IRight. On with the story, you know the disclaimers, and, uh…If you haven't noticed, my chapter names tend to be different than what it says before the actual story. Explaination: I'm a person tht can never make up their mind and a person too lazy to go back and tweak things. ^^ In fact, the story was originally called Creatures of the Underworld, but I realized that wasn't quite true because it's really only about one person. And The Apprentice Rogue sounds a bit better./I
Time for Training
I awoke, bewildered and confused. My hands touched clean sheets. I was on a soft bed. With pillows. I hadn't opened my eyes yet, fearing it was all a dream and wanting to savor the feeling of softness against my skin. Finally, after a good few minutes, the feeling had not vanished, and I dared to peek open an eye. The bed was still there. I was still on it.
Excitedly, I sat up, pulling one of the sheets around me with my arms, snuggling into the comfort. My surroundings - a simple room, a window, a door, a small dresser, a nightstand, a tray of piping hot food- What? I looked back and rubbed my eyes. On a tray, on my little nightstand, there was a mug of something that I discovered to be tea, a roll, butter, jam, and a piece of fresh fruit. My mouth fell open and I moved the tray to my lap, taking care to take my time and savor the food while it was still there. A note on the tray accompanied the food. I stared at it for a moment - I'd never been an accomplished reader - " Our app- appree-tiiicees," I sounded it out,"Appreeeentices must eeeat w- well heeere." A blink as I went over what I read, "Our apprentices eat well here?" I asked aloud. I had forgotten my deal with the shadowy man yesterday. I quickly decided - upon reflection this was probably a bad choice but it all worked out… - to cram the rest of the food into my mouth and hopped from the bed. Where were my clothes? They didn't seem to be in sight, but a pair of fresh breeches and a light shirt were, so I pulled that on.
The window was open, and looked out onto a lower roof, and the ground from there. After glancing over my shoulder I climbed out the window and down the roof to drop to the ground.
"So, finally decided to wake up, eh?" asked my apprentice master, who was sitting at a table, toying with a knife.
With a gasp I spun around, "Oh…er.." How did he know? How did he even guess? Well, it probably wasn't something hard to figure out, besides, the man has experience with people like Nolan.
"Come on, boy. It's time for your first lesson. Ever done any pick pocketing?" asked the man as he set off towards the market.
"Er…no," I answered, hands straying to my own pocket as I skipped to keep up with the tall man.
"Well, you're going to learn. It's quite easy, really." He stopped at a nice shop with a couple of small round tables and chairs outside. He sat and I did too while he gestured for me to come closer while he said quietly, "It only requires being careful…Watch and learn m'boy."
I sat as Master - it is what I'd begin to call him in my mind - stood up, lingering around a small stand of trinkets. He looked over an item, then put it back in it's place and turned around to bump into a person,"Oh, excuse me," he mumbled as he unhooked their purse from their belt and tucked it into his own pocket. I'd nearly missed seeing the grab, but as he returned to me I opened my mouth to rave about how wonderful it was. He hushed me and gestured for me to stand as I sat. "Your turn," he muttered.
I looked from him to the same stand and made my way over, looking through various things on sale. A man next to me, a man who looked like they had a nice sum of coin in their hands was commenting,'I think I may get this…" So I edged to the side, tipping over into him and (rather obviously, looking back) grabbed his belt purse, tucking it in my own pocket. I wa so overjoyed I just stood there and looked back at The Master for praise. of course, while I was standing there, the man who's purse I filched was looking for his pure right then. I, being the silly thing I was, edged away, looking nervously at him, then spun on a heel and started to run down the street,"Hey! You!" I heard behind me. But I just pushed past the crowds and ran.
The Master sighed and shook his head, although a smirk colored his face.
Two cross roads and one alley later… I turned onto an emptier residential street, leaning against a brick wall and sinking to the ground. A voice came from beside me, "Never run," it said. As I was catching my breath I looked up, and there was the Master, this time I just shook my head as I breathed hard,"/How/ did you get here?"
The Master shrugged and kneeled, "I have my ways."
By then I was convinced that the man was foreteller, or he could fly, or something.
"Come on then. We try again until you have enough for the next month's rent."
With a small sigh I hoisted myself to my feet, "Fine then.."
And so we walked back towards the marketplace as the experienced thief instructed me on what not to do.
bBlood Angel, Pure Fire, Chibi - Thank you all soso much. What can I say. I try. ^.^
Dragon*fyre - Hey, thanks. I've never been a fan of using the main chars in my own stories because I never think I'll write them well enough, so I just use the worlds and places and ideas, usually.
