Chapter I
Surprise Attacker
A Suitor for Kiara
(( I'm changing her name!! ))
It was early in the morning and the sun was just coming up over the horizon. The birds were beginning to sing and the morning dew was going to be drying from the sun’s heat. Yet, she was awake and on the prowl. She wore a long black cloak over a gray top that had thin straps crossing at her collar bone that showed off a bit of cleavage and her belly. She wore tight dark blue trousers that went down to her freshly polished black boots. Her cloak hood was up and covered the head of long red hair. Her hair was not ginger, or auburn, but no, it was red. Her eyes were the oddest thing on her. They weren’t blue or green like most but instead almost blood red. Her skin was pale and beautifully flawless. She was slim and lean. She had a generous chest and hips, which she was often told would be good for bearing hearty sons. She had a tiny waist and in short- the body of a goddess and every woman in the Assassins Guild HQ envied her for it, at least, the shallower group of them did. She was all around gorgeous and she could stop a man dead in his tracks with a single look but she never really noticed as men would stop and stare.
She walked up the corridor and straight into Joseph Lien’s office. She knocked first but didn’t wait for a response. She saw a palace servant, something she hadn’t seen in here since she was ten, and didn’t think she’d ever see again. Her father was calm and smiled when he saw her. “There you are, Kiara, wait for a moment outside, dear?” She nodded without responding and stepped back out. The thing about her father’s doors was the windows on them. He could see out but you could not see in. She stood to the side of the doors so that he wouldn’t know that she was listening.
“I told her twenty-two years ago, again twelve years ago, and I’m telling her again now. The only way she can meet her is in the next life.” Her father said with a calm tone.
“Sir, I realize that I speak out of term but please hear me out. Mayhap you could let my Mistress meet her, perhaps if she came here? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind and it would give her a chance to explain her actions all those years ago.” The servant replied.
Her father was quiet for a long time before saying, “Come back in fourteen days. I’ll have to speak to her about it before I decide. She might not want to meet her.” The servant came out and Kiara acted casual.
The servant smiled at her respectfully and left. She then went in and demanded, “What was that about?”
Her father said nothing for a time and said, “Do you remember when I told you as a child that your mother was away for a time?” Kiara nodded. “That was half true and half a lie. She is away but it’s been in my ability to set up a meeting for you two for a long time. Before you blow up at me, understand. I was furious at your mother when you were barely a year old and didn’t think that for reasons I will not be the one to tell you, she deserved to be around you.” Her father was getting on in years but he was still a handsome man. He had jet black hair and bright green eyes. He had a tan and a lean masculine body. He had stubble along his chin and jaw wearing his usual attire. He had on baggy black trousers and a loose white linen long-sleeved shirt. His boots were up on the desk and he wore the earring he always did in his right ear.
Kiara sat down on the couch across from him. “You mean I could have met her all this time?”
He nodded. “That servant was one of her many servants. She sent him to ask, rather, beg of me that I allow you two to meet. Now, that was her servant again asking to meet you and as I’m sure you happened to overhear,” He said with a grin making her grin back. He knew her too well. “He suggested I let your mother, Melinda, come here to meet you.”
“Why can’t I go to the palace?” She asked softly.
“Kiara, her father hated me for being around your mother and your mother has a new husband, two children and a load of body guards that have been told to kill me on sight. It’s not much safer for you there.” He paused. “Do you want to arrange for her to meet you here?”
Kiara thought long and hard. “I’ll think about it.”
This surprised him. “I was expecting you to jump for joy and instantly accept the offer for her to come.”
She grinned a little. “Father, I was eavesdropping. I heard you tell him not to come back for fourteen days. That gives me time to think. Besides, if she didn’t want me then, what would make her want me now?” She said standing and going to leave. “Father…” He looked up at her as she turned her head to face him. “I love you, you know that?”
He smiled brightly before getting up, going to her, and embracing her tightly. He kissed her head and held her there for a long time before saying, “I love you too, my daughter. I’m proud of everything you’ve done. I hope you always remember that I’ll always be proud of you and I will always love you.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you at dinner.” He nodded and let her go, knowing that his little girl may not be little, but she accepted the fact that she would always be his baby. She knew he would be truly miserable to lose his only daughter and as he had told her many times before, she was the light of his life. Its part of the reason he didn’t date much. Women didn’t measure up to his children’s standards and for that, they were not good enough.
Kiara hummed softly to herself as she walked through the corridors of the Thieves Guild. She was mainly here to see if her uncle had any assignments for her since her father had none. She gasped as her hand was grabbed and she was pulled into a dead-end corridor, pushed up against a wall and kissed full on the mouth. She pulled away and saw that it was John. She shoved him off and slapped him. “John! Have I ever said you could kiss me?” She said spitting in disgust. “You taste horrible.”
