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13th of September, 1883

The New Blade

by Maelie Arsenault

The streets were darkening when the pickpocket dashed into the alleyway to shake off the pursuit. Just fast enough to get out of sight before the merchant kept running around the street corner. Now, the young half-elf dashes down the rest of the alley and turns a corner to run behind the shops. Her work had become harder lately, the Warrens were changing, the streets too wide and well-lit to easily tail someone. The constant bustle of workers meant more eyes in the streets. She’d gone three days without so much as bread, so she clung to the coin purse for survival.
 
Turning to get back to the streets, she finds a hooded figure leaning against the wall at the mouth of the alley. Not blocking her path, but uncomfortable to pass by. Swallowing softly, calming herself she starts walking casually out of the alley.
 
“Not a bad pick, but the break was a bit… could have been cleaner.”
 
She thinks about not answering, but the figure shifts, just a little more in the way. Her fingers tighten on the small pouch, probably not more than some copper, maybe a silver if she was lucky. Why did these thugs always need to take even the meager spoils she managed.
 
“So, you think you’re entitled to it? Going to charge me for your critique?” She says as she takes a step back.
 
“Do I look like I need six copper and a silver piece?” The figure’s wry smile was all she could see of the woman’s face.
 
She didn’t. The cloth of the stranger’s clothing was too fine, too clean, the coat well-tailored, the hood clearly of elven make. “You’re with them.” She says tersely. “…but that’s never stopped you from taking, has it?”
 
“Please don’t lump me in with the rest of them.” She groans. “I don’t try to draw blood from stones. By the by, did you happen to hear what that merchant was talking about while you were in his pocket?”
 
“I might have…” The pickpocket says, gently taking a step back.
 
The hooded woman flicks her a coin which she catches. The colour, the shine, silver. “They were talking about a shipment coming in, off the books from Castille.”
 
“Ah… already trying to act independently…” She shakes her head. “Time?”
 
She hesitates, glancing at the coin. “After midnight.”
 
“You could have asked for more.” Another coin flies her way. “Didn’t I give you enough for a guild membership a couple months ago?”
 
She squints, recognizing the voice. “That was you? Yeah, but… I didn’t get in anywhere.”
 
“Not the laborers?” The hood tilts.
 
“They aren’t taking anyone until they sort things with the factory workers.” She shrugs. “Or I was too skinny…”
 
“Well, you have good ears, that’s worth something.” The elf pulls back the hood and gives the young half-elf a soft smile. “I don’t intend to take from people in the South, no point when there’s bigger pockets and vaults up north. But everything coming into and out of the city passes through my Ward. So, I don’t want what’s in your pocket or anyone else’s that’s yours. I want what you hear, what you see, what you know. Pass that to my ear and I’ll pass you coin. Tell your friends.”
 
She hesitates to agree.
 
“It’s not a pie. You tell me this merchant knows about the shipment. Someone else tells me a sailor plans to meet the ship at the same time. I now know that both are involved. That’s worthwhile above the words they actually say.” She says reassuringly.
 
“So you’re making me your spy?” She says uneasily.
 
“I’m not making you anything kid, I’m giving you a chance since nobody else is. Everyone should get a chance. I did.” She tilts her head. “What’s your name?”
 
“Tay.” She replies quietly.
 
“Well, Tay. I’m Fox. Pleased to meet you.”
 
"You're not like the others..." She says, some mixture of wariness and hope.
 
"If you believe one thing I tell you kid, it's that there's nobody else like me out there. Trust me, I looked."

Continue reading...

  1. The Last Rule
    November 27th, 1882, - Novandria
  2. The Den
  3. Am I losing?
  4. A Close Call
  5. Plans
  6. New Toys
  7. Mistakes were made
  8. Too close to home
  9. Not like you.
  10. This City is Mine.
    February 6th, 1883
  11. Aimless?
    March 5, 1883 - Novandria
  12. The Game Begins
    February 13th, 1883
  13. Too much like You
    March 13, 1883
  14. Safer in Shadows
    April 3, 1883
  15. New Beginnings
    April 7th, 1883
  16. Ready to Run
    April 17th, 1883
  17. Home
    April 25, 1883
  18. Can you steal a heart?
    May 8th, 1883
  19. Trouble
    11th of May, 1883
  20. Heartbreak
    14th of May, 1883
  21. Hunter or Prey?
    16th of May, 1883
  22. Guilt
    19th of May, 1883
  23. Untrustworthy
    21st of May, 1883
  24. Why am I like this?
    25th of May, 1883
  25. Worthy
    8th of June, 1883
  26. The One She Left Behind
    13th June, 1883
  27. Annnd it's back...
    July 1st, 1883
  28. Learning to Fly
    July 4th, 1883
  29. Thrill of the Hunt
    July 29th, 1883
  30. From the Embers
    21st of August, 1883 // 1867
  31. Mother Knows Best
    16th of September, 1883
  32. A Snake, a Star, and a Fox
    25th of September, 1883, Novandria
  33. It wasn't him.
    28th of September, 1883, Novandria
  34. The New Blade
    13th of September, 1883
  35. Something Good
    October 31, 1883 - Novandria
  36. The wound that won't close
    18th of December, 1883 - Novandria
  37. Promise
    25th of December, 1883 - Novandria
  38. Fallen through the cracks
    6th of January, 1884 - Novandria
  39. Day to Night
    7th of January, 1884
  40. What's Left to the Shadows
    22nd of January, 1884, Novandria
  41. The World without Colour
    18th of February, 1884, Bellancourt, Montaigne,
  42. Seventeen Roofs
    26th of February, Novandria, Eisen
  43. Crossing the Board
    4th of March, 1884, Novandria, Eisen
  44. New Freedom
    May 4th, 1884
  45. Saved
    5th of May, 1884/16th of July, 1858

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 01:01, Nov 15 2024