Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Chapter 8
Colt stayed in the room for the longest time after Cobra and Panther left. He was disgusted with himself. He had just stood there, frozen. And he couldn't forget the way Kodi had looked at him- but what had she expecting him to do? Cobra and Panther were Thorns, same as him. He'd paid in blood for the privilege, and he was supposed to defend it. Kodi should've told him he was in trouble with the Thief Lord.
Colt grabbed a rock and lobbed it at the wall. He missed the old days! He missed the time when things were simple! You owed allegiance to your mates and your gang. You gave the Thief Lord his cut, and he stayed out of your life. It ought to have been that way now! Still, much as Colt tried to talk himself out of it, he knew what he had to do, and whose help he was going to need.
Colt turned and raced out of the chamber, his long strides taking him out of the tunnels, up the ladder, and out onto the street in record speed. Soon though, he was forced to slow, as Midsummer festivities were in full swing as he neared the streets in the main part of town. Acrobats walked on stilts raised above the crowds, while dancers performed on the roads below. They swirled gauzy scarves and skirts in time to pounding drums. Moon glow illuminated the dark night sky. The crowds, rowdy from free food and drink, threw bright bits of paper and glinting copper coins into the parade for Midsummer's luck. Colt grabbed those that fell near him, ignoring the disapproving glares from the people around him. Soon the other poorer residents of the city would come to gather coins too. Only a Bag would leave coins lying in the street. Colt didn't care if he was risking the gods' displeasure.
The masses of people started to thin as the performers moved on and the priests and dignitaries passed through. A brave few stayed to shout jeers and insults, and Colt hastily left to follow the crowds. He didn't want to be there when the jeerers were punished. Colt was halfway to Briar's house on Cart Street when he realized that was pointless. Briar Moss would be enjoying the festival like the rest of the city.
Colt scanned the crowds impatiently. "He better not be drunk," he muttered.
"I'm not," a voice said dryly.
Colt jumped. "What're you doin' here!"
"Looking for you, and believe me it hasn't been easy. Something's happened to Kodi right?"
"Thorns got her," Colt muttered. "How'd you know?"
"I'm connected to her by magic," Briar explained absently. "Thorns. They're the Thief Lord's special right?"
Colt hesitated, than nodded. "Yeah." How did Briar know this?"
"How many of them were there?"
Colt considered lying, but decided against the idea. "Two."
Briar raised his eyebrows. "You couldn't hold off two? Not long enough for Kodi to get away?" he asked incredulously.
Colt scowled and thrust his left palm in the mage's face, revealing four deep puncture marks near the web of skin where his X was tattooed.
Briar whistled softly. "Now there's a dilemma I'm glad I never had."
Colt quickly snaked out an arm, grabbed the mage's hand, and nearly let go. It was covered with moving tattoos of vines with colorful flowers. His palm had puncture marks much like Colt's own, but there were too many of them to be initiation scars. As is they realized what Colt was searching for, the vines twined away from the webs of skin between his thumb and forefinger, revealing small, blue black Xs.
"I knew you was street!" Colt said triumphantly. "Which gang?"
"Lightnings," Briar replied, "and I haven't been street for eight years now."
"Once a street rat, always a street rat," Colt replied breezily. He was much heartened. Briar wasn't a Bag, even though he wore Bag clothes. Colt could trust him. "Now let's find Kodi."
Briar grinned crookedly. "I wish it was gonna be that easy."
* * *
Kodi overcame her terror enough to look the Thief Lord in the eye. He was nothing like she expected. With shoulder length blonde hair and pale skin, he looked as if he belonged in Namorn or Islig in the far north, not Sotat's southern port. His eyes were the same green as Briar's, but they called to mind not soft moss and growing things, but hard, cold emeralds. In spite of herself, Kodi shivered.
"You look surprised," He said, sounding amused. His voice was as cold as his eyes.
Kodi summoned the last of her courage. "I was expecting someone older," she snapped.
The Thief Lord laughed. "Silly girl, surely you know- no perhaps you don't. I am not the same Thief Lord that has been ruling Sotat for thousands of years. The Thief Lord is a title. There were hundreds before me, and there will be hundreds after me.
"Oh," Kodi responded politely. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Did the Thief Lord think she was an idiot?
"Now earlier you stole something from me." He studied his hands nonchalantly. "Just some gold of little consequence, which you've probably already spent by now. I'm sure you think you did well, breaking into my lowest security vault. "
Kodi snorted. It hadn't been his lowest security vault. And she hadn't spent the gold. She'd been forced to drop it when guards came after her.
The Thief Lord turned to her again. "However, something else has been stolen from me, something with much more value than the pittance you took."
Kodi gulped. This was it.
"A valuable magical artifact, stolen from me by King Rididar. It was no doubt a misguided attempt to betray me. Girl, I have a proposition for you. You steal the artifact back, and I will not kill you." He smiled, showing pointed teeth, and held out a hand. "Is it a bargain?"
Kodi fought to keep from laughing. He really had no idea! His stupid pride couldn't handle the fact that a fourteen year old girl had stolen his most valuable possession. Steal something she already had in exchange for her life? She'd take that deal gladly. She clasped his hand and shook it firmly. "Deal."