Disclaimer: I own don't own Tortall, or any of the characters, settings, ideas, etc. that appear in any books by Tamora Pierce. Tamora owns them all.
Story: well read and find out. And please please please please review! I love you forever! I'm even beginning. As far as the rating goes, I'm saying PG-13 right now just to be safe. I'm not sure what its actually going to turn out to be…
Arianna peered cautiously behind her shoulder to check if any one was following her. She ducked into a long dark ally and quickly pulled her hair out of the complicated up do it had been in. Her black curls cascaded down her back as she swung her head around to check for someone following her one last time. Arianna ripped of her elaborate ball gown to reveal a tight black leather tank top that laced completely up in front, a pair of black leather pants, and black leather calf high boots. She threw the dress away and peeked out of the ally to see if anyone was around. When she was satisfied that no one was around, she ran out and joined the flow of the crowd. She could only pray that she hadn't been seen.
Arianna made her way to the Dancing Dove, a popular hang out for most of the common folk of Tortall. She walked into the dimly lit and smoky pub and saw the vague outline in the back of the room of the man she was suppose to meet. She made her way to the back of the room, swatting away men's hands and ignoring rude and sexual comments aimed at her. She sat down at the table where the man was and ordered a drink from a passing barmaid. She smirked to herself, she had been a barmaid once, it hadn't provided enough excitement though. She hadn't been a barmaid for the money, she didn't need money, she had done it out of pure boredom.
"Well?" inquired the man sitting at the table, interrupting Arianna's thoughts, "Have you got it?" Arianna looked up at the man in front of her.
"You know," Arianna smiled mischeviously, "One day this is going to get me killed."
"You're choice, you're free to leave anytime. Did you get it?" The man seemed to be growing more impatient. Arianna nodded and pulled out a small black leather pouch. She slid it across the table to the man. Around them the sailors, drunks, and thieves were laughing and cheering on some idiot standing on top of a table singing at the top of his lungs. No one was watching the transaction going on at the small table in the back of the room, which was fine with Arianna. The fewer people that saw her there or played attention to her, the better. Her unusual beauty already attracted enough attention, though using her looks had gotten her out of more than one tight bind.
"I was unable to get one…" she said regretfully. The man nodded in understanding and waved his hand at her. He was already immersed in the silver and gold necklaces inlayed with rubies and sapphires. Arianna stood up and walked out of the Dancing Dove. As she made her way back to the palace she grinned at herself.
"Stupid," she thought to herself as she reached down her tank top and pulled out a beautiful silver and sapphire necklace. She put it back down her tank top and made her way to the palace before anyone noticed her absence.