be dead, something Ava didn’t expect to happen any time soon. Quickly pushing all doubts aside, she focused on what the Thief King was saying, drinking up every word that escaped his lips.

“We maintain an honorable order of thieves, but we are still thieves. You must battle to keep your position, for many will want to steal it from you. Not every rogue in the city follows our order. Rival tribes are always eager to take a life of one of our own, but maintaining a title places you in greater danger than ever before. By receiving the rank of princess, you are obliged to do what is best for our tribe, to teach them how to survive and to bring great profits to our collective by fulfilling the jobs given to you as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you die, we will not mourn you. If you are caught, we will no longer rescue you. By accepting this position, you are saying that you can stand on your own without the support of the tribe. Therefore, you will be expected to stand alone. You pledge yourself to the collective.”

Ava listened to all of this solemnly. She knew all the requirements and special conditions since before she had begun training to take the title, but when the King of Thieves laid out the job description before her it suddenly seemed to be a much harder task than anticipated. If the previous princess had not been destroyed on her last job she might be dead now after battling for the position. Ebony eyes closed to rid the image from her mind. She was worthy. She had proven it to everyone many times before and now she had proven it to Orland as well. Ava was completely ready to pledge herself to the tribe.

“I understand.” Ava cried, her fist raised high in the air as a salute.

“Then, Princess Rogue, take your clan and go celebrate.”

The quiet in the hall broke and cheers rose to a thunderous roar. Ava found myself surrounded by her mates of the Wayward district clan, the people who had become her family. She found her foster brother’s grinning face and fought her way through the throng to meet him.

“Ava my dove! The only thing to complete this joyous occasion is to couple your body tonight with mine!” Justin cried as he crushed her body to his in a warm embrace. Ava laughed and punched him on the shoulder for joking with her such.

“One of these days I really will cut off your balls. Maybe then you’ll stop suggesting stupid things.” Justin returned her grin and winked at their playful banter.

“Ah, but pearl of my eye, if you are drunk first you won’t remember the deed, and I shall be safe from your sword.” Ava laughed at his familiar taunts and they joined the rest of the clan as they ascended the hidden staircase that led to the streets above ground. Soon the local tavern was filled with laughing, drinking and celebrating rogues, with Ava as the guest of honor. Never had so many thieves congregated in a public place before, but there was little worry. The bartender wouldn’t dare throw them out, because money is money, whether it was rightfully gotten or not. As long as they paid and didn’t destroy any property, they could stay as long as we wished.

( ( (

Duncan Arroway stared at the scroll that his master had handed him dubiously. The paper was cracked and yellowing with age, the fine lettering faded with time.

“I understand what ye want me ta do, sair, but I ask why ye chose me.” He set his honey colored eyes on Master Scribe Spelloyal. The master gripped his cane with knobby fingers, but though his body was frail and shaking his gaze was not as he looked at Duncan with a mixture of pride and sorrow. Duncan didn’t want to leave him. He ran a hand through his amber locks in frustration. Master Spelloyal spoke to him in the same soft, raspy voice Duncan had grown to love over the years of his apprenticeship.

“Duncan, you’re a good lad. I will not be around forever, as you can clearly see. I am old, much older than I look. I can feel my body deteriorate around me. Soon you will take over the trade, and you must fulfill the duties that come with the job. I trust you to do well on this errand.”

“I promise ye that I will do me best, but there’s sumthin’ more in this, t’aint there?” Duncan asked, tucking the scroll carefully into the travel satchel that sat by his feet. Master Spelloyal chucked quietly.

“You always did catch on quickly, my boy. Yes, there is more to this scroll than you might imagine. I’m afraid I can not tell you any more, though. You must trust that you know enough, and any more information may be revealed in time, if the need comes.”

“Aye.” If the master would not speak any more, Duncan knew better than to push him. “I shall leave on the morrow.”

