Hanso's Journal

by Reese S. Quill

The thief needs a story too, right? So how did Hanso become the oh-so-charming one that saved Neopia? This when he's 7 to 18, when TFR starts. Written with the permission of amethyst3232.

33. September at Ages 9 and 10

The Month of Gathering (September) Ages 9 and 10

Week 1

We made it to Brightvale in record time. Even though the ship was smaller and slower than Garin's, it had a deadline to make, and you'd be surprised how fast a boat can go when it wasn't stopping every other minute to pillage a wedding. The crew mostly ignored me, which was fine. But I kind of missed Garin's crew, too. As soon as Garin let me in and said that I knew about Jacques, they welcomed me with open arms. There was this cook from Mystery Island whom always gave me extra pancakes for breakfast, even when Garin told him not to. A guy who worked the tiller once let me steer (and grabbed it back right before we crashed into a pile of rocks). Even the engine people, who worked in the boiler room all day, took some marshmallows and roasted it over the fire with me. Then there was Garin himself, who had some of the most amazing stories ever. Most of them were about him and Jacques- he still missed him a lot, he told me, even though it's been six years. Master Jacques was crazy not to stay. Personally, I wouldn't mind it myself, though I'd never get used to being seasick.

There was another thing I was thinking about. Master Jacques said that Caylis had prophecy powers, and she proved that by telling me about the moss. But what did that have to do with Jacques teaching us? And why didn't she tell me that I was going to get through the traps even when Hannah was disarming them and all that jazz so that I could've escaped sooner? I was thinking about that when we spotted the Brightvale harbour looming in. In just a few minutes, I was going back. Suddenly, I felt kind of scared, like butterflies in my stomach and stuff. Garin said that if I was ever seasick I was never ever to vomit on his fine lady of a ship and must dunk it out in the ocean; and I kind of got used to that rule already. So I rushed to the edge of the deck. But what I saw made me yelp in surprise and forget all about barfing.

Caylis was there, swimming gracefully across the water. She was just lazing around, it looked like. She had a peaceful expression on her face—for a moment, she looked pretty. I would say even beautiful. Then that darkness crowded her face again when she woke up to full consciousness. "Hanso," she said. "I knew you'd come to the ledge eventually."

"Of course you did," I replied. "You know everything."

She shook her head. "Not everything. I know that you're probably wondering how I can see the future: most people do, after I say their fortune. I can't really explain. It's a gift, some would say, though in my opinion it's a curse." She frowned, like it was my fault. "I see things, flashes about the future. And not just anything. Horrible things that are inevitable. Kelpbeard and the people of Maraqua love my sister because she has the power of prediction—she sees things that can still be thwarted, though sometimes not entirely accurate."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She once predicted that Garin would be killed unless he left his life as a pirate. As you already saw, he's alive and as flippant as ever. He saved Maraqua. But what I see is inevitable."

"So? They shouldn't blame you for that," I said.

"They shouldn't," Caylis agreed. "The first time I had a nightmare, I saw the coral mine collapse. King Kelpbeard thought that I had Prediction, too, so he ordered everyone to prepare for it. But after a few weeks, there was no collapse. The King accused me of wasting everyone's time and ordered a large amount of workers to labor double time. When the first of them picked a piece of Maracite, the whole thing fell over because some lazy builder forgot to finish the part they were supposed to repair. I was blamed for asking the repairs in the first place. Then I said something about the Drenched kidnapping a bunch of kids. I warned their parents, and they took extra precautions and gave them bodyguards. The Drenched overcame them anyway. It's always like that…"

"Wow," I said. This lady was gloomier than even Kayley. "I'm sorry. But wait—what you saw, me and Hannah escaping—that was a good thing, wasn't it?"

"I didn't see you and Hannah escaping," she said. "I saw you and Hannah getting trapped. I didn't know the outcome, whether you would get out or not, but caves like that are familiar to me and I gave you a clue on how to get out. If I told you exactly how to escape, the trap still would have still happened, though this time my answers would be invalid."

