"Up and at it, everyone. We don’t have time for late starts."
Kadoc pulled himself off the thin mattress, rubbing his eyes groggily. Around him, the others were also getting to their feet, their movements sluggish in the pre-dawn light that filtered in through the narrow, barred window. Auina yawned loudly, stretching her arms as she hopped down from her bunk.
“Up before the sun—just my favorite way to start the day,” she said with a grin, earning a few chuckles and a glare from Mira.
“You’ll like it less if we mess up the heist because you weren’t ready,” Mira shot back. “Get moving, all of you.”
They filed out into the courtyard, a small patch of space enclosed by crumbling walls. Snow still covered most of the ground, but it had been cleared somewhat to form a path to the street. Mira had spent her morning clearing the area and now that everyone was assembled, she took her place in front of the group, her gaze hard and assessing as she looked them over.
Mira let her eyes sweep over the gathered group, her expression stern and unyielding. The cold breeze ruffled her light brown hair, but she barely seemed to notice as she squared her shoulders, preparing to repeat what had already been discussed the night before.
“Listen up,” she said, her voice carrying through the courtyard. “You all know what you need to work on. We’ve got a week before Sir Oren comes back, and we need to be ready. No slackers, no excuses.”
She pointed to each group in turn, her gaze sharp. “Kadoc, Orin—you two will head to the market today. Orin, you need to learn how to move quietly through crowds, and Kadoc, you’ll guide him. Keep it subtle, keep it clean.”
Orin grumbled under his breath, clearly unhappy with the prospect, but he gave a nod. Kadoc kept his face neutral, though he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pressure mounting. Orin was bigger, louder, and above all, reluctant—it would be no easy task to teach him stealth.
“Auina, you’re with Lena,” Mira continued. “Lena, I know you’re used to working alone, but today I need you to show Auina the ropes. Climbing, watching the perimeter, all of it. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
Lena gave an exaggerated sigh, her eyes rolling slightly. “Great. Babysitting duty,” she muttered. Auina merely gave a bright smile in response, clearly unfazed.
Mira ignored the exchange and turned to Rulf, gesturing for him to join her. “Rulf, you’re with me. We’re sparring today—we need to make sure we’re ready for any trouble once we’re inside the manor.”
Rulf nodded, his expression serious as he stepped up beside her. Mira gave a final glance around the courtyard before clapping her hands together.
“Let’s move. We don’t have time to waste.”
The group dispersed, each moving to their designated training area.
***
Kadoc led Orin through the narrow alleyways that twisted toward the market. The city was already waking up, the air filled with the sharp calls of vendors setting up their stalls, and the occasional bark of a stray dog searching for scraps. The early morning was chilly, and the sun barely peaked above the rooftops, casting long shadows that mingled with the hustle and bustle.
Orin trudged behind Kadoc, his heavy footsteps echoing against the cobblestones. Kadoc glanced back at Orin, taking in his size and stiffness. Orin's muscles were tensed as if he was gearing up for a fight, not trying to blend in with a crowd.
“Alright,” Kadoc began as they neared the market, the square opening before them with clusters of people already weaving between stalls. “We need to blend in. Keep your head down, watch how people move. Match their speed, but don’t push through them. It’s about being a shadow—not seen, not remembered.”
Orin gave him a skeptical look, his brow furrowed. “Easy for you to say, rat. They barely notice you. I’m twice their size.” He spoke in a low growl, clearly irritated. His size and build made him look like a giant among the crowd.
Kadoc sighed, trying to find the right words. “It's not about size. Just—move with them. If you push too much, you’ll draw attention. Just watch me.” He stepped into the stream of people moving back and forth from stall to stall, his body moving in rhythm with the crowd. His small frame ducked past a vendor who was distracted by arranging apples on a cloth-covered stand. His shoulders were relaxed, his pace deliberate, not hurried, and he above all else, he blended in easily.
Orin nodded his head and followed, but his sheer bulk made every slight movement seem amplified. He bumped into a woman carrying a basket of herbs, who shot him an annoyed glance. As Orin tried to sidestep her, his foot kicked over a crate of cabbages, scattering them across the ground.
“Hey!” the vendor yelled, rushing over. Orin mumbled an apology to the man, his face turning red beneath his stubbly cheeks. Kadoc winced, moving back toward Orin.
