Chapter 10
"'Allo lass, come t'pay yer dear old friend a visit ey? 'Ow abou' a kiss"
Shelaya looked up and gave the round faced man a wink "You old romantic, you" She smirked slightly and leaned over the stall to place a soft kiss on his ruddy face. She gave a low chuckle as she settled back on her heels, slowly eyeing the glossy apples piled up before her.
Her long time friend, fruit stall owner and information gatherer, Dale (whom everyone younger than him called 'Uncle Dale') smiled at her and asked how things were going.
Watching him, watching her, she slinkily picked up a gloriously red apple and took a juicy bite out of it. "Mmmm…..so and so." She told him her mouth full.
"And how are the Young'Uns?"
"We're all wonderful, having the time of our lives…the rules have loosened up since King Jon travelled for a stay in Carthak and left his wife in command. The Queen's pretty an'all, but I guess King Jon never really told her about the tight holds he has on the Court…business is booming…his Highness 'with the white teeth' decided to let the Young 'Uns have a little fun…we're spread all over the city…you know you can find great deals on the outskirts of the city." The last she told him, earnestly nodding her head and finishing off her apple.
Uncle Dale, who was a thief before he started to go too soft around the middle, nodded, understanding that the King of Thieves was relaxing a bit after many deals made to help the Court of the Rogue's economy.
Placing her hands deep in her pockets (which were pretty deep, mainly because of her occupation) Shelaya rocked back and forth on her feet and smiled sideways at Uncle Dale from beneath her 'lucky cap' (which was called 'Hideous' by the way).
"Those apples are really delicious Uncle Dale, I know a lot of people who would enjoy them." She widened her emerald eyes to look even more innocent.
The round man chuckled deeply "Go on then" He shooed at her "Looks like I'll be giving m'food fer free now"
Shelaya picked up the biggest and shiniest apples she could find and quickly stuffed them in her pockets. She could only carry three in each pocket.
She turned back to the jolly man and gave him another kiss "You're a peach Uncle Dale" And she ran off waving at him, and then disappeared into the crowd.
Uncle Dale chucked softly "I am not a peach, I just sell them" and turned back to his work.
Hindered with six apples, Shelaya looked very odd from behind. Her blood red hair peaked from underneath Hideous, she and tried to tie it up as tight as she could…one day she'd get down to cutting the whole lot off, she thought determinedly… since red hair was so noticeable, especially that shade…and in her profession… being noticed was not something to boast about.
Until that day came, her lovely Hideous would cover it up.
"Now where would I find 'the Young 'Uns at this time of day" She murmured to herself.
"Well some of them are at the 'Dove and the others are on The Rooftop or walking 'round the market" A deep voice murmured in her ear.
Trained for five years now, Shelaya should have been able to not jump, and maybe she wouldn't have if the person talking was not Haer'Dalis. But to give her credit, her jump was no more than a slight lifting of her shoulders.
Her cheeks slightly flushed, she kept walking, ignoring the fact that 'Dalis was there.
"My…aren't we feeling professional today." The voice mocked in her ear.
"No…I just feel like verbally sparring" Shelaya hit back.
She felt him reach in her pocket and pluck out a single apple. She let him.
"Well…. aren't you going to say "Welcome back Haer!!" like all the other ladies do…mmm…this is a nice apple." He crunched on as he waited for her reply.
"Welcome back Haer" She muttered as if it was no biggy, though she was feeling other wise.
"Ooooh…that hurt"
She turned around to see the twenty-three year old man acting like a child and clutching his heart as if it were broken.
She smiled "You're full of yourself 'Lis." She continued to walk shaking her head.
"Yes…I am, aren't I Leprechaun?" He teased her with her childhood name.
"Aye, ye are matey and yer abou' t'burst too" She rolled her 'r's with the thick accent. She looked at him from beneath Hideous and wagged her eyebrows.
He burst out laughing and followed her as she entered the Dancing Dove.
"Did you hear about the Rogue Ball next week?" He enquired, still munching at her ear.
"Did I ever…that's the only thing Feyone and the girls talk about."
"Mmm…yes those delicious girls," He munched down dreamily on his apple, then shook his head to clear it of cobwebs "But didn't father give you that assignment?"
