Origins: Princess of Thieves

The sharp, shrill sound of the whistle set off the chase, with the patrol of the Elven Imperial Guard running down the stone pathways of Aranhaven, all of them trying to keep track of the lithe silhouette that darted from rooftop to rooftop.  The figure had been seen climbing from the bedroom window of a noblewoman’s bedroom, with the poor victim being found hogtied and gagged within her own wardrobe.  The Imperial Guard had been sent for at once, and it was not long until they had found the perpetrator enjoying the show from a rooftop across from the noblewoman’s mansion.  The six-strong patrol was determined to catch the brazen villainess, but that of course was by design.  After all, it was the most fun part of the entire exercise.

Kailandrea grinned wickedly as she deftly leapt along the houses that made up Aranhaven’s market district, having practiced this little game many a night before executing her midnight visit to Lady Arabella.  Kai now carried noblewoman’s prized jewellery in a small leather sack tied to her belt, and with her successful score she would finally be made a full member of House Wethrin, the legendary elven thieves’ guild.  It had taken a lot for her to get the guild to even consider her, as they were dubious of her true intentions, but she had managed to pass every test they had thrown at her.  She was determined to earn her way through daring and skill, and with luck the bards and minstrels would soon be singing songs about her night time deeds.

Kai quickly descended from the rooftops and sprinted down a darkened alley, the sounds of the patrol’s pursuit slowly getting further and further away.  Confident that she had lost them, Kai stripped off the dark hooded tunic and mask she had worn for her burglary and stuffed them into the sack with the jewels.  Now dressed in an elegant green blouse with silver embroidery, Kai began to walk openly down the street, putting on an air of indifference as she heard the approaching patrol.  They stopped when they caught sight of her, with the patrol’s sergeant approaching her.

“Milady,” the sergeant said, bowing her head respectfully.  “You haven’t perchance to see anyone come running by here?”

“Not recently,” Kai said, doing her best to stop the smile from curly up the corners of lips.  “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing to be concerned about, milady,” the sergeant said.  “Best to get home, there are villains about.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Kai said, turning to leave.  But as she did so, her leather sack came open and spilled its contents onto the paved street.  Kai tried to dart away, but the sergeant grabbed her by the wrist and called the others to her side.  “Let me go!” Kai snarled as she tried to wrest herself free.  “Do you know who you are dealing with?”

“A thief,” the sergeant said as she locked Kai’s slender wrists together with a pair of magically enhanced manacles.  Kai tried to protest, but a thick leather bit was forced between her teeth and buckled behind her head, silencing her.  “Come on, lass,” the sergeant said.  “I think we have someone at our barracks who would very much like to talk to you.”

Kai fumed behind her gag as she was led away, cursing the bad luck that had ruined her otherwise perfect night.  She also fumed that the manacles binding her allowed no chance of escape, meaning she would need to wait until she was in a cell before attempting to get away.  But at least escape was feasible, so Kai chose to keep an optimistic appraisal of the situation.

But upon arriving at the barracks, Kai was not taken to the cells but was instead she was taken to a darkened interrogation room and forced down in a chair.  Directly in front of her, cloaked in shadows, sat another woman.  Kai tried to make out details, but the woman decided to reveal herself by lighting a candle, revealing her fine noble features and long, pleated red hair.  She was dressed in a silver mail suit, and a dark green cloak was draped over her shoulders.  

Empress Elandrea Aran stared disapprovingly at Kai as the patrol sergeant released the leather bit from the thief’s mouth.

“Hello, Mother,” Princess Kailandrea Aran said sheepishly.

* * *

“This is a total disgrace,” Empress Elandrea fumed as she marched down the haloed hallways of the Elven Imperial Place, Kai stepping quickly to keep up with her.  “You are my daughter and second in line to the throne, and you continue to embarrass the crown with these silly midnight escapades!  I tolerated your little diversions when you were an adolescent, but you will soon be taking your vocational vows.   You are expected to lead the elves of the Everwood into the future, not into the gutter!”

