Chapter 5: Sunset

A Proper Young Thief

M.K.Barry

Chapter 5: Sunset

Lissa sat on the floor next to Luc for a long time. After a while, she heard someone coming towards the house. A moment passed, the door flung open, loud screeching noise accompanied the entrance of three village men. She turned and looked at them as they looked at her, and at Luc still laying on the hearth

“Help.” Lissa whispered, her voice hoarse and cracking from having cried so much, “They killed him, They-” One of them men, a tall, lean man with dark eyes ran up to her, pulled her away from the corpse, and pushed her against the wall

“Murderer” He hissed.

“No! IT wasn't-” She didn't finish her sentence. She was thrown back to the floor with a force that almost knocked the wind from her. Before she could fully recover, one of the other men kicked her hard in the stomach, causing her to gasp for breath which her lungs couldn't take. She doubled over, coughed, and threw up what little supper she had managed to eat.

“Take her to Lord Mintas” One of the men said, “He at least should get his justice.”
“Please, listen to me, I didn't kill Luc”

No one listened to her. She was kicked again, and pushed to her stomach. She felt her hands pulled behind her, and a coarse rope tied her wrists together. The lean man came up from behind her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to her feet half dragging her away from the small house and back towards the village.

She didn't say anything to him, every breath she took was dedicated to making her lungs stop hurting, and even if she was able to say anything, she wouldn't have. Lissa was a fast learner.

They approached the village square, which was nothing more than a general clearing around a cluster of shops. Tonight, it was bright with torches. The man with the dark eyes brought her just outside the reach of the warm firelight. She glanced up and looked towards the crowd. In the middle of the men, she could see Lord Mintas, his clothes wrinkled, and obviously thrown on quickly. He held one hand held against his mouth. He was listening to Ghant, who was talking, occasionally stopping to look away, or clasp his hands over his mouth, to take steadying breaths.

She never wanted to hit, to really hurt, anyone more than she wanted to hurt Ghant right now.

“Lord Mintas!” The lean man called.

Lord Mintas looked away from Ghant, and over towards Lissa. He took his hand away from his face, clenched both hands into fists, and stormed over to her.

“Lord Mintas!” She cried as he got close, “ I didn't kill Luc! Ghant did!”

Lord Mintas stopped just as he reached her, and looked behind, back towards Ghant.

“She lying!” He snapped, “She jumped out from the shadows, and killed Luc! The four of us were there! We all saw her.”
“Lord Mintas, he's lyin-” She felt his fist connect his the side of her face. She fell backwards, and whimpered, curling up into a ball on the ground.

“You have every right to her punishment, Lord Mintas.” A man, coming over from the crowd, said to Lord Mintas, “Not only as the lord of the Village, but as Luc's father. It's in your hands, M'Lord.”

Lord Mintas Reached down, grabbed Lissa by the hair and pulled her up again. She gave one loud,dlong scream of pain before falling to simple moans of pain.

“You will be killed.” he hissed, “You will be buried alive. If I could kill you a thousand times, a it wouldn't be enough for what you've done to me... To Luc! Poor Luc.” He dropped, her fell to his knees, and sobbed into his hands, occasionally moaning, “poor, poor Luc.”

the man who spoke to him earlier helped him to his feet, and began leading him back towards the crowd. He turned back to the lean man.

“Throw her into the prison for now.” He snapped, “We have more important things to deal with now. Luc needs to be brought back here. He needs to be buried.” He looked down at Lissa, and spat on her before saying, “She can be executed tomorrow night.”

“Please listen to me” She whispered, her voice so quite that she couldn't be heard. “I didn't do it.”

The lean man pulled her up by the arm and dragged her across the square towards their small prison. Lissa felt something strike her leg, and turned around, and saw a rock laying on the ground. She looked up at the crowd, and saw other villagers grabbing rocks off the ground. She struggled to her feet to try to hurry up, but was struck in the back with a rock, and fell to the ground. The lean man kept dragging her until they were out of range. He pulled her into the prison. Mercifully, the ropes here removed. She was pushed into the prison, a small, square stone room with one small, rectangular window with thick bars high up off the floor. She fell to the floor. The door slammed close behind her, and she heard the door lock.

She stayed down on the floor, breathing deeply. The cold stone felt nice, and all she wanted to do was sit and breath deeply, trying to will her pain away.

