Chapter 2 - A new dawn
I work alone ~ Garrett the master thief

As the rain beat on the window outside, the rhythmic drumming of the drops of water on the glass waked Sara from her troubled sleep. The fact that the palms of her hands were sweaty and her face was burning told her that she had a fever. She even had a dizzy feeling while she was lying down and her mouth was dry. Inside her head she could feel the pounding of her heart and with each beat a fresh wave of pain went through her. Even though she was burning she clutched the sheets tightly in her hands and pulled them further over herself. Wait...sheets? Where was she? The last thing she remembered was the body of the dead man lying near her. No, that wasn't true. She remembered a small comfortable house and a friendly looking woman whispering to her. 'Everything is fine now.'

But was it? Even though she tried very hard, Sara couldn't remember anything before she had seen the black-cloaked man on the street. Slowly Sara opened her eyes and saw a rather small bedroom. Across the room a fire was burning in a stone fireplace. Daylight fell into the room through the window on the left side of the room. Against the right wall stood a chair. The man sitting on it didn't need to wear his black cloak for Sara to recognise him. She remembered his eyes, one normal and one very strange...

"I see you've decided to wake."
Even though Sara had been watching the man for a moment she was startled when he spoke, breaking the silence that had filled the room before. He looked at her.
"What were you doing in that street?" He asked. No 'how are you doing' or 'are you feeling alright".
"I...don't remember." Sara stared at the ground, hoping that he would believe her. He remained silent for a few seconds that seemed minutes to the sick girl.
"How old are you?"
She didn't answer.
The man stood up and walked towards the door next to the fireplace.
"Wait." Sara said. He turned around. "Please don't leave. I don't want to be alone."
He seemed to consider it for a moment but then seemed to ignore her request as he left the room. Sara sighed and rolled to her right side, trying to look out of the window. Where was she? Who was that man?

The door opened again and Sara rolled to her other side. He had come back, carrying a wooden bowl and a cup, which he set on the table next to the bed.

"Sit up." He said. "You must eat."
If she hadn't been feeling like this Sara would have asked him if that was a command. Now she was too grateful to bother. She slowly sat up and leaned against the wall, taking the bowl of soup and resting it on her lap. It smelled good and, to her own surprise, Sara felt hungry.
"Who are you?" Sara asked the man. For a moment he seemed unwilling to answer, but then he said. "My name is Garrett."
"Thank you Mr. Garrett." Sara said. Then she ate the soup. The cup Garrett had set on the table for her was filled with milk. Sara gratefully emptied it. After the little meal she felt better. Sara lay down again. Her benefactor had been quiet while she had been eating but now he had another question for her.
"What do you remember?"
"You believe me?"
"A little."

Sara frowned. What a strange answer. "I remember my name, and the dead man, and a woman."
Garrett said nothing for a while but just looked at her.
"You need to sleep." He got up and left.
When he had closed the door behind him, Sara closed her eyes. Sleep came to her almost immediately.

Sara spent two more days in the same bed, seeing nothing more of the Garrett's home than the little bedroom.br Sometimes Garrett would come and ask her a few more questions, but in the end he accepted the fact that she could remember nothing, except her own name. He fed her but other than that he went on with his own business. Apparently he wasn't the talkative type.

After two days Sara's fever was gone and although she was still a little dizzy, she thought a little fresh air would do her good. She got up and sat on the bed for a while before she stood up. She noticed she had been sweating, sleeping and being sick for three days in the same green dress... not too fresh. Her hair was also one big unkempt bush. Since Sara had neither a comb nor clothing at the moment she decided not to pay any more attention to it. She slowly got up and walked around the room once. She was just about to head towards the door when Garrett came in with dinner. He seemed startled to see her up and about.
"You're all better all of a sudden."
"No," Sara said. "But I think a little fresh air won't kill me."
Garrett put the plate with food on the table besides the bed. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Just a short walk."
He shook his head, but said: "Very well, eat your dinner and I'll take you."
'Yes father' Sara thought, but she didn't dare to say it.

It was nice and cool outside. There was a soft breeze that caressed the skin on Sara's face. She walked, keeping her own green cloak, which Garrett had given back to her, wrapped around her shoulders. Garrett walked next to her but once again he said nothing. It gave Sara the uncomfortable feeling that she was making him do something against his will. Yet the silence gave her a chance to enjoy the sounds of the city at night. The chattering and singing coming from the tavern, the wind playing with leaves and other things that were lying in the streets and the echoing sound of her own footsteps in the nearly alleys Garrett led her through.
"Where are we?" She asked.
"We're near my home." Was all he said.
Sara realized that Garrett didn't want to tell her the location of his home, at least not yet. Who could blame him? Lying half-dead in someone's bed for three days was hardly a way to earn someone's trust. But Garrett seemed to be extremely careful. Sara remembered the night he had found here. Wrapped in a black cloak, seeming to blend into the shadows, with a sword, a bow and a bag that seemed very full.
"What do you do for a living?" Sara asked bluntly.
Garrett chuckled. "I do some work here and there."
"Like stealing?" Sara was just guessing, but after all you didn't need to be a genius to figure it out.
"You'd better not say that again while were on the streets."
"Hey, don't worry."