“Yes, mother,” Kai replied sullenly, her head drooping.  As the second of the Empress’s three daughters, it was expected of her to join one of the three national branches of service, either in the military, the sciences or the magical arts.  As the proverbial middle child, Kai had no desire to become a soldier like her eldest sister, Shaelynn, nor did she have the temperament or attention span to become a scholar like her youngest sibling, the bookish Malisene.  And as to becoming a sorceress, Kai could not see herself ever shaving off her wild red locks, regardless of her lack of magical ability.  Kai chaffed under the rules of etiquette that governed how an elven princess should act, which is why she had originally started sneaking out of the Imperial Palace at night.  She enjoyed the freedom her late night escapades afforded her, and had eventually stumbled across House Wethrin, the shadowy guild that all rogues within the Everwood worked under.  She had done her best to hide her identity from the guild, but her red hair was a dead giveaway of her royal bloodline, and eventually she had convinced them that her desire to join was true that they began testing her to earn membership.  She had thought that she had successfully hidden her affiliation with the guild from her mother, but it seemed the powerful Empress had not been fooled.  

“Now I have been patient with you,” Empress Elandrea continued as they walked down the corridor leading to the throne room.  “But I can see now I was wrong to trust that you would grow out of this phase.  I was going to let you choose which service you wanted to devote yourself too, but I can see that you need to be taught discipline.  You will join to the Grand Elven Army under Shaelynn, and there you will be moulded into proper shape.  The Goddess knows we need more generals for when war with the humans breaks out.”

“War?” Kai exclaimed, shaking her head.  The Elven Empire had always been isolationist in nature, but Kai never understood her mother’s distrust of humans.  It was true that the younger race had expanded their influence and were fractured into many smaller nations that seemed to revel in hostility toward each other, but they had not shown any intentions towards the Everwood in hundreds of years.  Yet Elandrea, much like her mother before her, was convinced war with the humans was inevitable, despite holding treaties with kingdoms such as Sapphira and Baillonnes.  Kai wondered if the humans held similar views of the elves, not that she had ever had a chance to meet one herself.  Malisene was the one most fascinated with them, virtually addicted to the romantic storybooks about the great human adventurers and their tales of do-daring, and many a night had Kai listen to her sister gush about how she would like to meet them.  To be honest, Kai did not see what the fuss was about.

“It is the sacred duty of the royal bloodline to defend the Everwood,” Empress Elandrea continued, giving her wayward daughter a stern look.  “Humans, dwarves, even the savage elves that share their lands, all would seek the opportunity to claim our glorious empire for their own!” Elandrea stopped, sighing heavily.  “Daughter, I love you dearly.  But it is time to grow up and take your place as a future leader of our people.”

Kai bit her tongue, swallowing a rant that would have just proven her mother’s point.  But before the silence between them got unbearable, Shaelynn came marching up to them.  Dressed in a suit of mail much like her mother’s but with a white cape flowing from her shoulders and wearing her red hair in a short military cut, Shaelynn very much looked like the military commander that Elandrea wished to mould Kai into.  Standing to attention, Shaelynn saluted the Empress.

“Sorry to disturb you, mother,” Shaelynn said, his gauntleted hand resting on the pommel of the exquisite silver rapier that hung at her hip, “but I just came to inform you of an incident down at the docks.  Two human vessels tried to make shore without proper trade papers, and when confronted they tried to flee.  I regret to inform you that one of the ships escaped our patrol boats, but we have the crew of the other in custody.”

“Clandestine forces?” the Empress asked.

“I do not believe so,” Shaelynn said.  “Smugglers, most likely.  I wanted to let you know before interrogating them thoroughly.”

“It is a pity over the escapees, but still good work, my daughter,” Elandrea said.  “I will expect a full report once you are finished with them.  And as for you, Kailandrea.  You are confined to the palace until I have made arrangements for your new career.”

“Yes mother,” Kai answered dourly, and then headed off to her bedroom as her mother and sister began discussing other matters of state.  Once inside the confines of her own room, Kai collapsed onto her bed and used one of her silky pillows to smother a yell of frustration.  Could this night get any worse?

“You know you bring this on yourself,” a small voice came from the corner of the room.

Kai almost leaped off the bed, startled to find Malisene sitting cross-legged on a cushion in the corner of the room, her eyes focused intently on the large tome that lay open on her lap.  As usual, Malisene was dressed in a comfortable silken robe that suited her scholarly pursuits and had her red hair tied up in a practical bun.  She did not look away from her book as Kai walked over to her, obviously engrossed in the tome’s contents.

“What are you doing in my room?” Kai asked exasperated.  Normally it was her that invaded other people’s spaces, and she did not enjoy the upset to her natural order.

“I was missing one of my alchemy books so I came here to retrieve it,” Malisene replied, again without looking up.  “Once I found it, I started reading it and … well, I guess I lost track of time.”

“And how did you know I had it?”