"That would suck," I said. "So what happened with Master Jacques? Did you, like, prophecize him in our class or something?"

"That is not the point," she snapped. "I just need you how to understand how it worked, if you ever heard gossip about me from some people. I can't tell you Jacques's destiny anyway. Just your own. And I've come to warn you about something."

"What?"

She opened her mouth and closed it. "How do I tell you this?" she wondered out loud. "Hm…I don't know why, but for some reason you would take blame upon yourself when it is not necessary. I can't offer you advice on this one, since I have a feeling you have your own reasons for acting the way you did…um, will do. I'm just asking you to consider if it's worth it." With that, she splashed back to the watery depths.

I didn't get what she meant at first, but I figured I'd understand with time. I was right. When I went to the docks, I hopped off as fast as I could and went to the Guild Headquarters. I would have gone home—honestly, I wanted my parents to know I was all right more than Kanrik—but I knew they were at work, and I needed to tell someone I got home. So I went to the classroom.

I've done this like three times before, and each time everyone sitting inside was in some state of shock. Now they were really hysterical. Jacques couldn't control them, and didn't try to- he was looking at a couple of maps of Brightvale, and muttering, "Where in Neopia could he have gone?"

Julius and Juliet were trying types of candy to help; including the memory enhancer, to see if they could remember anything I said that could reveal my location. Razor was poring through books. Only Kayley was calm, though she was fingering her obsidian necklace anxiously and looking at the window, as if waiting for nightfall.

"Uh...hi?" I said. Everyone whirled around. Their jaws dropped, and for a few minutes they only stared at me.

"Hanso!" the twins cried, and suddenly the whole room erupted into noise. They reached me first and grappled me in a big hug.

"What happened?" Julius asked. "Where'd you go?"

"Doesn't matter right now," said Juliet, scrutinizing me up and down. "You look terrible! Here." She took a piece of candy from her pocket- a mood booster- and handed it to me.

"No, it's okay," I said, trying to give it back. The candy appeared nice, but I didn't want to know what happened during a sugar rush.

"Okay?" Master Jacques exclaimed, stepping up. "Okay? You've been gone for over two months! The Guild's been crazy. And Kanrik…" His eyes widened. "You five," he ordered, "Behave while I get the guild leader."

"Are you all right, Hanso?" Razor questioned. I was about to answer when he turned to Juliet. "Is he all right? We all know that he's going to lie."

"Hey!" I said.

"He's all right," Juliet replied. She smiled. "Unfortunately, there aren't any medications that you need to fix, Doctor Razor."

"You should've seen what he did before last month!" Julius said, seeing I was a bit lost. "We had challenges from our mentors just for fun and he mixed thirty different types of potions in one minute like it was nothing."

I grinned at him. "Knew you had it in you."

"Yes, yes, it was very good," Kayley interrupted, standing up. "Can I please have a word with Hanso? Alone?" Everyone burst into protest, but she pushed them out the door anyway and locked it. "Now," she said, crossing her arms. "Where have you been?"

I was about to tell her. I actually couldn't wait to pour everything out, maybe exaggerate a bit here and there…then realized I couldn't. Hannah said that I couldn't tell anyone what happened. But how couldn't I? I mean, she's the one who sent me on and believed I could do it in the first place. I wanted to say she was right. But instead, I said, "I can't."

She raised her eyebrows. "Can't what?"

"Can't tell you," I mumbled.

"What?" She gaped at me with a dumbstruck expression. Then it turned angry (typical Kayley reaction). "Why not?"

"I just can't, okay?" I said, feeling horrible.

"But I knew where you were!" she exclaimed. "You went with Garin to Krawk Island…right?"

"Like I said, I can't tell you now."

"So you went somewhere else?" she cried. "Without telling me?"

"It was me who was risking my life out there," I snapped. "And I didn't say anything."

"Sure as Neopia you didn't. Start talking!" she ordered.

"No," I stated defiantly. I frowned at her, but inside I was desperate to tell her everything.

She glared at me. "Are you trying to play hero or something? You want all the glory in the end by keeping everyone in the dark, with a big surprise victory? Is that it?"

