by Jeff Kish
“What makes you think that?”
“The other thief was Valvoran, and the small stock of weapons the train contained had all been rummaged through, as if they were looking for anything valuable. They were not there solely for her, if they were there for her at all.”
“Even then, raiding a military train is a blatant offense,” Bowen points out. “Thieves tend to leave our trains alone.”
“The mission came on such short notice that we had to charter transport from the Smith’s Hammer,” Galen says. “It’s not unheard of for a guild train to be raided.”
Bowen rubs his temple. “So what now?”
“I’m going to contact Commander Talkem,” Galen says. “He’ll arrange several platoons to station themselves at Canterin. I’m also going to ask him to engage local Merc Market resources.”
“You want to engage mercenaries?”
“Do you think I’m happy about it?” he barks. “We don’t have enough troops in the region, and this mission was classified as life-or-death. That girl must be found.”
Bowen’s eye twitches. “We’ve been engaging the market more and more lately. Using them requires us to turn a blind eye to their infractions. Many of the hunters are wanted for a multitude of crimes. Some are even assassins!”
“The market isn’t entirely illegal, plus they have an information network the military simply doesn’t have,” he grunts. “We’re going to use every resource we have. We must find that girl.” Reluctantly, he adds, “I’m also canceling the western train network until she’s found.”
Bowen cringes. “That’s really not going to go over well, sir.”
“And do you want to be the one to explain why we didn’t do everything possible to find her?” Galen asks. “I’ve not failed an S-ranked mission, even dating back to the war, and I don’t intend to start now.” He storms into the outer hallway and calls out, “We’ll arrange the meeting for tonight at the western tower. I want you there as well.”
He bursts into the streets, his frustrations mounting as he marches to the nearby beacon tower in the light of the sunrise. The bustling trade city of Nadar lies in the lowest part of the Impal mountain range, determined to be the path of least resistance for building the tracks that would connect the western train hub to Valvoren’s capital, Satari. As the gateway between the two halves of the country, its growth has rivaled even that of the capital, and the market resources available in such a city may prove to be good fortune for the desperate officer.
* * *
Era awakes to someone vigorously shaking his arm. He shoots up in alarm, bashing Di in the forehead.
“Gah!” he yelps as he falls back against the hard ground, rubbing his head as Di does the same with a whimper. His early-to-rise partner is still sound asleep, and he groans as he realizes the sun has yet to rise.
Teary-eyed from the impact, Di leans back over Era and whispers, “Era, I need to… I mean, I have to…”
Era offers a sleepy gaze. “You have to… what?”
Di blushes and lowers her head. “I have to pee.”
“And?”
“And I don’t know how! In the woods…” Di softly mumbles, upset with Era for making her explain.
Not showing much sympathy, Era points around and says, “Go find a tree. There are plenty around.” Seeing his suggestion isn’t well-received, he offers, “But hey, you can wake Jem and ask her for help if you want.”
Unsettled by the thought, Di stands and heads into the woods on her own. Era rolls over and squeezes his eyes shut, hoping to return to his slumber before Jem awakes, but he cringes as he hears her sit and stretch.
“That was heartless of you,” she chides, sounding plenty awake. “Don’t you know how to be delicate about sensitive things? She’s not a boy.” Giggling, she adds, “Find a tree…”
Era lies still, hoping she’ll let him go back to sleep. Jem walks over to him and leans close. “Nice try,” she whispers. She stomps on his foot, and he yelps in pain. “Come on!” Jem says with a chipper tone in her voice. “The further we make it today, the sooner we get paid! I put a lot of thought into it last night, and I’m already thinking this could be a six-figure sum! Can you even begin to imagine?”
Reluctantly, Era sits and groans at starting so early. He pulls his canteen from his bag while mentally preparing himself for a full day of hiking.
* * *
The noon sun shines down on the intrepid adventurers as they hike up the tree-covered hillside, and they finally take their exit from Haloran Gorge. Each one drenched with sweat, they stop to take a break in the shade of a large tree. Jem pulls out her canteen, takes a swig, and sits with a huff. “Why is it so hot!?”