“Anyone else would have asked before taking it,” Malisene said with a non-judgemental shrug.  It was true, Kai had taken the book, as it contained details on mixing certain elixirs that could prove helpful in Kai’s extracurricular activities, and to be honest she never thought Malisene would miss it.  But it always confounded Kai how nonchalantly Mailsene took her little thefts, never scolding her like her mother or elder sister would have, but instead treating it like a silly little quirk to be endured.   “I take it you also have my spare alchemy set that went missing?” Malisese continued.  “Just return it when you are finished.”

“Fine,” Kai said, slumping down next to her sister.  “It’s not like I’ll have much use for them once I get shipped off to the military academy.  I can’t believe mother is doing this to me!  I’m not cut out to be a soldier.  I’m not even cut out to be a princess.”

Malisene reached out to pat her on the shoulder.  “Give mother some time,” she said.  “I’m sure she’ll calm down.  But I think you need to start focusing on more constructive use of your talents. Oooh! Perhaps you could convince her to let you travel, and you could become an adventuress like in the books! I could see you dashing in to rescue damsels in distress and braving trap filled dungeons.  You’d be really good at it.”

“I don’t think adventuring is a career for a princess,” Kai sighed, but allowed herself a smile.  “Thanks anyway, Mali.  I will give it some thought.”

“No problem,” Malisene said, then went back to reading.

“Mali,” Kai said, looking at her sister expectantly.  “You are still in my room.”

“Oh, right,” Malisene said, embarrassed.  She bookmarked her spot and stood up and then heading back to her own room.

Once Malisene was gone, Kai stood herself up and looked about her room.  Malisene did have a good idea in that travelling would be the best thing for Kai, but she doubted her mother would ever allow it.  So that meant she would have to take matters into her own hands.  The Empress would be furious, of course, but Kai believed it would be the best for both of them if she left for a while.

Gathering up all her equipment and clothing she had acquired for her little night time escapades, Kai packed them away into a backpack, then raided her dresser for all the spare coins she had saved over the last year or so.  It wasn’t much, as Kai burgled more for the thrill than the profit, but it should be enough to allow her to get out of the Everwood.  She would have to do something about her hair, which was far too recognizable in the elven lands, but she would deal with that later.  Right now, she needed to leave.

Taking one last look at the room that had been her refuge for so many years, Kai silently climbed out the window and made her way up the battlements towards the palace’s outer wall.  It was easy for her to avoid the guards that patrolled the grounds, having memorised them for usual excursions, and was soon she was clambering down into the street outside the palace.

“That was surprisingly easy,” Kai said, smiling to herself, and turned to leave.  But before she could make another step, four masked women pounced upon her from the shadows.  The first landed on her back and silenced Kai by binding a knotted scarf between her lips, while the others grabbed her flailing limbs and secured them with strong leather cord.  Kai thrashed and struggled against her masked captors, but it was no use.  And once the sack was pulled down over her head, she knew she was well and truly caught.

* * *

Kai had no idea where she had been taken, until the hood was pulled from her head and she found herself in a small, grubby room filled with half a dozen thieves, each looking thoroughly disreputable.  Sitting directly before Kai was the lithe form of Shada Wethrin, the legendary leader of the Wethrin Thieves Guild.  The slender elf was dressed head to toe in dark leather, a hood pulled up to hid her sharp, angular features.  Kai had met the head of the Everwood’s thieves guild only once before, and she knew it was not a good thing to be sitting before her right now.  Especially while bound and gagged and flanked by Shada’s best thugs.

“Going somewhere?” Shada asked with a smirk, lifting up Kai’s backpack.  “I don’t suppose the jewels you were assigned to bring back are in here?  Don’t bother to answer, I know you were caught by the royal guard and the gag would just make your reply too difficult to understand.  We took a big chance in considering you for membership, little princess.  Was I wrong to put my faith in you?”

Kai grunted a reply.

“See, I just can’t understand a word you say,” Shada laughed.  “Remove her gag.  Let’s hear what she has to say.”

“Gah!” Kai groaned as the scarf was yanked from her mouth.  She flexed her jaw, eying Shada carefully.  “Shada, I am sorry about tonight.  It was bad luck.  But I am ready to give myself over fully to the guild.  I have no place in the Empress’s court now.”

“And what makes you think we would want you now that you’ve run away from home?” Shada scoffed.  “You have some talent, but the main reason I even considered you was because you could come and go to the Imperial Palace anytime.  Imagine the scores the guild could have made with that kind of access!  But now, your worth is near useless.”

“So why grab me?” Kai asked, feeling her temper rising.  “Why drag me all the way here?”