She said walking out of the corridor and up the hall, heading again for her Uncle. He grabbed her hand and turned her to face him. He kissed her hand gently, which earned him a nice hard punch to the face. She walked away only to be grabbed again, this time by her brother. She pulled from him and said, annoyed, “What is it, Jess?”
He grinned. “Nice left hook. You really took Al’s training to heart when he said to put your emotions behind it.”
She grinned and rolled her eyes. “I haven’t seen you for a couple days. Where did Uncle send you?”
“I was sent to the Palace. Someone stole something that wasn’t theirs from Princess Miranda and she wanted it back.” He said tossing his knife up and down, catching it every time it came down by either the handle or the tip of the blade.
She chuckled as she grinned, “Who stole whatever it was?”
He winked, “Her sister, Helga stole the bejeweled dagger her mother gave her before she got married and tried to use it on Miranda’s baby girl, just because Helga is unable to birth children and her sisters all have at least two.”
Kiara looked confused now. “Why is she unable to birth?” She hadn’t ever encountered that kind of thing in a person, being unable to birth.
He sighed. “Well, her father caught her sporting with a man he rather despised, so he had the healers perform some…surgery I believe, that will not allow her to become pregnant which, although means she’d make a wonderful court’esa, she’ll be worthless as a wife.”
Karelia smiled a bit and said, “Correction, brother, she’d be worthless to a man who wants children. There are men out there who think children are nothing but little brats.”
He nodded and smiled at her. “Very true, that is very true. What brings you to the Thieves Guild? I thought you weren’t a complete follower of the God of Thieves, Deranedax?”
She chuckled softly, “Jesse, I might not be his best follower but I do follow him, after all, without praying to him, I’d probably suck a little more than you do.”
“What?” He said with playful anger. She giggled and took off running, laughing as he chased her. She was glad that her cloak was in her bag, because it would only add to the wind resistance as she ran through a corridor with open windows that was pretty much outside, only with a roof. The dirt path was a little easier to run on than tile.
She giggled some more as he started to gain on her. She did a front flip, and then back, landing on the roof of the outdoor corridor. She ran along that roof, jumping down and heading back the way they came once she reached the side they had come from. She heard him swear, “I’m going to get you, Karelia!” She giggled more and turned down a hallway, skidding as she did. She picked up speed and again and pumped her arms to help gain speed. She didn’t dare look back until she was sure she had gained some serious ground. She ducked into a dark hallway and crouched down in the shadows. She forced her breathing to calm so that she wasn’t panting so loudly and winced. It hurt a bit to force herself to breathe so slowly when her lungs and heart had been working so hard. She had to clamp a hand over her mouth as a wave of giggles threatened to give her away when Jesse ran down the corridor, straight past her hiding place. She grinned and threw her voice, “Hey! Jesse! I went left! I thought I’d tell you since you’re so damn slow!” He said something and she peeked around the corner and watched him head left. She grinned and stepped out of the shadows, not wasting time in case he came back, to get to her Uncle’s office which was in fact- right.
She gasped when she bumped into a tall young man. He had coal black hair and blue eyes. He was lean and masculine, with an even tan. He had a fresh shave, she knew since he had not even the littlest bit of stubble. He was incredibly handsome. He wore a gray shirt that had no sleeves and fitted him like a second skin. He wore loose black trousers and black boots, like most people did. He had a tattoo on his right upper arm. Kiara had tattoos all up and down her arms, on her shoulders, her lower back, her legs, ankles, wrists, and one on the back of her neck. Each one was a symbol of each God or Goddess she followed. The smaller the tattoo, the less she worshiped that God. He had the mark of Liana, Goddess of Murder and Death, all along his right arm and then the mark of Deranedax on his left. She realized that she had been knocked back flat on her arse and hurried to get to her feet just as he reached out to help her up. She swallowed and accepted it shyly. She then said, “I’m so sorry. I’m trying to avoid my brother…”
He smiled. Gods…what a smile! No! Ki, what are you thinking? She thought to herself as he then said kindly, “Don’t be sorry. It’s not everyday a lad like me gets to see a pretty girl like you.”
She felt her face get warm as she stuttered as she said, “Oh…well, I…uh, I’m glad to help…um, I mean, to have shown up.”
“There you are!” She gasped as she turned around just to be tackled by her brother. She pushed him off and said, “Jesse! Could you bug me later?”
He then cooed, “Aw, is my poor little sister afraid I’ll kick her butt for saying I’m a bad thief?”
She grinned and, using her hands to keep her propped up, she held her feet together and launched them at his chest, hitting him and knocking him back. “No, I’m afraid I’ll hurt you. Oh,” She got up and dusted herself off, giving a small smile to the man, saying, “And, I’ll catch you around.” She gave a small wink and started to walk away.
“Wait!” He said before she could get far. She turned to face him without moving her feet, so her arm hung limply at her side as she twisted around to face him. “I never got your name.”