“Not like that,” Kadoc said quietly once the vendor turned away. “It’s not just moving—it’s... relaxing, blending in. Try again, but this time, match their pace. Don’t try to rush through.”
Orin exhaled, visibly frustrated. “Fine,” he muttered. “Lead on.”
They continued, weaving in and out of the thickening crowd. Kadoc kept an eye on Orin, whispering quick directions. "Step softer, keep to the edges, let people pass you." Orin seemed to absorb the advice, his shoulders loosening as he moved, though his frustration was still evident in the scowl etched across his face.
After almost 3 hours of this awkward dance, Kadoc noticed a slight change in Orin’s movement. He wasn't bumping into people as much—his feet were lighter, his gait more measured. Orin wasn’t invisible by all means, not like Kadoc and some of the other pickpockets, but he was trying, and Kadoc could see progress.
To test him, Kadoc slipped a piece of fruit from a stall and tucked it into Orin’s pocket without a word. He watched as Orin continued through the crowd, oblivious to the added weight.
“Hey,” Kadoc said after a few minutes, tapping Orin’s shoulder. He nodded toward Orin’s pocket. “Notice anything?”
Orin frowned, then patted down his coat, his eyes widening as he pulled out the fruit. He looked at Kadoc, his expression a mix of surprise and begrudging respect.
“Alright, alright,” Orin said, shaking his head, a small grin forming. “Maybe you’re not as useless as you look.”
Kadoc smiled, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. Orin might not have been graceful, but he was learning—and that was something.
***
A short distance away in an empty alleyway, Auina found herself facing Lena, her breath forming small puffs in the cold air. Lena stood opposite her, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face set in an expression of thinly veiled irritation.
“Alright, listen up, kid,” Lena began, her voice dripping with impatience. “I don’t like this, and I don’t like babysitting. But Mira says I’ve got to teach you, so here we are. Try not to waste my time.”
Auina, still determined to keep a bright demeanor, smiled a little, her eyes twinkling. “I’ll do my best not to,” she said, though she could see that her cheerfulness was getting on Lena's nerves.
Lena shook her head, muttering something under her breath. She turned to face the wall of the building they were standing next to, nodding toward the uneven stone, dotted with frost-covered ledges. “See that?” she said, her tone sharp. “We’re going to climb it. If we’re breaking into the manor, you’ve got to know how to do this without falling and breaking your neck. I’m not hauling your carcass back if you mess it up.”
Without another word, Lena approached the wall, reaching up to grab a ledge and pulling herself up effortlessly. She didn’t look back at Auina, her movements practiced and steady. She climbed with the ease of someone who had done it a hundred times before, her feet finding holds with precision. Within a few seconds, she was standing on the roof of the safehouse.
Auina followed behind her, her hands cold as she gripped the stone. She tried to mimic Lena's smooth movements, but her excitement got the better of her. She moved too quickly, her foot slipping on the icy surface. She let out a yelp as she lost her balance, barely managing to grab the ledge in front of her.
Lena, already perched above, glanced down with a scoff. “You think this is a game?” she barked, her eyes narrowing. “You slip like that in the middle of the job, you’re dead. And if you drag me down with you, I’ll make sure you regret it first.”
Auina swallowed, her cheeks flushing. “I... I just got a little excited,” she said, her voice quieter.
“Excited?” Lena repeated, her tone mocking. “You think the guards give a damn about your excitement? You think they’ll pat you on the back when you fall off a wall because you couldn’t control yourself?” She shook her head, her gaze hard. “This isn’t playtime, Auina. Get your head in it or get out.”
Auina bit her lip, her fingers tightening on the ledge. She pulled herself up, more slowly this time, her eyes focused on each handhold. She could feel Lena’s gaze boring into her, the woman's annoyance palpable. Each step was deliberate now, her breath steadying as she climbed.
When Auina finally made it to the ledge beside Lena, she paused, catching her breath. Lena eyed her for a moment before letting out a begrudging sigh. “Alright. Better. But still sloppy,” she said, her tone softening, but only slightly. “You’ve got potential, kid, but potential doesn’t mean a damn thing if you don’t put in the work. Get it together.”
Auina nodded, her face flushed but determined. “I understand,” she said, her voice firmer now.
Lena smirked, though there was no warmth in it. “Good. Now get back down, and do it again. This time, without any of that ‘excitement.’ I want focus, or I’ll kick you off myself.”