“Because I am a generous soul,” Shada said theatrically, prompting laughter from her women.  “I am willing to provide you shelter and protection, to hide you from your family.  But it will be at a cost.”

“What cost?”

“The Eye of the Empress.”

Kai felt her jaw drop.  The Eye of the Empress was a rare diamond amulet that had been passed down the bloodline for generations, and was the ultimate symbol of the Empress’s authority.  Though it had once been worn all the time by the nation’s ruler, over the years it had started being used only for special occasions, such as celebrations and other important events.  It was a priceless gem, precious to the Everwood and her people, and to think of it in the hands of the thieves’ guild was almost unfathomable.

“You cannot be serious,” Kai gasped.

“I am serious,” Shada grinned.  “It will be the greatest heist of all time!  The Everwood will be discussing this for years in hushed tones, and you will be legend within the guild.  You said you wish to be part of House Wethrin, to share the glory of our illicit history.  Here is your big chance.”

Kai thought about it, and much to her surprise found herself liking the idea.  She would be famous if she pulled this off … but on the other hand, she would never be able to go home.  Kai hated feeling this conflicted, and despite everything that had happened she loved her family very much.  But no, she had do commit herself to the rogue lifestyle.  She had said it herself, she was not cut out to be a princess.  And this would prove it once and for all.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” she said.

“Excellent,” Shada said, signalling her women to cut Kai free before giving her back her pack.  “You have until sunrise tomorrow to make the steal, so good luck.  And Kai, I know I don’t need to tell you this, but if you fail, it won’t be just the Imperial Guard after you.  Understand?”

“Perfectly,” Kai said, swallowing hard.  

“Good, good,” Shada said.  “Now, get busy.  Take her away, girls.”

* * *

Kai spent most of the morning sleeping, having found herself an empty house to stay in and to prepare for her little assignment.  Once up, she carefully removed and unfolded the small, portable alchemy set she had “borrowed” from Malisene and began brewing up a potent concoction she had discovered while she had been in possession of the alchemy tome.  It would render anyone she administered it to unconscious in mere moments, and would keep them under for hours.  She had managed to get her hands on some throwing darts whose shafts could be filled with the drug, though she had not had much chance to practice with them.  Still, she was confident her aim would be true, and with luck she would not need them anyway.

With night falling, Kai suited up for her mission.  She dressed herself leather pants and a high collared jacket, both a dull black in colour, and slipped on a bandolier filled with her sleeping darts.  She slipped her lockpicks into her left boot, and strapped a dagger to her waist, then put on her backpack that held all the rope and gags she might need if she was forced to take down any guards.  Finally slipping on a hood and mask to disguise here identity, Kai set out for the palace.  

Sticking to the darkened rooftops, she navigated the streets of Aranhaven silently, concentrating on giving no sign of her presence to any Imperial Guardswomen who might be patrolling the area.  There would be no intentionally alerting the guards tonight, as the stakes were far too high.  Tonight she would be a pure thief, and in becoming so she would enter the history books.  The only thing that remained to be seen was if that entry would detail a dashing rogue or a traitorous princess.  Kai shook those thoughts away, as she would never succeed if she let guilt cloud her mind.

After descending down to street level, Kai made her way to the outer wall of the palace, sticking to the shadows to avoid detection.  She removed a rope and grappling hook from her pack and then skilfully tossed it up to the battlements above, gaining secure purchase.  After listening for any sign her hook had been noticed, Kai climbed up the rope and then gathered it back up and put it away, her eyes studying her former home for any sign of movement.  In the distance, she could see some movement from a patrol, but they were too far away to be a danger to Kai.  Smiling to herself, she navigated the battements towards the palace, all the time feeling the excitement growing inside of her.  

Getting close to the palace, Kai slid off the battlements into the courtyard and used the topiary animals that decorated the area as cover as she snuck towards her destination.  Outside the main doors to the palace stood two knights, both looking resplendent in their gilded armours.  Kai recognised them and knew them to be diligent in their roles, so she carefully plotted a route that would keep her well away from them.  Instead, she made her way along the west wall of the palace until she was beneath a second storey window.  Glancing about to make sure the coast was clear, Kai took out her rope and deftly tossed the hook up to the windowsill above.  A short climb later and she was jimmying open the window and entering the palace.

