The Month of Relaxing (June) Age 8

Week 1

I was right, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. Storm clouds appear and then- Poof! You're completely soaked to the bone and shivering. As well as that, Kayley has met the ultimate stress level. Right after lessons or when she takes care of her kid (Lilia the Cybunny) she stares at this notebook where she keeps all of her plans. Sometimes, she jots something down, but most of the time she just mutters something and says "No, no, that won't work."

It got so bad that I've finally taken upon myself to help. It was pretty good, actually. Like she said, everyone had a crucial part, so I'll have to mend things up with Razor fast. I did suggest some stuff that she'd overlooked, and together we pored over the whole thing over and over again. At least we were both so absorbed in it that we barely fought. Near the end of the week, we've finished. There was only one hole that I pointed out she forgot to take care of. "We need a guard's key- do you mean one from a superior?"

"No," she explained. "Each is a skeleton key, which I can get a locksmith to copy. One will open any cell."

"But how are we going to get one?"

"You'll see next week," was all she would answer.

Week 2

The twins took our little kids to the park for us. The Kyrii said at the beginning that this was definitely not allowed, and I heard it was going to rain again anyway, but Kayley insisted. "Please? Just for a few hours, and they'll be on our backs again at no time." We both asked each sibling separately, since they won't stand to be in the same room as each other.

"Absolutely not," Juliet told me in the class. "I've had enough of hyperactive drama."

Kayley spoke to Julius, who was a bit nicer. "No. Those kids are more sugar-crazed than us- I mean, me." He bit his lip and looked at the classroom door, then shook his head. "Sorry, no."

"This won't work," Kayley declared. "We can't take them along with us. We just can't."

"Chill!" I could tell she was just getting heated up. I thought for a moment. "Maybe we should take a leaf out of that Usul's book…"

"What? Turning them against each other? Are you mad?"

"Not fighting, definitely not that," I decided. "But…you know how we work best when we're competing with each other?"

"Yeah…" She said slowly. "But how-?" She snapped her fingers. "That's it!"

"I know, I know. I'm just plain brilliant." She glared at me, but she didn't deny it. "Come on! Let's see what those two can do under pressure."

"He said what?" Juliet cried. I had told her that Julius was going to take good care of the little tykes, just like he did with her. Hopefully they wouldn't end up backstabbing him, too. Oh, and that she wouldn't do it because she knows she couldn't handle them.

"She said what?" Julius cried. Kayley had told him that Juliet would get the pipsqueaks to behave much better than he would; he was a horrible brother. Probably just realizing it, he refused our offer because he knew they'd just end up bettering him, and he couldn't stand that.

I felt a bit bad lying to them, but what chose did we have? Besides, it worked. "Bring it on," they both seethed.

We headed out to the marketplace. I noticed some changes; not big, more like someone had changed the ad on a notice board, the colors of a stall had paled from a bright green to a pale yellow, that kind of thing. It reminded me of how long I haven't been here, and how I much I sort of missed it. And the people in it too. One particular person.

"So, uh, where are we going?" I asked, trying to keep in step with her.

"It's rather where you are going," she replied. "The fruit stall."

"What? But I that's where Brynn usually is."

"Exactly."

I frowned in confusion. "But you said not to talk to her anymore. What made you change your mind?"

"I haven't, actually. But we need your connection with her just this once." She handed me a soft piece of clay. "Press this against her keys. The mould will form into the shape, and the locksmith will be able to meld it to the very last detail."

"Hold on! You want me to take her keys so that you can forge them?"

"You won't even be stealing. Wasn't the whole point of your 'friendship' is so that you can use it?"

"Oh, sure, now you believe me."

"You're the only one who could get close to them and not get captured. Just get out there!" Before I knew it, she shoved me right in front of them.

"Brynn!" I exclaimed when I saw her. She was a little taller than before, but besides that she was the same girl with the electric-blue eyes. Then I noticed her partner staring at me suspiciously. "And….er….her friend."

