Shiver and Vale ascended the staircase, flanked on either side by Brimstone’s lavaways. They emerged into a bustling street, and the difference in scenery was palpable.
Where the lower circle was covered in grit and darkness, Brimstone’s upper circle shone.
Just about their only similarity were the streets, cast in the same dark blue cobblestone. Yet where the roads of the slums lay untended and caked in grime, those of the upper circle were untarnished.
Autumntrees sprouted leaves which glowed a gentle orange. They fell to rest idly on wide walkways paved in white. Flower bushes lined the cobbled streets, which were filled with elves who strode confidently in immaculate clothing, heedless of the world below them.
‘Beautiful isn’t it.’
Vale gazed around the streets with wide eyes, her eyes tracing carriages which sported the insignia of lesser noble houses. Shiver snapped her out of her stupor, as she pulled on her sleeve. They walked along the row of shops, the sultry scent of freshly baked bread making her mouth water.
Vale shook herself out of her reverie, wrenching her sleeve from Shiver’s grasp.
‘You work here, Shiver? Weren’t you saying I would be made up here, with all the guards around?’
‘Yet something tells me that isn’t something you’re too concerned about.’
Vale’s eyes widened imperceptibly. The orphan rolled her eyes in exasperation.
‘Oh come on, I’m just showing you the options. It’s up to you what you choose to do.’
As they strode along the street, they came before an immense black building that lay at the center of a junction.
‘The archaeologists guild. My main place of employment.’
‘Wait, did you say that you work for the archaeologist’s guild? This is the place I’ve been looking for!’
Shiver raised an eyebrow in response, at the expression of excitement that slipped through Vale’s guard. Her cheeks coloured and she slapped her hands over her mouth.
‘You don’t say.’
Vale averted her eyes. Shiver gave her a nudge.
‘Watch.’
She watched as Shiver crossed the road, effortlessly blending into the crowd that surrounded the guild. Vale gaped as she witnessed Shiver grab onto the suitcase of a young archaeologist, deep in discussion with a colleague.
‘Shiver! Give that back!’
Shiver just idly hefted the bag, before her, a grin of satisfaction on her face.
‘Relax, we ransom it back to them through a fence. You’d be astounded at what these archaeologists pay for their own work. They have the money for it, and no one gets hurt in the process.’
‘Except the archaeologists.’
‘No victims whatsoever. Besides, what is archaeology but stealing things from long dead elves. I’m just stealing them back.’
Vale just glared at the orphan. She couldn’t help but admire the mental gymnastics at play.
‘Well, well, well. Now it looks like I have the opportunity to introduce you to my understudy. You’ve met her once before.’
Vale blinked, and Shiver melted into the crowd before her, only to remerge holding the pigtails of a young elf who protested at Shiver’s treatment of her hair.
‘Let go Shiver! I was just-‘
‘Eavesdropping? Excellent work little firefly, you’ve been working especially hard these last couple of days. I’m so proud of you.’
A look of genuine pride shone from Shiver’s face.
‘Vale, meet the little firefly.’
‘Don’t call me that! My name is Blaze!’
‘You don’t have a choice. Now, our dear friend over here seems to have something she wants from the archeologist’s guild, isn’t that right?’
‘Oh no. Ahem. There’s nothing I want at whatsoev-‘
‘Save us both the time.’
Vale just sighed in resignation.
‘Even if there was, I’ve got nothing to offer you.’
Shiver exchanged a terrifying look of mischief with her “understudy”.
‘The challenge is its own offer. Besides, we’ve been scoping out the place of late – we have a more… ambitious plan in mind.’
‘Don’t tell me. You want to rob the place.’
The look of abject hurt on Shiver’s expression prompted a giggle from Blaze.
‘Rob is a strong word. I prefer “temporarily relinquish”. You see, the guild has been getting wise to our attempts. Before they hire appropriate security, we figure we would pull off one last hurrah, isn’t that right firefly?’
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
‘Yes! Just yesterday, I robbed a lor-‘
‘What did I tell you about boasting about your work?’
Shiver had the gall to look disappointed, willfully ignorant to her hypocrisy.
‘Sorry Shiver.’
‘Accountability maketh orphans. Shame it doesn’t rhyme. Now. What exactly are you looking for?’
Vale’s jaw tightened, and fear crept into her expression.
‘Perhaps somewhere with a little more privacy.’
---
The trio lounged under the shade of a vast autumntree in one of the parks in the upper circle. Vale stared up at Brimstone Manor, which bordered the park. The domain of House Brimstone.
‘Really? Right next to Brimstone Manor? You couldn’t find a better place? What about the guards?’
Shiver gave Vale a self-satisfied grin.
‘Precisely. It’s the last place they would think to find a band of scheming rogues. Besides, you think we’re afraid of some guards? They’ll just chuck us right back on the streets where we were. We aren’t worth the effort it takes to throw us.’
Shiver shifted forwards, leaning in. Blaze adorably mimicked the older orphan. If she wasn’t so afraid of being thrown into a cell, Vale might have teased her.
‘It’s other thieves that will be the death of us. Anyone catches wind of it, and our bounty will be taken from under our noses. You on the other hand my lady? You have no allegiances, yet. We could use your help. In return, we’ll lend you the help you need.’