The room she entered was a guest room used for visiting dignitaries, and led out into an empty hallway.  Kai crept out and made her way through palace towards the stairwell situated at the northern end of the building.  It led down to the royal vault, where the Eye of the Empress would be kept, but Kai still took her time navigating the stairs.  The reason for her caution was the guardswoman stationed at the vault door, standing at strict attention at the door.  There would be no way to sneak passed her, so Kai decided it was time to test out her new darts.

Crouching down and using the stair’s railing as cover, Kai removed one of the darts from her bandolier and lined up her shot.  It would be tricky, considering the guard’s armour, but Kai knew it was too late to turn back now.

Taking a deep breath, Kai leapt from her hiding place and flung the dart, the small projectile whizzing through the air and hitting the guardswoman in the joint between her breastplate and shoulder guard.  The woman gasped in surprise, trying to raise the spear she carried into an attack position, but the drug was already doing its job.  She tried to call out, but all that came out was a gargled mew as her legs turned to jelly and collapsed to the floor.  Kai let out a silent cheer at her success, then rushed over to the sleeping guardswoman and dragged her beneath the stairs.  Taking some rope and a long cloth from her pack, Kai skilfully hogtied the woman and bound a gag in her mouth, ensuring she would not be a threat if she came too before the young rogue was finished.  And with the guardswoman neutralized, that left nothing between Kai and the vault door.

Rubbing her hands gleefully, Kai pulled open the vault door and entered inside.  The wealth and treasures of the Elven Empire lay before her, and would have been irresistible to a normal thief, but riches had never truly dazzled Kai and she was focused only on retrieving the item Shada had sent her for.

And there it was, the Eye of the Empress.  The diamond was as large as Kai’s palm, bordered by a gold frame and fine loop of chain that allowed it to be worn.  It sat upon a velvet cushion upon a marble podium, looking every bit the priceless treasure that it was, and all Kai had to do was reach out and take it.  

But she couldn’t.

“If I do this, I can never go back,” Kai murmured to herself, the finality of the situation truly hitting her.  Could she truly live with never seeing her family ever again?  The guilt gnawed at her mercilessly, eroding her desire for freedom from her responsibilities and destroying her resolve.  But before she could give up on stealing the Eye, fate took the choice from her hands.

“What is going on here?” demanded a voice behind her, and Kai turned to see Shaelynn ender the vault.  She was dressed in a white silk blouse and leather breaches, obviously having come off duty, but she still had her rapier sheathed at her hip.  Did she sleep with that thing on? Kai wondered as her enraged sister drew her weapon.  “You will pay for your impudence, thief!”

Kai went to protest but Shaelynn was already charging at her.  Kai ducked and rolled as her sister’s blade swept for her, silently cursing her atrocious luck.  She dived about the vault, trying desperately to keep out of her sister’s reach, but Shaelynn’s skill with the rapier was legendary and Kai knew she would not be able to avoid her forever.  As she was forced back into a corner, Kai knew she only had one choice.  As the tip of the rapier raced for her throat, Kai reached up and ripped off her mask.

“Shae, stop, it’s me!” Kai cried, and let out a sigh of relief as the blade stop, a hair away from cutting her skin.

“Kailandrea?” Shaelynn gasped in surprise.  Her sword lowered, but was not returned to her sheath.  “What in the name of the Empress is going on here? Why were you trying to steal the Eye of the Empress?”

“It’s a long story,” Kai said, not wanting to get into a long discussion at the moment.  “Look, we can discuss it in the morning.  But right now I should leave before anyone else comes to investigate.”

“No!” Shaelynn snapped, raising her blade again.  “Explain to me now! I know you have your … predilections … but this is too serious to ignore.  This is not simply the idle actions of a bored princess.  You were going to steal our most precious relic!”

“The Thieves Guild is making me!” Kai pleaded.  “Mother was going to force me to become a soldier like you, and you know I would never handle that!  So I was hoping to disappear for a while, to go travelling, but the Guild caught me and forced me into this.  But I wasn’t going to do it!  Before you came in, I was going to turn around and leave.”

“You expect me to believe that?” Shaelynn sighed.  “I want to, but I know you too well, Sister.  I can’t let this slid.  We are going to see the Empress right now, and then we can see about dealing with this guild that forced you into this.  I am very disappointed in you.”  

Shaelynn sheathed her rapier and took Kai by the arm to lead her out of the vault.  But before she could take another step, Kai’s free hand shot out and Shaelynn felt a sharp pain in her shoulder.  She looked to the dart that was now stabbed there, and looked to her younger sister with shock.

