Ch.Two
Sunlight streamed into the room across Daine's face, awakening her. She got up slowly and stretched her tired muscles. It had been four years since she was adopted into the Silent Stormers. They had taught her all the things she needed to know about being a thief and was doing a good job so far. The young girl looked across the small room at the bed next to hers and saw that Rochelle was still sound asleep.
Daine quietly bathed and got ready for the day. Looking into the mirror, she saw a young woman staring back at her. Her brown locks were still stubbornly curled and her bright blue-grey eyes sparkled. She remembered yesterday when Philip got all tongue-tied when she talked to him. Did men find her attractive? She was eighteen years of age and Philip was twenty-one. She had always thought of him as a brother, or so she told herself. After running a brush quickly through her long mane, she headed to the main room to see what the plan was for the day.
As she entered, Paul and Frank were already there bickering over who had stolen the most money over the years.
"But Frank! I'm the one who stole Lady Madeline's ruby necklace!"
"Oh please!" Frank guffawed. "That was-"
The young woman cleared her throat and the two men jumped in surprise, looking down embarrassed.
"Really you guys, you would think thieves would be able to here someone walk into a room. I mean we are trained at that." Daine teased.
Paul shifted his weight from one foot to another, looking like a child after being scolded. "Uhh...change of plans Daine." He said, changing the subject, "Instead of the usual going on the streets and stealing, we're gonna go to the castle ball in Tortall. We'll steal from more well-known, wealthy nobles there." He smiled thinking.
"But Paul, I don't have anything to wear to the ball." Daine replied, worried. She had never attended any events at the Capital before, but she thought back to the time when Rochelle taught her lady-like manners.
"No need to worry, Princess," Frank said, using his nickname for Daine. "We went out and stol...er...bought a dress for you." He threw her the fine, blue fabric that was lying on the beat-up sofa.
"Hurry and change, we're leaving soon."
Daine hurried to her room and put on her beautiful, new gown. She examined herself in the mirror. The form-fitting dress was blue and shimmery, bringing out the electric blue in her eyes. She felt someone put their hand on her small shoulders.
"You really are beautiful," Rochelle said sleepily, for she had just woken up. "Here let me do your hair and face paint."
For the past four years, Daine thought of Rochelle as her older sister. They had grown close to each other and told each other practically everything. She watched as Rochelle busied herself trying to tame Daine's russet curls.
After a few minutes, Rochelle was finished. Daine stared into the mirror and could hardly recognize the woman that gazed back. Her brown tresses were piled on top of her head and stray curls were cascading gently, framing her face. The face paint brought out the color in her cheeks and accented her high cheekbones. Daine turned and gave Rochelle a hug. "Thank you, you are too good to me. You better go get ready yourself, Rochelle."
"I'm not goin," the woman replied. "I'm staying 'ere with Frank. There's some business we need to attend to."
She and Rochelle headed to the main room and when they entered, Paul whistled and Frank grinned. Paul was already dressed for the ball in a fine tunic and pants, making him look rich and extravagant.
"Hurry up Philip!" Paul yelled out. "We're waitin on you."
Philip walked in, "Impatient are." He trailed off when he saw Daine. "You look beautiful." He blushed. "I mean, no one will know you're really a thief at the ball."
Daine felt herself redden. Philip looked so handsome in his outfit. 'He's like a brother,' Daine had to remind herself. 'But if he's like a brother, why does my heart speed up whenever I see him?' She decided to leave those thoughts for a rainy day.
Daine, Paul, and Philip walked out of their home and into a carriage that was headed for the awaiting ball. 'I wonder if Philip's going to ask me to dance,' Daine thought. She had to remind herself that the reason they're going to the ball is so they can steal, not to dance with Philip.
Sunlight streamed into the room across Daine's face, awakening her. She got up slowly and stretched her tired muscles. It had been four years since she was adopted into the Silent Stormers. They had taught her all the things she needed to know about being a thief and was doing a good job so far. The young girl looked across the small room at the bed next to hers and saw that Rochelle was still sound asleep.
Daine quietly bathed and got ready for the day. Looking into the mirror, she saw a young woman staring back at her. Her brown locks were still stubbornly curled and her bright blue-grey eyes sparkled. She remembered yesterday when Philip got all tongue-tied when she talked to him. Did men find her attractive? She was eighteen years of age and Philip was twenty-one. She had always thought of him as a brother, or so she told herself. After running a brush quickly through her long mane, she headed to the main room to see what the plan was for the day.
As she entered, Paul and Frank were already there bickering over who had stolen the most money over the years.
"But Frank! I'm the one who stole Lady Madeline's ruby necklace!"
"Oh please!" Frank guffawed. "That was-"
The young woman cleared her throat and the two men jumped in surprise, looking down embarrassed.
"Really you guys, you would think thieves would be able to here someone walk into a room. I mean we are trained at that." Daine teased.
Paul shifted his weight from one foot to another, looking like a child after being scolded. "Uhh...change of plans Daine." He said, changing the subject, "Instead of the usual going on the streets and stealing, we're gonna go to the castle ball in Tortall. We'll steal from more well-known, wealthy nobles there." He smiled thinking.
"But Paul, I don't have anything to wear to the ball." Daine replied, worried. She had never attended any events at the Capital before, but she thought back to the time when Rochelle taught her lady-like manners.
"No need to worry, Princess," Frank said, using his nickname for Daine. "We went out and stol...er...bought a dress for you." He threw her the fine, blue fabric that was lying on the beat-up sofa.
"Hurry and change, we're leaving soon."
Daine hurried to her room and put on her beautiful, new gown. She examined herself in the mirror. The form-fitting dress was blue and shimmery, bringing out the electric blue in her eyes. She felt someone put their hand on her small shoulders.
"You really are beautiful," Rochelle said sleepily, for she had just woken up. "Here let me do your hair and face paint."
For the past four years, Daine thought of Rochelle as her older sister. They had grown close to each other and told each other practically everything. She watched as Rochelle busied herself trying to tame Daine's russet curls.
After a few minutes, Rochelle was finished. Daine stared into the mirror and could hardly recognize the woman that gazed back. Her brown tresses were piled on top of her head and stray curls were cascading gently, framing her face. The face paint brought out the color in her cheeks and accented her high cheekbones. Daine turned and gave Rochelle a hug. "Thank you, you are too good to me. You better go get ready yourself, Rochelle."
"I'm not goin," the woman replied. "I'm staying 'ere with Frank. There's some business we need to attend to."
She and Rochelle headed to the main room and when they entered, Paul whistled and Frank grinned. Paul was already dressed for the ball in a fine tunic and pants, making him look rich and extravagant.
"Hurry up Philip!" Paul yelled out. "We're waitin on you."
Philip walked in, "Impatient are." He trailed off when he saw Daine. "You look beautiful." He blushed. "I mean, no one will know you're really a thief at the ball."
Daine felt herself redden. Philip looked so handsome in his outfit. 'He's like a brother,' Daine had to remind herself. 'But if he's like a brother, why does my heart speed up whenever I see him?' She decided to leave those thoughts for a rainy day.
Daine, Paul, and Philip walked out of their home and into a carriage that was headed for the awaiting ball. 'I wonder if Philip's going to ask me to dance,' Daine thought. She had to remind herself that the reason they're going to the ball is so they can steal, not to dance with Philip.