Blaze nodded excitedly, her red pigtails bobbing atop her head. Vale let out a large sigh, and steeled herself.
‘Alright, alright. I’m looking for… a map. A map of the Verscallian Peaks.’
Shiver’s eyes narrowed, her mind awhirl.
‘Not just any ordinary map I assume. Otherwise, there’d be no need to steal from the guild.’
Vale nodded.
‘Does the name Veringold ring any bells?’
Blaze’s mouth fell open at the mention of the name.
‘What? What did I say?’
‘Veringold? Aveline Veringold is the Guildmistress of Brimstone’s archaeologist’s guild.’
Shiver began to chuckle, with Blaze looking on wide-eyed. Shortly afterwards, she began attempting to mimic the older orphan’s demeanor.
‘Way to make things interesting, my lady. It would be too boring if we were stealing from some two-bit archaeologist. What are we looking for?’
‘Her journal, most likely.’
‘So that’s why you’re in Brimstone, looking for something out in the Winterlands. Care to explain what?’
‘I… don’t exactly know. All that I do know, is that Aveline may have information about a great mystery near Brimstone.’
Shiver raised an eye, as Vale turned away from the girl, attempting to conceal her abashed expression.
‘One that my father fears.’
‘What was that?’
Vale cleared her throat as the line that she muttered failed to reach Shiver. The older orphan girl looked at Blaze, her grey eyes flashing with mischief.
‘Think we can pull it off little firefly? This won’t be like our usual shenanigans; we’ll have to infiltrate the guild itself. Can I trust you with it?’
Blaze nodded vigorously, her mousey, brown pigtails bobbing up and down with look of determination on her face.
Shiver and Vale laughed at the younger girl’s enthusiasm to her chagrin.
‘You never take me seriously! Meanie! You saw me steal that perv’s pouch yesterday, and he was a lord. They won’t see me coming!’
Shiver grinned, pulling them into a huddle.
‘Here’s what we’re going to do.’
---
Night had fallen, and Blaze strode through the streets of the upper circle. Elves walked leisurely with friends and family, enjoying the city’s delights as night fell. She watched in amazement as the autumnleaves glowed a crisp orange in the streetlight that cloaked the upper circles walkways in a soft, bright light. Her heart fluttered as the glowing orange leaves conjured a vision of sparks, a reminder of Blaze’s own Fear.
‘Those pesky thieves, I tell you Bodric. So many documents and artefacts so egregiously stolen, I dread to take my eyes off of my belongings for even a second these days! Dreadful I tell you.’
‘Terrible my good man.’
‘The guildmistress – bless her soul – is appointing guard detail tomorrow. Thankfully we won’t have to worry about those dastardly pests for long. More importantly, any news on her uncle? He’s been missing for an age – just up and disappeared on an expedition in the Winterlands. One of our most experienced, I could hardly believe it.’
‘Grim business Avan. The Peaks will swallow you whole if you give them even the barest of chances.’
‘I hope for Miss Aveline’s sake that he’s found soon, the poor thing.’
Avan and Bodric stood idly outside of the archaeologist’s guild. They puffed on large, ornate cigars, the ends of which glowed a bright orange with each inhalation. A familiar scent reached Blaze’s nose. She felt a sudden sense of relaxation wash over her.
Tranquility? I had no idea you could smoke it. Ptooey, fancy nobles.
She eyed their coin purses on full display at their hips. It was a shame she would have to leave them behind, these halfwits were ripe for the picking. The plan was more important, and if they pulled it off, she wouldn’t have to steal for a while.
She watched with a tinge of envy as Shiver and Vale walked up to the pair of archaeologists.
Elves around them – men and women alike – turned to gaze at the pair of ladies in their midst. They stood out even when garbed similarly to the wealthy residents of the upper circle.
‘Hello there gentlemen. How are you this fine evening?’
They were clothed in the finest silk that Madame Valmira’s had to offer – not that her pleasure house had noticed anything amiss. Shiver was dressed in a dark grey gown that accentuated her lithe figure and made her cerulean eyes shine in the evening light. Vale was dressed in an emerald green gown, sequins flashing as they made their way towards the archaeologists.
‘Hmph, amateur. She looks like she’s going to keel over with how much her knees are shaking. Besides, I’m prettier! Why didn’t Shiver choose me as her partner?’
The girl of all of twelve years huffed in frustration, struggling to decipher the older orphan’s logic. She had to admit though, Shiver brimming with confidence dragging her “shy” along with her sold their ploy exceptionally well.
‘My friend here is fascinated with artefacts; she practically won’t shut up about them. Frankly – no offense meant – I struggle to think of a more boring topic of conversation. If we had two dashing guides to show us around the city however… perhaps I could be more easily persuaded.’
Shiver directed a wink towards the two men, a blush rising to their cheeks. Their gazes lingered on Shiver and Vale’s forms with naked interest. Blaze had to give it to the older orphan, she played them like a fiddle.
It wasn’t long before they were headed down towards the lower circle, the excitement of a night out with two foreign ladies hamstringing what little logic remained in their skulls.
Blaze smirked as the first phase of Shiver’s plan sprung into action.
Heh. Perverts.