“I am so sorry,” Kai said tearfully as Shaelynn began to collapse, the drug causing her body to go limp.  Kai caught her and gently lowered her to the ground.  With deliberate care, Kai reluctantly took out some rope and tightly bound Shaelynn’s hands behind her back, then secured her legs together at the knees and ankles.  She then wrapped a length of cloth around Shaelynn’s mouth as a gag, knotting the ends tightly at the nape of her neck, before kissing her unconscious sister on the cheek.  “Sleep tight, sis,” Kai whispered.  

Sighing as she stood upright, Kai turned and looked at the Eye of the Empress.  She had gone past the point of no return, beyond the point of forgiveness.  Having no other choice, Kai took the Eye from its perch, and then morosely made her way out of the palace.

* * *

Not even the hood could obscure Shada’s grin when Kai arrived at the Guild’s secret hideout and dumped the Eye of the Empress before her.  The guild mistress appraised the priceless amulet with a lover’s eye, taking it every ounce of its majesty as she held it up to the light.

“To be honest, I didn’t think you had it in you,” Shada grinned.  “I had expected you to run back to your mummy and beg for forgiveness.  But I am delighted in how you have surprised me.”

“Goody for you,” Kai replied sourly, still feeling terrible over what she had done.  “I need to get out of the Everwood, somewhere far away from this.  You can do that, right?”

“For you, anything,” Shada said.  “We’ll need to keep our heads down for the next couple of days, but once the heat dies down, we can move you onto one of the other cities in the Everwood.  We’ll need to dye your hair, of course, but otherwise you can have your pick of assignments.  And before I forget, here!” Shada tossed a silver coin to Kai.  It had the image of a fox embossed on one side and money pouch on the other, representing the guild’s coat of arms.  “You’ve earned that.”

“Thanks,” Kai said, studying the coin that signified her acceptance into House Wethrin.  It was not long ago that she wanted nothing more than to earn such a token, but now it felt tainted in her hands.  “I am so honoured,” she said insincerely.  “Can I go now?”

Before Shada could answer, the door to the room burst open and one of Shada’s thieves ran it.  “Boss, it’s the Imperial Knights!” she said, panting furiously.  “They are raiding the guild!”

“Dammit!” Shada cursed, pocketing the Eye. “Rally the girls! Delay them while I get out of here!”

“Yes, boss,” the thief said, then turned and left to carry out Shada’s command.

“You are just going to leave them for the guards?” Kai asked incredulously.

“I didn’t become head of this house by sacrificing myself,” Shada growled, gathering up a coin pouch.  “They know the score, and the guild will fix them up once they’re released.  By then, we will be long gone. Just be grateful I’m not turning you over with them-”

Shada stopped, feeling the sting in her back from where Kai had hit her with the sleeping dart.  “No honour amongst thieves,” Kai said with disgust as Shada fell to the floor, unconscious.  Not having time to bind and gag the guild mistress, Kai simply took the Eye from her and headed out of the room.  Perhaps if she could return the Eye to her mother, she could fix this after all…

But as she headed out the room, she found out how futile that hope was.  The guild was overrun with the armoured knights, who were quickly overpowering the thieves and bandits that made up its membership.  They stood no chance against the trained soldiers, but they did their best to hold them off as they believed they were aiding their leader in her escape.  This just made Kai feel even more guilty.

Spotting a window, Kai decided to try and slip out unnoticed.  But as she deftly climbed outside, she was disappointed to find out that guild house had been completely surrounded, and was confronted by a squad of teen knights, each armed with long spears that they aimed at the slender elven woman before them.  Having no other choice, Kai raised her hands and surrendered.

The knights moved quickly, taking away Kai’s backpack and dagger before manacling her hands behind her back.  She offered no resistance as a leather bit was strapped tightly between her lips, and she was then escorted over to where the other women of House Wethrin sat, similarly bound and gagged.  But before she could be seated with them, two others marched over to them.

To Kai’s horror, it was Empress Elandrea and Shaelynn, who was now dressed in her armour.

“Bring her to me!” Elandrea ordered, pointing at Kai.  Her face was red with fury, her eyes showing a mixture of disappointment and contempt as Kai was led over to her.  The Empress did a quick search of her daughter and found the Eye, holding it up Kai’s face.  “How dare you!” Elandrea growled, causing Kai to flinch.  “How dare you allow our most precious treasure fall into the hands of these brigands?  I loved you … I trusted you, and this is how you betray me?”

Kai lowered her head in shame, unable to meet her mother’s righteous gaze.