"Yes" She sighed "I leave on the night of the ball, so I'm gonna miss half of it…oh well…it's not as if I'm going to have any fun anyway…His Majesty is making me Rogue Knife for half the night." She groaned as she nimbly jogged up the steps of the Dove leading to the buildings rooftop
"Rogue Knife? But you're just a kid…" He looked at her incredulously as she opened the metal door leading to the roof.
She paused and span around "I am NOT a kid any more Haer'Dalis"
He paused for a few minutes, the setting sun gently bathing his face an orangeish colour. His deep blue eyes looked at Shelaya who was turned away from the sun, Hideous leaving her face in shadows, only her emerald eyes glowed from the darkness.
He bent low, closer to her face, examining the face underneath the shadows.
He deftly grabbed the tip of Hideous and pulled it off her head.
Her hair, which she had tucked in furiously after it had refused to be tied up in a band, tumbled down her back in fiery waves. Her eyes widened in surprise, then fury as she reached for her cap.
Dalis neatly danced back, holding Hideous high up in the air. When he stopped abruptly, she stopped too in surprise.
"Well I'll be," He stared at her, scratching his soft black hair "I think you're right Leprechaun" His sensual lips parted in new wonder.
Shelaya's cheeks warmed in one wave of embarrassment. "Hideous" She whispered.
"Pardon?" he murmured.
"Hideous" She repeated, still watching him, watching her.
He finally snapped out of it and looked with puzzlement "Hideous?"
She gestured at her cap, still blushing.
"Oh…right…Hideous" He handed her cap back with raised eyebrows "You're weird."
"I agree." Her sarcastic voice was back, as she slammed her cap on her head and attempted to tuck in her hair again.
"Here, let me"
She felt gentle hands take Hideous off her head again. They softly stroked her hair and collected it in one place. She felt the hands gently twist her long hair, twisting, and twisting and then rolled it up in itself in a bun and then quickly and precisely put Hideous back on so as not to lose the bun. Strangely, her hair stayed.
"Thank you" She whispered, not sure of herself.
"No worries" He breathed on her neck.
She shivered…then heard a whistle.
She looked up.
"Shelaya, love, I sees somethin' in yer pockets, y'gonna share it sweet cheeks?" A sly and highly accented, cheeky adolescent voice was heard.
Shelaya put her hands in her pockets and stroll slowly to the pergola, where three of the Young 'Uns where showing their days conquests and treasures. "Mmmm….might." She told them evasively.
"Come on love, be a sport, let us see."
She looked at the person talking. Binx. He was a year older than Shelaya, deeply street accented and had an absolutely roguish charmer. He could charm the hooves of a mule, and funnily enough, his common accent didn't put any of the ladies off. There was nothing striking about him, with the common brown hair and brown eyes…though he was nicely built for an eighteen year old. And his temperament was all fun and charm. He was one of the Rogue's best spies, because of his charming personality. He was one of Shelaya's favourites.
Next to him were Senia and Goliath. Senia was a slight brunette with a pretty mouth, a pretty nose and pretty blue eyes. She was very closed in, but she was a master pickpocket, never noticed or ever suspected. Goliath was a sinewy thief. Like Shelaya he was mostly on the field, doing assignments for big burglaries. It was mainly his flexibility that allowed him to be on Field. His dark brooding eyes looked up at Shelaya, with unaccustomed merriment. His short braided hair under a bandana, and his sweetly brown skin gave off a feeling of danger. They were both around Dalis' age and friends of Shelaya. The Young 'Uns were all good friends, hence the Grouping.
Shelaya bit her bottom lip in a smile. "Alright" She grabbed an apple and let it slide from her shoulder down erh amr and then pushed it in the air when it reached her elbow (A/N: anyone every watched Aladdin? Kinda like when he gave the apple to Jasmine).
Binx caught "Mmmm, you beauty. Y'deserve a kiss, love. I was feelin' a bit peckish m'self."
She threw one to Senia and another to Goliath. She took out another one to eat herself.
Dalis poked the last apple visible in her pocket "Are you gonna eat that?"
"No, I'm giving it to Feyone" she told him firmly.
He stuck his bottom lip out.
She stuck out her tongue.
"So tell me," He began casually "Are you sure you're up for it."
"Yes." Still thoroughly munching.
"Up for what?" Senia's gentle voice said.
"Leprechaun here is going to be the Rogue's Knife at the Rogue Ball next week…" He nonchalantly said.
"Say what?"
"You're too young."
"What's a Rogue's Knife?"