She smiled. “Kiara Lien and what’s your name?”
He smiled at her and said kindly, “My name is Kael Galathil.” She bowed her head in respect and turned to go, finally heading off to meet her uncle.
“Uncle Hunter!” Kiara screamed as she ran at his limp form on the floor. She felt tears well up in her eyes but wiped them away impatiently. She shook his shoulder and started searching him for injuries. She then yelled to anyone who would listen, “Somebody help, please!” She checked her Uncle for injuries and found only a couple and a dart in his neck. Sniffing it, she realized that it would only paralyze him. He was going to live but only if she had him taken to the infirmary wing immediately. Less than a minute later, Jesse and Kael burst through the door. She sat there on her knees with Hunter in her arms. Jesse swore violently and picked up his Uncle, telling Kael, “Tend to her. She looks like she’s in shock.”
She was, she couldn’t move. The thought of her Uncle, the man who trained her and cared for her like a second father might be gone. He wasn’t moving and was barely breathing. Kael gently lifted Karelia onto his back and she let him. He ran her down the hall after Jesse until after a moment she leapt out of his arms and sprinted back to Hunter’s office. She looked around, knowing that only the slaveways could possibly let anyone in without a key to the door- and only she and her brother knew how to get to the main slaveway to even get into its many tunnels. She pushed the loose brick on the wall and the slaveway swung open. She went in, sword ready. She looked around and saw no one but she heard light footsteps, too light for a man’s. She turned on her heel, to her right at a four way cross and saw a young girl, a slave. She then addressed the girl, “You! Have you seen anyone in these tunnels that’s not supposed to be?” The girl shook her head.
She then said, “A man tried to get access earlier but no one minded him, they just sent Bruno after him.” Bruno was the main guard of the slaveways and built like a house. Kiara looked around and headed down the main tunnel until she found Bruno.
“Bruno!” He turned to her and bowed. “Bruno, who have you seen today that’s tried to get into the tunnels that’s not a slave?” Bruno was a big man, huge, and rather slow in the head.
“Uh…I saw one man. He kept trying to get in, but I did just like ya told me, Miss Lien. I didn’t let nobody in that wasn’t a slave or worker.”
She nodded and said, “What did the man do when you stopped him?”
He took on a thoughtful look. “He got angry and stormed out. Then I really had to use the Head, Miss so I left my post but only for a minute!”
She swore, “It’s alright Bruno. You didn’t mean to cause trouble but while you went to the Head, he slipped past. He sent Lord Lien to the infirmary with cuts and a little poison in his system.”
Bruno looked ashamed. “I’m sorry, Miss. Whip me if ya want…I deserve it.” She smiled kindly and went over to him and gave him a hug, sheathing her sword. Bruno was a big softy at heart and its one reason his wife loved him so much. There wasn’t a lot that Bruno understood really well but he was intelligent in his own way. He thought differently from most people and that’s why people loved him because more than once, his abnormal thinking had gotten her out of some pretty tight places.
She kissed his cheek and said, “Tell the family I said hello.” Bruno was one of her closer friends and the only way to make sure he didn’t sulk after something like this was to give him a hug and make it clear that he did nothing wrong. He smiled and nodded, which was a sign to her that he’d be alright if she ditched to go track down that son of a b***h that took advantage of Bruno.
She ran off into the tunnels again and went back to the office to find Kael waiting. “I thought you’d be back.” He said calmly. “Are you alright?”
She shook her head and shut the passage after finding a slave and making it perfectly clear that anyone who came into her Uncle’s office before she said it was alright would be whipped. She then grabbed Kael’s hand and pulled him along as she ran to the infirmary. He soon said to her, “I can run by myself!”
She let him go, not caring if he kept up or not as she sprinted at full speed to the infirmary. She skidded to a stop only to be stopped by Jesse. “He’ll be fine but he needs to rest. The nurses-”
She tried to push past him but he picked her up, making her swear a nice tidbit, saying, “Jesse! Let me in! Let me see Uncle Hunter!” He shoved her against a wall and looked her in the eye.
He then said, “He will live. You need to let him rest. Calm down!” She kept trying to push past him but he wouldn’t let her and after a minute, Kael helped him
Kael then added gently, “Miss, getting upset isn’t going to solve anything. We should probably spend time trying to find out who would do this and why.” After a moment of thinking over Kael’s words, she calmed and almost let herself succumb to tears. She shook her head and pushed past them both as she ran as fast as she possibly could toward the Drifter’s Square. It would be about a half hour run but she didn’t care. She wanted to run until she couldn’t breathe. She wanted to run until her legs gave out and she was forced to sleep where she fell. She wanted to run and run until her lungs collapsed and her heart gave out. Her uncle had never treated her like an Uncle but more like a best friend. He always gave her advice and never coddled her just because his brother was her father. She couldn’t imagine going on in her life without him around to help her and show her how to get better at her job- which was being part of the Elites.