"No!" I said.

"'Cause it sure seems so," she continued. "And you've got to know, I'm not allowing it."

"It doesn't have anything to do with fame!"

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"It's complicated," I said, looking away.

"And you think I'm too stupid not to get it?"

"No!"

"Then tell me."

"I can't."

"Ugh!" She threw up her arms. Her eyes turned to slits, and she was staring daggers at me. Scary Kayley. "Then I'll tell Kanrik the last time I saw you, and what you were doing."

"No!" I yelled, but she was already half-way to the door. "Kayley, wait! You'll be dooming the whole Guild if you do!"

She froze. "What?"

"Look, I might not be able to explain now, but I really think that not telling is our last shot," I said. "I…well, at least someone…has a plan."

"No offense, Hanso, but you're not very good at making up plans."

"You can't do any better."

She gritted her teeth, but sighed. "True. We work best when we work together. Which is why I think you should let me into this little plan."

"I can't."

"Then I'll tell!" she threatened.

"And doom the whole Guild?" I countered. "Sorry, Kayley, but this seriously is our last chance. If Ha…I mean, if it fails, then I don't think we can keep our Guild together. Honestly, with Masila already hating us, I doubt that we'd even survive. Not to mention the twins, Razor, Master Jacques, the little kids…including Timmy. And who's your kid again? Lilia? Her life would be turned upside-down without her knowing why." I looked her straight in the eye. "We'd all die, and it'd be your fault."

For a second, she looked panicked. Not just disturbed, like I meant her to be, or annoyed. Panicked panicked. Her eyes got all wide and she paled, appearing absolutely terrified. Fear flooded her face. In fact, the only time I could compare this with was when she froze on Charlie's roof. I immediately regretted what I said—but still meant it. "You really think so?" she muttered.

"Yeah," I said.

She took a deep breath, but she looked determined again. "Fine," she said. But before I got to celebrate, she added, "But Hanso, if this doesn't work, then you're right: we're all going to get killed. And if that happens, it wouldn't be my fault." I gulped. "Oh, and you can be sure you'll be paying for every single moment I keep silent."

"What? How much are we talking about here?"

"You'll see," she said.

There was a knock on the door. "Hanso?" Jacques called. "What's going on in there? I heard raised voices."

"Nothing!" Kayley and I answered.

"Well, then, get out. Kanrik wants to see you now."

"Good luck keeping anything from the guild leader," Kayley said, opening the door. She had a vengeful smile on her face that could only mean trouble…and that she had a plan to cause it. I was worried. The last time I saw her smile like that, she'd told Harry about Brynn's necklace.

Jacques escorted me to the office, even though he knew I've been there thousands of times before. It was like he didn't want me to escape again. All the while, he had this troubled expression. "Hanso?"

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Exactly where did you go? You couldn't have been in Brightvale or somebody would've found you a long time ago."

"Oh…here and there."

He frowned—but we had already reached the office, so he didn't press. He knocked, and when Kanrik's voice said "Come in" he watched carefully as I went inside. It looked like the Guild wasn't taking any chances from now on.

I gasped as I entered the room. It was a mess. The wall was covered with masses and masses of reports and thief listings—a lot of stuff was crossed out. There were various weapons on the floor, something Kanrik would never allow if he had time to clean them up. In fact, I thought I saw a bit of blood on them. Chairs were overturned, as if there had been fights, and all that was left of the former furniture were ruins.

But the thing that really, really shocked me was Kanrik himself. There had been times before when I saw him absolutely exhausted…but now he just looked plain crazy, as if he hadn't slept in a hundred years. His eyes were bloodshot and seemed to be staring at something nobody else could see, and he was shaking slightly. But for one moment, his tense features relaxed when he saw me. "Oh good," he muttered. "You're safe." Before I could say anything, he took three large strides and went over to me. "Who took you?" he said, looking at me in the eye. "Was it Masila? She's been denying it, the traitor, trying to torment me and keep me guessing. If it was her, we'd get enough evidence to make an attack. She did do it, right? Of course she did. Nobody else could've…"

He was scaring me. He kind of talked like the twins when they were on a sugar rush, except they didn't have a demented gleam in their eyes. I coughed. "Um….she didn't take me."

