Her dad patched her up as much as he was able and then tucked her into bed. He frowned when he noticed Rowan wasn't around but didn't say anything about it before rushing out the door. Ember's body screamed for her to rest but she knew she couldn't let this opportunity past. With her body sore and aching she called upon an illusion. Her appearance was of a boy, nondescript in appearance. Then she placed stealth on herself.

What she was doing was chancy but it was too perfect a time for her to waste. She winced a little at that thought but forced herself to push to the back of her mind what was still happening by the river with the leeches. Her family came first.

With that thought running through her mind, she snuck out of the house. She didn't really need to sneak but she was worried about running into her mother. It would have been good to have an illusion of herself sleeping just in case but it wouldn't hold up with the distance she would be putting between them.

Instead, she would have to make this fast. She hurried down the dirt path leading to the town. As soon as she reached the town, she noticed there were groups of people clustered together. Their gazes darted around in fear.

"Do you think they'll come here?"

"The guard is there now. They'll wipe them out."

"They sure took their sweet time! How many people died while they were slacking down here."

"Shush. If Welk finds out about what you said an 'accident' might just happen to you like the last time."

Ember frowned at what she was hearing but she didn't pause. No one's gaze lingered on her and she moved through the crowd without any problem. She paused to look for any sign of her mother but she didn't see her. She felt a little worried but she knew her mother was probably safe.

She kept moving and she didn't stop until she reached the first house. She moved to the side of the house and listened. She didn't hear any movement and there were no guards. The house was a nice size and covered in flowers. It didn't seem like a home owned by the captain of the guard or his second-in command. Was it the stewards?

She had never been to the steward's home but she knew he had more lavish taste. It didn't seem to fit him. He also had a wife and two children and the house seemed much too small for a family of his means.

Thinking about her next move, she pushed a stream of wind through the house, silently hoping her magic wouldn't fail. Holding her breath, she let the magic move through the rooms. She focused on the stream, letting it travel throughout the rooms until she pulled it back to her.

When it reached her, she shaped it into a cone and then pushed. Sounds released from the cone, mostly small things but then she caught one, breathing. The soft, steady breathing of sleep. There was someone sleeping in the house. But that was it, one person. She sent the wind in again, this time trying to determined which room the sound was coming from. It took some tweaking but she discovered that sound was coming from a room to the right of the house.

Ember moved to the left side of the house. She looked around her to make sure no one noticed her, before moving to the left back window. Her stealth would help keep her undetected but it wasn't perfect, especially not at her current level. Still, it would do for most people, just not if she ran into a Seedling.

Luckily, the guards while experienced weren't Seedlings, at least not all of them. She was sure Welk was and possibly his second-in-command. At least she knew the steward wasn't a Seedling.

Taking a breath, she moved to the window. The window was locked, a rarity in most houses in their town. Not because everyone trusted each other but that it was something most houses didn't have. They closed the shutters but there were no locks so it was unique that this house had locks on them.

Still, it was a simple latch and one she could open easily. She pulled Mally from around her waist and shifted it into a thin knife. She slid it between the shutters and slide it up. Her hands shook from the pain of her blisters and she had to stop and try again. She managed it the second time. Undoing the latch, she then pulled the shutters open and stepped into the house.

Once inside, she looked around at what looked to be a small sitting room. The room was surprisingly feminine. Whose place was she in? She crouched down in a corner out of view of the doorway.

Finder.

The map came up.

Finder, find hidden coins gained through embezzlement in a range of 10 meters from me. She looked around nervously.

The map zoomed in and she could see the spot where the coins should be. A place only a few meters from her. Ember sent the wind through the house once more and when it came back she confirmed that the person in the house was still asleep. She began to move.

She kept her steps quiet as she crept out of the sitting room and down the hall. She knew she had to be quick. The likelihood of someone arriving to the house was high, especially in the day. She just hoped since everyone was distracted with the monster attack that it would work in her favor. Though that only worked if she was in one of the guard's home but she was pretty sure this wasn't the steward's home.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

As she moved, she came closer to the room where the person slept. The door was cracked and through the crack Ember saw a woman sleeping on a large bed. Then it dawned on her whose home she was in. It was the mistress of the second-in-command. She didn't know much about the woman and had only seen her once or twice in her past life.

Her shoulders sagged in relief as she hurried down the hall. She went into the kitchen and once again called up the map. The map zoomed in and she could see a dot appear next to the sink. Ember moved closer to it.

Sending her wind under the floorboards, she let the wind push underneath until she felt something box shape blocking it. She grinned and began prying at the boards. While she worked on the floorboards, she kept a steady stream breeze circulating through the mistress's room. She wanted to be prepared in case the woman woke.