After about fifteen minutes they stepped into Garrett's home again. This was the first time Sara took some time to inspect another room than the bedroom. Garrett's small apartment seemed to have only three rooms. The room Sara was standing in seemed to have no function, except from keeping the other two rooms apart. Sara followed Garrett into another room: this room was not much larger than the bedroom. There were two chairs and a wooden table. There was a small cupboard in the right corner and a window right next to it. A shabby looking greenish rug lay on the floor. The only decoration on the walls was a map of the city that hung next to the door. Perhaps it wasn't a very luxurious house but it was all someone like Garrett would need.
The thief himself had just put two glasses on the table.
"Wine." He said.
Sara sat down at the table and silently sipped her wine. Up till now Garrett had taken care of her, but what would happen when she got better?
"What's on your mind?"
Sara looked up. "I, uh, was wondering what would happen when I got better."
"We'll find somewhere you can go."
"I was wondering…well, can't I stay here?"
He chuckled and then said: "No."
Sara put here cup down on the table. "Why not?"
"Because I'm to busy to take care of you."
"I can take care of myself."
"Then you can also do that outside my home."
"What would I do?"
"I don't know."
"Can't you-"
"Can't I what?"
"Train me, I could be like you."
"No you couldn't."
"Why not?"

"Because I had a very different training. But that doesn't matter."br

"But I have no where else to go."br

"There are places in the city for-"br

"For what? For people like me?" Sara was loosing her temper now. She felt that Garrett had insulted her. "You mean poorhouses? No thank you. I'd rather live in the streets."br

"Well then, problem solved." The longer they were arguing the colder Garrett's answers seem to get.

"You're living alone right? You might like some company."br

"I doubt it."br

"Please, Garrett?"br

"No."br

"But-"br
"Don't you need to get some more sleep?"

Sara narrowed her eyes, got up and rushed into the bedroom slamming the door behind her. It had seemed like a great idea to her. She was very grateful for what Garrett had done and she couldn't repay him if she went away. Besides, the fact that she didn't know anyone (including herself, sort of) made Sara feel a little hopeless and desperate. At least she knew Garrett a little. With her head still full of thoughts about their argument Sara fell asleep.

It was very early in the morning when Sara got up and silently slipped out of the bedroom. Through the open door she could see from the hallway into the living room where Garrett was sitting, in the chair where she'd left him. He had probably been sleeping there since he first brought Sara into his house. "Goodbye." Sara mumbled and then she slipped out of the house.
The streets were nearly empty. Sara walked quickly. She hadn't left Garrett a note, but he would understand that she would not come back.

All day Sara walked around. The market place was very crowded, since there was an actual market today. Sara walked passed the many stands looking around. No one paid any attention to the girl in the green cloak. She didn't know where to go, but she didn't feel comfortable doing nothing. Sometimes she'd chat with a merchant, but never for long. The desperate feeling grew inside her. Where did she come from? Who was she? Did she have any family? She didn't know, and she didn't even know anyone who could tell her.

When the sun had set Sara decided to visit a tavern. She didn't have any money, but maybe she'd find someone who could help her. She remembered passing one this afternoon while she was on her way to the market place. As Sara walked through the streets looking for it, she heard footsteps behind her. She quickly turned around.
"Sara? Well I must say this is certainly a surprise!" Said one of the men that now stood in front of her. His hair was cut very short and he wore a brown cloak, the man next to him looked about the same.
"We hadn't expected to find you so soon."
"I don't know you." Sara said.
"Now, don't be like that." The second man said.
Sara took a step back. Somehow she didn't trust these men. She didn't trust them at all.
"Maybe she really doesn't remember, Kenock." The first man said.
Kenock arched an eyebrow. "Perhaps, but she needs to go with us anyway. Come now Sara, Grispal and I only want to help you."
"I don't want your help." Sara said taking another step back. Would they catch her if she ran away? They probably would, she had just been sick.
Grispal's eyes narrowed. "We have looked for you for days Sara, and this is how you repay us? Come with us, or we'll make you."
"It's for your own good." Kenock added, but he drew a long, thin sword.

Suddenly the torch that lit the street where Sara was standing doused and she heard the splash of water. Then, before anyone knew what was happening, something hit Kenock on the head and he passed out. Grispal hissed and tried to draw his blade but then he was knocked out too. As his unconscious body hit the ground a figure stepped forward. A black cloaked figure. Sara had never been so happy to see anyone in her life. Or maybe she had, but just didn't remember.
"Come with me." Garrett said. "If you're going to learn something we might as well start now."