She was a thief, an assassin, a spy, and just about anything else they needed. She had been taught how to act, dress- everything she needed to pass for anything they needed. Hunter had taught her most of it, since her father had more than enough on his hands running the Assassins Guild, which was known far and wide for its vast intelligence intake.
She ran for what seemed like hours until she came to the sewers which she passed and went to the Denny. The Denny was what her and her brother called a vast amount of forest and foliage that was beneath the city and in the sewers. She went down into the Denny and found the small area that her and her brother had cleaned out enough to all it a hang out as children. She sniffed in an unladylike manner and sat down on a log. She swore softly and stared down at the ground, watching a team of ants rip apart a dead rat. She watched them tear it apart for what seemed like hours as they worked it down to flesh and bone. She had to smile. The process took probably all day, but now their colony had enough food to feed their young. She sighed after a time and watched a group of fire ants come. She grinned and propped her elbow up on her thigh, putting her chin in her hand as she watched the black and red ants’ war over the food. In the end, the black ants won. She grinned and chuckled a little more as the victors carried the dead of the opposite side down into the ant hill. Food is food, right? She thought to herself with another chuckle.
“Glad to see you’re doing better.” She jumped to her feet, being careful not to step on the ants. Those little suckers may be small, but their bites itched for days. She turned and saw Kael and Jesse. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t heard them coming.
She sat back down and realized that her little bit of entertainment was slowly dispersing back into the hill. She frowned when she saw a spider heading toward the final few. She took out a dagger and stabbed the little b*****d with the tip, killing it easily enough. It gave a squeal of pain (which she was surprised she could hear, but then, it was rather large) before giving in and dying. She chuckled softly as she sheathed her dagger and ants poured out at the sound the spider had made, beginning to rip it apart as well. She looked at her brother and said softly, “I’ve taken time to get my mind off it.”
Kael then said, “Everyone’s been worried sick. You’ve been missing for over a day. Your father’s having a field day.”
She looked at Jesse. “Didn’t you tell him I was down here? We both know I come here and you come here when we want time alone.”
“Exactly, my dear little sister. That’s why I didn’t tell him. If I told him, he’d know where I go when I’m in trouble and need time to think up a good excuse.” He said sitting beside her.
She sighed softly, “I suppose I should get back up there…”
Kael grinned, “Actually, it’s somewhat amusing to watch your father be in such frenzy. I’ve heard that you run away a lot.”
She chuckled. “I used to when I was younger. Jesse would bring me meals. When we run away, we come here. No one would ever think to look down here.”
Jesse looked proud, “I found it.”
She laughed harshly, “I thought of the idea to make this our secret hideout- an idea that you laughed at.” She stuck out her tongue. “Who’s laughing now, brother?”
Jesse glared as Kael laughed and said, “She’s got you there, Jess.” Jess looked like he was about to tackle his new found friend when Kiara got up and started to walk out of the sewers. They shrugged and followed. Kael caught up to her first and said softly, “Are you sure you’re alright? We can stay down here longer, if you’d like.”
She smiled at him and said, “Nah, I’m alright. Besides, I don’t think the Royal family will appreciate having every thief and assassin in both guilds scouring the city for me. “ Kael chuckled as Jesse caught up with them.
It was a few hours before they worked their way back to the Thieves Guild and to the showers. They cleaned up and had their clothes washed while they did. They reeked of the sewers. Once she was clean, Kiara’s skin glowed, her hair shone and she radiated the picture of beauty. She put her now fresh clothes back on and walked out from behind the wall that separated the baths for men and women. She cleared her throat loudly as the boys took their time. She giggled as Kael sunk deep into his tub and pulled the soap bubbles around to hide his nakedness. She shook her head and turned on her heel to go saying, “Hurry up!”
She went to the infirmary and went in. Her father tackled her in a hug but she managed to stay standing, as he said, “Where in the hell have you been, young lady?” She pulled away and didn’t answer him but instead she went over to her Uncle, who was sitting up in his bed and eating.
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, smiling as he hugged her. “We’ve been worried about you, Miss Karelia.”
She smiled and pulled away as she said, “I’m sorry. I just needed time to think and to calm down.”
Joseph came up and hugged her again, kissing her head just as the boys came in. He held her for a time before saying to Jesse, “You should have brought her back yesterday, damn it.”
Jesse took on a hurt look as he said, “What in the hell did I do? She’s the one that ran off!”
Joseph halted further complaints by saying, “Karelia, there’s someone I want you to meet tonight at dinner. It’s a little sudden, but I think you’ll be happy.”
She looked at her father confusedly. “Did Melinda show up anyway?”
He shook his head. “I think I’ve found you a husband.”
