Thieves in the Night

Zevran approached the tiny hovel warily. Arianna hadn't yet returned and he was running out of places to wait without drawing attention to himself. The city guards would inevitably make their rounds and he certainly didn't want to be found lurking around the darkened Alienage. No one had moved in or out of the little house for hours. It was quiet, dark and hopefully empty. Zevran shuffled silently over to the door and pulled out his lock pick. He was about to insert it into the lock, but like any good thief he decided to try the handle first. He was surprised when the door opened without any fuss. With a quick glance down the street he stepped inside.

Before he could find his way through the room a creaking noise drew his attention. Zevran swung around just in time to catch a movement swinging near his head. Ducking to his left he felt something graze the hood of his cape and then crash into the wall on his right. The broken remnants came swinging back at him, but this time he was prepared. Reaching up he grabbed the arm of his assailant and wrestled them down. Putting his weight down on top of the individual, he caught hold of both hands and held them against the rough wooden floor.

"Stop fighting and I may let you live." Zevran warned.

"Get off of me," a female voice spat at him.

"Arianna?"

"What? No!" The female stopped squirming and grew rigid beneath him. "What do you want with her?"

"Mmm…I could ask you the same."

Pulling back a bit he looked over the girl beneath him. His eyes widened in shock as Shianni's fiery gaze met his own. Instantly he jumped off of her and waited for her to sit up. She glared at him and tossed the remnants of a broken bottle onto the floor.

"You," she sneered. "What are you doing here?"

"I, uh," Zevran cleared his throat. "I came to help Arianna with an important matter."

Brushing off her skirts, Shianni pulled herself up to her feet. "Of course. Whenever Arianna needs something you come running don't you?"

"You know if you ever needed my assistance I would be more than happy to oblige." A wicked smile spread across Zevran's face.

"Save it. I made that mistake before. Not interested."

"Ah, now you call it a mistake. It did not seem so at the time, no?" He laughed mischievously.

Shianni marched over to where he stood and slapped him across his smugly handsome face. "Speak of it again and that broken bottle will find you where you sleep!"

Zevran threw his hands up in the air. "Consider the matter dropped. Besides you know that all you have to do is ask." He winked at her.

Shianni stomped her foot and walked away from him. She busied herself piling wood into the fireplace. Zevran paced the worn floor boards and watched Shianni out of the corner of his eye. She splintered a few pieces of kindling with the sheer force of her anger. A smile tugged at his lips, she was a feisty little one. He had forgotten how much she fascinated him.

"Forgive me, Shianni," Zevran spoke quietly as if the darkness demanded it.

She snorted at him. "Never."

He ignored her insult, "I can't help but wonder why you were sitting in here all alone with no light and no fire for so long. You were expecting me, no?"

"Hardly." Shianni tossed a larger log onto the kindling, crushing the smaller branches beneath its weight. "I was trying to catch a thief."

"A thief?" Zevran was thoughtful. "By yourself?"

Shianni snorted. "I'm not helpless."

"No. I suppose not." A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Nevertheless..."

Shianni lit the fire and stood dusting off her hands. "You can go." She kept her back to him. "I'll tell Arianna that you dropped by."

Zevran moved towards her. "I could help. That is, with your thief problem, no?"

"I'd rather you not." Shianni stiffened. Zevran could see her hands shaking as she balled them into fists. "I don't want you here.

Zevran froze. "Very well. Tell Arianna to meet me at The Pearl. I'll be there for the remainder of the night."

Shianni let out a bitter laugh. "Of course."

With that Zevran turned to leave. He hesitated when he lifted the latch on the door. He glanced back at Shianni, but she remained with her back to him, staring into the fire. Zevran slipped out into the night.

Shianni heard the door click into place. The shaking of her small frame grew to quaking and she curled into herself, collapsing to the floor. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. Her firsts were balled so tightly that the nails bit into her flesh. She swiped at the tears and shook her head. Why did she let him get to her like this? She made the mistake of falling for his charms before, only to find herself living in the shadow of his feelings for her cousin. The conniving assassin had disappeared from her life as quickly as he had entered it, leaving her to feel used. She could not make the same mistake twice.

Arianna stalked the darkened alienage, eyes keenly observing her surroundings as she maneuvered the shadows. Rounding the bend, she caught him in the act. He was no more than a child, but there he was ineptly sneaking down the line of hovels, testing doors and windows until he found one that gave way. Arianna followed the boy and waited just outside, so that she could catch him in the act. As she waited near the door, she could hear him rifling through drawers and cabinets in search of valuables. It didn't take long for the boy to poke his head back outside. He glanced up and down the street, but didn't notice Arianna nestled discreetly in the shadows of the building. The moment he stepped clear of the door she captured him. With one arm around his chest and the other hand over his mouth, she whispered into his ear.

"It looks as though I've captured a thief."

The boy squeaked in terror.

"We have much to discuss little one." She held her hand firmly over his mouth. "Be silent. If you alert the guards you'll find yourself in a prison cell. Understand?"

He nodded beneath her grasp. She slowly released his mouth. Spinning him to face her, she clamped down on his shoulders. "Do you know me, child?"

"Y-yes, ma'am." His face was filled with fear.

"Good. Come with me." She pulled him down the street and to Shianni's home. Throwing the door wide she pushed the boy inside. "Cousin, I brought you a present."

Shianni sat kneeling in front of the fire. Upon hearing Arianna's voice, she brushed at her face and pulled fingers through her hair. When she turned to face the door she came face to face with a young boy. Well, not just any young boy. She recognized him from the market earlier that day. Shianni gave Arianna a questioning look.

"Meet our thief." Arianna responded, crossing arms over her chest.

Shianni took in the boy's ragged clothes and dirty face. "Are you certain?"

"I found him rummaging through Petty Larson's place."

"Is this true?" Shianni knelt down in front of the boy.

He looked nervously from Arianna to Shianni.

"It's alright, boy." Shianni tried to reassure him. "But you need to tell us the truth."

He stared down at his feet, but pulled some trinkets from the pockets of his trousers. Arianna was surprised the cloth held together enough to have functioning pockets. Shianni took the items and smiled at the boy. "That's a good lad." She nodded to Arianna. "I think I'll take it from here, Cousin."

Arianna stepped forward as if to protest.

"Besides, you have a meeting to attend at The Pearl." Shianni shot back as she put her arm around the boy and led him over to the fire.

Arianna crooked her head, but took the hint and slipped outside the door to give them some privacy. Ducking into the shadows, she made her way to the notorious little tavern.