"What?" Kanrik gaped. "Then who? Who?"

"No one," I said slowly.

For a few minutes, there was just complete and utter silence. Kanrik stared at me, probably thinking I was nuts. I stared at my toes, cursing Hannah in my head. Why did I have to keep silent about this?

"So you mean to say," Kanrik said softly, "that you've been hiding out all this time by your own free will?"

I flinched, like the words cut me. "Yeah…"

Kanrik sat down. He appeared like he was about to faint. "Do…..do you know….do you have any idea how much damage you caused?" His voice was barely louder than a whisper. I liked the yelling Kanrik more. "There have been riots about you. Many people could've been killed. And now it turns out you were just…why?"

"Why what?" I said, stalling for time.

"Why were you gone for two months?" he snapped. "Without a note, without any clue on to where you've gone, you leave the whole Guild to scurry around Brightvale and beyond looking for you. I was about to send some messengers to go overseas." I guess it was good that I got back today, or someone might've found out that I had been to Krawk Island.

"I had stuff to do."

He glared at me sharply. "What kind of stuff?"

I winced. "Kanrik…I'd really like to say…but I can't."

"So you have been taken to Masila!" he exclaimed. "Hanso, if you're worried about her finding out, then I promise that she won't be able to look at you let alone touch you from now on."

"No. It really wasn't Masila. But besides that, I can't say anything."

He goggled at me. "You expect me to believe that you'd just been running around for two months?"

"No," I said. "But don't ask me any more questions."

"And why not?" he said in a dangerous voice.

"Because I'd hate to lie to you."

"Then tell the truth!" he thundered.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "But no. And you can't make me."

Something in Kanrik's eyes shifted. I didn't know what—but it was as if his opinion of me dropped, because his gaze turned condescending and angry. "You know I can't let that go unpunished. Withholding important information just can't happen."

I bit my lip, expecting this. "Okay."

"You are not to go anywhere you're not supposed to be, and you're certainly not allowed to go unaccompanied. In field trips, Miss Kayley will watch you." I stayed silent. "Oh, and you're not allowed to talk to Miss Brynneth."

"WHAT?" I burst out. "But you said I could! It would be useful-"

"The only reason I agreed is because I trusted you not to betray us to the enemy," he snarled.

"But I wouldn't do that," I protested, but he avoided my eyes. Then I realized what he was thinking. "Wait a minute. You don't think…I am the spy?"

"It would be perfect," he murmured. "Something that Masila would cook up gladly. You had a strong alibi by 'saving' me in that first meeting and appearing to hate her, too. You knew information that others didn't. You have many connections to both upper and lower classes. You know Marie."

"But that doesn't mean I was spying!" I protested. "Look, I broke you outta jail-"

"Another defense," Kanrik stated.

"I'm nine years old, for crying out loud! Why would she trust me?"

"You're technically my apprentice."

"I…I…" I sighed. "Fine, I do look pretty guilty. But I'm like the most loyal thief in the Thieves' Guild. I'm not saying that I look up to you or anything, but I would do anything to keep you and the Guild safe. You have to believe me!"

"I don't have to do anything, Hanso. I'm the guild-master, and no one orders me."

"I bet that's what Galem said," I muttered.

But I'd gone too far. "OUT!" he cried, pointing to the door. "I am nothing like that slimy piece of filth, and don't you dare ever compare me to him again!"

I trudged out with a long face. But before I did, I turned back once more. "I'm sorry."

Kanrik frowned at me, but nodded.

The rest of the week was a nightmare, with people almost having identical reactions as Kanrik. They all thought I was a spy. Dad and I had a shouting match about where I was, too, but what astounded me a lot was how Mom did. She didn't seem to mind at all. She just asked why I went. "I…I kind of went to get help," I admitted, but I wouldn't say anything else. For some reason, she didn't need anything else. Though I was grateful for that, I asked why.