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Auina took a deep breath, glancing at the stone below. She nodded again and began her descent, her body tense but her mind sharper now. She knew Lena wasn't going to make this easy, and maybe that was exactly what she needed.
As Auina reached the ground and prepared to start the climb again, Lena’s harsh voice cut through the air. “You want to stay alive in this business? Learn to stop smiling when things get tough. No one's gonna care if you're cheerful when you're hanging off a wall by your fingertips.”
Auina’s smile faltered, replaced by a look of pure determination. She set her jaw and started the climb again, moving with more precision, taking each step as seriously as Lena demanded. Today was going to be long.
***
When the other two groups finally made their way back to the safehouse, the sun was starting to dip behind the buildings, casting long, blue shadows over the courtyard. Kadoc, Orin, Lena, and Auina were exhausted—their bodies ached from the day’s work, muscles tired and minds filled with the day's lessons.
But as they stepped through the gate and into the safehouse courtyard, they were met with an unexpected sight. Mira and Rulf were still training, their practice weapons clashing together with a dull thud that echoed through the courtyard. The two of them moved with an intensity that seemed to drown out the evening chill, their forms blurs of motion in the fading light.
Rulf's swings were powerful, deliberate, each one testing Mira's defenses, forcing her backward a step at a time. Mira, on the other hand, moved with precision—she was quicker, darting to the side or ducking low, countering Rulf's heavy blows with strikes aimed to exploit the gaps in his stance.In Kadocs opinion, it was like watching a bear try and hit a wolf.
"Wow," Auina whispered, her eyes wide as she watched them. “They’re still at it?”
Orin whistled, clearly as impressed as he was tired. “No wonder they’re in charge. Just look at them.”
Lena leaned against the courtyard wall, her eyes fixed on the sparring pair. There was a grudging respect in her gaze, though she remained silent as she watched.
Mira moved in close, stepping around Rulf’s strike and aiming a quick jab at his side. Rulf twisted just in time, catching her weapon with his own and pushing her back. He let out a deep, rumbling chuckle, his breath visible in the evening cold.
“You’re getting faster, Mira,” he said, his voice almost approving.
Mira smiled, though it was strained. She was breathing heavily now, her face flushed red with the effort. “And you’re getting predictable, old man,” she retorted, her eyes glinting with a mix of challenge and camaraderie.
Rulf raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at his lips. “Old man, huh?” He swung again, a wide arc that Mira ducked under before stepping in and tapping his shoulder with her wooden weapon. She moved back, her eyes never leaving Rulf's, waiting for his response.
Rulf paused, then let out a heavy sigh, lowering his weapon. “Point to you,” he admitted, his voice filled with reluctant admiration. He looked at Mira with a mixture of respect and something else—something like pride.
The others slowly approached, gathering around the sparring pair as they lowered their weapons. Mira glanced at them, her eyes narrowing slightly as if to gauge their reactions. There was sweat on her brow, her chest rising and falling quickly, but she didn’t seem bothered by the audience. Instead, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and straightened, her gaze moving to meet each of theirs in turn.
“Now that children, is how you fight against a former mercenary.”
Rulf chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that broke the tension. He looked over at Mira with a grin. “Aye, and that's what fighting a she-wolf looks like.”
Mira gave him a look that could almost have been amusement, though her eyes were still as sharp as daggers. She turned her attention back to the group. “Now, we’ve all had our fun. But this is just the beginning. What we did today is a step in the right direction, but it’s nowhere near enough. We need to keep moving, keep improving.”
Once Rulf and Mira cleaned themselves up, the group spent a few minutes discussing the day's progress—Kadoc explaining how Orin had started to pick up on being subtle in the market, Lena begrudgingly admitting that Auina had managed to improve her climbing by the end of the day. Mira and Rulf listened, nodding, offering comments where needed.
“Well,” Mira said after everyone had shared, her voice softer now, “good work today. We have a lot more to do, but today was a start.”
With that, she gestured toward the door. “Let’s get inside. We’ve earned a meal.”
***
Inside the safehouse, the group gathered around the small table in the center of the room, the smell of simple stew filling the air. The fire crackled in the corner, providing warmth that their tired bodies desperately needed. The meal was basic—stew made from scraps of meat and root vegetables—but after a long day, it felt like a feast.