Exhausted from hiking, Di collapses next to Jem. Era grabs a drink from his own canteen, then hands it to the young girl and replies, “Because the sun is out? There are no clouds?”
Jem isn’t amused. “Shut up…” she moans as she flops backward, lying on her back and staring at the blue sky.
Di finishes and hands the canteen back to Era, who takes one last swig and stuffs it back in his sack. “Are we taking a rest, then?”
Jem plants an arm over her eyes as a cool breeze sweeps in. “Sure, let’s take a short break,” she concedes.
Era sits next to the two girls and, for a few minutes, they silently take in the breeze. He looks back down the hill they just climbed and silently counts the days it will take to arrive at Di’s home.
“So why are you two thieves?” Di abruptly asks. Era glances over to see the schoolgirl sitting with her feet outstretched, leaning back against her arms, a serious expression planted on her face.
Jem waves a hand in the air, annoyed by the question. “Hey, we just make use of the resources we come across, that’s all.”
“Uh huh,” Di says with skepticism. “Sounds like thievery to me.”
“I survive off the land, Di. I don’t consider myself a thief,” Jem explains. “Thrill-seeker, adventurer, explorer… any of those works for me. Now that guy over there is a different story, but he’s an anomaly in many ways.”
Era gets excited. “I’m a thief alright, and I’m going to be the world’s greatest some day!”
“Ugh…” Jem groans as she rolls over, covering her ears with her arms. “See what I mean? Now you’re going to get him talking, which kills any chance I had for a quiet rest.”
Era frowns at Jem before looking back at Di. “Jem’s jealous of my heritage. I come from a long line of master thieves, and I’m training to become even better than my ancestors.”
“A long line of thieves, he says!” Jem shouts, taunting Era. “Come on, Era, you claim your dad is a hot-shot, but I’ve never heard of him!”
Di’s curiosity is piqued. “What’s your father famous for doing?”
Era raises his head as he brags, “My dad is none other than the Dark Cloak!” Di doesn’t offer a response, and Era frowns. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of him either?”
“I’ve never heard of any thieves, other than you two,” Di admits. “But he sounds cool! What’s he stolen? Anything big?”
Era excitedly exclaims, “He stole the Jewel of Nerwal! And some other major artifacts, but I shouldn’t brag about those. Pride comes before the fall, after all!”
Di eagerly leans forward. “So what about you, then? You’re following in his footsteps?”
“I am!” he answers. “My dad once told me, ‘Son, a weak man strives to achieve his dreams, but a real man can achieve his dreams through the efforts of others!’”
Di’s excitement disappears, realizing Era isn’t joking. “Y-Your dad… he sounds like quite a man.”
Era practically blushes at the forced compliment. “I’m going to be exactly like him, but I’ve only just started. He’s off doing great things, so I’m training under Jem here, who’s going to teach me everything she knows! That should only take another couple months, then I’ll move on to-”
“Hey!” Jem snaps. “Show some gratitude, wo
uld you?”
Era laughs and waves his hand. “Kidding, kidding!” She lies back down with a huff, and Era says, “Jem’s actually a genius when it comes to living off the land. I ran into her a couple years ago, and she’s been training me ever since.”
“Hmph,” Jem scoffs, “more like he owes me big-time for botching so many jobs for me.”
Di looks back and forth, unsure of what to make of their relationship. “So… are you two lovers?”
For the first time, Era is speechless as he turns beet red, and Jem’s face matches his. She sits and stammers, “W-We aren’t like that at all! The moron wants my tutelage, so I’ve graciously given it to him!” Era nods fervently, not saying a word.
Di raises a suspicious eyebrow, but she grabs Era’s arm and says, “Good, because he’s just my type.” Looking up at him, she scolds, “Well, except for the thief part, but we’ll get that worked out of your system.”