"Why?" she said, blinking. "Oh. It was the thought that you ran away because of me was the thing that was unbearable—not the running away part itse;f." But then she grabbed me by the shoulders. "Never run away without my permission again. Do you hear me?"

"Okay, Mom," I promised.

"Good."

Week 2

Everyone's been treating me differently after they heard about my little encounter with Kanrik. Nort finally stopped pestering Kayley, and turned to me instead. But unlike with her, he threw insults, not compliments. "You're working to bring the Thieves' Guild down from the inside," he said in disgust. "What kind of person would do that?"

"Shut your face," I said. I finally understood Caylis's foretelling, when she said that I'd take blame upon myself without me needing to; except that I did need to—I had to keep quiet for the Guild. I guess I could tell the truth, but that would just kill us all. At least that's what Hannah said.

What astonished me was Timmy. He's like three years old—I had been betting that he didn't care about the spy thing. The other little kids definitely didn't. But he was taking it harder than Nort: he won't even look at me. And when he does accidentally, he always glares and turns away.

"Hey, buddy," I said when I saw him this week with the other thieves.

"Not buddy," he muttered.

"Oh, okay. You like your original name, don't you? That's all right. Razor's the same." He didn't answer. "Want to go to Charlie's cousin's house? We haven't been there in ages."

Razor and his kid wanted to come to get away from Kayley (who was apparently getting very grouchy ever since our little chat in the classroom). But all Timmy said was, "Wasn't my fwault."

"Of course it wasn't." I took his hand, like I always did (he was still a toddler, and kind of needed help moving sometimes).

But he pulled away. "Me gonna walk bwy myswelf."

"Oh." I tried to ask him a few questions about last month, but he always gave short, angry ones, like he was blaming the whole thing on me. Sadly, he wasn't the only one.

"Now you show your face!" Charlie cried when he saw me.

I gawped at him. "What?"

"Like you don't know," he said. "Where were you last month? Lazing around while Timmy got a whacking?"

"Away," I snapped. I was really getting irritated with people blaming me for everything. "Just like you were. What is it with people hating me?"

"Maybe it's because you deserve it, you nasty-"

"Charlie," a familiar voice said. It was Hazel's, but I hadn't heard it sounding this subdued in a long while. It was coming from behind the door. "It wasn't his fault."

"He left you to fend for yourself!"

"He wasn't even here."

"And what about his friends?"

"It's not fair to judge him on that. They got the little kids rescued."

"But how about you? Look what Ebony did! And Hanso might as well be his accomplice."

"Wait! Back up," I said. "What did he do to you?"

There was a slight pause, and slowly, Hazel stepped outside. I gasped. She had a huge black eye, the color of a dried plum. She held a bag of frozen peas to it, but it didn't seem to assist the healing much. "I tried to help the little kids," she explained. "Ebony…he wasn't happy. After giving me this, he threw me in the shed. Mummy only realized when she came to tuck me in at night. I didn't have any dinner, and I've been stuck in there for ages." She shivered.

I stared at her. "Hazel…I'm so sorry…"

"It's not your fault." Her head was bent downwards. "Ebony's getting out of jail tomorrow. Daddy's going to come after that, soon. I'm just enjoying what free time I'll have left." She stroked her black eye.

"Wait a second." I turned to Razor. "You could fix this, can't you?"

He looked taken aback. "Well…in theory I could, but-"

"Why didn't you?"

He shrugged, a little ashamed. "She is a rich kid, Hanso."

"Oh come on!" I groaned. "Can you please do it now?"

Razor cast a frightened glance at me and nodded, whipping up a potion that boiled an acid green. He took out a piece of cotton and dipped it in the bottle. "This might hurt, kid," he said, pressing it to Hazel's face.

At first she winced, but then slowly relaxed. "It burned at first," she told us. "But now it's like sucking the pain out of the wound."

I looked at Charlie. "This satisfy you now?"

"I believe so. And I apologize," he said. "The way I spoke to you earlier was a little uncalled for. I was just upset." Then he frowned. "But what do you mean people hating you?"