Kadoc sat between Auina and Orin, listening as Auina spoke animatedly about the climb, her energy undiminished even after Lena's relentless instructions. Lena, on the other side of the table, rolled her eyes but didn’t interrupt, a small, almost invisible smile on her lips.
Rulf and Mira sat at the head of the table, talking in low voices, their heads close together. Kadoc couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could see the tension in Mira's shoulders begin to ease, her posture less rigid than it had been in the courtyard.
The warmth of the fire, the sound of conversation, and the taste of warm food settled something in Kadoc’s chest. He felt, for just a moment, like he belonged—like this ragtag group was beginning to become something more than just a collection of desperate people.
***
Later that night, long after the others had settled into their bunks and the fire had burned down to embers, Kadoc climbed up to the roof of the safehouse. The night air was cold, biting at his skin as he pulled his thin cloak tighter around himself. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the quiet streets below.
He sat down on the edge of the roof, his legs dangling over the side as he looked out over the city. From up here, Earldorf looked almost peaceful—its twisting streets bathed in moonlight, the distant rooftops covered in a thin layer of frost. The city was still awake, in its own way—faint lights flickered in windows, and the occasional shout echoed from a far-off street—but from up here, it felt distant, almost unreal.
Kadoc took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs, and closed his eyes. He thought of his mother, alone in their shack. He thought of the way her breathing had sounded—shallow, rattling—and the pile of medicine he had managed to scrape together for her. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
But he was here now, doing whatever it took. This heist was his chance—maybe his only chance—to get her the help she needed, to finally leave this place behind. The thought filled him with both fear and hope, an ache that settled deep in his chest.
A faint sound behind him pulled Kadoc from his thoughts. He turned, surprised to see Auina climbing up through the hatch, her face flushed from the effort, her breath forming small clouds in the cold.
“Hey,” she said, her voice soft as she made her way over to him. She sat down beside him, wrapping her own cloak tighter around her shoulders. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?”
“Yeah,” Kadoc replied, his eyes still fixed on the distant rooftops. His voice was quiet, barely rising above the cold wind that blew between them. He kept his gaze on the city, but Auina was watching him closely.
“Come on, I know that look,” she said, nudging his shoulder lightly. “It’s more than just not being able to sleep. Something’s bothering you, isn't it?”
Kadoc hesitated, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. He looked down, his fingers tracing the edge of his cloak. “It’s…my mom,” he finally admitted, his voice soft. “I keep thinking about her. She’s sick—really sick. And no matter what I do, I can’t seem to make it better. The medicine helps a little, but it’s not enough.”
Auina's expression softened, her gaze intent as she listened. “How long has she been sick?” she asked, her voice gentle.
Kadoc sighed, his breath visible in the cold air. “Almost 2 year now. She used to be... well, not strong exactly, but she was always able to work, to keep things together, even when everything else was falling apart. She did everything she could for me, you know? She kept us alive, kept a roof over our heads, even if it was a terrible one.”
He paused, his eyes distant, his mind filled with memories of his mother—her tired smile, the way she’d work herself to exhaustion at the nearby church just to make sure he had something to eat. “Then, one day, she just couldn’t anymore. She started coughing, and it got worse and worse. The Black Lung, they called it. It’s... it’s not something people survive, not without a lot of help.”
Auina winced at the name. “The Black Lung,” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. She shook her head. “That’s bad. I’m sorry, Kadoc.”
Kadoc gave a small, sad smile. “Yeah. It is. But I can’t just sit and watch her die. I won’t. That’s why I’m here, why I agreed to do this job. If I can make enough money, I can get her proper medicine. I can get her out of this place, to somewhere she can get better.” He looked at Auina, his eyes filled with both determination and fear. “It’s all I can think about, every day. And sometimes, it feels like no matter what I do, it won’t be enough.”
Auina was quiet for a moment, then she placed her hand gently on Kadoc's arm. “You’re doing everything you can, Kadoc. More than most people would. And I think your mom knows that. She knows you’re fighting for her.”
Kadoc nodded, though the fear in his chest still lingered. He looked at her, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “What about you?” he asked. “Why are you here?”
Auina’s smile faltered, and for a moment her eyes seemed far away, filled with memories she had kept buried for a long time. She drew her knees up to her chest, her gaze dropping to the rooftop beneath her feet. The usual brightness in her demeanor dimmed, and there was a weight in her silence that made Kadoc’s chest tighten.