“I cannot believe how far you have fallen!” Elandrea continued, her anger only increasing as tears burned her cheeks.  “If you wish to associate with thieves, then you can rot with them as well.  You are no longer my daughter!”

Kai nearly collapsed at those words.

“Mother, you cannot be serious,” Shaelynn said, looking horrified at what Elandrea had just said.  “I know Kailandrea’s crime cannot be forgiven, but-“

“You Empress has spoken!” Elandrea snapped, silencing her eldest child.  “Take her out of my sight! I never want to see her again!”

“Yes, mother,” Shaelynn replied weakly, and signalled her knights to escort Kai to prison.

* * *

“Get in there!” the guard said, thrusting Kai into the last cell in the jailhouse.  The thieves of House Wethrin had filled up the rest of the cells, so the guardswoman had been forced to put Kai in with the prisoners that had been brought in the previous morning.  She had not even bothered to release Kai of her manacles or bit gag, instead locking the cell door and heading off to manage the rest of the inmates.  As Aranhaven was such a low crime city, the guardwomen were rushed off their feet to deal with the Empress’s raid on House Wethrin, and they had no time to waste on the one traitor who had caused all this chaos.

Kai wasted no time once locked inside, looping her hands under her legs to bring them in front of her, then reached up and pulled the leather bit from her mouth.  The night had been one disaster after another, and Kai wondered how much worse it could get.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” growled from behind her.  Kai turned and was surprised to see a very short and stocky woman stomping up to her.  It took Kai a second to realise that the woman was a dwarf, as she had never seen one before, and she seemed to have a surly disposition about her.  “Looks like the knife ears have brought us a new playmate!”

The dwarf was joined by four other women, these being as tall as Kai was but lacked her pointed ears.  They were humans!  They were all dressed in sweat-stained tunics and puffy breaches, and had a hardness about them that caused Kai to be concerned.

“Leave her alone, Smittie,” another voice commanded, and to Kai surprise and relief, the dwarf and her friends obeyed.  The owner of the voice lounged in the corner of the cell, looking surprisingly relaxed for someone in her predicament.  She was also human, with dark brown skin and long curly hair, and while she looked as hard as her companions, there was a cheekiness to her that made Kai instantly admire her.  “Sorry about them, prison is doing bad things to their manners.”

“You are the smugglers, aren’t you?” Kai said, walking up to the lounging woman, a wide grin on her face.  

“We are honest traders,” the woman replied with a wink and lopsided grin.  “This is all just a misunderstanding.”

“Same here,” Kai said, sitting down next to her.  “How did you end up in here?”

“We came in with a fellow captain on the promise of elven treasure,” the woman said.  “We were meant to pick it up while she kept your navy busy.  But as it turns out, your knights were more determined to keep the cargo than we first realised, and we were boarded and detained.”

“And that bitch turned tail and left us here to rot!” the dwarven woman, Smittie, growled.  

“Relax, Smittie,” the woman said.  “She’ll get hers eventually.  After all, what goes around comes around.  Would you agree, my young elven friend?”

“I guess,” Kai said.  “Is your boat still in port?”

“Yeah, but it will be overrun with you knife ears,” Smittie scoffed.

“What if I could get you out?” Kai said, leaning forward and dropping her voice to a low whisper.  “Could you sail out of here?  And would you take me with you?”

“That’s a big if, girly,” the woman said, but her eyes shone with curiosity.  

“No, it’s not,” Kai said, reaching down to her boot and pulling out one of her lockpicks.  “The guards were too overwhelmed to search me properly when they brought me in, and because I was cuffed they probably thought I was harmless anyway.”  With practiced skill, she used the lockpick to free herself of her manacles, allowing them to drop to the floor.  The demonstration was all Kai needed to impress her fellow prisoners.

“Okay, we have a deal,” the ebony woman said, standing up and grinning broadly.  “What’s your name, girly?”

“Call me Kai.”

“Abigail,” the ebony woman replied, shaking Kai’s hand.  “Now, let us make our escape!”

Making sure that there were no guards nearby, Kai set about unlocking the cell door.  The lock was complicated, after all it was for a prison, and it took Kai a few goes before she managed to get it open.  Moving stealthily down the corridor, Kai and her new friends made it down to the prison’s storage room undetected, gathering up weapons and equipment needed for their escape.  Kai was delighted to find that her sleeping darts were being stored there as well, and quickly put on the bandolier.  

“We need to move quickly,” Kai said.  “And if we run into trouble, no hurting anyone.  Okay?”