"I've been gone for two months and I can't tell anybody why, so please don't ask. People think I'm a spy for the enemy." I leaned in close to both of them and whispered, "Timmy's an example." They both glimpsed at Timmy sitting huffily at the side-walk.

"Timmy," Hazel said. "You like Hanso, right?"

"No!"

"Why not?" she said, perplexed.

"Me not tewwing. Sowwy, pwincess," he added when he saw her hurt face. Then he kept glaring at me.

Week 3

Today, Master Jacques informed me that since I'd been absent for two months I was failing class. I stared at him, dumbstruck. "What? But you said that I was still way ahead last week-"

"You need to study more," he said firmly. Before I could say anything else, he continued, "Hanso, I am sending you to the library to catch up. I am doing this purely because of that. It is not because I feel sorry for you and think that you should get some fresh air as Kanrik is not giving us permission for field trips lately, plus that I see some people mistreating you outside of class. It certainly is not because I think that Kanrik is being unreasonable with his punishment. And don't even think about it partly because you're your birthday next week, and you appear to have a miserable time so far. That would be ludicrous." He grinned, and I smiled back. At least someone was on my side. Briefly, I felt guilty about stealing the address and asking his best friend to help me. I wondered if he put two and two together yet.

"You can count on me, Master Jacques," I said. "I'll be sure to study very hard."

"But you'll still need an escort," he said. "Razor, you wouldn't mind, right?"

Razor had been partnered with Kayley on this making traps class, and had his hands caught on some hidden ones at least three times. He jumped up eagerly. "Okay!"

We both strolled into the library, going as slow as we could. I missed Brightvale. I mean, sure it wasn't exciting as the place where you could spot dangerous pirates everyday, but it was home. Eventually, we had to enter that stony, cold building—the library. I haven't been there for a long while, only when I was really bored or curious about a subject. "So," I said. I turned to Razor since he was the expert (I was so not going to ask that angry Yurble librarian). "What should I read?"

I regretted the words almost instantly, because Razor began a detailed description of each section. I didn't stop him; it gave me something to do, anyway. Some of the stuff he described was vaguely interesting, but he pointed out, "Master Jacques said that you should study a bit. If you read just a few paragraphs, then you could say you did that."

"Wait—there's a book about thieving in a public library?"

"Apparently."

"And the guards wonder why there are so many thieves in their kingdom," I muttered. "They practically put out manuals for them!"

"I liked this one," Razor said, handing a volume to me. It read How to Pickpocket Effectively. "It made stuff more simple. Mind you, everything seems simple in words…" Then he chose a book for himself and began reading. It's a bit scary if you watch him read. His eyes dart around the page, and he turns them so quickly that some people actually accuse him of skimming. Also, he gets so absorbed that he forgets everything in the world around him. Which is why he didn't notice a familiar Disco Zafara (along with a familiar Kougra with electric-blue eyes) spin into the aisle. He also forgot that I wasn't supposed to talk to Brynn.

Brynn was carrying four heavy books. She nearly dropped them when she saw me. Stifling a smile, I said, "Hello."

"Hello," she replied, frowning slightly. Even then, I was still glad to see her. She was probably the only one of my friends who doesn't know about the spy thing. "What are you doing here?"

I tried to keep from laughing. "I've been told I need to study more," I answered, holding up the book to show the cover. "You?"

"Sophia insisted on spending our free afternoon here," she explained.

I glanced at Sophia, and she was dancing along the shelves, caressing the worn covers and book edges with a dreamy expression on her face. Suddenly, she took one of the tomes out and grinned. "Got one!" she called to Brynn. When she saw me, her expression became momentarily troubled—but I fixed that with a small thumbs-up. Her smile returned, but she quickly said, "Okay, let's go!" She headed towards the desk.

"Bye," Brynn said to me, going towards her friend.

"She's in a world of her own, isn't she?" I commented as Sophia skipped towards the desk.

