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Chapter One
The Shadow and Freedom
I was perched, precariously, on the edge of a noblemans house onthe side of the river Lithang. Quite easily, I slid unnoticed from a crack in the wall, to a small open window to my right.
Sometimes I scared my friends with my undeniable, unfeeling manner, especially George. He had been my best friend since he met me, when I was a ragamuffin, tom-boy at seven and him a mischievous, trickster at eight. I grinned slightly, recalling the things I had gotten into with him, exasperating Lisa and Theo to no end. Refusing to let them put me in a dress and cutting my hair when George started to pull mine.
He hated the fact that I didn't blink when I had killed for the first time… when the raiders found me, after they had killed my adoptive parents. Recalling that bloody day, I shivered inwardly.
I had been playing outside the walls when I saw them. Unbelievable as it is to me now; I had been excited, seeing someone new to prove myself against! I summoned an image of George's stunned face when he found me bloody and disoriented, sitting by my family's dead bodies. I remembered his frantic expression, as he questioned me, onlyto be answered with silence. That was the first time I had killed someone. I had never thought that it would be so messy! George was so scared; I guess that's how we're different. I know I'm not brave, I was scared when it happened but it just…went away after awhile, I became immune to fear. I really just did what I had to. And nothing else. Despite common belief, I only killed twice, that day when they raided our village and when that stuffed shirt of a King, decided George was too good. One man and one thief. Not really an impressive count, that is, for someone like me. I'm the Shadow. The most respected, and feared, thief in the Court.
I really don't like my nickname nor do I understand it, but I guess nobles don't have a big enough imagination to come up with something better. At least it's accurate. That's what George says. He says that I move like a shadow, and make just as much noise. But I am firm in the belief that the Shadow is simply a bad nickname, created by fear and lack of imagination, on the part of our dear leaders.
I am, apparently, a multi-faceted person, some people think I'm some merciless killer, hired by the King of Thieves, others think I'm a powerful wizard, most think I'm some giant of a man, with long hair and a scruffy beard, basically the Neanderthal image. I'm not. My name is Rianc, I am17, a girl, too short for my liking, with brown hair, a rather large nose along with bow shaped lips, winged brows and expressive, cinnamon eyes that tilt slightly up at the end on a tanned face, marred only by a scar I have, that is almost invisible, and just reaches across my left cheek.
And right now I am working.
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Right now, I am running around the Lower City of Tarrec, capitol city of Berikan. If only Father could see me now. I was never the rebellious type; all I wanted from life was a good marriage and plenty of children to watch. I was the perfect daughter. I never asked too many questions, didn't strive for anything further then the next gown. Life was simple and easily lived, I get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, sew till noon, skip lunch, so I don't get fat, walk through the garden of the palace, that one was Fathers idea, it was supposed to help me attract a husband, then go to dinner, in the central Dining Room and to bed early, so I don't get bags under my eyes. See? Simple. That is, it was simple, until I met Helen.
I had gone out, with my maid, to buy thread and, of course, got lost. That is probably the only thing, which makes me glad, that I had had no practical education as a girl. I still remember her first words to me, as I walked into the dirty little shanty, on the side of simply larger, less dirty and scarier, hovel. I had had no idea that the inhabitants of the small, grubby, home were considered crazy. "To learn is to live. Are you alive?" That was when I started living.
Helen was a prostitute, but, at least she was learned. She was always a free spirit, so I wasn't surprised when I had heard that she had died in prison. It was my fault. I should have known, not to tell Father where I had learnt such things, like politics and mathematics, because, according to polite society, women should not learn such things, so as to make, people like my father, feel like a man. But who can blame me? I had only truly been alive for a year, and I had trusted father to, guide me, for lack of a better word, the other 15 of my years in Liathal, simply waiting, to start living. So I told him about the old woman, called Helen, how she was as old and wrinkled as mama had looked, when she was sick, how she moved as though nothing could weigh her down, how she had sung like the song bird, that I had received for my sixth birthday, how she wore clothes like my mama's maid had on her days off. And how she used to be a whore and is now a healer, how well learned she is, and how I started to live. She was arrested the next day. On the count of witch craft. Five days later and five before her trial Helen died. That's when I left.
I traveled from village to village, earning meals by singing, which I was quite good at. Right through the border between Liathal and Berikan, to Terrac's Lower City, here, right now, as I run through the streets. I know I can't survive long in unfamiliar territory. At least I don't have the darker coloring of the Liathan's, so I blend in well here. Suddenly I spotted a sign for an Inn, changed directions and briefly adjusted my hair and skirt, before walking into the building.
"Hello Miss. My names Liann and I'm a singer. Do you need entertainment? I'll trade for a meal." And that was all it took. There was a mirror by the door, as I gazed at my own, slightly haggard, face, full of the nooks and crannies, that came with my new life, my ragged ,blond hair, that I had cut, from below my hips, to my shoulders, and I was suddenly reminded, of my song bird. Just before it had died… In a cage.
