Chapter 13: The Thief (Daveth)
It was evening in Denerim. And evening, as they say, is the time of thieves. Daveth Hatter, a young thief, tried to act exclusively in the evenings. At the corner of one of the streets, he met his colleague, Couldry, who, despite being overweight, had the ironic nickname "Slim".
- Did you bring what I asked for? - Couldry asked.
- Yes, this is the sword.
Ser Nancine's sword came to Daveth more easily than he might have thought. He just pretended to be an herbalist and gave her sleeping pills, barely holding back his laughter. The stupid lady knight seriously thought that herbalists wear leather armor. Well, it's her own fault. She will find another sword, she has many of them.
Daveth gave Couldry the sword and received ten sovereigns for it. Never before had he received so much for one thing.
- Do you have anything else to do? Daveth asked.
- Certainly. There is something else. Five sovereigns.
The cunning Slim. He knows that no one, except him, offers "clean" cases that do not involve the robbery or murder of those who do not deserve it, and so he regulates the prices.
- All right, - said Daveth, giving back half of his reward. - Speak.
- It's dangerous, but profitable. The Arl of Denerim is with his army in Ostagar, but his son Vaughan is here. It's high time someone took care of him.
- I heard about this Vaughan. I would rob him just for fun.
In his village of Crestwood there were many such as Vaughan - noble monsters who consider themselves entitled to encroach upon any woman. After murdering of one of them, Daveth had to flee to the capital, where no one would look for him.
- One of the windows of the estate of Arl Denerim overlooks the alienage, and it is open most of the time. You will climb onto the roof of the house by the window and through it you will make your way inside. There is a chest in Vaughan's bedroom. All its contents are yours, and I will pay you twenty sovereigns extra, just rob him, for my sake and for the sake of all the elves of Denerim. He has done so much harm to them.
Couldry once told Daveth that he was a half-elf. It is not surprising that he empathizes so much with the inhabitants of the local alienage. Daveth is very lucky to be born as a non-elf in this cruel world where short stature and pointy ears make you a second-rate citizen.
- Soon one rich man will become a little poorer. Prepare your reward, Couldry.
Daveth nodded to his colleague and went to the alienage. The main gate to it was already closed, but he knew one loophole. He climbed into one of the yards and from it jumped over the gap between the shopping district and the elfinage. Before he could walk ten steps into the territory of the alienage, a red-haired elven archer threateningly aimed at him.
- Looks like you took a wrong turn, shem, - she said.
Daveth tried to defuse the tense situation.
- Cool bow! Where did you buy it?
- And how do you like my dagger? - said another female elf, suddenly jumping out of a dark corner and putting a dagger to Daveth's throat. This elf was dark-skinned and had short dark hair, Daveth would even mistake her for a man if she wasn't wearing a dress.
- Wait, - said the girl with the dagger. - Shianni, I know him. I saw him take assignments from Couldry a couple of times. And not every thief goes to Slim, I know that.
Daveth rejoiced at the pleasant coincidence, and the elves put away their weapons.
- My name is Kallian, and this cutie with a bow is my cousin Shianni.
- Well, my name is Daveth.
- Tell us why you're here, Daveth, and maybe we'll let you through.
- Have you heard of Vaughan? So I'm going to rob him. Couldry told me how to get in.
- Then go. But remember, we are watching you. Don't try to rob anyone from the alienage, it's already hard enough for us to live here.
Daveth nodded approvingly and walked towards the house Couldry was talking about. It was not easy to get to the second floor, but he managed. All that remained was to jump through the open window. Daveth gathered his strength and did it. There were a lot of guards in the estate, he had to go very slowly and carefully. Luckily, Daveth hasn't been noticed by any of the victims yet.
Finally, he reached Vaughan's bedroom. The chest was right in front of him. But before Daveth had even begun to open the chest, Vaughan came out of the cellar. He was covered in someone else's blood, obviously torturing someone before. If only he just tortured...
- Who are you? - Vaughan asked haughtily.
Daveth was scared.
- Yes, my lord, I have came to fill a bath for you.
Vaughan took out his knife and began to move closer.
- Then what are you doing near my chest, you despicable fool?
- Ah, screw you! - shouted Daveth.
He grabbed the first vase he saw, threw it at Vaughan, and ran away. The Arl's son dodged and shouted:
- Guards! Here is a thief!
Daveth ran across the estate, a couple of times the guards started chasing him, but Daveth ran faster than the warriors dressed in heavy armor. He reached the corridor, which had a window into the alienage. There were guards both in front and behind. Daveth took the only exit and jumped out the window. The roof of the house in the alienage softened the fall, but Daveth was still in pain. Descending from the house, Daveth disappeared in the shadows. He could somehow get to his shack in the port district, but he would definitely have to move from Denerim, because Vaughan definitely remembers him.
- I should have stopped at ten sovereigns, - Daveth muttered quietly, looking for his way to the port district.