Lissa hadn't realized that she had gone to sleep. She didn't even know how she was able to sleep. Likely it was from pure exhaustion, or perhaps she passed out from the pain and fell into a restless sleep from there. Regardless, it was daytime when she was awakened by the opening of the door. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to wake up, not wanting her thoughts to become lucid.

“Go ahead.” A male voice said, “ be quick.”

The door closed. Lissa slowly opened her eyes and looked up. Her mother was standing at the door, her eyes bloodshot, her hair still tangled on the ends.

“Mom..” She said, but her voice was small, cracked and dry. “I didn't kill Luc.”

Her mother kneeled down next to her, gently but firmly took her face in her hands and started into Lissa's eyes.

“Look at me and tell me that... tell me you didn't kill Luc.”

“I didn't... I didn't kill Luc. Ghant did.”

“And you?”

“I was there, they attacked Luc and I... I.” She gasped and lay back, sobbing. “I tried to stop them.”

Her mother gently lifted her up off the floor, and hugged her tightly. “I believe you.” She whispered into her ear.”

“No one else does.”
“I know.” Her mother sighed and gently stroked Lissa's hair, “I know. There are three young nobles willing to lie. Of course, if they don't, they'll be hanged.”

“Four.”

“No.” her mother said, “Three. One of them, Marc, he doesn't want you to die. He told me that you were innocent, but wouldn't tell me anything else. He won't speak publicly.”

Lissa took several deep breaths to calm herself, “Why did he tell you?”

“Who knows... guilt maybe.”

“But.. if he won't say anything for me. What can I do?”

Her mother was silent for a moment before giving Lissa a tight squeeze. “Nothing. Tonight, you're going to be buried alive.

Lissa cling to her mother, shaking with held sobs. “I'm sorry.” She finally whispered, “I'm sorry for calling you-”
“It's... Don't worry about it. Not now.” she sighed, “Don't worry about that. Just do me one favour.”
Lissa didn't know how it was possible for her to do a favour for anyone, but she nodded.

“Don't let yourself die.”

“...How can I-”

“Don't give up. Even when you're underground, hold onto your life as long as possible.”

“But... There's no point to it then.”

“Just do it.”

Lissa was quiet for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright.”

Her mother stroked her hair with a sigh, “You remind me of your father.” she whispered.

Lissa stiffened momentarily. Her mother hadn't spoken about her father for years.

After a while, she gave Lissa some bread and a skin of fresh water. “Here.” she said, “They won't feed you.”

“Thank you.”

Her mother got up, brushed her dress off, and headed towards the door.

“I love you mom.”
“I love you Lissa. Remember what I asked of you.”

The sun seemed to move unnaturally fast. It wasn't long before Lissa had direct sunlight in her cell, shining through the tiny slit of a barred window. She sat under the window, and watched the little patch of light move across the floor, and then up the wall as it started to turn red in the sunset.

She wished she could have been at Luc's burial. It would be finishing up now. The body wasn't buried until sunset. Once the body was buried, and the sun was down, they would come for her.

All Lissa could think about was the unfairness of it all. The only reason they were getting away with this is Ghant, as he himself had said, had too many people willing to lie for him. Even Luk would have been the guilty party in such a circumstance. However, Luc wouldn't have been executed.

'I was stupid,' she thought to herself. ' They wouldn't have killed him... but because I got involved, Luc died, and I'm about to die.'

She stood up and ignoring the pain in her limbs, and reached up towards the window to watch the sunset. Her last sunset before she was buried alive. She watched the distant sky fade and grey as the clouds above turned various shades of red, pink and magenta, covering half the sky before diminishing as the sun sunk down below the distant mountains, and the sky darkened. Soon, she could see stars.

A door opened somewhere.

She heard footsteps, and two men cam in. One grabbed her by the wrists, and started tying her hands together. The other stood by the door. Lissa didn't' struggle. There was no point, no one would believe her now, and there was no need for extra wounds as she was put into the dirt.

They pushed her out of her little cell, and out of the prison. As soon as she was free of the threshold, a clump of what she hoped was dirt struck her in the head. She whimpered, and turned away while the man pushing her along gave an angry shout.

“Careful there! You'll hit me.”