“First go to see Lord Ianhand at the manor.” Master Spelloyal must have seen his startled expression, because his thin lips stretched into a kindly smile. “He wishes to provide you with information and accommodations before you leave for Vicices. Be wise, Duncan. And be careful.”

Something in his tone urged Duncan to hug the old man, and he did. He would miss the Master terribly, his second father who had taught him so much about the world.

“Aye, I promise I’ll be safe. I shan’t be kilt. I’ll return ta ye shortly, and thank ye fer everything.” Duncan swore. The master gave him a pat on the back as he hugged him again.

“You deserved everything I ever gave you, lad. Now be off with you.” The master instructed. Duncan took up his satchel and walked from the small hut he had shared with scribe Spelloyal for the past few years. As he left, a cold hand of despair gripped his heart. He knew that he would never see the master, or any of this homeland ever again. Duncan wasn’t sure how he knew that, but something told him to take a final look, because it would be the last look he would get. He walked down the dirt path that led to the manor, facing his future with as bright a smile as he could muster.

( ( (

“Ava my sweeeeeet…” Justin slurred, the stench of ale heavy on his breath. Ava rolled her eyes and wrapped her arm around his torso to support him. He didn’t make a good drunk.

“You never could hold your alcohol for long,” She groaned, slapping away a hand that wandered too close to her breast. Horny bastard. “Stop that Justin. What would Mother say?” Mother had brought their clan together like family, and they both knew that she would be upset by abusing the drink. Justin just couldn’t put that into his mind frame.

“She’s say…she’d say I need another drink.” He tried to break away from her grip as she dragged him from the tavern. His shouting was causing a ruckus. “Barkeep! Get me another drink! A drink, man, and a lovely young wench…” he leered seductively at Ava. The man couldn’t even tell who was who anymore. “Why hello there little one, you look mighty lovely tonight.”

“Justin, it’s only me.” Ava soothed him, her patience waning quickly. Drunks. She got so tired of dealing with them. As much as she loved her foster brother, she was getting close to knocking him unconscious to silence his incoherent babble and she told him as much.

“Cuisine of my feast, you…” Ava didn’t let him finish his bad analogies before she had knocked him unconscious in her arms.

“I did warn you.” She chastised, hefting his heavy body onto her shoulders. As soon as she had gotten him situated, she clambered onto the rooftop highways and began the long trek back to the Wayward District. Guards. Ava always had to look out for guards. Her tribe couldn’t afford to move base again. There were far too few places to seek sanctuary anymore, and the underground city was filling up quickly. She now had a greater responsibility to keep her clan safe. However, she made it home without incident and allowed herself to relax as she carried Justin towards their abode. The abandoned watchtower, crumbling and ancient from the days when Southport had been a war front, served as a perfect nesting place for their clan. Ava picked her way over fallen lumber and crumbling stones, careful not to let Justin’s sagging head hit anything. Pulling aside a moth-eaten blanket that served as a door, she entered into their home.

“Glad to see you made it home alive, Ava.” Mother looked up from her position on the floor where she was playing a dice game with one of the other knaves that lounged about the large area. Ava recognized the faces of a few rogues that had been at the tavern earlier. A few snickered at seeing Justin’s limp body draped across her shoulders. “Or shall we be calling you Princess now?” There was a soft roar of cheers from her fellow “family” members. Ava grinned, her usually hardened features softening with pride and happiness.

“No Mother, I couldn’t bear our family calling me anything but Ava.”

“That’s good dear, because I wouldn’t do it anyway.” Mother stood up with a chuckle. She was a short woman of heavy build, her strength apparent in her firm chin and stocky arms. Her chestnut hair hung in its usual matted bun at the nape of her neck. Mother eyed Ava’s burden critically and folded her arms. “Couldn’t keep his ale again, I see. Give him here.” She obliged and handed Justin’s unconscious form to Mother. The older woman took him to a dirty blanket that served as a cot as Ava massaged the ache from her shoulders.

