The streets were busy, meaning this was the perfect time to strike. Amon leaned over to the smaller kid next to him. "Now see, how the baker, Guss, has his tables fully loaded and is shouting out at everyone? This is the time to strike. Just watch for the signal, and remember, once we get moving, try and keep up. You mess up once, and it's all over!"

The poor kid was white as a sheet and looked ready to bolt and run at any moment. Maybe Amon had oversold the danger... After all, this baker had to be the slowest, most stupid baker on the face of the earth. He was a natural-born sucker. However, it was too late to say anything now. Eric was making his move.

Eric walked up, all nonchalant as he examined the bread. Too nonchalant. It was obvious he was planning something, and even the baker seemed to see it.

The oversized man waved a finger, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Hey, you! Yeah, you kid! Don't get any funny ideas! I've got my eye on you!"

Eric held up his hands, so it was clear he wasn't doing anything as he stammered an excuse. Of course, Amon didn't get to hear what Eric would say this time because that was the signal.

Amon lept out and grabbed three loaves of bread, then turned and started running for the ally. It didn't take the baker long to figure out what was happening. "Hey, you little thief! You can't get away from me! I'm gonna catch you this time!"

This was the tricky part. If Amon or the kid were too slow, the baker would see where the hole in the fence was. Thankfully, the kid had listened well and was a few paces ahead of Amon. The kid dove headfirst through the hole, followed closely by Amon, who slid in after. Jewel, who'd been waiting, dropped the plank over the hole just in time. A moment later, they could hear the baker shouting as he rounded the corner. "Get back here, you little rats! You won't get away forever! Sooner or later, I'm gonna catch you!"

Amon and the kid sat there catching their breath as the baker ranted a bit longer, stifling their laughter. This guy was never going to catch them. He was too slow and too stupid. It was almost too easy!

After the baker left, Amon broke up the loaves and passed the bread around to everyone. Eric, who was coming in through the back, grinned as he got his cut. "Man, I can't believe he never learns!"

Amon shook his head. "Eh, don't be too hard on the guy. We're just that good! He never stood a chance!"

Everyone was laughing. Everyone was, except Will, the new kid. Not sure what was bothering him, Amon poked him in the side. "What's wrong, Will? Eat your bread! You earned it!"

Will looked at his food half-heartedly, then turned to Amon. "Do you have to go? I don't know if we can pull this off without you..."

Amon grinned and messed up Will's hair. "You'll be fine! I was just as scared when it was my turn to be the runner, but that baker is so slow he's never caught me, and he'll never catch you. Besides, this place is too small for the likes of me! I gotta go out there and make my fortunes. One day, you'll hear tales about the master thief Amon, and you'll be able to say you knew that guy!"

Eric snorted. "If people are hearing about your name as a master thief, it means you did a rotten job! Besides, with your smelly feet, they'll track you down in no time!"

The kids laughed, and Amon laughed with them. Nothing could spoil his mood. He'd been waiting for this day for a long time. No one could stop him now!

-

When most thieves sneak into a town, they try to blend into shadows or hide their faces. But when a master thief does so, he does it in broad daylight with a smile on his lips and his coin at his hip. There is no reason to suspect a successful merchant, especially one who might spend some much-needed coin in your village. The guards even called him "m'lord" as they checked his paperwork. Paperwork he'd forged himself just a couple of nights ago. Of course, he'd weathered it to make it look well used. Nothing was more suspicious than brand-new paperwork, after all.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As Amon walked down an old, familiar street, he smiled. For once, he wasn't looking around for a mark. He was just taking in the sights. After all, this was where it had all started, stealing bread on the streets of this sleepy little town. At first, life in the big cities had been more challenging than he'd thought. Not many of his small-town tricks had worked on the hardened people in the cities, but eventually, he'd done it; he'd become that master thief he'd always bragged he'd be.

Not long ago, Amon pulled the biggest heist of his career, taking everything out from under the feet of a fat baron who'd stolen more out of the pockets of his serfs than even Amon could walk away with. Now that the baron was in the king's custody... Some mysterious informant had leaked documents detailing all the profits he'd been skimming from the royal treasury. Of course, that informant had done his best to weigh down his own pockets first and now needed a place to lay low for a while, and this sleepy little town seemed just about perfect.

As he walked down the street, Amon was amazed at how little had changed. There was the old carpentry shop, the butcher, and even a little old lady selling flowers, a little older now than Amon remembered, but he still bought one with a smile and a wink. The little lady bowed and thanked him as he walked on his way when suddenly he saw him, Gus, the baker, still hawking his wares.

Amon decided that this time, he'd actually pay for a taste of that bread, but before he could, he saw a kid walk out, acting nonchalant while obviously trying to draw attention to himself. Nearby crouched another kid, obviously waiting for the signal. Had Amon ever been so obvious? He shook his head. These kids were pushing their luck, even with old Gus. Amon positioned himself to get a good view of the show...and to step in if things went south.

However, apparently, luck was on their side because Gus took the bait and shouted at the first kid. "Hey, you! Yeah, you kid! Don't get any funny ideas! I've got my eye on you!"

The second kid ran out and grabbed the bread, but he was way too clumsy and obvious. There was no way he'd get away in time! However, the years had taken their time on old Gus because he was even slower chasing the kids than he used to be, and the kids got around the corner in time. Sure enough, they dove through that same hole in the fence, but they did so too clumsily. The fence was shaking, and they dropped the plank too late. Gus had seen everything.

As Gus walked up to the fence, he was eyeing the hole. It was clear these kids were out of luck. Or at least they would be if Amon wasn't here. The thief got ready to knock the old baker out. He wouldn't be too hard on the guy. It's not like Gus was some robber baron or anything, but these kids deserved a chance to learn from their mistakes.

However, just as Amon was getting into position, Guss, who was looking at the hole while shaking his head, started shouting. "Get back here, you little rats! You won't get away forever! Sooner or later, I'm gonna catch you!"

Gus's delivery was awful and wouldn't fool anyone who saw him. He knew exactly where those kids had gone, and even if he didn't, the sound of kids laughing on the other side of the fence gave it away. But rather than make any more of a scene out of it, old Gus just started ambling back to his stall with a massive grin, like he was in on some great joke.

-

Gus walked back to his shop with a smile on his lips and a spring in his step. Those kids always brightened his day. Some villagers said he shouldn't let them get away with things like that, but Gus just shook his head. He knew better. And if someone pushed the issue, he just pointed to Will, the woodcutter, or Eric, the innkeeper, and followed up with the same old phrase, "Hungry kids can grow into responsible adults if you give them a chance!"

This batch was slightly less subtle than some others had been, but that was fine. It probably meant they'd be all the more honest when the time came. They just needed a chance, that's all. Thinking back, only one group ever stuck out in his mind. One kid had been quick enough and smooth enough to slip past Gus legitimately a time or two. Unfortunately, that kid had just disappeared one day, and Gus never knew what had happened to him.

As Gus sat down to continue selling what was left, he paused. A leather pouch was sitting where the "stolen" bread had been. Gus looked around to see if anyone had left it, but no one seemed interested. Figuring maybe someone had left payment while playing his game with the kids, Gus opened the pouch, only to have a small pile of gold coins fall out. That was more than he'd make in a year!

Now Gus was really worried. Someone had obviously made a mistake! He looked around in the crowd, but still, no one caught his eye. Then he noticed there was a small piece of paper in the pouch. Wondering if it might offer some clue as to who this belonged to, Gus fished it out. There was only one sentence on the scrap of paper. "Backpay for a childhood of fun and bread."