Pony Queen - Thanks for the tips. This chapter should be longer. /b
Time for Training
I awoke, bewildered and confused. My hands touched clean sheets. I was on a soft bed. With pillows. I hadn't opened my eyes yet, fearing it was all a dream and wanting to savor the feeling of softness against my skin. Finally, after a good few minutes, the feeling had not vanished, and I dared to peek open an eye. The bed was still there. I was still on it.
Excitedly, I sat up, pulling one of the sheets around me with my arms, snuggling into the comfort. My surroundings - a simple room, a window, a door, a small dresser, a nightstand, a tray of piping hot food- What? I looked back and rubbed my eyes. On a tray, on my little nightstand, there was a mug of something that I discovered to be tea, a roll, butter, jam, and a piece of fresh fruit. My mouth fell open and I moved the tray to my lap, taking care to take my time and savor the food while it was still there. A note on the tray accompanied the food. I stared at it for a moment - I'd never been an accomplished reader - " Our app- appree-tiiicees," I sounded it out,"Appreeeentices must eeeat w- well heeere." A blink as I went over what I read, "Our apprentices eat well here?" I asked aloud. I had forgotten my deal with the shadowy man yesterday. I quickly decided - upon reflection this was probably a bad choice but it all worked out… - to cram the rest of the food into my mouth and hopped from the bed. Where were my clothes? They didn't seem to be in sight, but a pair of fresh breeches and a light shirt were, so I pulled that on.
The window was open, and looked out onto a lower roof, and the ground from there. After glancing over my shoulder I climbed out the window and down the roof to drop to the ground.
"So, finally decided to wake up, eh?" asked my apprentice master, who was sitting at a table, toying with a knife.
With a gasp I spun around, "Oh…er.." How did he know? How did he even guess? Well, it probably wasn't something hard to figure out, besides, the man has experience with people like Nolan.
"Come on, boy. It's time for your first lesson. Ever done any pick pocketing?" asked the man as he set off towards the market.
"Er…no," I answered, hands straying to my own pocket as I skipped to keep up with the tall man.
"Well, you're going to learn. It's quite easy, really." He stopped at a nice shop with a couple of small round tables and chairs outside. He sat and I did too while he gestured for me to come closer while he said quietly, "It only requires being careful…Watch and learn m'boy."
I sat as Master - it is what I'd begin to call him in my mind - stood up, lingering around a small stand of trinkets. He looked over an item, then put it back in it's place and turned around to bump into a person,"Oh, excuse me," he mumbled as he unhooked their purse from their belt and tucked it into his own pocket. I'd nearly missed seeing the grab, but as he returned to me I opened my mouth to rave about how wonderful it was. He hushed me and gestured for me to stand as I sat. "Your turn," he muttered.
I looked from him to the same stand and made my way over, looking through various things on sale. A man next to me, a man who looked like they had a nice sum of coin in their hands was commenting,'I think I may get this…" So I edged to the side, tipping over into him and (rather obviously, looking back) grabbed his belt purse, tucking it in my own pocket. I wa so overjoyed I just stood there and looked back at The Master for praise. of course, while I was standing there, the man who's purse I filched was looking for his pure right then. I, being the silly thing I was, edged away, looking nervously at him, then spun on a heel and started to run down the street,"Hey! You!" I heard behind me. But I just pushed past the crowds and ran.
The Master sighed and shook his head, although a smirk colored his face.
Two cross roads and one alley later… I turned onto an emptier residential street, leaning against a brick wall and sinking to the ground. A voice came from beside me, "Never run," it said. As I was catching my breath I looked up, and there was the Master, this time I just shook my head as I breathed hard,"/How/ did you get here?"
The Master shrugged and kneeled, "I have my ways."
By then I was convinced that the man was foreteller, or he could fly, or something.
"Come on then. We try again until you have enough for the next month's rent."
With a small sigh I hoisted myself to my feet, "Fine then.."
And so we walked back towards the marketplace as the experienced thief instructed me on what not to do.
bBlood Angel, Pure Fire, Chibi - Thank you all soso much. What can I say. I try. ^.^
Dragon*fyre - Hey, thanks. I've never been a fan of using the main chars in my own stories because I never think I'll write them well enough, so I just use the worlds and places and ideas, usually.
Pony Queen - Thanks for the tips. This chapter should be longer. /b