New Beginnings
Sadira walked along the streets of the city called Elversult. While not as large or grand as Suzail the place did have a quiet dignity, and it was not so drear as Pros or Ilipur. As Sadira walked amongst the crowds she felt regret at doing what she had to do. She brushed against many people as she walked, so lightly that it was all but unnoticeable in such a crowd. The young woman could only console herself in that she was not stealing much from each person whose purse she lightened, but the sheer number of people she stole from more than made up the difference.
It took Sadira less than an hour before she was satisfied and hastened to return to the inn she had lodged at for the past few days. The inn was the kind of place that Bahram would have scoffed at and refused to enter, let alone stay the night. Sadira could not afford to be so selective.
Most people had already drifted away from the common room as the night drew on. Sadira was glad to find that the kitchens were still in business and paid the innkeeper a few bronze marks before sitting down at a table removed from the rest of the common room.
The few people who remained in the common room would glance her way every so often but Sadira pretended not to notice. The last thing she wanted was for strangers to start asking her questions–although she doubted that word of what had happened in Suzail had gone much further than Cormyr.
Sadira's food arrived quickly but she took her time in eating it, after all, she hardly had any pressing appointments. When she finished, she gave the plate back over to the innkeeper, who murmured his thanks, and then went upstairs.
The room was cramped and its size would only have been fit for a closet if it were in her husband's apartment. It might not be much but at least I obtained it with my own coin. That thought gave Sadira some slight comfort as she opened the door to see the small table and low bed that took up most of the room.
The light was minimal, only that which streamed from the hallway, but Sadira was certain she saw two shapes lingering in the darkest of shadows in the room. They were utterly still and Sadira almost wasn't sure they were there at all. Her eyes flickered from one shape to the other.
"She sees us you know," said one of the figures as he stepped forward.
"Aye," said the other, and crossed his arms, "she has good eyes as well as deft hands."
"Who are you?" asked Sadira, backing up a step, her voice tremulous.
"Please come in," said the man who had stepped forward. The other lit a candle on the table, lighting up what little could be seen beneath the men's cowled faces. Both wore dark cloaks over equally dark tunics. "You need not be worried. We are not here to rob or harm you. There are things we would discuss with you, and I believe the ends will work toward our mutual advantage."
Sadira hesitated then closed the door and walked the minute distance to the little table. Sadira sat down on the rickety chair closest to the door and watched the two men seat themselves in chairs Sadira was certain had not been in her room earlier.
"What do you want?" she asked after a shallow breath.
"We want to offer you a job."
"What kind of job?" asked Sadira, masking her relief.
"You'll be doing much the same thing you do now, simply more of it."
The other man continued, "We represent a small but prosperous thieves guild here in Elversult. We rarely take in new members but you show promise. I'm willing to assume you've never been trained and have little actual experience; but even so, you are a better thief than most of the rabble in this city."
"You've been watching me?"
"Indeed, one of our thieves noticed your handiwork by accident while he was doing his own rounds. He followed you to your inn and we have been watching you for the past three days. We quickly came to a consensus that you could prove to be a valuable asset to our activities."
"Trained, and working with our guild, you will be able to bring in more coin than you could possibly gain working alone. I think you will do very well with us."
"I don't know," admitted Sadira.
"Then I'll let you in on an unpleasant truth. We are hardly the only thieves guild in this city. There are many others, and they will soon take notice of you. Should you choose to join us, you may leave as you will, after you have repaid your training of course. Other guilds will force or coerce you into their ranks and never let you go without pain of death."
"Or," the other started, "they may have you killed for interfering in their own activities. Certain guilds can be very territorial."
Sadira considered and finally said, "Then I have few good choices do I?" Both of the men shook their heads. "I accept then," Sadira hesitantly added, "when do I start?"
One of them smiled graciously and handed her a slip of paper, "Meet us at this location early tomorrow evening, it is an old storehouse in the north-east corner of the city. That is where your training will begin. Tell them Ondrus sent you."
Sadira nodded as the two men rose and left. Soon after, she changed into the nightclothes she had purchased since fleeing Suzail and lay on the hard bed after snuffing out the candle.
She was glad that the terrible voice had gone silent since she had killed Bahram and wounded, maybe even killed, the two guardsmen who had come after. But she had a feeling that it was waiting, and she didn't want to know for what it waited.