"The name's Violet, mister," she huffed indignantly.

My gaze wandered over to Brynn's pouch. The keys. I knew I was going to hate myself, but this was for Kanrik. "So, what's in the bag?"

"Nothing concerning you," Violet answered. Still, I wasn't going to give up that easily. Quickly, I snatched it and opened the contents. There was a huge, heavy book. It had a striking resemblance to one I knew, but I couldn't tell which. Besides, I was slightly distracted that her keys were right under it.

Pretending that I was interested, I pulled it out and examined it. "That's a pretty thick book. How do you plan on finding time to read it all?" I slipped the key out and crinkled it against the creamy dough. It began forming into the shape.

"I'll manage," she said, holding out her hand for her novel.

"It looks like a pretty dark book," I stalled, glimpsing at the picture and blurb. I knew I had seen it before, but I still couldn't remember. I had other problems. "I didn't really take you for the type who'd like dark books." A faint squelching sound indicated that the clay had done its job, so I pulled it into my pocket and practically threw the keys in the bag.

"Life's fully of surprises," Brynn said as she grabbed the volume back. A split second earlier and she would have caught me.

Just then, a dark cloud covered the sky. Violet seized Brynn's arm and led her to the guard's gate. "Bye!"

Water splashed on my head, but the clay was still dry in my pocket. I saw Brynn turn back, with a guilty expression on her face. I gave her a reassuring grin before I ran off to Kayley.

"What kind of friend is that, leaving you out in the downpour?" She asked in a mocking tone.

"At least she wasn't the one who pushed me out." I glared at her accusingly.

She rolled her eyes. "So, you have it?"

"Yeah."

As we walked home, an electric-blue flash of lightening flashed in the sky. A reminder, I thought. This could cost mine and Brynn's job- or free Kanrik and save them.

Week 3

We've got everything sorted out. The little ones are guaranteed out of the way by next week. The twins are trying to cope with working together for just one last time. The only problem was Razor.

"Get him to make up with you already!" Kayley ordered.

I gaped at her. "How? He has his new buddies."

"Who are only using him."

"He won't believe that, you know."

"Well, get him to do it with some other way! You don't have to forgive him! You could backstab…."

"What?"

"Lie…."

"Nope."

"Blackmail…"

"I don't have anything to blackmail him with!"

She raised her eyebrows. "I think you do."

"What?" I asked eagerly.

She started walking away. "Figure it out."

Ugh! I hated when she did that, just like any other teacher. I sighed, digging into my brain. Did I take something from him? Maybe that's not what Kayley meant. Maybe….

"Hey, Razor! Can I talk to you for a minute?" A few hulking 'bodyguards' stood in my way, but I yelled it so that he had to hear.

He rolled his eyes. "This better be quick, Hanso." He clapped his hands, and the bodyguards made room for me. "What do you want?"

I leaned in and started whispering, "You know that me and Kayley are planning Kanrik's escape…"

"No," he said immediately. "Absolutely not. Nort's Dad is the current guild leader, and he'd kill me if I do anything to change that."

"So is that why you're stuck being friends with him?" I indicted. "Scared he'd turn on you?"

He glared. "I don't have to stick to anyone, as you very well know. Is that it, are do they have to show you the way out?"

I sighed. "I really hate playing this card, Razor, but you leave me no other choice…."

"Huh?"

"You were pathetic last year," I told him bluntly. "Simply horrible. And you know that I remember a lot of times that you'd rather not say…"

"You wouldn't…."

"Like the time you tried to get neopoints from that lady's purse for instance. I think that her baby stopped you by biting your finger. You wouldn't want that getting out, would you?"

"Hey-"

"And remember when you tried to rob this random guy? You were about to take off when it turned out it was our Kyrii Master, who was undercover in a mission. And when you saw his face, you blew his cover!"

"Stop it!"

