Chapter 3 - Anything
Her hair fanned around her head as she spun to face him. "How do you know my name?" she demanded, her right hand clasping something hidden behind her cloak. A weapon, no doubt.
Fith closed the door to his home behind him, smiling in what he hoped was a calming manner. "You should not have worn your signet ring if you wished to hide your identity, my lady."
She proceeded to curse herself in an astonishingly un-ladylike fashion, then returned her attention to him with a glare. "Now that you know who I am what do you intend to do? I warn you, I am trained in both magic and the sword."
Fith raised an eyebrow. What did she expect of him? Holding her for ransom? His smile became genuinely amused as he realized he hadn't even thought of such a thing until now; he just wasn't that kind of outlaw. He'd only wanted to know what the look on her face would be when he called her by her real name.
"And now you want training in thievery," he replied. "You are ambitious, aren't you? Well, you have no need to worry, my lady. I intend only to provide you the training you wish." He opened the door again and stood away from it. "If you've any doubt, you are free to leave, with my well wishes."
She studied him intently, and he prayed she saw his sincerity. He was not satisfied with merely knowing her name. Her identity was but a small part of the mystery that surrounded her. "I will believe you," she finally said, her stance relaxing somewhat. "For now," she amended.
"Wonderful!" he said enthusiastically, closing the door once again. "I would be quite hurt to see such a fair lady as you flee from my home so soon after entering it. It would not speak well of my hospitality."
She pinked slightly. "I did not come here to be flattered," she said, mostly succeeding at sounding cross.
Fith grinned. "I'm afraid you will have to become used to receiving flattery where ever you go, miss, or otherwise go mad." Pink turned to red and Fith's grin widened. "But no, that is not why you are here, which reminds me. I have answered your question, now what of mine? Why do you want to be a thief, my lady?"
She sighed and appeared to be debating over whether to answer. "I want to help people," she finally said as she unclasped her cloak and looked for a place to hang it.
Fith folded his own cloak over a chair by way of demonstration. "Help people?" he asked.
She nodded. "The needy and less fortunate," she continued, dropping her cloak over the chair next to her. She wore a plain pants and tunic under it, today.
"Steal from the rich to give to the poor, eh?" he asked, noticing a hint of sarcasm had entered his voice. "And why can't you give of your own possessions, Nalia?"
She smiled, but it did not touch her eyes. "My own possessions are not mine to do with as I wish. My Aunt has put locks on anything of value in the keep." She laughed humorlessly. "Including me. I am not allowed to leave without her or father's permission, though she knows nothing of the keep's hidden passages and I can find my own way out." Her empty smile became a smirk as she continued, "She does not…approve of how I would spend my free time."
Fith's eyebrows rose and he answered without sarcasm, "It sounds to me as if you could use some help yourself, my lady."
Nalia's smile faded and she shook her head. "I am clothed and fed, with a comfortable bed and a roof over my head. I am without need of anything."
It wasn't true. Fith could feel it, though he could not say why for certain. This girl whose eyes did not smile, this girl who wanted to be a thief, was not without need. This girl who was willing to pay anything.
"Anything?"
"Anything."
But he wouldn't ask that of her. He was better than that.
She moved like silk. Could snap like a whip. He liked a woman who could move better than he could.
"Anything."
But he wouldn't ask that of her. He was better than that.
She made stupid mistakes, but learned quickly. Very quickly. Her intelligence was astounding.
"Anything."
But he wouldn't ask that of her. He was better than that.
He flirted shamelessly, and before long she flirted back. He found himself on the losing side of their banter more often than not. And he loved it.
"Anything."
But he wouldn't ask that of her. He was better than that.
She laughed easily. Almost too easily. Something about it seemed desperate. He pitied her, even as he told himself he had no reason to.
"Anything."
She was a mystery. And he wanted her. But he was better than that.
"Anything."
The bells on the vest jingled as his arms came around her, his lips touching her neck. Her easy acquiescence, her enthusiasm made it easy for him to believe she accepted him freely. That he wasn't taking advantage of her.
Because he wouldn't ask that of her. He was better than that.