“Don’t worry,” Abigail said with a wink.  “We aren’t thugs.  Well, Smittie is, but she will do as she’s told.  Won’t you, shortstuff?”

The dwarf just glared.

With that, they headed off.  Luck was with them, as they only encountered one guardswoman on their way out, and she was quickly overpowered.  After leaving her safely bound and gagged in a broom closet, the group made their way to the back door of the prison and exited out into the streets of Aranhaven.  It took Kai a few moments to get her bearings, but once she knew where she was she was able to lead her companions through the darkened streets and alleys, heading down towards the docks.  The streets where thankfully bereft of patrols, with most having been taken off the streets to deal with the House Wethrin raid, making it clear sailing for them to get to their destination.

“There she is!” Abigail said quietly as they reached the docks, pointing to a small sloop that was tied up at the peir.  “The Mermaid’s Folly, in all her glory.  Isn’t she beautiful?”

“Right now a row boat would look like a luxury yacht to me,” Kai replied with a grin.  But as she studied the boat, she noticed something was wrong.  “Wait, where are the guards?  There should be someone stationed there.”

“You are right,” Abigail said, rubbing her chin.  “Smittie, go check it out.”

“This better not be a trap,” the surly dwarf moaned, but snuck up to inspect the vessel.  After a quick inspection, she stood up and shrugged.  There was nobody aboard the boat, and surprisingly the boat was fully stocked and ready to sail.

As Kai and the others got up to approach the boat, a figure stepped out of the shadows.

“Kailandrea,” Shaelynn said, standing before them and the sloop.

Abigail and her women went for their weapons, but Kai stopped them.  “Wait, let me deal with this!”

“Okay, but be quick about,” Abigail said, looking around nervously.

Kai walked up to Shaelynn, who looked profoundly sad.  “I leaving the Everwood,” Kai said to her sister.  “I don’t want to, but you heard mother.  I am nothing to her now.  So please, step aside and let us go.”

“I know,” Shaelynn said.  “That’s why I arranged for you to be put in with the smugglers, and why you weren’t searched.  I don’t know why you did what you did, but you are still my sister and I love you very much.  I could just let mother disown you and throw you to the wolves.”

“You arranged all this?” Kai gasped, shocked.

“I wasn’t always a general,” Shaelynn smiled.  “I had my fair share of teenage rebellion, though not as extreme as yours.  Mother forgave me of my childhood sins, and hopefully one day she can bring herself to forgive you too.  But you need to go, before someone discovers you are gone.”

“Tell Mali I love her,” Kai said, embracing her elder sister tightly as tears began to well.  “And mother, too.  I am so sorry for all of this, and what I did to you.  I am such a bad sister, and a terrible princess.”

“Goodbye, Kai,” Shaelynn said, hugging her back.  “I hope you find plenty of adventures in your travels.”

With that, the two sisters parted, and soon Kai found herself aboard the Mermaid’s Folly as Abigail and her chew hoisted sail and headed out for open water.  She watched from deck as Shaelynn waved to here, slowly getting smaller in the distance.  Kai had never loved her sister so much in her life, and would be forever grateful to her for what she had done.

“So,” Abigail said, coming up behind Kai.  “You’re a princess, eh?”

“Ah, you must of misheard,” Kai said sheepishly, trying to put on a big smile for the other woman.

“Don’t worry,” Abigail said, patting her shoulder.  “You secret will be safe with me.  Only the Goddess knows what would have happened to us if you hadn’t have let us out, so I am eternally in you debt.  If you ever need help, you just need to ask.”

“Thanks,” Kai said, feeling relieved.  “Where are you heading?”

“West, to Sapphira,” Abigail replied.  “We can drop you off there, or take you somewhere else if you want.”

“Anywhere but here will be fine,” Kai sighed.  “You’ll have to tell me all about this Sapphira, especially if it is going to be my new home.  Plenty of opportunities for a skilled thief, I hope.”

Abigail laughed.  “More than you’ll know what to do with,” she said.  “You’ll need a new name once you get there.  Somehow ‘Princess Kailandrea’ just doesn’t have a roguish ring to it.”

“True,” Kai said, thinking on it.  “How about Kaimela, then?  Kaimela Wethrin.  That definitely sound more roguish, doesn’t it.”

“Nice to meet you, Kaimela Wethrin,” Abigail said, grinning widely.  “I sense you are going to have a big, infamous future ahead of you.”

“Thanks,” Kai said, smiling back.  She looked out over the horizon, to where the lands of Sapphira awaited them.  And with it, her new future.