Era awkwardly smiles, but Jem isn’t amused. “You’re thirteen years old, and Era’s seventeen! What exactly are you thinking could happen…?”
“I’m almost fourteen! Daddy says that’s old enough to go on a date.” She gives Jem a sly look and asks, “Or is it possible you’re worried about the competition?”
“Competition? You can have him! He’s good for nothing whatsoever!”
Era laughs aloud, breaking up the spat. “I am pretty useless. That’s why it’s good I have an amazing teacher!”
Jem is taken aback by the compliment. “Y-Yeah! Your good-for-nothing father set you on this path and abandoned you. You’re lucky I came along!”
Era looks at Di and says, “Lucky for you, too! It was Jem’s idea to raid that train, though we thought we were getting some shiny new swords or something.” He laughs and adds, “We got more than we bargained for!”
Jem stands and stretches. “Okay, let’s keep moving. We have an outside chance of making it to the next town by dark. I’d think the princess would appreciate an inn over sleeping in the woods again.”
Though exhausted from all the hiking, the thought of sleeping in a bed gives Di a burst of energy. She jumps to her feet and drags Era off the ground. They gather their things and stroll after Jem, with Di still clinging tightly to Era’s arm.
* * *
A lone figure approaches the designated tower with caution in the light of the setting sun, and she instinctively checks her back several times while approaching. The door swings open, and she’s hurried inside by the guard. “Name?”
“Fire,” she grunts as she removes the deep red bandanna covering her head, revealing dark hair that shimmers a hint of blue. The soldier observes the short market operative disdainfully; her hard leather vest sits over a dark under tunic, and he wonders what weapons she’s hiding under the wrappings at her waist.
She’s lead into an inner room of the stone tower, furnished with small chairs facing the front. Several others are already present, and not one is seated. Her sights lock onto one hunter in particular, a stocky man with a dark leather jerkin. She offers him a coy smile while tying the bandanna back over her hair. “Hello, Jaras.”
Slamming his clenched fist against the wall, he dramatically points at her and yells, “You have a lot of guts to show your face here, Fire!” Despite the stares from the others, he bellows, “I told you what I’d do to you if you showed up in Nadar again. Now I’ll have to make good on my promise!”
“Typical Jaras,” one of the other hunters mocks, prompting chuckles from around the room.
“Oh, we’re already at this again?” another chides as she enters.
His anger fueled, he replies, “You can all mark my words. You wrong me, you pay the price. And this monster,” he stresses, jabbing his finger at Fire, “will be my example.”
“Your effort is hardly needed,” a portly hunter advises. “Her reputation speaks for itself.”
Fire eyes the man with a smirk. “You mean like yours does, Shem?”
“And what’s that supposed to mean!?”
“It means that not all of us need fancy toys to get the job done,” another hunter chimes in.
“And most of us can get a job done alone,” one adds, looking specifically at Jaras.
“You’re all just jealous of success,” Jaras sneers. “I’ll grab this bounty however I want. Just you watch.”
Fire stifles a yawn, whether real or fake is hard to tell. Jaras clenches his fist in raw hatred of his adversary while trying to ignore the amused snickers of his peers.
Commander Galen abruptly charges into the room and heads straight to the front, then faces them with his arms behind his back. “We have three fugitives we want brought in. They’re useless to us dead, so they are wanted alive,” he says, stressing the point. “Two females and a male. Male and Female #1 are in their late teens. Male is just over six feet tall with loose brown hair, and he is an earth shaper. Female #1 is average height and has shoulder-length brown hair. She may be Allerian, and she’s likely an ice elementalist. Female #2 is in her early teens, has long blond hair, and responds to the name ‘Di’.”
He briefly pauses, annoyed no one bats an eye at the prospect of hunting someone so young. He continues, “The trio was last seen nineteen hours ago in Haloran Gorge, and though their intentions aren’t known, they are potentially headed west with a destination of Canterin. As for the bounty,” he pauses for effect, “two million venni. Each.” Seeing every eye widen in surprise, he adds, “One contingency: no rewards will be distributed until all three are in custody.” The caveat fails to stir a reaction. No one was planning to collect less than six million venni.
