A/N—Things will remain a little foggy for a while. That's kind of part of the effect of the story (or at least the attempted effect.) If anyone has any pressing questions, though, I'll try to explain. Also, this stuff is all pretty new so if I need to do more editing before posting let me know. Thanks.
6 year later—Port Caynn, Tortall
Spring, 457 H.E.
Young Liam Wilima moved unnoticed through the crowded streets. He gently bumped shoulders with a passing merchant. The younger boy walking in his wake took the confused moment to relieve the merchant of his purse before both boys continued on their way. They were streets away from the merchant before he noticed his money was gone.
The two boys were clearly brothers with the same black hair, high foreheads and arched noses. The elder had sapphire eyes that sparkled under long, black lashes. He was tall and thin as was his brother, both with the look of growing boys who weren't getting quite enough to eat. The younger boy, Jasson, tossed the purse from hand to hand, his hazel eyes dark with mischief. Jasson tucked the purse away as a third dark haired figure joined them. She, too, had a tall build and arched nose.
"Mornin' Lianne." Jasson drawled as his sister fell in beside him. She smiled and palmed two large purses.
"Mornin'." The girl answered, tucking the purses away again.
"Give these to George." Liam said as the boys handed their day's earnings to Lianne.
"Where ya off to?"
"There's a couple of big ships due in today. We're goin' t'see if we can be of any use." Liam answered.
"The docks can always use extra hands." Jasson added with a smile. "For a price, of course."
Lianne laughed. "They'll pay ya for workin' and you'll lift anything ye can." The boys shrugged.
"These nobles don't need half the things they own." Jasson said. Him and Liam turned, heading for the harbor.
Liam and Jasson took the most direct route to the pier, cutting thought the merchant and pauper districts. No matter where they went, no one gave them a second glance. Passing unnoticed was a particular talent all three of them possessed. If they didn't, many of the people in Tortall might have noticed their strong resemblance to the Conté line that had ruled Tortall before the Conquering. As it was, their ability to go unnoticed was very helpful. They were thieves of all tricks, taught and raised by the best thief in all of Tortall, George Cooper.
Liam and Jasson lifted two more purses each and reached the harbor just in time to catch and tie the ropes of the second docking ship. The goys jumped around unloading the ship with the grace and ease of experience and filling their pockets as they went. One of the regular dockhands dropped a large trunk, spilling its expensive contents across the dirty pier. Jasson was over there in the blink of an eye.
Fingers, long, tan and feminine, closed around his wrist as his hand closed over a small, ornate box. Startled, Jasson looked up into intense, amethyst eyes. He hadn't been caught in a long time, not even by George.
"And just what do you think you are doing?" The girl demanded. There was something very familiar about her face, the large nose and the shape of her mouth. Jasson rocked back on his heels, still holding the box with her fingers around his wrist.
"Nothin' much." Jasson drawled. The girl arched one eyebrow up in skepticism and suddenly Jasson knew why she looked familiar. "You look like George," he said calmly, "especially when you do that." Jasson saw a sort of unsure recognition cross her face.
"Who?" She demanded, still not letting go of his wrist.
"My guardian." Jasson answered nonchalantly. "Who are you?"
"Andera of Mindelan and I won't have you stealing from my family." With a gently flick of his wrist Jasson tossed the box at her. She caught it then let go of Jasson's wrist.
"Is that boy," Jasson tensed at the man's tone; he'd never get used to people treating him like less the human, "giving you any trouble, Kit?"
"Kit?" Jasson whispered, arching his left eyebrow then right.
Andera smiled, a broad, unguarded grin. "No, Conal, I'm fine. This dockhand was just helping pick up the trunk that spilled." The man that eyed Jasson looked nothing like Andera. He was big boned with light brown hair as opposed to Andera's reddish blonde hair and thin but sturdy build.
"Well, if you need anything just holler." Conal looked between Jasson and Andera then said something Jasson couldn't understand, bringing a forced smile to Andera's lips. Jasson guessed the language was Yamani by the Yamani clothes they wore.