Jesse, Kael, and Hunter joined her as she boomed, “Joseph, you did what? ”
Surprise Attacker
A Suitor for Kiara
(( I'm changing her name!! ))
It was early in the morning and the sun was just coming up over the horizon. The birds were beginning to sing and the morning dew was going to be drying from the sun’s heat. Yet, she was awake and on the prowl. She wore a long black cloak over a gray top that had thin straps crossing at her collar bone that showed off a bit of cleavage and her belly. She wore tight dark blue trousers that went down to her freshly polished black boots. Her cloak hood was up and covered the head of long red hair. Her hair was not ginger, or auburn, but no, it was red. Her eyes were the oddest thing on her. They weren’t blue or green like most but instead almost blood red. Her skin was pale and beautifully flawless. She was slim and lean. She had a generous chest and hips, which she was often told would be good for bearing hearty sons. She had a tiny waist and in short- the body of a goddess and every woman in the Assassins Guild HQ envied her for it, at least, the shallower group of them did. She was all around gorgeous and she could stop a man dead in his tracks with a single look but she never really noticed as men would stop and stare.
She walked up the corridor and straight into Joseph Lien’s office. She knocked first but didn’t wait for a response. She saw a palace servant, something she hadn’t seen in here since she was ten, and didn’t think she’d ever see again. Her father was calm and smiled when he saw her. “There you are, Kiara, wait for a moment outside, dear?” She nodded without responding and stepped back out. The thing about her father’s doors was the windows on them. He could see out but you could not see in. She stood to the side of the doors so that he wouldn’t know that she was listening.
“I told her twenty-two years ago, again twelve years ago, and I’m telling her again now. The only way she can meet her is in the next life.” Her father said with a calm tone.
“Sir, I realize that I speak out of term but please hear me out. Mayhap you could let my Mistress meet her, perhaps if she came here? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind and it would give her a chance to explain her actions all those years ago.” The servant replied.
Her father was quiet for a long time before saying, “Come back in fourteen days. I’ll have to speak to her about it before I decide. She might not want to meet her.” The servant came out and Kiara acted casual.
The servant smiled at her respectfully and left. She then went in and demanded, “What was that about?”
Her father said nothing for a time and said, “Do you remember when I told you as a child that your mother was away for a time?” Kiara nodded. “That was half true and half a lie. She is away but it’s been in my ability to set up a meeting for you two for a long time. Before you blow up at me, understand. I was furious at your mother when you were barely a year old and didn’t think that for reasons I will not be the one to tell you, she deserved to be around you.” Her father was getting on in years but he was still a handsome man. He had jet black hair and bright green eyes. He had a tan and a lean masculine body. He had stubble along his chin and jaw wearing his usual attire. He had on baggy black trousers and a loose white linen long-sleeved shirt. His boots were up on the desk and he wore the earring he always did in his right ear.
Kiara sat down on the couch across from him. “You mean I could have met her all this time?”
He nodded. “That servant was one of her many servants. She sent him to ask, rather, beg of me that I allow you two to meet. Now, that was her servant again asking to meet you and as I’m sure you happened to overhear,” He said with a grin making her grin back. He knew her too well. “He suggested I let your mother, Melinda, come here to meet you.”
“Why can’t I go to the palace?” She asked softly.
“Kiara, her father hated me for being around your mother and your mother has a new husband, two children and a load of body guards that have been told to kill me on sight. It’s not much safer for you there.” He paused. “Do you want to arrange for her to meet you here?”
Kiara thought long and hard. “I’ll think about it.”
This surprised him. “I was expecting you to jump for joy and instantly accept the offer for her to come.”
She grinned a little. “Father, I was eavesdropping. I heard you tell him not to come back for fourteen days. That gives me time to think. Besides, if she didn’t want me then, what would make her want me now?” She said standing and going to leave. “Father…” He looked up at her as she turned her head to face him. “I love you, you know that?”
He smiled brightly before getting up, going to her, and embracing her tightly. He kissed her head and held her there for a long time before saying, “I love you too, my daughter. I’m proud of everything you’ve done. I hope you always remember that I’ll always be proud of you and I will always love you.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you at dinner.” He nodded and let her go, knowing that his little girl may not be little, but she accepted the fact that she would always be his baby. She knew he would be truly miserable to lose his only daughter and as he had told her many times before, she was the light of his life. Its part of the reason he didn’t date much. Women didn’t measure up to his children’s standards and for that, they were not good enough.
Kiara hummed softly to herself as she walked through the corridors of the Thieves Guild. She was mainly here to see if her uncle had any assignments for her since her father had none. She gasped as her hand was grabbed and she was pulled into a dead-end corridor, pushed up against a wall and kissed full on the mouth. She pulled away and saw that it was John. She shoved him off and slapped him. “John! Have I ever said you could kiss me?” She said spitting in disgust. “You taste horrible.”