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I am 19 and already, the lead spy to King Leerm of Berikan. I am short, and look quite a lot like a Liathan, so I blend in well as far as jobs go. Sometimes, I regret choosing this… twofaced, way of living, but I am good at it. King Leerm is not the best of kings, but he's not the worst. Well, at least Jasson will be happy. (Ok my sister thinks that everyone will think Jasson is Jason but it's not it IS Jasson got it? good)
"Your Majesty" I said, sweeping a low bow "His Highness is simply visiting his cousin in Constantine's Valley. Your Majesty, he will be back in, at least five days." I intoned, just as Jasson had instructed, resisting the urge to fidget, like I seemed to be unable to resist, when I donned the classic clothes of a noble man. Their skin must have been made out of metal, for them to not be bothered, by how God's ridden itchy it was!
"Of course Criass, you may go" Leerm replied, waving his hand in dismissal. Jasson owes me for this.
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I looked in horror at the message that Ikand had just given me. It was from Rianc, the little idiot, was robbing the Crowns summer house! Damn! I should have known, that the little twit would do something like this! I know Ria inside and out, and she would never ever turn down a chance to spite the King and his court. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I've told her time and time again, that she was not immortal! Goddess watch over that little fool! I prayed desperately, I have known Ria since she was 7. 10 long years in her company, and I have yet to find anyone else like her, she used to be a carefree child, with a will stronger than most adults.
She was still strong willed and set in her ways, but now she hardly spoke, or made any noise at all. As far as I'm concerned, her nickname, The Shadow' was as correct as can be. Ria really is a shadow of herself. At least she still talks freely with me. But still, I miss her, when we're around other people; she just… fades away. That is, unless someone is talking about the King. I think Ria would do anything to kick Leerm off the throne and most likely, halfway to the Breal Isle. That's probably why the idiot was robbing his summer house on the river Lithang.
Why this matters to me? I really don't know, I can't remember the last time I was this nervous, scratch that, I remember now. The day raiders got Ria's village Werat, I remember smelling smoke on my way back to Port Rither, after a good long day on the main road begging. As the saying goes, "Where there's smoke there's fire." True to that, I found Werat in flames; I almost had a heart attack! My best friend could be burnt to a crisp by now! Just when I thought I was having a nervous break down, I spotted Ria's brown hair underneath our favorite climbing tree. It was easy to pick out against the blood stained ground, I started to hyperventilate when Ria didn't respond to my call. I had the sudden urge to scream at the horrifying thought, that the ground was stained with Rianc's blood. As I ran to her, I saw the slow even rise of her chest, and I let out a long breath that I hadn't even realized, I had been holding
"Ria! Rianc! You listening? Please answer me!" I looked in her eyes… and it was as if she was dead, despite the physical signs to the contrary. Slowly she shook her head,
"I killed that man." She pointed at man, about three meters away; he was bleeding profusely from a gash on his thigh and gouge in his stomach that had already started to congeal. No one lived through a wound that cut through the intestines, and, by the smell of it, she had. "He killed Theo and Lisa" she pointed to her adoptive parents both their throats slits. As she said this, she started to tremble uncontrollably, it disturbed me to no end, that she hadn't flinched saying she had killed a man, mere meters away! Only when she mentioned Theo's and Lisa's death, did she start to show emotion.
I carried Ria all the way to Port Rither. We had been inseparable since than. Together, we soon became initiated into the Court of Miscreants; we both were experts at the arts of thievery. Apparently I was too much of an expert for King Roland's taste, as he had sent an assassin to kill me in my sleep. Lucky for me, I had done something to annoy Ria that day, and she discovered the assassin, during the process of her sticking a rather large slug she had found, in my bed. That was the second time she killed. Soon after that incident, I challenged Roland and killed him; I became the King of Thieves afterwards. Ria became the best thief there was and the most daring! I wish she just could be content… robbing rich merchants and lower nobles, maybe a caravan or two and the like. Then I, George, King of Thieves, wouldn't have too dig myself an early grave, fretting over her. Like I am now.
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Freeeeeeee! Free! Free! It was all I could think about, for a whole five days, I didn't have to worry, about what people thought of me, the way my, rather distasteful, black hair, had been dressed that day, how I should act, in front of my friends and enemies, who to show my favor to, and who not! Free! I can say and do anything I want, no set of etiquettes, which are so strict, I'm afraid of penalty of death if I don't bow right! Five whole days, in the river side summer house. And nothing better to do than stroll through the streets, sans the rather disconcerting effect, of the entire populace kneeling. Free! I'm going to make Criass rich for doing this for me! Free! Finally free!
Hey it's me here! so I was oping u might find it in ur heart to giv me a chane and review? Plz, pretty plzz!
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