Conal left and Andera fixed her purple gaze back on Jasson. She tossed the box to him. Surprised, he barely caught it. "Put it back." Andera ordered then turned on her heel and stalked off. Jasson thought about sticking the box in his pocket but dropped it back into the trunk instead.
"Yes, my lady." He called after her.
"What was that about?" Liam asked, coming up behind him.
"Um, nothin'." Jasson answered. He couldn't tell Liam some blue-blooded girl had been quicker then him. "Lift anything good?" Jasson asked to change the subject.
"Yep." Liam said. "Lets get out of here." Jasson nodded and as they walked away Jasson looked over his shoulder but couldn't see Andera.
Liam walked with his head tilted back, staring at the sky. "If we went down Baker's Lane at this time we could make some more money." Liam proposed. Jasson thought about it a moment then shook his head, his pockets already full.
"Lets just call it a day. We were out all night already."
"Ok." Liam answered and they turned off the main street. It was late afternoon and there were few people in the streets but those who the boys did pass were relieved of their wealth.
The boys' destination was a small inn on the water. They went in the back, though the kitchen then straight up the stairs. They had three rooms among them, with Jasson and Liam sharing. They opened a door at the end of the hall into a lived-in looking room. There was a small bed pushed into each corner bordering the one window and only source of light. The beds were draped with ratty, flea-ridden blankets. Everything in the room was secondhand, including the empty trunk by the door. The boys emptied their pockets into the trunk. "I'm goin t'go grab something t'eat." Liam said, tossing his coat onto one of the beds. Jasson nodded but he wasn't listening. He was thinking about the purple-eyed girl and he had some questions for George. Jasson followed Liam out of the room and went across the hall to rap on the door.
"He's out." Lianne said, coming up the stairs. "I'm goin' back out." Jasson nodded again, still not listening. Jasson turned to the hall window and climbed out, walking sure-footedly across the roof and jumping to the ground.
"That's some entrance, Jay. What's wrong with the door?" A light drawl greeted Jasson.
"It's boring." Jasson explained to the man that leaned against the inn's porch railing. He was tall and broad shouldered with light brown hair, laughing hazel eyes slightly darker then Jasson's and a large nose identical to the girls.
"You only say that when somethin's bothering you. Come on up, lad." George gestured to the railing. Jasson jumped nimbly up and sat, kicking his legs. "Did I teach you all that?"
Jasson nodded. "And don't tell me I was born with somethin' better in store. It clearly don't mater now."
"I only said that once. What's on your mind?" George asked kindly.
"I got caught t'day." Jasson jumped right in, able to tell George anything. "By a girl of about nine, my age." George raised an eyebrow in surprise. "She made me wonder some things."
"Oh, I was wondering when this would come up. Be careful with your questions, Jasson, and I'll give you the best answers I can."
Jasson looked at George in surprise. "How do you know what I was goin' t'ask about?" He demanded.
"It was in your tone, lad. You want t'know who you are."
"I suppose all orphans ask that eventually." Jasson paused. "So, who am I?"
George shook his head. "Be more careful and precise, please."
"Why are you takin' care of us?"
George sighed and his eyes were distant. "Your father asked me to."
"He must have been very powerful t'order somethin' like that. Who was he to you?"
"He was my friend." George said without hesitation. "The best one I ever had besides my wife." Jasson gawked. George had never spoken about his wife before, though Jasson had long ago notice the wedding ring he wore. Jasson considered his next comment carefully. He knew he was treading on uncharted ground and that George's guard was up.
"You don't want me asking these things." He said flatly.
George took a long time to respond but he never broke eye contact with Jasson. "There are some things you shouldn't know about your past, Jasson. At least not yet."
Jasson nodded. He found the reply strangely acceptable for the time being. "Do you have any kids, George?"
"I have two sons and a daughter." George answered, his eyes distant again.
"Then why are you takin' care of us and not 'em?"
Again George didn't hesitate before answering. "Because my sons are in good hands and you have no one else. Because your father asked me to."
"Can you tell me stories about him, both my parents? Not about what they did, just what kind of people they were."
"Sure, lad." George answered and, hopping up onto the rail beside Jasson, he began to tell him about the kinds of people Jonathan and Thayet of Conté were.