Chapter 1

“Go away orphan, we don't want your kind here!”

I eyed the surly woman who I assumed was the owner of the stall warily while pretending to try to decide what fruits to buy.

“I'll come over and beat you! Don't make me.”

The words stung almost as much as the first few times. Life was hard for a street urchin in Lasnarguard. It could take up to two days of careful preparation and planning for a theft without food only before being run off before getting a chance to take anything. This theft alone had taken me almost 3 days to pull off. It was beginning to get harder as more as more stall owners recognized my face.  I had a bounty of almost 10 thousand credits on my head and that made more than a few common people start salivating at the thought.  

Time to make my move.As the woman curtly turns around to attend to a new customer in a brown and green tunic and legings, I grab several ripe purple tameigan’s off a shelf and start running across Terinfar Plaza, weaving through the crowd of people.

“Get back here you thief!” yells a rough voice from behind me that I assume is the owner of the stall I stole from.  I pump my legs as hard as I can, willing myself to run faster. My limbs are a mere blur as I take a shortcut through Mr. Mayanson’s backyard, jumping the fence on both sides and dodging angry dogs along the way. I dare to look back.

“Crud,” I whisper under my breath.

Two legionnaires have taken up pursuit.  

“We'll get you this time, Trey,” They yell.

In their shining armor and red capes, they look like they should be guarding a temple somewhere. I jump past a nice cherry wood fence. I look back as the legionaries smash through the fence. Shame. That was a nice fence. Not looking where I'm going.  I trip on a rock and stumble into a surly looking boy with blazing red hair and a frown.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Eauuh!” He cries in a rather shrill voice as he falls backwards.  Wow. it really was shrill.  

“Crap!” I hear myself whisper in a rough choked voice that sounded nothing like my own.  Maybe that was how the boy felt.  

I force myself to get up, but a legionary grabs my hands and swiftly ties my wrists together with a tough looking piece of rope.

“Quite a chase you led us on, buddy,” he smirks, rumpling my hair. “We’re gonna take you and your little friend down to central prison.”

“Friend?” I say, confused.

“Mister Redhead,” the legionary says, still smiling. I look over and see that Mister Redhead is indeed tied up by the other legionary.

“Hmmm... him? Seriously, he couldn't do squat, stupid rich kid.”

“Not buying it!” he says as he forcefully pushes me to walk through the throng of people surrounding us.

Stupid rich idiots, I think. always dressed in big vibrant colored coats with wide brimmed hats adorned with bright feathers, which us slum kids call  peacocks. The crowd parts for us as if we have a highly contagious disease that might make them explode or turn purple and they're not entirely sure which one it will be. We walk for several days, my first time leaving the city, the surrounding hills green and all too beautiful considering my predicament.  Once, I tried to talk to Mister Redhead, but the soldiers beat me with spearhaftes until I was unconscious.  Well, that was the end of that lovely conversation.  The stupid  rich kid hadn't said anything anyway.  I guess I deserved it for getting him into it though.  The days go by pretty monotonously.  It was just so many rolling hills, with the constant looming presence of the Glasspire, An immense maze made of crystal that stood in the middle of the kingdom.  It was probably the most dangerous geological feature around.  I had heard tales of roars and screams emanating at night, but that was it.  No one ever came out to confirm any rumors.  After the third day, we reach a large white gate with huge red banners displaying the sign of Welserig. The gate was maybe fifty meters high and two thirds that many long.  One of the soldiers blows a loud horn, startling Mister Redhead into literally jumping.  I didn’t think that actually happened.  A similar horn answers and the gates slowly slide open.  As we anter, we get to a toll both like building.  A pasty faced receptionist asks the legionaries to fill out several forms, she then gives them a small bag filled with coins and motions them to lead us through a small wooden side door.  My mouth drops open at the sight that lays before me. Rows upon rows of metal cells lay before me stretching down a long stone hallway.

“Alright, nighttime bugger!” I heard a rough voice say as my vision suddenly plummeted into darkness.