"'Allo lass, come t'pay yer dear old friend a visit ey? 'Ow abou' a kiss"
Shelaya looked up and gave the round faced man a wink "You old romantic, you" She smirked slightly and leaned over the stall to place a soft kiss on his ruddy face. She gave a low chuckle as she settled back on her heels, slowly eyeing the glossy apples piled up before her.
Her long time friend, fruit stall owner and information gatherer, Dale (whom everyone younger than him called 'Uncle Dale') smiled at her and asked how things were going.
Watching him, watching her, she slinkily picked up a gloriously red apple and took a juicy bite out of it. "Mmmm…..so and so." She told him her mouth full.
"And how are the Young'Uns?"
"We're all wonderful, having the time of our lives…the rules have loosened up since King Jon travelled for a stay in Carthak and left his wife in command. The Queen's pretty an'all, but I guess King Jon never really told her about the tight holds he has on the Court…business is booming…his Highness 'with the white teeth' decided to let the Young 'Uns have a little fun…we're spread all over the city…you know you can find great deals on the outskirts of the city." The last she told him, earnestly nodding her head and finishing off her apple.
Uncle Dale, who was a thief before he started to go too soft around the middle, nodded, understanding that the King of Thieves was relaxing a bit after many deals made to help the Court of the Rogue's economy.
Placing her hands deep in her pockets (which were pretty deep, mainly because of her occupation) Shelaya rocked back and forth on her feet and smiled sideways at Uncle Dale from beneath her 'lucky cap' (which was called 'Hideous' by the way).
"Those apples are really delicious Uncle Dale, I know a lot of people who would enjoy them." She widened her emerald eyes to look even more innocent.
The round man chuckled deeply "Go on then" He shooed at her "Looks like I'll be giving m'food fer free now"
Shelaya picked up the biggest and shiniest apples she could find and quickly stuffed them in her pockets. She could only carry three in each pocket.
She turned back to the jolly man and gave him another kiss "You're a peach Uncle Dale" And she ran off waving at him, and then disappeared into the crowd.
Uncle Dale chucked softly "I am not a peach, I just sell them" and turned back to his work.
Hindered with six apples, Shelaya looked very odd from behind. Her blood red hair peaked from underneath Hideous, she and tried to tie it up as tight as she could…one day she'd get down to cutting the whole lot off, she thought determinedly… since red hair was so noticeable, especially that shade…and in her profession… being noticed was not something to boast about.
Until that day came, her lovely Hideous would cover it up.
"Now where would I find 'the Young 'Uns at this time of day" She murmured to herself.
"Well some of them are at the 'Dove and the others are on The Rooftop or walking 'round the market" A deep voice murmured in her ear.
Trained for five years now, Shelaya should have been able to not jump, and maybe she wouldn't have if the person talking was not Haer'Dalis. But to give her credit, her jump was no more than a slight lifting of her shoulders.
Her cheeks slightly flushed, she kept walking, ignoring the fact that 'Dalis was there.
"My…aren't we feeling professional today." The voice mocked in her ear.
"No…I just feel like verbally sparring" Shelaya hit back.
She felt him reach in her pocket and pluck out a single apple. She let him.
"Well…. aren't you going to say "Welcome back Haer!!" like all the other ladies do…mmm…this is a nice apple." He crunched on as he waited for her reply.
"Welcome back Haer" She muttered as if it was no biggy, though she was feeling other wise.
"Ooooh…that hurt"
She turned around to see the twenty-three year old man acting like a child and clutching his heart as if it were broken.
She smiled "You're full of yourself 'Lis." She continued to walk shaking her head.
"Yes…I am, aren't I Leprechaun?" He teased her with her childhood name.
"Aye, ye are matey and yer abou' t'burst too" She rolled her 'r's with the thick accent. She looked at him from beneath Hideous and wagged her eyebrows.
He burst out laughing and followed her as she entered the Dancing Dove.
"Did you hear about the Rogue Ball next week?" He enquired, still munching at her ear.
"Did I ever…that's the only thing Feyone and the girls talk about."
"Mmm…yes those delicious girls," He munched down dreamily on his apple, then shook his head to clear it of cobwebs "But didn't father give you that assignment?"