"You have no idea," Brynn replied, and then walked off. I glanced at Razor, still pressing his nose against his book, and had to stifle a smile again. Are you sure, Brynn? I thought.

Week 4

This is the worst birthday ever.

I thought it'd be cool to finally get into the double digits, but just had to be spoiled by none other than that scheming, evil, stupid git... But let's back up here. Kanrik wasn't in the mood to celebrate anything, and since the Guild was so messed up I decided not to ask for anything much. I just hoped that Hannah would come soon. Anyway, we had the little kids again. And Timmy was still angry with me.

"Go away!" he yelled at me fiercely. We were near the edge of the square—the rest had already gone to the park.

"Aw," I said. "Is that how you treat your babysitter on his birthday?"

"Me know it's you bwirthday," he muttered. "Didn't gwet you a pwesent anyway."

"That's all right. But can't you at least be nice?"

"No."

"Timmy!" I said, exasperated. "What's up with you lately? I really don't think it's just the spy thing. You're mad at me for something else." I kneeled down so I was level with him and looked straight in the eye. "Why do you hate me so much now, hm? I thought we were friends."

And just like that, he burst into tears. "I dwon't hate wou! Wou hate me!"

I stared blankly at him. "What? Who gave you that idea?"

But Timmy wasn't listening. He turned right in the square and ran inside, stumbling as he went. I cursed—that's when the guards are usually out. It's not week two; I doubted that any guard besides Brynn would be nice to him. He was already known as a thief's child and my kid. Walking in the marketplace would be suicide.

He was fast when he was running top-speed. I ran after him for a long while – getting chased by guards helps with your stamina – but I didn't have the little kid's energy. Pretty soon, I was panting and lagging behind. "Timmy! Come back!" I managed to croak, but it was probably too hoarse to be heard.

Then I heard him squeal- not the I'm-having-a-blast kind, more like the I'm-dying-please-help-me kind. Getting one last surge of strength, I dashed to where I heard it coming from. That's when Harry's voice came up. "Well, well, look who we found in our little walk. A thief's child- wait, even better! It's that Ixi thief's kid! Good thing we brought our weapons."

I jumped out of my hiding place- not a wise move, but a desperate one. "You picking on three year olds now? Just when I thought you couldn't go any lower."

Harry laughed. "I knew you'd be near. And now there's no Sam to save you." He nodded at his gang importantly.

"You are nothing but an evil, manipulating buffoon. Can't you see he's brainwashing you?" I said to the group, emphasizing each word. Some blinked, but most just rolled their eyes. I guess my truth-speaking isn't very good yet.

Harry grinned and turned to Timmy, who gazed back at him at wide eyes. He lifted his hand to strike, but I blocked him. He hit me in the jaw instead. But he didn't seem disappointed that he missed. "Pathetic," he said. "I wasn't even aiming for you, and you still have a broken mouth."

"Go away, big mweanie!" Timmy cried.

Harry leaned his face close to his. "Think I'm a big meanie, kid? I'm just preparing you for the real world. When you grow up to be a big, despicable thief, mark my words that you're going to get people a lot tougher than me." Timmy quivered.

I shoved Harry from behind. "Get away from him."

"Oh, you want some more?" he said. "Good for you that I don't have my sword—you'd be dead by now."

That's it—I was armed, and he wasn't. I grabbed my dagger from my coat. I'd never actually use it on any of them – Kanrik always said to kill only when necessary, and to show mercy at every case – but it would help if they were scared. Sure enough, they were all a bit freaked out. I swiped at them experimentally, and most of them backed away. "You really shouldn't tell anybody that you don't have any weapons," I told Harry.

He snarled. "Put that thing away and fight fair, thief!"

"You call fighting ten to two fair?" I said. "No way. If I'm going down, I'm going down with a fight." I jabbed, and he jumped back.

"You'll pay for this," he warned, but retreated back to the castle. The rest of his group followed, stealing dirty glances at me. I just rolled my eyes.

Timmy was still in the corner, frightened. "He's mean."

"He's very mean," I agreed, sitting down beside him. "Now, what gave you the idea that I hate you? You know that isn't true."