She said walking out of the corridor and up the hall, heading again for her Uncle. He grabbed her hand and turned her to face him. He kissed her hand gently, which earned him a nice hard punch to the face. She walked away only to be grabbed again, this time by her brother. She pulled from him and said, annoyed, “What is it, Jess?”
He grinned. “Nice left hook. You really took Al’s training to heart when he said to put your emotions behind it.”
She grinned and rolled her eyes. “I haven’t seen you for a couple days. Where did Uncle send you?”
“I was sent to the Palace. Someone stole something that wasn’t theirs from Princess Miranda and she wanted it back.” He said tossing his knife up and down, catching it every time it came down by either the handle or the tip of the blade.
She chuckled as she grinned, “Who stole whatever it was?”
He winked, “Her sister, Helga stole the bejeweled dagger her mother gave her before she got married and tried to use it on Miranda’s baby girl, just because Helga is unable to birth children and her sisters all have at least two.”
Kiara looked confused now. “Why is she unable to birth?” She hadn’t ever encountered that kind of thing in a person, being unable to birth.
He sighed. “Well, her father caught her sporting with a man he rather despised, so he had the healers perform some…surgery I believe, that will not allow her to become pregnant which, although means she’d make a wonderful court’esa, she’ll be worthless as a wife.”
Karelia smiled a bit and said, “Correction, brother, she’d be worthless to a man who wants children. There are men out there who think children are nothing but little brats.”
He nodded and smiled at her. “Very true, that is very true. What brings you to the Thieves Guild? I thought you weren’t a complete follower of the God of Thieves, Deranedax?”
She chuckled softly, “Jesse, I might not be his best follower but I do follow him, after all, without praying to him, I’d probably suck a little more than you do.”
“What?” He said with playful anger. She giggled and took off running, laughing as he chased her. She was glad that her cloak was in her bag, because it would only add to the wind resistance as she ran through a corridor with open windows that was pretty much outside, only with a roof. The dirt path was a little easier to run on than tile.
She giggled some more as he started to gain on her. She did a front flip, and then back, landing on the roof of the outdoor corridor. She ran along that roof, jumping down and heading back the way they came once she reached the side they had come from. She heard him swear, “I’m going to get you, Karelia!” She giggled more and turned down a hallway, skidding as she did. She picked up speed and again and pumped her arms to help gain speed. She didn’t dare look back until she was sure she had gained some serious ground. She ducked into a dark hallway and crouched down in the shadows. She forced her breathing to calm so that she wasn’t panting so loudly and winced. It hurt a bit to force herself to breathe so slowly when her lungs and heart had been working so hard. She had to clamp a hand over her mouth as a wave of giggles threatened to give her away when Jesse ran down the corridor, straight past her hiding place. She grinned and threw her voice, “Hey! Jesse! I went left! I thought I’d tell you since you’re so damn slow!” He said something and she peeked around the corner and watched him head left. She grinned and stepped out of the shadows, not wasting time in case he came back, to get to her Uncle’s office which was in fact- right.
She gasped when she bumped into a tall young man. He had coal black hair and blue eyes. He was lean and masculine, with an even tan. He had a fresh shave, she knew since he had not even the littlest bit of stubble. He was incredibly handsome. He wore a gray shirt that had no sleeves and fitted him like a second skin. He wore loose black trousers and black boots, like most people did. He had a tattoo on his right upper arm. Kiara had tattoos all up and down her arms, on her shoulders, her lower back, her legs, ankles, wrists, and one on the back of her neck. Each one was a symbol of each God or Goddess she followed. The smaller the tattoo, the less she worshiped that God. He had the mark of Liana, Goddess of Murder and Death, all along his right arm and then the mark of Deranedax on his left. She realized that she had been knocked back flat on her arse and hurried to get to her feet just as he reached out to help her up. She swallowed and accepted it shyly. She then said, “I’m so sorry. I’m trying to avoid my brother…”
He smiled. Gods…what a smile! No! Ki, what are you thinking? She thought to herself as he then said kindly, “Don’t be sorry. It’s not everyday a lad like me gets to see a pretty girl like you.”
She felt her face get warm as she stuttered as she said, “Oh…well, I…uh, I’m glad to help…um, I mean, to have shown up.”
“There you are!” She gasped as she turned around just to be tackled by her brother. She pushed him off and said, “Jesse! Could you bug me later?”
He then cooed, “Aw, is my poor little sister afraid I’ll kick her butt for saying I’m a bad thief?”
She grinned and, using her hands to keep her propped up, she held her feet together and launched them at his chest, hitting him and knocking him back. “No, I’m afraid I’ll hurt you. Oh,” She got up and dusted herself off, giving a small smile to the man, saying, “And, I’ll catch you around.” She gave a small wink and started to walk away.
“Wait!” He said before she could get far. She turned to face him without moving her feet, so her arm hung limply at her side as she twisted around to face him. “I never got your name.”
