The Amber-Hilted Dagger

A Steelsings Tamora Pierce Role Play Character Story

Disclaimer: The world of Tortall belongs to Tamora Pierce. It is hers completely. Everything in Part Four ('Corus') actually happened under the guise of the Steelsings Tamora Pierce Role Play Club. (see the last chapter in this story for information and contact info for the cast of characters).

Part One: Berat and Udayapur

Chapter One: Rogue's Daughter

Time passes. It always does, wearing away, healing scars and opening wounds, turning men of youth into wrinkled cripples, and small children into young adults. The passed-over baby had, in time, grown. Not fully, yet, in heart, mind, or body; but she had grown. Learned to walk, to speak, to survive in the world around that hut. When she was five, they had moved out of the hut and into a small house next to an Inn. Even though she hadn't known it, her father, a thief, had risen in status quickly. In one quick spar, Ler Creshan had become the Rogue of Berat.

She was fourteen the night that Gem got her first scar when, dragging her friend into the Wandering Bard over her shoulder, her father grunted for her. "Elsha!"

She prayed he hadn't been on the brandy tonight, though the prayer was in vain. No matter how gentle he was sober, Ler was a dangerous man drunk. She walked over to stand beside his chair. "So, wench! Where's my pay, or did you manage to injure the other two while you were at it?" Malice glittered in his eyes.

She looked close to spitting on him. Time- time would show him that she wasn't a useless frivolity. From the inside of her shirt she took a small dagger and threw it. It landed not half an inch from where the ball of his thumb rested on the wooden tabletop.

"There." The dagger was about six inches long, and slightly curved. The small diamonds set into its hilt didn't seem to upset its balance at all, because the aim was perfect. If only she had the nerve to aim at his hand itself! She turned on her heel. His voice stopped her.

"But where are your manners, Elsha? You should be more mindful of yourself." She spun, and for the first time noticed the new person beside him. Usually the place at his right hand was reserved for the Queen of the Ladies of the Rogue, of the prostitutes, flower sellers, and the odd informant, but this time was different. A man stood there, covered in travel dust but clean. Clean, and clothes like his fine wool, meant money. What was he playing at? Merchant association had never been his style. Rob 'em blind and never let them see your face, or so it had been. "This is my daughter, Elsha" he told the stranger

The man looked her over questioningly. Cool eyes, a guarded velvet-brown - it was hard to tell by light of the fire - were calm, serene. A dusky brown, calloused hand took her own and shook it cordially. "My pleasure."

Elsha bobbed her head in a quick curtsy and began to turn away again. Once again, her father spoke. "Elsha, sit down. Talk with us." This was oddity. The way he barked at her, she had half a mind to hide to avoid being beaten. What had changed his mind so quickly? She slid into a chair on the side of the table nearest the fire.

Her father leaned forward. "Tell us," he said, speaking amiably, "What happened tonight."

She should have known. If her wanted to parade her inadequacies... two could play at that game. She folded her hands.

"We got into the house fine. Gem took care of the rear guard, where we got in. I sent Mist out to the front. He took some convincing." Elsha paused to sip at the beaker of cider that a serving girl put in front of her. "He gave the all-clear and we moved in the back. Gem went up to the roof to check. Mist took the door. Sil moved into the armoury and took the knives. That's where your tenth came from." He nodded. He ruled these people, and of every theft in Berat he owned a tenth. "I was halfway into the lock on the safe when we heard a tussle downstairs. It was a Watchman. Mist wandered off. Gem noticed 'im and dropped on 'is head. There was five more down the street. We had to run. Mist's still out there, we couldn't find 'im, and Gem's gettin' patched up by one of Rue's girls, a healer. I got Sil to lay a ward on the place, so them sniffer-mages can't find us back 'ere."

He nodded sympathetically. "That does happen. I shall have to speak with Kayleb." Elsha gave him a glance, but the rich stranger was where her attention was. Through the whole telling, he had watched her intently. Those eyes never blinked, and it made her nervous. It was only hard training and rigid self-discipline that kept her face smooth and attentive, her voice calm, words measured.

The silent man spoke. "An odd girl. Not even a woman, and a leader already. Yet even though her manner shouts of defiance, she defers to her father." Elsha looked at him, almost a glare. Admirable as his perception was, a flapping tongue like his would lose her an ear. An odd man, indeed.

His look should have grown frost on the walls. "Defiance indeed. Mind how you speak, Elsha. You're a little girl yet."

Something glittered in the thirteen year old's eyes. "A little snake bites as much as a big one, father dearest."

The stranger chuckled. "A street cat and her father scrapping in the street." They turned almost identical glares on him, realized what they were doing, and stopped.

Elsha bit the inside of her cheek. "Do you have another reason for keeping me here, or may I go?"

Her father's eyes were beady; he almost looked like a scavenger rat. "Elsha, this is Alaric Fletcherson; he leads the Rogue in Udayapur." Elsha inclined her head, her mind racing. "As you know, your welfare has always been of utmost importance to me, and I always ensure that my daughters are well looked after. I've thought the two of you would make a good match."

Elsha bit the tender part of the inside of her mouth again. She should have seen it coming. Her courses had been strong for almost a year now, enough for her to be certain that she had the weeps the week before them every single time. Of course, she'd always reckoned she'd be married off to a boring grain merchant, like her sister, Allie, had. If she were betrothed to a king-

-that would make her Queen of the Rogue.

A position that might benefit Elsha nicely.