I paused; he looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Alright, Razor, I won't tell. You made it clear that you didn't need me anymore, but we need you…um, I need you just this once. Forget about my threat for a moment and remember all the good times that we had. Like the Illusen staff. Or our first field trip in the marketplace. For old times' sake…."

"Fine," he growled. "But one more, and that's it." He stalked off, and his bodyguards instantly surrounded him in their protective shell again. "For old times' sake."

Kayley was waiting for me at the hall, and I explained to her what I did. "You could have had him in the threatening part, you know. You didn't have to be nice in the end."

"He was my friend," I said simply.

"After he abandoned you? Well. Kind of makes you wonder how far you'd go for a pal, doesn't it?"

Week 4

It was about seven when we decided to break in, and we all wore something black. Even me, though it wasn't really my color. The castle was filled with night guards at this time, and the drawbridge was shut. From all the hostile looks our team has been giving each other, you could probably taste the tension in the air.

I was carrying the key, for some reason. I thought at first that it was going to Kayley, but she told me to keep it. It was actually weird, getting trusted with something that important. We made our way by hijacking a late delivery boat, and pretending to be sacks of flour. That got us as far as the kitchen.

It was still a hustle and bustle, which I guess Kayley didn't expect. I pointed underneath the tables, which no one was checking, and crept my way out from under there. The rest followed my lead. It was working until-

"Oh, my!" A lady with a familiar voice dropped a brownie. "That's fine, I'll pick it up." As she bent over, she saw us- and it was Mrs. Daley. I should have guessed she had connections to the palace. Her eyes widened with shock when she saw me.

"What's taking so long, Carol?" Someone asked.

"Um…nothing. Just admiring the gorgeous marble floor." I mouthed her a silent thank you, and she nodded back. Then I noticed all the thieves staring at me. I smiled and just kept going to the door.

The corridor was no problem- we all knew where the dungeons were. There was an occasional roaming guard, and a few that were training to be one, but we avoided them easily as we kept to the shadows. They aren't very observant when they're tired.

The door there was open. Of course. A lot of people would expect criminals to break out, not in. I saw a few crooks staring at us desperately, but we only planned for a few to get out of here tonight. Then we reached the ice-slide.

This is the part of the hall where the strongest and most important Master Thieves were. Securing it was a corridor full of sleet and snow that would take the toughest scoundrels to get through. Guards could access the place through another way, though we weren't sure where that was and we didn't have time to figure that out.

Razor was a Bruce; originating from Terror Mountain. He managed to get to the other side without breaking a sweat, and turned the air-conditioner off for the rest of us. That's when it became really risky. We knew that it wouldn't be long before someone noticed that the ice-slide was off.

Then we had to get through a pack of guards. That was the twin's job. Juliet stood directly in front of them and started throwing water balloons. There were a lot of outcries, and they began to try and grab her. Then Julius got them from behind, slamming them so hard that they were out cold before they hit the floor. They did this until there was no one left.

Kanrik had been watching all this from his cell. "Let me guess; Hanso?"

"Right here!" I grinned. "Though it was mostly due to my class, of course." Then we heard groans from a few guards that were waking up. "But I'll introduce you later." I turned the lock- and it was jammed. "Uh-oh."

"What now?" Kayley hissed.

"It's jammed," I told her.

"Turn it the other way, idiot!" She shrieked. It didn't work. A hand clamed on her shoulder, but she kicked the guard away. The rest helped her in holding them off.

"Come on, come on!" I pulled with all my strength, actually toppling over. Great, a failure and humiliated. Then I heard a faint clicking sound. Kanrik walked out of the door of his cell. He was free!

"What about us?" The people on the next cell clamored. It was Zida and Vlade.

Kanrik turned to them. "You two are officially kicked out of the Thieves' Guild."

"What?"

"You disobeyed a direct command; I told you not to harm anyone. Incidents alike that one have gotten you into trouble before, and I'm afraid I can't risk it again."

"You dirty piece of filth-"

"Save it."

"We'll escape," Vlade swore. "We'll escape and we'll claim our vengeance."