She smiled. “Kiara Lien and what’s your name?”
He smiled at her and said kindly, “My name is Kael Galathil.” She bowed her head in respect and turned to go, finally heading off to meet her uncle.
“Uncle Hunter!” Kiara screamed as she ran at his limp form on the floor. She felt tears well up in her eyes but wiped them away impatiently. She shook his shoulder and started searching him for injuries. She then yelled to anyone who would listen, “Somebody help, please!” She checked her Uncle for injuries and found only a couple and a dart in his neck. Sniffing it, she realized that it would only paralyze him. He was going to live but only if she had him taken to the infirmary wing immediately. Less than a minute later, Jesse and Kael burst through the door. She sat there on her knees with Hunter in her arms. Jesse swore violently and picked up his Uncle, telling Kael, “Tend to her. She looks like she’s in shock.”
She was, she couldn’t move. The thought of her Uncle, the man who trained her and cared for her like a second father might be gone. He wasn’t moving and was barely breathing. Kael gently lifted Karelia onto his back and she let him. He ran her down the hall after Jesse until after a moment she leapt out of his arms and sprinted back to Hunter’s office. She looked around, knowing that only the slaveways could possibly let anyone in without a key to the door- and only she and her brother knew how to get to the main slaveway to even get into its many tunnels. She pushed the loose brick on the wall and the slaveway swung open. She went in, sword ready. She looked around and saw no one but she heard light footsteps, too light for a man’s. She turned on her heel, to her right at a four way cross and saw a young girl, a slave. She then addressed the girl, “You! Have you seen anyone in these tunnels that’s not supposed to be?” The girl shook her head.
She then said, “A man tried to get access earlier but no one minded him, they just sent Bruno after him.” Bruno was the main guard of the slaveways and built like a house. Kiara looked around and headed down the main tunnel until she found Bruno.
“Bruno!” He turned to her and bowed. “Bruno, who have you seen today that’s tried to get into the tunnels that’s not a slave?” Bruno was a big man, huge, and rather slow in the head.
“Uh…I saw one man. He kept trying to get in, but I did just like ya told me, Miss Lien. I didn’t let nobody in that wasn’t a slave or worker.”
She nodded and said, “What did the man do when you stopped him?”
He took on a thoughtful look. “He got angry and stormed out. Then I really had to use the Head, Miss so I left my post but only for a minute!”
She swore, “It’s alright Bruno. You didn’t mean to cause trouble but while you went to the Head, he slipped past. He sent Lord Lien to the infirmary with cuts and a little poison in his system.”
Bruno looked ashamed. “I’m sorry, Miss. Whip me if ya want…I deserve it.” She smiled kindly and went over to him and gave him a hug, sheathing her sword. Bruno was a big softy at heart and its one reason his wife loved him so much. There wasn’t a lot that Bruno understood really well but he was intelligent in his own way. He thought differently from most people and that’s why people loved him because more than once, his abnormal thinking had gotten her out of some pretty tight places.
She kissed his cheek and said, “Tell the family I said hello.” Bruno was one of her closer friends and the only way to make sure he didn’t sulk after something like this was to give him a hug and make it clear that he did nothing wrong. He smiled and nodded, which was a sign to her that he’d be alright if she ditched to go track down that son of a b***h that took advantage of Bruno.
She ran off into the tunnels again and went back to the office to find Kael waiting. “I thought you’d be back.” He said calmly. “Are you alright?”
She shook her head and shut the passage after finding a slave and making it perfectly clear that anyone who came into her Uncle’s office before she said it was alright would be whipped. She then grabbed Kael’s hand and pulled him along as she ran to the infirmary. He soon said to her, “I can run by myself!”
She let him go, not caring if he kept up or not as she sprinted at full speed to the infirmary. She skidded to a stop only to be stopped by Jesse. “He’ll be fine but he needs to rest. The nurses-”
She tried to push past him but he picked her up, making her swear a nice tidbit, saying, “Jesse! Let me in! Let me see Uncle Hunter!” He shoved her against a wall and looked her in the eye.
He then said, “He will live. You need to let him rest. Calm down!” She kept trying to push past him but he wouldn’t let her and after a minute, Kael helped him
Kael then added gently, “Miss, getting upset isn’t going to solve anything. We should probably spend time trying to find out who would do this and why.” After a moment of thinking over Kael’s words, she calmed and almost let herself succumb to tears. She shook her head and pushed past them both as she ran as fast as she possibly could toward the Drifter’s Square. It would be about a half hour run but she didn’t care. She wanted to run until she couldn’t breathe. She wanted to run until her legs gave out and she was forced to sleep where she fell. She wanted to run and run until her lungs collapsed and her heart gave out. Her uncle had never treated her like an Uncle but more like a best friend. He always gave her advice and never coddled her just because his brother was her father. She couldn’t imagine going on in her life without him around to help her and show her how to get better at her job- which was being part of the Elites.