The kid ducked down his head, but before he did I saw his eyes were filled with tears. "Kwayely told me that you dwidn't wike me anymwore. She swaid that wou thwought wou were bwetter off withwout me."

"K-Kayley?" I spluttered, shaking with fury. I remembered her words: You can be sure you'll be paying for every single moment I keep silent. This was her idea of payment? That little…ugh! "And you believed her?"

"Well, she swaid you weren't hwere the last twime we went. When the bwig bwack Usul…Bwunny….Ebwony…he chased us. Or the twime befwore that. Or the twime befwore that. You weren't hwere."

"I was busy, Timmy. Doing Guild stuff—traveling, really."

But the kid glared at me again, and so badly, even more badly that I wanted to tell Kanrik, I wanted to tell Timmy everything. But that would just doom the Guild. So my heart sank when he said, "Pwove it."

I just sighed. I wanted to show him somehow that I've been somewhere, but not the whole story. That would just be impossible. I dug my hands to my pockets—and felt something. A familiar, miniature pirate flag was in there. The kind that was only made in Krawk Island. My eyes widened, and I took it out. "Here, Timmy," I said, giving it to him. "This should prove it."

"Wow!" he squealed (happily this time). "This was onwy mwade it Kwawk Iswand…" He turned to me. "Wou went thwere?"

"I can't say anything. It's top-secret information—in fact, I shouldn't even have given you the flag. It's yours anyway," I added. "I thought you'd like it."

"You stwole it for me?"

"Yep. But you have to promise not to tell anybody where I went."

"Okay," he said. "I pwomise." And suddenly, he turned back to that happy little kid. He gave me a big hug. "I mwissed you! Oh, and I wied. I got you a bwirthday pwesent anyway." He handed me a hand-drawn picture from his pocket. It pictured both of us—in Charlie's burning house, getting through the fire. Not exactly a comforting, cheerful picture that you'd think a little kid would draw, but it was cute anyway.

"Thanks, Timmy," I said. Then I cursed when I saw the time. We all had to report back to the classroom before we went home, yet another new rule. "I gotta go."

But he held on to me. "I'm sowwy."

"That's okay, kid," I said, patting him awkwardly on the head again.

We went back to the hideout, and I ran in the classroom about ten minutes late. But Jacques just nodded, like I arrived just in time. I went up to Kayley, scowling. "That was a new low—even for you."

"What was?" she said, feigning innocence.

"You said that I didn't like Timmy any more," I seethed.

"Well, it seems you don't like him enough to tell the truth."

"Liar!"

"Thieves aren't actually known for being honest."

"That's- that was even worse than telling Harry about Brynn's necklace!" I shouted. "You lied to a little kid. He won't understand the difference or why you did it. Did you know that the 'information' nearly got Timmy killed?"

For a moment, she looked a shocked. "W-what?" I explained the situation. She just rolled her eyes. "Well, there's guards for you."

"Again with the guards! Why are you so obsessed with hating them?"

"'Cause they're evil, vile, and blame thieves for everything!"

"Not all of them."

"You think your friend's any different?"

We were both standing up, both our hands on our daggers. We'd never been this close to a fight since we were seven. And since we were now both trained, it would be a whole lot more dangerous. Luckily, Master Jacques finally looked up from the letter he was writing and noticed us. "For Fyora's sake!" he screeched, pulling us apart. "Hanso, do you know how many exceptions I made for you? And Kayley, have you learned nothing for the past three years?"

"Apparently not," I muttered. Kayley glared at me.

"Stop it," he ordered. "If you aren't saying anything that might be useful, then shut up. Nothing is worth getting in fights for. You don't know how much a few misplaced words could do…" He had a strange expression on his face when he said that, like he was remembering something painful. But then he shook his head. "Right. You two aren't spending a moment in each other's company until you work out how to be civil. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Master Jacques," we said in subdued voices. He might be better with the teacher thing than we thought.

Wow, that took a loooong time to write. I'll try to update soon, but I'm going to be busy for the next few weeks. :)