“That is all the information I have,” he concludes. “I will again stress they are to be taken alive. If anyone has anything to do with their demise, the two million bounty will be transferred to you, and there will be no quick death for you once arrested. You’re dismissed.”
As the room clears, Bowen approaches Galen in shock. “That’s a lot of money… at least ten times the highest bounty we’ve offered!”
“It’s the highest we allow,” he agrees. “Where is the roster?”
Bowen hands it to him and recounts, “Twelve altogether. At least a couple are wanted for assassinations.”
Galen reads, “Blane, Wolfgar, Fire, and Shem… we attracted some talent.” He crumples the paper and says, “We should have arrested half of them. I swear, Bowen, if a mercenary finds my asset, I’m not sure I’ll be able to bring myself to pay.”
“But shouldn’t you have offered more for the girl? She’s the one we care about.”
“That would be tipping our hand,” he explains. “If the Allerians are involved, there might be information out there about her. Directing their attention to the girl might give them reason to consider shopping around.”
Bowen crosses his arms in frustration. “Did you send a message to the general about all this? We need to know why she’s a VIP, just in case there’s information that will help us track her.”
“I sent a courier to report to the general directly,” Galen answers. “I have not yet received a response.”
“Not even by beacon tower? That’s a mild reaction considering the mission rank.”
“Yes, it is,” Galen says. “Until we receive new directives, I want you to organize the propagation of information to the major towns between here and the Lidoran Sea. I’ll check in with Commander Talkem by beacon to see how his efforts at Canterin are coming. We will find her, Bowen. It’s just a matter of time.”
Chapter 3
The midmorning sunlight breaks through the treetops, stirring Era from his deep slumber. Groaning as he sits, he wonders how much sleep he had after Jem pushed them so far into the night in an attempt to make it to Hougur. He glances over to the small girl curled up nearby, still fast asleep. She had been almost as adamant as Jem in making it to an inn, but exhaustion eventually overcame them all and forced them to retire in the wild once again. He’s impressed with the endurance Di has thus far displayed, but he knows
the worst of the hill country lies before them.
With a shiver, he grabs the last of the firewood and places it on the smoldering embers from last night. Igniting the firewood is a simple task with the help of the fire rune, and the flame quickly comes to a roar. He stretches and yawns, breathing in the crisp morning air.
Humming a tune to herself, Jem emerges from the woods, her hand gripping a line full of fish slung over her shoulder. “Whoa, you’re up on your own!?” she exclaims as she trots over to the camp. “Good timing with the fire. I brought breakfast!” She holds the fish out for Era to see, waiting for his admiration.
Her partner enthusiastically approves. “You found a stream! How’d you catch so much?”
Jem frowns and sits on the log next to him. “Honestly, Era, you need to learn how to live off the land if your goal is to be a so-called master thief.” She uses her dagger to start scraping scales and says, “It’s important to disappear after a high-profile job, so being able to procure food in the wild is a must!”
Era prepares two fish and places them in the fire. “Sorry master, I guess I’m still learning.”
Jem yawns as she cooks her meal. “I was actually excited by the prospect of sleeping in a bed last night. Sometimes this life isn’t so glamorous, huh?”
“No, but it has its perks, right? I mean, moving about as you please, and a gourmet breakfast every morning!”
She laughs. “I’m surprised you haven’t gotten scared off by this way of living. How long has it been now, anyway?”
“Almost a year and a half, if I remember right,” Era recalls.
“You two have been together that long, and you haven’t fallen in love or anything?” Di calls out. Startled, Era and Jem spin around to find the groggy girl up on her elbows.
The partners sit in awkward silence, their faces turning a slight shade of red. Di stands and brushes off before joining them on the log. She slides herself between the two, forcing Jem to scoot to the side. The girl’s hair is disheveled, and her yellow eyes are dazed as she gazes into the fire.