Her movements were clumsier than she would like due to her injuries and exhaustion, but adrenaline poured through her body keeping her quick. Then she found it. Instead of opening the box, she shoved it into Keeper's Hold and then quickly put the floorboard pieces back. She called up Finder once again, making sure she didn't miss anything and as she did the wind came back and something had changed.

The mistress was awake.

There was no time to sneak back to the window she had climbed into so instead Ember darted for the front door. As quietly as she could she unlocked the door. Holding her breath, she opened it.

"Is that you Myron?" She heard footsteps moving closer.

Ember rushed through the door, shutting it behind her and then hurried to the house next door, hiding behind it. She waited a few minutes. She could hear the door open and she had an idea that the woman was looking around. A minute passed then another and the door shut. Ember waited a few more minutes and then hurried away.

She had wanted to check out the other locations but it was too risky. For now, she would see how much was in Myron's box and then decide from there if she would need to rob the other two. Decision made, Ember wrapped Mally around her waist and began making her way back home.

On the way back, she noticed a group of people coming from the direction of the river. They looked worn and beaten up. Her gaze searched for her father but there was no sight of him. She kept moving to the house. It was only when she was near the door that she dropped the illusion around her, though she kept stealth on.

She stepped into the house and immediately halted. Her mother was standing in the middle of the kitchen. Anger raged in her eyes. Even with stealth on, Ember knew she couldn't slip away. She really wished her stealth was better.

Her mother took a step forward. Ember took a step back. She could run but she was sure that wouldn't go over well. It was too late. There was no escape. She dropped stealth and waited for hellfire to run down at her.

Her mother grabbed her and pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly. "You stupid, stupid girl."

Then her mother started to weep. Panic went through Ember and she hugged her mother tightly. "Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Fear stabbed through her. "Is Dad okay? Is Rowan?"

Her mother pulled away from her and nodded. "Rowan is fine. He's in your room where you should've been. Are you hurt?"

Ember raised her hands. "Dad patched me up."

Her mother frowned. "He went back there then?"

She nodded.

Her mother's eyes narrowed. "Then he brought you back here and then left. Then where have you been?"

Ember met her mother's eyes. "I've been here."

Her mother face twisted in disbelief at her bold-faced lie. "What does that mean, young lady? If you think for one sec-"

Ember grabbed her mother's hands, squeezing them. "Mom, please. I know you want to know but its better if you just think I was here the whole time."

Her mother frowned and she knew that wasn't going to be good enough for her mother. A loud knock sounded on the door, interrupting her mother's probing. Ember took the chance and dashed away, stepping into her room.

Inside, she was surprised to see that it wasn't just Rowan inside but also Patricia. She put a finger to her lip and then quickly called up Keeper's Hold. She stuffed Mally inside and then closed it.

Rowan and Patricia watched her with wide eyes. Ember ignored them, her attention turning to the possible guests.

Ember turned to the door, pressing her ear to it. She would have tried using her wind ability but if there was a Seedling out there it might be possible for them to sense it. Being a Seedling came with some magic sensitivity. So, she focused on eavesdropping the old-fashioned way.

She could hear two male voices. One polite and the other demanding, then there were sound of steps coming toward the room. There was a knock on the door.

"Ember, can you come here for a minute?"

She frowned and then opened the door. Her mother stood outside, her body tense and her face filled with worry.

"Who's here?" Ember asked.

Her mother's lips tightened. "Captain Welks and Knight Vantosia are here to see you."

Ember's eyes widened. "Knight Vantosia? The delegation for the Choosing arrived."

Her mother looked at her strangely and then nodded. She looked like she was struggling with something and then she shook her head. She looked past Ember to Rowan and Patricia. "You both stay here. Don't come out until I tell you."

Ember glanced back at her brother and smiled. "It'll be fine."

Her brother nodded, the nervousness on his face vanishing. "Of course, it will."

Then Ember stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Before she took another step, her mother took her hand. "I'm here."

Ember smiled and squeezed her mother's hand. "It's fine."

Then together they went into the kitchen. Stepping further into the kitchen, Ember saw two man. One was a tall, muscular man with black hair and a face that looked like it was chiseled from stone. He wore armor that gleamed in the dim room, making everything around him look dingy. His eyes were watchful and the clearest blue Ember had ever seen.

Welks on the other hand wore worn leather, and looked like a man that would feel more comfortable in the midst of a pit fight. Welks sat at their kitchen table, leaning his chair on its back legs. As soon as his eyes landed on Ember they gleamed with excitement and greed. His gaze searched her and his lips twisted in annoyance when he didn't see what he was looking for.

"Where is it? Where's the soul weapon?"