Tale 1. Icy fire
Once I had established myself as a 'professional thief', that's what I called myself... what!? It sounds cool, I discovered on many of my missions, I'd need a partner. Lots of plans couldn't be pulled of on my own... mmm, gold... okay, yeah, that was one of the problem, I'd have to pay that person so they'd better be someone who did a good job. I would have to keep an eye out.
One evening, I was at my favorite tavern, drinking beer. I noticed a new dancing girl. She was beautiful, really beautiful…hot ... maybe I could 'get' her at the end of the night. She danced with grace like I'd never seen before. Soon, I was so entranced that I totally forgot the cup of beer in my hand. She bent and twisted like fluid, tumbling and somersaulting. Just then, I noticed a man sneaking toward her. Being an observant thief I would notice this kind of thing. He obviously had it for her... bad. He was sneaking up on her when. "Watch out!" I yelled, knocking over my cup. She whirled around... And did something I rarely ever saw a woman do. She attacked him. She was so quick and agile and with her training for dance she eluded him and eluded him and struck where it would do the most damage. What a wonderful fighter! Soon she had him begging on his knees like a little child.
"Hey!" Shouted the innkeeper, "You're supposed to entertain the guests, not kill them! Get out!"
The dancing girl gritted her teeth and stalked proudly out of the tavern, ignoring whistles and catcalls. I followed her out and snuck after her for a few blocks. Then, she suddenly swung around, kicking me in the jaw.
"Aagh!" I shouted, grabbing my mouth, "You knew I was here!?" I was amazed.
"Puh! Duh, idiot," She said. "Besides, what do you want? To have your way with me like that guy at the inn? All you men do."
"N-no!" I stuttered, trying to stop the bleeding on my lip. Who did she think she was anyway? "I was the one who saved you back there. You could at least listen to me." I smiled, "Or do I have to make you." I felt around my belt for me knife.
She sighed, "You? Helped me? I could have taken him without you. You merely distracted me." She acted like I was oh, such the annoying little boy. It ticked me off... "Alright, alright... tell me," she said, putting her weight on one hip.
"Well, if you'd seen my wanted posters," I said proudly.
She blew her lips, "Getting bored here!"
"I'm the thief Nahkti and I want you to join me," I blurted out at the annoying girl.
"You?" She laughed, "I'd never have guessed and now that I've seen you, I don't know. I always wanted to meet you but right now you seem just like some idiotic jerk. Just like... Well, like, a man!"
"Well, well!" I spluttered, "What did you expect? You are a rude girl and I think I would let you join me if you begged me." And with that I started to walk away but she had me by my cloak.
"Oh, I'm not going to beg you," She replied, "but I think you do need my help..."
"Me? Need you? Not in 3000 years!" shot back.
"I'll make a deal with you..."
"You? What makes you in the position..."
"uhuhuh... Didn't your mommy ever tell you not to interrupt people? If I can beat you in a fight, I'm coming with you. If you beat me, You can do whatever you like with me. Fair?"
It sounded good and besides there was no way she could beat me. I threw off my cloak and head cloth and got in fighting stance.
The fight was over so fast that I didn't even know what happened but she had me down and was about to break my neck. Her skinny arms were also sinewy and strong.
"Give up? Thief-Nahkti," She asked.
I gritted my teeth. I had just been beaten by a woman. A skinny little girl! "Okay..." I muttered.
"What I can't hear you?" She teased and pulled my hair.
"Augh! Alright, I give up," I shouted.
"That's better," She replied... snake of a woman... by Set! She let me up and I sat up, trying to recover. She laughed mockingly. I swear I'd get that witch!
"Now, would you let me join you... no wait, I don't think you have a choice." Isis! And manipulative too.
I staggered up and leaned against a wall. "You win!" I said grinning. I couldn't let her know she had really beaten me. "Well come on!" I picked up my stuff and walked away.
She laughed as she followed me. Hmph!
Many months later...
We were sitting next to a campfire somewhere in the desert and that was when Maadrath revealed her feminine side to me.
"Um, Nahkti," She said, reaching an arm around my neck and twisting a lock of my hair around. I tensed. She always did this to me, playing around and playing around and then suddenly jerking my hair, pulling a quarter handful with it... but nothing happened. "I'm sorry about what I did to you that day we met..."
"Did?" I asked, "You know I just went easy on you!"
She laughed. "Want another go? You know I'd beat you just as easily!"
"Uh, never mind."
"Thought so. Y'know, when I was a little girl, I always wanted to meet you. I was orphaned when I was young. It was during a bad crop. After paying the tax my parents didn't have enough to eat. They died saving me. After that I lived off of the neighbors kindness but when tax time came again... I didn't know what to do. I ran off and learned to be tough here on the streets as an orphan. When I learned about you from rumors and news I eventually leaned you story.
I thought you were just like me, but when I met you, you weren't and I guess I was just acting out of my disappointment."
"That's alright," I said. "You wouldn't have beat me anyway if I hadn't let my guard down."
"You proud hard head!" She laughed and smacked me but she was being nice and a nice Maadrath was something I had never experienced before. "Ahh..." She laid her head on my shoulder.
Some weeks later...
We were back to back against a group of angry gaurds.
"What do we do now? Idiot," Maadrath asked.
"Idiot? It was just as much your plan as mine!"
"Arg!"
"Pst, wait for my signal, and then just fight crazy!" I whispered.
"You mean... without style?"
"Yep."
"You're such a boy."
The guards jumped us.
"NOW!!!"
We just punched and kicked randomly, soon we were out of the room, loot still intact and confused guards staring at each other confusedly.
Suddenly, "Stop!" It was the captain of the gaurds.
"I'll take care of this!" I said, spitting on my palms and rubbing them together.
"No, get outta here!" Maadrath said, "it's our only chance! That guy could get a whole bunch of guards in here instantly." Maadrath walked up to him.
"You wouldn't hurt a helpless woman would you?" She said in her sweetest sweet little girl voice. She stressed the word helpless. The captain of the guard broke out in sweat. Few men could resist Maadrath's charm. I snuck out the window as she circled him and whispered little nothings into his ears. When I knew it was safe, I whistled to her.
"Sorry, I couldn't stay," I heard, "But my partner calls!" And she jumped out of the window, soft cloth shoes barely making a sound as she hit ground.
These were all shades of Maadrath. The cruel, the female and the seductive fighter. She was the perfect thief and when I had finally earned the title 'king of thieves' I named her 'queen of thieves'. She deserved it. We never did make love, though, and I never did beat her in a fight.
