Prologue
A woman dashed silently down an alleyway, keeping close to the shadows. A cloth sack was slung over one shoulder, and she was in a rush, eager to get away. Her target for the night had been tipped off to the guards, and she almost didn't make it out in one piece. Almost.
A grin spreads across her features as she runs, quickly making her way back to the Waterfont. It's a rundown area of the city that most people vastly ignore, but it's a hotspot for thieves like her.
Despite the added complication of evading the guards, Brie thought she had completed her task rather splendidly, and in record time. A less skilled thief would have caved under the time constraints, but Brie thrived under the thrill of getting caught.
It's not fun if it's not dangerous.
Not having fun is why Brie ended up in the Imperial City to begin with. She had exhausted her efforts in three other cities, starting with Skingrad, and was hunting for that thrill again. So, for a fourth time Brie packed her bags and took off, going wherever her feet wandered.
Upon arriving at the Imperial City, she had found a goldmine. The thieves' guild was alive and well. There was even an infamous mythical Grey Fox figure that people either spoke fondly about or cursed his name.
Doesn't matter to me either way, Brie had mused while studying one of the many wanted posters plastered throughout the city. As long as I can find stuff to steal I don't care if there's a Grey Fox or not.
Brie had spent a few weeks getting to know the city before she really began hunting for items to steal and people to rob. But the competition was fierce, and so Brie found herself somewhat struggling to make ends meat. Which had led to a rather devious plan.
The Elf lurched to a halt just at the end of the alley and glanced around the corner, searching for any signs of guards. When she was sure it was clear, Brie strolled onto the main street and began making her way back to her house. She had almost made it too, before everything went wrong.
"Stop!" A voice called out. "You're under arrest, thief!"
Brie was sure that she knew the guard's patrol schedule. But it was the guard that had caught her that gave her quite a surprise. A hand clamped around her wrist, spinning Brie around, and she was faced with the most lavishly armored man.
Even in the dull light of the moon his armor shone like a bright, gaudy beacon of silver and gold. What Brie noticed even more was how beautiful his eyes were; a stunning shade of blue.
He might have been quick, but Brie was quicker.
"Why?" Brie retorted with a grin. "Did I steal your heart?"
Before he could stammer a response, Brie twisted out of his grasp and quickly leaned in. She planted a kiss on his pale cheek and then took off at a dead run. Lex struggled to follow after her; his armor was heavy and slowed him down. Before he knew it, the Elf slipped down another alleyway and she was gone by the time he reached it.