She was a thief, an assassin, a spy, and just about anything else they needed. She had been taught how to act, dress- everything she needed to pass for anything they needed. Hunter had taught her most of it, since her father had more than enough on his hands running the Assassins Guild, which was known far and wide for its vast intelligence intake.
She ran for what seemed like hours until she came to the sewers which she passed and went to the Denny. The Denny was what her and her brother called a vast amount of forest and foliage that was beneath the city and in the sewers. She went down into the Denny and found the small area that her and her brother had cleaned out enough to all it a hang out as children. She sniffed in an unladylike manner and sat down on a log. She swore softly and stared down at the ground, watching a team of ants rip apart a dead rat. She watched them tear it apart for what seemed like hours as they worked it down to flesh and bone. She had to smile. The process took probably all day, but now their colony had enough food to feed their young. She sighed after a time and watched a group of fire ants come. She grinned and propped her elbow up on her thigh, putting her chin in her hand as she watched the black and red ants’ war over the food. In the end, the black ants won. She grinned and chuckled a little more as the victors carried the dead of the opposite side down into the ant hill. Food is food, right? She thought to herself with another chuckle.
“Glad to see you’re doing better.” She jumped to her feet, being careful not to step on the ants. Those little suckers may be small, but their bites itched for days. She turned and saw Kael and Jesse. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t heard them coming.
She sat back down and realized that her little bit of entertainment was slowly dispersing back into the hill. She frowned when she saw a spider heading toward the final few. She took out a dagger and stabbed the little b*****d with the tip, killing it easily enough. It gave a squeal of pain (which she was surprised she could hear, but then, it was rather large) before giving in and dying. She chuckled softly as she sheathed her dagger and ants poured out at the sound the spider had made, beginning to rip it apart as well. She looked at her brother and said softly, “I’ve taken time to get my mind off it.”
Kael then said, “Everyone’s been worried sick. You’ve been missing for over a day. Your father’s having a field day.”
She looked at Jesse. “Didn’t you tell him I was down here? We both know I come here and you come here when we want time alone.”
“Exactly, my dear little sister. That’s why I didn’t tell him. If I told him, he’d know where I go when I’m in trouble and need time to think up a good excuse.” He said sitting beside her.
She sighed softly, “I suppose I should get back up there…”
Kael grinned, “Actually, it’s somewhat amusing to watch your father be in such frenzy. I’ve heard that you run away a lot.”
She chuckled. “I used to when I was younger. Jesse would bring me meals. When we run away, we come here. No one would ever think to look down here.”
Jesse looked proud, “I found it.”
She laughed harshly, “I thought of the idea to make this our secret hideout- an idea that you laughed at.” She stuck out her tongue. “Who’s laughing now, brother?”
Jesse glared as Kael laughed and said, “She’s got you there, Jess.” Jess looked like he was about to tackle his new found friend when Kiara got up and started to walk out of the sewers. They shrugged and followed. Kael caught up to her first and said softly, “Are you sure you’re alright? We can stay down here longer, if you’d like.”
She smiled at him and said, “Nah, I’m alright. Besides, I don’t think the Royal family will appreciate having every thief and assassin in both guilds scouring the city for me. “ Kael chuckled as Jesse caught up with them.
It was a few hours before they worked their way back to the Thieves Guild and to the showers. They cleaned up and had their clothes washed while they did. They reeked of the sewers. Once she was clean, Kiara’s skin glowed, her hair shone and she radiated the picture of beauty. She put her now fresh clothes back on and walked out from behind the wall that separated the baths for men and women. She cleared her throat loudly as the boys took their time. She giggled as Kael sunk deep into his tub and pulled the soap bubbles around to hide his nakedness. She shook her head and turned on her heel to go saying, “Hurry up!”
She went to the infirmary and went in. Her father tackled her in a hug but she managed to stay standing, as he said, “Where in the hell have you been, young lady?” She pulled away and didn’t answer him but instead she went over to her Uncle, who was sitting up in his bed and eating.
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, smiling as he hugged her. “We’ve been worried about you, Miss Karelia.”
She smiled and pulled away as she said, “I’m sorry. I just needed time to think and to calm down.”
Joseph came up and hugged her again, kissing her head just as the boys came in. He held her for a time before saying to Jesse, “You should have brought her back yesterday, damn it.”
Jesse took on a hurt look as he said, “What in the hell did I do? She’s the one that ran off!”
Joseph halted further complaints by saying, “Karelia, there’s someone I want you to meet tonight at dinner. It’s a little sudden, but I think you’ll be happy.”
She looked at her father confusedly. “Did Melinda show up anyway?”
He shook his head. “I think I’ve found you a husband.”
Jesse, Kael, and Hunter joined her as she boomed, “Joseph, you did what? ”