"I'd like to see you try. Come along, children." He escorted us around the back door, punching a few guards along the way. We were in another hall, near a concourse. All we had to do was go across. Still, it was risky. It was the same corridor that led into the dining room, and a lot of guards were having their meals at this hour. We went one at a time. Razor was okay, though he waddled much to slowly. Juliet and Julius were like little streaks. Kayley managed it, too.

"Brynn, hurry up! You're going to make us miss supper!" Violet called, hurrying through. We all froze. Those across the hall hid beneath a tapestry, but Kanrik and I were practically in plain side, just behind a statue. "Honestly, you should practice sword-fighting in the arena, not our room!"

"Coming, coming..." Brynn answered distractedly, hauling her heavy book around. Then she paused. "Did you hear that?" I groaned in the inside. One of us- probably Razor- had sneezed. It would have taken someone observant to catch it. Even though it was dark, I could tell Kanrik was impressed.

"BRYNN! Come on, or there won't be any dessert left!" Violed shrieked.

She rolled her eyes and started following her. "Fine."

We ran to a nearby courtyard. We almost made it- almost….

The gate fell shut. So did the gate to the entry way. Kayley was at loss- this was not part of the plan. Guards were coming in groggily from the doors, like zombies. We were trapped, with no way in, no way out.

Now when have I been in this situation before?

Whirling, I spotted- would you believe it?- yet another catapult. I shouted for everyone to help me point it outwards.

"Are you mad?" Kayley screamed, but assisted me anyway. The twins pushed and puffed, along with Razor and Kanrik. After turning it around, I told everyone to climb in. "You are mad."

"Trust me, I think so too," I said as I clambered inside myself. I pulled out my dagger and started cutting the ropes. It was an agonizingly slow process, even more than last year. I had to do it strand by strand by strand. Even worse, most of the guards realized what I was doing and started hurrying up. One was almost to my arm-

I snapped the last string, and we were all flying through the air. And screaming. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

We plopped to a grassy meadow, our heads smarting. "Ugh…."

"That was a unique escape," Kanrik commented. "Though I take it you didn't organize the last part?" He breathed in and stretched. "Fyora, it feels good to get out of that musty old dungeon…though perhaps we better get going. Underestimating guards would be bad, as I've learned myself. Particlarly young ones."

We went to the hideout, which thankfully wasn't far. We were all about to go home, when he told us to accompany him to his office. Besides me, they were all uncomfortable. No one had ever entered before. We found Mortak bedecked in silken robes, eating grapes from a silver platter. The study itself had changed drastically, with expensive portraits and carpets decorating it. Mortak, not seeing Kanrik yet, asked threateningly, "What are you doing in my office?"

"No, Mortak," Kanrik said, stepping into the light. "I believe the question is what are you doing in my office."

"Kanrik!" He sounded like a mouse being trampled. "You're-you're back…"

"Yes. No thanks to you. Mortak, you are hereby demoted from Master Thief to footpad."

"But that's five levels down!" He complained.

Kanrik raised his eyebrows. "You're lucky I didn't kick you out altogether. Vlade and Zida weren't so lucky."

Mortak trembled. I could resist calling out, "Boo!" He raced out, screeching madly.

"At least he didn't take these." Kanrik pulled something from a drawer. They were badges! He tossed them to us. "You are all now Swindlers, which are level three thieves of the guild. Thank you for your assistance." He dismissed us. Everyone left, except me. "Yes, Hanso?"

"You said that we'd talk about-"

"Miss Brynneth. Yes. But I think we should save it for another day; I think we are both tired." I didn't move. He sighed. "What?"

"Well…just wondering, but why didn't you kick Mortak out? He sure deserved it."

"Loyalty is not a common trait among thieves. If I had to fire everyone who wasn't dedicated to me, there would barely be any of us left." He smiled slightly. "You are a special exception. Thank you, Hanso." I think it meant a lot more than the escape.