"If it isn't Emily Clance- the Rogue herself." George crossed his arms as Emily hovered over the display of delicately crafted jewelry.

Emily quickly drew her hand away from an opal ring in one smooth movement. "George, it's beehn along time."

George nodded, bagging a sapphire necklace or two for himself. He glanced to see if the short man running the stand had noticed his theft- but his steal had gone unnoticed.

Emily nodded"Noht bad, Coopeh." She slid the opal ring she had been eyeing on a short finger. "But Ah'm still betteh." She stole the man's nobles as she passed him gracefully. He hadn't even looked up.

George laughed. Not only did Emily know how to fight, but she was a superb thief. A true Rogue, he realized enviously.

He turned to his new friend, who was evaluating a set of silver hair pins.

"Emily- would ye do a favor fer me?"

Emily shrugged, swiping a rose pin into her dress pocket. "Depends on what it is."

"I was- was wonderin' if ye would teach me t' fight, like ye can."

Emily broke into a wide smile. "But Ah thought Ah was only a girhl- a weak, little girhl."

He hung his head in mock shame. "I learned my lesson the first time ye beat me- not t' mention the second, or third."

Emily cheerfully laughed. "Yes, Ah remember quite wehll." She looked at him. "Ah could teach yah, Coopeh," she replied. "But- wehll, Ah don't think it would be tah mah advantage." She frowned. "If yah were tah get quick with thah knife-"

George gave her a charming smile. "Me, better than ye' Lass, I don't think that's possible."

Emily gave him her own smile. "Wehll... alright. But Coopeh-" she added to his retreating back,"-beh at the courtyard, seven o'clock. Ah won't accept a late student."

~*~

Emily leaned against the stone wall of the courtyard, tapping her foot impatiently. George Cooper was already a quarter of an hour late, and still getting later.

He eventually came dashing out of the courtyard, panting. "Emily, I'm so sorry-"

Emily scowled. "Thah first lesson is always beh prompt!" Emily Clance strictly stressed. "Yah behing a few minutes late could cause someone thehr life."

Goerge looked confused. "Lass, this is only practice-"

"I is practice to become a true member of thah Rogue, Coopeh!" she bellowed. "And a real rogue has thah same principles as a Tohtallan knight- only with more style." She looked at him. "Yah want tah beh that Rogue, don't yah, Coopeh?"

George gave an intimidated nod, and Emily smiled. "Talent, Coopeh- I know yah have it. Yah just need tah find it."

He gave a confused grin. "Why d' ye- the Rogue- want t' train me t' be the Rogue?"

She smiled, almost in a secretly ironic way. "Ah have mah reasons. Now, thah second lesson..."

~*~

"Emily, darling," drawled the handsome man sitting at the wooden desk. "Is it me, or do you lookespecially lovely today?"

Emily brushed this compliment away. "Zepheh, Ah don't have thah time for ridiculous compliments."

Eron Zepher slowly nodded. "But of course, my dear." He flashed a deadly smile. "But then, I'm sure you have the time to spare to hear the demands of your people."

Emily nodded. "Any good queen would."

He winked. "And the gods know you are a very good queen."

Emily winced. "Ah need tah know your terms, Zepheh." She sighed. "What dah yah want?"

Eron shrugged. "Only to share the rule of the Rogue, Emily," he said casually. "And to move the capital to Port Legann."

"What?!" Emily shrieked. "And suppose Ah dah not agree with your- terms??"

He again casually shrugged. "Then expect a revolution- we in Port Legann do not think you are doing as good of a job as... well... I could, actually."

She shot him a venomous look. "Ah would neveh jeopardize mah court, Zepheh." She got up, snatching her cloak. "Neveh."

Eron laughed. "I will give you another chance, my dear. I'm sure you will reconsider." He shot her a look, himself. "We are thieves, Emily Clance," he reminded her. "Not warriors. And I have connections that will surely destroy your militia in case of battle."

She sneered, slamming the door behind her.