“He held it better than usual. I had to knock him out to get him to shut up.” Ava commented dryly. There were a few more snickers.

“You usually end up resorting to that anyway, whether he’s drunk or not.” One of her fellow knaves snorted from across the room. Ava chuckled at the truth of the situation and sat down on the dirty floor.

“I don’t pity him the headache he’ll have when he wakes up, from the drink and from your hand.” Mother scolded. “Where are the others that went with you two?”

“I left them at the tavern.” Ava said as she pried off her worn boots.

“Just as well. I doubt you’d be able to knock them all out and carry them home yourself if they came in a bunch. It’d be a task even for you, Princess.” Karyn, a young rogue who had taken an affinity to Ava, giggled. The boot in Ava’s hand hit the girl in the arm.

“Ava.” Ava demanded as she discarded the rest of her clothing and prepared for bed. Sleep called to her, and though it seemed as if others wished to talk she was in no mood. “Please, don’t speak to the royalty. I need my beauty sleep.” She joked, laying down on her own dirty cot and pulling the hole-filled blanket around her shoulders.

“Yes, you need all the beauty sleep you can get.” Her friend Arik taunted. Her coal black stare silenced him. A cloud of dust swirled sluggishly from the makeshift bedroll she settled on, the floor cool and comforting in the humid night. Amid the soft murmuring of her mates, Ava fell asleep.

Without the comfort of dreams, Ava found herself relieved to be awoken by someone shaking my shoulders a little while later. She shook off the last remnants of sleep and rubbed the crust from her eyes as her stiff body groaned into a sitting position.

“Wake up Princess. You’re needed.”

“Ava…” She corrected sleepily, hands groping for her clothes. She kept her bare body covered by the blanket, but quickly discarded the rag when she found her clothing.

“Well, Lady Rogue, there is someone here specifically to see you. I believe you may have a job.” Ava was immediately awake. She struggled into my clothing as she hurried out to the gathering room. It wasn’t much of a room, more like a courtyard where a room used to be. The fallen ceiling stones served as seating and when the whether was nice, as it often was, the Wayward rogues would use it as a meal room. She pushed aside the curtain that led into the courtyard and was immediately met by the cool gaze of a fine lady seated on one of the fallen stones.

“For a princess, you certainly don’t look the part.” The lady drawled, smoothing her silken skirt and turning a silver ring on her finger. Ava subconsciously pulled her tangled blonde hair from her face. The lady was a sight to see, to be true, with pearls in her hair and fine garments on her shapely body. She looked at the rogue in disdain, but Ava swore not to let myself be intimidated by her smug attitude and let her sharp chin stick out further than usual.

“It is a title fitting my skills, milady, not my appearance. Looks have little to do with it.” The lady raised a thin eyebrow delicately.

“Indeed.” She held out her dainty hand to Ava. “I am the Lady Trannyth.”

“Sounds Elvish.”

The lady nodded slightly, a smile faint on her full lips. “Partly.”

Ava grasped her hand lightly, never once breaking the Lady’s hard gaze. Her eyebrows rose sharply.

“Calluses, milady?” she asked after dropping the fine woman’s hand.

“From when I was a thief myself.” Trannyth smiled sympathetically. Ava wanted to smack her. “But I have long since given up that profession. Far too dirty. That’s why I came to ask Orland for help with what I can not do myself. He told me to find you, here.” She looked about her at the crumbling walls and stunted undergrowth trying in vain to grow in the loose dirt floor. “It’s a quaint place, really.”

“It serves our purposes.” Ava replied tightly. Once a thief, always a thief, as far as she was concerned, and she would not let this woman pretend to be better than her order. Still, it wouldn’t do to let her temper show. She wanted to know what sort of job this lady was offering. “What is so important that Orland send you to seek my services?” Trannyth smiled again faintly and smoothed her skirts again.

