Mama's first rule of thievery: Keep on the move. Don't stop for even a second, or you'll be made.

The children did this with no problem. Several years of stealing had turned them into finely-tuned machines when it came to swiftness.

Mama's second rule of thievery: Don't let those fingers linger any longer than a few seconds. You'll be caught in no time flat.

Even Squim understood the importance of this precept. Even the dullest of aristocrats would notice a child's grubby paws rooting about in his pockets, given sufficient time to notice.

Mama's third rule of thievery: Keep away from people who have a hawk's eyes.

Galley recognised this all too well. So, too, did Marlo and Tricks. Squim, unfortunately, suffering from the delusion that he could never be caught, disregarded this rule. Most of the time, it didn't matter that he ignored it, for the youth was so nimble that few could catch him. Tonight, however, fortune did not smile in his favour.

He'd managed to edge up behind one particularly large patriarch, ready to snatch up a nice juicy wallet, when Gregorio came stalking into view. The man's eyes were scanning the crowd restlessly, wholly disregarding the scowls he earned for not attending to the Princess above. To Squim, the tougher a person looked, the better: he could prove his worth by stealing from a powerful target, and earn his sister's respect. And Gregorio, decked out in a smoothed sub-lieutenant's uniform, nicely fit the bill. Disregarding his former target, Squim instead mentally fixed a pair of crosshairs upon Gregorio and ducked underneath a nearby table. His tongue slithered out of his mouth salaciously, and he dreamed of the kind of riches that uniform must contain.

Marlo, too, took notice of Gregorio, but his reaction to the muscle-bound naval officer was to scurry out of his field of vision. Gregorio's eyes were just too hawkish. Slipping quickly over to Galley and subduing the boy beneath a concession's cart, he pointed Gregorio out and told Galley to pass on the message. Galley, nodding, rolled out from beneath the cart and began a stealthy search for Squim, while Marlo looked for Tricks.

Gregorio was now descending a set of stairs situated mere feet from Squim's hiding spot. He knew it was now or never. Little splatters of his drool rebounded off of the ground. His eyes bulged in anticipation. Gregorio was taking his last step. . . now sidling between a pair of nobles. . . now.

Galley saw it all happen. He was too far away to stop it. Squim, darting forward, slid in behind Gregorio and shoved an overly ambitious hand into the man's back pocket. Gregorio immediately took notice and spun reflexively, dragging the emaciated youth along with him. Squim squealed loudly, unable to remove his fingers – Gregorio's uniform afforded only small and tight rear pockets – and planted both feet against the leg of his surprised captor, attempting by violent force to extricate his digits. It worked, all too well, and Squim was sent rolling into the leg of a nearby woman, who screamed in shock and fainted (she believed that she was under attack), thus attracting more attention to it all. Soon, every elite in the area was taking a gander at this ugly little creature who had inexplicably appeared in their midst.

Gregorio wasted no time. He had been well trained in the navy. Diving forward, he locked a powerful hand around one of Squim's flailing legs. Squim began to squeal all the more loudly at this, wriggling vigorously in an attempt to escape. His foul mouth emptied endless strings of curses into the air, shocking everyone present.

"Aha, I've got you, thief!" was all that Gregorio managed to get out before a fierce creature appeared around his neck and began hammering violently away at his head. Tricks, having noted her brother's predicament, had flung herself from a nearby lamppost onto the big man. She sank her teeth into his left ear, a development that shocked Gregorio into releasing his grip temporarily. Squim instantly scuttled away, continuing to swear at his would-be captor – and, in his haste, dropping close to half of his night's earnings. Tricks soon joined him, small flecks of blood spotting her already grimy teeth.

Gregorio stumbled. He'd not expected this. Dimly, working through the pain in his ear, he heard the clarion call of the crowd to the guards: "Thieves! Thieves! Hang them all, by Valua!" A mass panic ensued, with nobles running in all directions in an effort to preserve their wealth. Gregorio's father did his best to join his wounded son, but was bodily swept away by the crowd.

Galley and Marlo, who had taken refuge under a tablecloth-laden table, peered out at the chaos in dismay. Squim had screwed up big time. Mama would be furious, no doubt. Gazing over at Marlo, Galley tucked his cap down and thumbed towards the alleyway that contained their one venue of escape. Marlo nodded. They both vanished into the crowd.

Gregorio, pushing aside a few hapless nobles, advanced on Tricks and Squim. They knew he would be able to outrun them. They were small, and good at many short spurts of energy; but Gregorio was huge and muscular, and could sprint long distances without being winded. Neither knew what to do.

"That. . . hurt, young lady," he stated matter-of-factly, brushing a thin bead of blood off of the side of his face.