“My mom,” Auina started, her voice quiet, almost lost in the cold wind. She took a deep breath before continuing, “She... she got hooked on this drug called Heaven's Bliss. I guess you’ve heard of it?”
Kadoc nodded, his brow furrowed. Heaven's Bliss was notorious in Earldorf—an escape for those desperate enough to sell their souls for a moment's peace. The effects of the drug were as alluring as its name, but the price it demanded was steep, leaving users hollow, their bodies deteriorating, their lives unraveling.
“She owed money to the dealers—big debts that just kept getting bigger.” Auina paused, swallowing hard. “And one day, when she couldn’t pay, she... she sold me. She sold me to cover her debts.”
Kadoc’s breath caught in his throat. He turned to look at her, eyes wide with shock. He didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t expected that—hadn’t expected the blunt, raw pain in her voice, nor the hardness that now laid in her eyes, the cheerfulness gone.
“I had barely even turned six before they sold me to a brothel,” Auina continued, her voice flat, almost devoid of emotion as if she’d told the story so many times that it had lost its sting. “But the women there—they weren’t what you’d think. They took care of me. They fed me, clothed me. They were kind to me when no one else was. In a way, they became my family.”
She paused, her fingers playing with the edge of her cloak, twisting the fabric between her hands. “They protected me. And they paid for it. The men who ran the place…they…wanted me working there. I still remember it like it was yesterday.”
“They came in one night,” she said, her voice low, barely audible against the wind. “Two of them. They were big, mean-looking, and they stank of cheap booze. I was in the back, where they always kept me to wash clothes and keep myself busy, when I heard the shouting. I knew something was wrong because the women—Regana, especially—they never let anyone raise their voices at each other. It was a rule.”
She paused, her eyes tightening at the corners, her mouth a thin line. “I remember hiding behind the curtain, peeking out. Regana was in the center of the room, blocking the hallway where I was like she could somehow protect me by herself. She was shouting at them, telling them to leave, that I wasn’t theirs to take. Her voice was loud and angry, but I could see her hands shaking. Once she started yelling and screaming, the other women showed up and began yelling and screaming too. They stood beside her, even though they were scared.”
Kadoc nodded his head as she continued her story.
“They fought for me,” Auina continued, her voice trembling slightly, “even when they knew what it would cost them. One of the men grabbed Regana by the arm, twisted it until she screamed, and that’s when the others jumped in. They fought like wild animals, with nails and teeth, until the men backed off. And they did, eventually—they left. But the damage was done. They were punished for it later, each one of them.”
She swallowed, her eyes closing as she let out a shaky breath. “Regana couldn’t use her arm for weeks. And the debt—they added more to it. Said the women had caused trouble, and trouble came with a price. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have been there.”
Auina’s lips trembled, and she opened her eyes, tears threatening to spill over. “That’s why I have to do this, Kadoc. For them. Because they didn’t have to do that, but they did. They saved me, and now it’s my turn to save them.”
For a moment, neither said or did anything, just looking out at the sky above them before Kadoc moved first. He leaned over, giving her an awkward pat on the back, his hand lingering there for a moment.
“I understand,” he said quietly. “I know what it’s like to owe everything to someone. To want to fix things, to make it right.” He looked at her, a small but genuine smile forming on his lips. “We’re both going to do it, Auina. We’re going to save the people we love.”
Auina’s shoulders seemed to relax, a mixture of sadness and hope shining in her eyes. She looked at him, her smile growing as she blinked away the tears. “Thank you, Kadoc,” she whispered, her voice almost lost in the cold night air. “For... for listening.”
Kadoc gave a slight shrug, his gaze turning back toward the horizon, where the city lay under the blanket of night. “Anytime,” he said simply.
A silence settled over them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Instead, it was a silence that spoke of understanding, a shared weight that was a little lighter now than it had been before.
After a moment, Auina shifted closer, leaning gently against Kadoc, her head resting on his shoulder. Kadoc stiffened for just a second before he let himself relax, allowing the warmth of her presence to push away the cold, at least for a while.
Above them, the moon hung large in the sky, casting a pale light over the rooftops and illuminating their silhouettes. Against the vast, indifferent sky, they were small—two shadows leaning on each other, two souls fighting against the world.
And for that moment, sitting beneath the moonlight, neither of them felt alone.