Reshi had started off shocked at Dani’s antic, but went quickly into both furious and terrified. Of all the stunts she could have pulled, he had never expected her to try and steal the crown off the princes head! What had she been thinking?

Had she even bothered to consider what would happen if she succeeded? What was he thinking? She was young, stubborn and thought she was invincible.

He didn’t want her to learn she wasn’t the hard way, but that was apparently what the gods had in mind for her, because the prince not only noticed her stealing his crown, but had given chase! The city was in an uproar, guards blocked off the Trade Road and herded people away from the royals. The queen and her daughters carriage was turned around and escorted back to the palace, while the king shouted orders to the guards. More than Reshi would have liked gave chase after Dani and the prince.

And then there had been the unmistakable crash of building falling in. It wasn’t an uncommon sound in the Rats Nest, but paired with the chaos left in the wake of Dani’s attempt, it made for frightened people that the guards had trouble ushering off the streets.

Reshi went quietly, hauling what was left of his boar away on his small cart, trundling up the narrow streets to his brothers house. He ignored the bets already being placed on whether the thief or prince would survive the night. If she was caught, he hated to think of the bets that would pay out. Damn that little fool! He had to find her, preferably before the royal guards did. And to do that, he needed his old contacts.

He needed Alodia.

“Raycor! Ya ‘ome?” Reshi called as he approached the small house. At one point it had been the tower of a much larger villa, but after the landslide the top of one of the towers was all that remained. Their father had added onto it, building up a room for his sons, and now, for Raycors daughters.

Reshi grunted at the lack of response, it was to be expected. They were likely all at the bakery. But it was damn inconvenient. He looked around until he spotted one of the neighborhood boys, and whistled to him. “You! Boy! C’mere. I got a job fer ya.”

“Reshi! You’re back!” The little boy ran over without hesitation, a gap-toothed grin on his dirty face. Reshi knelt down, fishing in his pocket for a copper. Then, thinking of the urgency, doubled what he pulled out. The shiny coins easily caught the boys attention. In the Rats Nest, for a boy his age, it was a small fortune. “What do ya need me ta do?”

“I need ya ta go an’ find Madame Alodia, tell ‘er Reshi is callin’ in a favor, an’ let ‘er know where ta find me. Do it fast an’ I’ll give ya an extra.”

The boys eyes widened, and he nodded so hard his hair flopped into his face. “Yessir!”

“There’s a good lad.” Reshi handed over the coins, and straightened. “When ye get back, tell yer mum I brought ‘er some meat as well. Ye need it ta grow strong like yer Da.”

“Yessir!” The coins disappeared somewhere into the boys pockets, and he took off like the hounds of hell were on his tail. That was good, Alodia shouldn’t be hard to find, and even if she didn’t come herself, she’d send one of hers to talk to him. She owed him that much.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

With nothing else to do to pass the time, he started to carve up the boar, taking care to get every last piece of meat off the bones. He had already sold the hide and tusks, even a good portion of the meat. What was left he’d share with Raycor and the girls, and the rest of their little neighborhood. That was how they got by through hard times, sharing what little they all had and praying it would be enough.

He thought of the last time he had spoken with Dani. Maybe he had been too harsh on the girl, he was the one who had taught her how to steal. But he had thought it would just be for a short time. Didn’t little girls grow into women who wanted husbands? He had been sure she would settle down, find a man and live a happy life.

He hadn’t thought she’d take to the thieving as a way of life!

His own damn fault.

He growled and slapped a hunk of meat down on the much-stained cloth he had spread out on the scarred old table made of discarded wood, the whole thing rocking with the force. But it had taken much worse abuse than old Reshi could deal out anymore.

“Bad day, Reshi?” Alodia’s soft voice came from behind him.

To give himself some credit, he didn’t jump, just looked over his shoulder at her with a dark scowl. “I see ya came yerself. Thank ya.”

“You called in a favor, I was curious and your messenger was insistent.” She smiled fondly down at the boy, who was standing nervously at her side.

“He’s a good lad. ‘Ere ya go boy, an extra coin fer yer trouble, an’ some meat fer yer Ma.” Reshi folded up some of the meat in a cloth, handing it to the boy along with the promised copper. The boy flashed him a grin, but ran off immediately, his treasures clutched tightly.

“So, what did you want to cash your favor in for? It has to be big. Which makes me wonder if it has something to do with the chaos down by Trade Road.” Alodia perched on a makeshift chair, gently fanning herself

“An’ what do ya know ‘bout that chaos?” Reshi cut meat away from a bone, slapping it onto the table with the rest of the meat. They would have plenty to eat and share, it was a good thing.

“Oh, only that a young woman was seen stealing the princes crown, and led him on a merry chase across the rooftops until they both fell through one and disappeared. The guard that was right behind them luckily survived the fall, but will be in the care of the healers for some time yet.” Alodia stared off into space with a coy smile. “I might even recognize the young woman. If pressed to do so.”

Reshi nodded, letting out a snort. She might recognize the young woman, was it? Damn woman and her games! “Ye know who it was. An’ I need ta find ‘er ‘fore the guards do.”

“What will you do if you happen to find this young woman? There’s not likely to be any place she can hide after what she’s done.”

“Maybe not, depends on ‘ow good’a look they got of ‘er. An’ looks can be changed. They ain’t gunna be lookin’ fer a lady, or a boy. But a young woman in trousers. Worse comes worse, I’ll take ‘er out o’ the city. Can always go to Hesiodos.”

Alodia paused in her fanning, looking at Reshi thoughtfully. She smiled then, and flicked her fan closed. “You always had a soft heart for her. Are you sure it would be wise to take her back there? The wrong people may recognize her.”

“Been ‘ow long now? I can keep ‘er safe ‘nough. But I gotta find ‘er. Will ya ‘elp me?” Reshi turned to face her fully, the lines on his face making him look so much older than he really was.

Alodia stood, her hips swaying as she walked forward. Gently, she kissed him on the cheek. “Of course I will Reshi. I’ll have my people on the lookout, and when we find her, we’ll let you know and go from there. Try not to fret too much.”

Reshi turned away from her, chopping into the meat again. “Thank ye lass.”

But she was already gone, melting into the shadows. The only sign she had been there at all was the lingering scent of perfume, quickly carried away by the breeze.