“Isn’t it obvious? I need you to steal something for me.”

“If it was a simple task, Lord Orland would have sent a lesser thief to serve you. And it looks to me you have enough money already.” Ava commented, making herself comfortable leaning against the cool stone wall.

“Money is not the issue. I will pay you twice the value of the item I want you to steal.” Lady Trannyth set her iron grey eyes on the knave. “You must get me that scroll.”

“Explain to me first just I am getting myself into, milady.” Ava returned her stare steadily. The lady was determined, but so was she. “I must think about my people as well as myself.”

“Since when have rogues and thieves cared about each other?” the lady hissed, anger flecking her eyes with orange. “You will take the job without question, Princess, or I shall set the guards on you!” She rose from her seat to strike at Ava, but the princess rogue had already twisted the fine woman’s arms behind her back. She held the lady gently, but she’d be damned if she let the woman go before making her point clear.

“I wouldn’t say such things, milady. Once a knave, always a knave, no matter how fine the jewels you dress yourself in. Now, I never said I wouldn’t take the job, I simply need more information. I’m not going to risk my life without learning the details, you understand. The life of the rogue has changed, milady, from the time you were practicing. We band together for support and in this rough world, it is how we survive. I hope you can understand how I must keep the good of the order in mind.” She slowly released her captive. In a huff, Trannyth smoothed her sleeves and glowered at Ava.

“Yes, well.” She forced herself to smile. “Orland would be most displeased if you didn’t take this job. Very well, have a seat, I shall tell you what you want to know.”

“I’m glad we see eye to eye.” The princess smiled politely down her thin nose as she sat down by Lady Trannyth.

“There is an ancient scroll that is being delivered to Vicices. It’s of great importance that I receive this scroll. It is going to be displayed in the Vicices Historical Museum, when it should be used to…well, it carries a great deal of power that should be used instead of letting it wilt away. This is call I can tell you! I will pay you and your clan 40 gold certans if you complete the job.” Trannyth twisted the rings adorning her fingers in an almost nervous fashion. Ava watched her in silence for a few moments. The price was indeed very high. With 40 gold certans, her clan could eat three meals a day, sleep on actual bedrolls instead of their makeshift ones, and maybe even buy some clothes that didn’t let the cold in. It wasn’t just a good offer, it was a great one.

“All right, I’ll take the job. It sounds like an easy enough operation.”

“Not exactly. There’s one problem I haven’t told you yet. You cannot steal the scroll.” Lady Trannyth explained. Ava blinked.

“I thought that’s what you wanted me to do.” The lady’s fingers were once more playing with her rings.

“It is, but you can’t. There is a spell safeguarding the scroll. It can’t be taken, only given. You must convince the bearer to give you the scroll.” Ava’s black eyes darkened to obsidian. She didn’t like the turn this was taking.

“It’s against our policy to deal with magic. Nothing good can come from it.” She growled. Trannyth gazed at her steadily.

“Yet you must deal with it. You’ve already promised to take the job. A thief of your position wouldn’t go back on your word. No magic will be dealt unless you attempt to steal the scroll by force.” The tone of her voice signified the end of the discussion. Ava didn’t like how it had gone. “Now, if you’ll come with me, I have arranged for some supplies for your journey.” Reluctantly, the princess stood and followed the woman out of the watchtower.

“Ava, where are you going?” Karyn’s red head called from an upper floor.

“I have a job. Tell the others goodbye for you and apologize to Justin on my behalf when he gets up.” she instructed the young knave.

“Apologize? Goodbye? Those are things you never do!” Ava’s response was to pick up a large stone at my feet and throw it at the girl. The rock clanged against the wall as Karyn ducked back into the tower.

“Now do as I say, or I won’t miss next time!” Ava hollered with a grin on her face. She would miss her young shadow and all her taunts. The redhead gave a mocking salute and Ava turned to follow Trannyth into the city and begin her journey on the road to Vicices.