"Yes" She sighed "I leave on the night of the ball, so I'm gonna miss half of it…oh well…it's not as if I'm going to have any fun anyway…His Majesty is making me Rogue Knife for half the night." She groaned as she nimbly jogged up the steps of the Dove leading to the buildings rooftop
"Rogue Knife? But you're just a kid…" He looked at her incredulously as she opened the metal door leading to the roof.
She paused and span around "I am NOT a kid any more Haer'Dalis"
He paused for a few minutes, the setting sun gently bathing his face an orangeish colour. His deep blue eyes looked at Shelaya who was turned away from the sun, Hideous leaving her face in shadows, only her emerald eyes glowed from the darkness.
He bent low, closer to her face, examining the face underneath the shadows.
He deftly grabbed the tip of Hideous and pulled it off her head.
Her hair, which she had tucked in furiously after it had refused to be tied up in a band, tumbled down her back in fiery waves. Her eyes widened in surprise, then fury as she reached for her cap.
Dalis neatly danced back, holding Hideous high up in the air. When he stopped abruptly, she stopped too in surprise.
"Well I'll be," He stared at her, scratching his soft black hair "I think you're right Leprechaun" His sensual lips parted in new wonder.
Shelaya's cheeks warmed in one wave of embarrassment. "Hideous" She whispered.
"Pardon?" he murmured.
"Hideous" She repeated, still watching him, watching her.
He finally snapped out of it and looked with puzzlement "Hideous?"
She gestured at her cap, still blushing.
"Oh…right…Hideous" He handed her cap back with raised eyebrows "You're weird."
"I agree." Her sarcastic voice was back, as she slammed her cap on her head and attempted to tuck in her hair again.
"Here, let me"
She felt gentle hands take Hideous off her head again. They softly stroked her hair and collected it in one place. She felt the hands gently twist her long hair, twisting, and twisting and then rolled it up in itself in a bun and then quickly and precisely put Hideous back on so as not to lose the bun. Strangely, her hair stayed.
"Thank you" She whispered, not sure of herself.
"No worries" He breathed on her neck.
She shivered…then heard a whistle.
She looked up.
"Shelaya, love, I sees somethin' in yer pockets, y'gonna share it sweet cheeks?" A sly and highly accented, cheeky adolescent voice was heard.
Shelaya put her hands in her pockets and stroll slowly to the pergola, where three of the Young 'Uns where showing their days conquests and treasures. "Mmmm….might." She told them evasively.
"Come on love, be a sport, let us see."
She looked at the person talking. Binx. He was a year older than Shelaya, deeply street accented and had an absolutely roguish charmer. He could charm the hooves of a mule, and funnily enough, his common accent didn't put any of the ladies off. There was nothing striking about him, with the common brown hair and brown eyes…though he was nicely built for an eighteen year old. And his temperament was all fun and charm. He was one of the Rogue's best spies, because of his charming personality. He was one of Shelaya's favourites.
Next to him were Senia and Goliath. Senia was a slight brunette with a pretty mouth, a pretty nose and pretty blue eyes. She was very closed in, but she was a master pickpocket, never noticed or ever suspected. Goliath was a sinewy thief. Like Shelaya he was mostly on the field, doing assignments for big burglaries. It was mainly his flexibility that allowed him to be on Field. His dark brooding eyes looked up at Shelaya, with unaccustomed merriment. His short braided hair under a bandana, and his sweetly brown skin gave off a feeling of danger. They were both around Dalis' age and friends of Shelaya. The Young 'Uns were all good friends, hence the Grouping.
Shelaya bit her bottom lip in a smile. "Alright" She grabbed an apple and let it slide from her shoulder down erh amr and then pushed it in the air when it reached her elbow (A/N: anyone every watched Aladdin? Kinda like when he gave the apple to Jasmine).
Binx caught "Mmmm, you beauty. Y'deserve a kiss, love. I was feelin' a bit peckish m'self."
She threw one to Senia and another to Goliath. She took out another one to eat herself.
Dalis poked the last apple visible in her pocket "Are you gonna eat that?"
"No, I'm giving it to Feyone" she told him firmly.
He stuck his bottom lip out.
She stuck out her tongue.
"So tell me," He began casually "Are you sure you're up for it."
"Yes." Still thoroughly munching.
"Up for what?" Senia's gentle voice said.
"Leprechaun here is going to be the Rogue's Knife at the Rogue Ball next week…" He nonchalantly said.
"Say what?"
"You're too young."
"What's a Rogue's Knife?"