She was thrown into he back of a wagon, led by and old goat. Next to her was a coffin, quickly made, and unfinished, and just larger enough for her. She hoped it was at least. It looked small to her, and she was sure they wouldn't mind breaking a limb to make sure she fit.

After a few minutes of travel, followed by a large group of villages, the wagon stopped. She was pulled from the wagon and thrown to the ground. The coffin was set next to her.

Lord Mintas stood over her. Wordlessly, he picked her up by her arms, and dropped her into the coffin. She

grunted as she struck the wood, but was silenced as the cover was suddenly laid over her. She heard muffled voices as some men worked at nailing he coffin up. In moments it was done. Someone kicked the coffin, and her head bounced against the edges.

The coffin was picked up and dropped. She screamed as she fell, and whimpered as, when the coffin landed, she smacked her head off the lid.

Then she heard the dirt and rocks being thrown on top of her.

She seized up. She clenched her hands into tight fists, but couldn't struggle, couldn't' scratch and bang against the lid, because they hadn't untied her hands. She whimpered, and clenched her eyes shut, trying to convince herself that the darkness was just there because her eyes were closed, trying to imagine that the dirt falling on her coffin was just rain. Just rain, and nothing more.

When the silence came, she wondered if this was what death was like.

She didn't know how long had passed. The only noise she could hear was her heart beating. She thrived on that, needed it, and in the silence, it became loud. In the silence, it was her only friend, a sound which she had ignored most of her life.

She thought nothing of it when the sound became louder and louder. Not until it became discordant with her own heart did she pay attention. A sound, like a scraping invaded what had become her silent bubble.

The sound of digging.

She considered screaming, calling for help, but couldn't. She had been laying still for so long, the energy it would take to speak seemed overwhelming. What would she scream for anyway? Were they digging her up to see if she was properly dead?

Something hit the cover of the coffin. She heard muted voices and heard a crack . A moment passed, and a slit of light found it way inside as someone on the other side of the coffin pulled back the lid with a crowbar. The unfinished wood cracked and snapped. And Lissa was blinded by torchlight. Someone pulled her out of the coffin and dropped her to the ground. She felt the ropes around her wrists being cut.

“She's not dead, is she?” A panicked male voice said.

“No.” She mother said. “She's alive. She's shocked I think.”

“Put the light out.” Lissa whispered. A moment passed, and the dull red light behind her eyelids faded. She opened her eyes to the cold night, and the light of the waning moon.

Her mother was holding her in her arms, and holding a shovel off to the side was one of Ghant's friend, Marc

“You.” Lissa hissed.

“I... I didn't think anyone else needed to die.”
“No one needed to die at all.”

“Shh, Lissa. This isn't the time to argue about that. I was able to convince him to help me. If he won't tell everyone what really happened, he can do this.” She looked up at him. “You have the clothes?”

Marc nodded and passed a sack that he had at his side to her mother. She reached inside, and took out a pair of scissors, and began cutting off large clumps of Lissa's hair.

Lissa sat up, but her mother held her still, “Hold still or I might cut off and ear.”

“What are you-”

“Disguising you. It's dangerous for a girl to wander about on her own, and it wouldn't be good if anyone recognized you.” She finished her clumsy job and set the scissors down. “That'll do, I think.”

Lissa's head felt light and cold. She reached up and in an mixture of shock and horror, felt the tips of her cropped hair.

Her mother pressed the sack into her arms.

“Go into the woods. Go North, towards Rawlins. Everyone here will think you're dead, so they won't look for you, and no one will recognize you there. You can change when you get into the woods, there's a tunic, pants, and a cloak here. It should be enough to hide your curves. You should be able to get to Rawlins.

“And when I'm there?”

Her mother looked at Lissa for a long moment, trying to think of something to say

“I don't know” she said, “But I hope you figure that out.”

Marc started covering the open, empty grave with dirt again. Lissa's mother helped her to her feet and pushed her towards the forest.

“Go now.” She said. “If anyone sees us, I want you well gone.”

Lissa nodded slowly, took a few steps away, then ran towards her mother, hugged her, and then ran off into the woods.

-M.K.Barry

Chapter 4: Cornered................ Chapter 6: Justice

A Proper Young Thief: Chapter 4: Cornered

A Proper Young Thief

M.K.Barry

Chapter 4: Cornered

Lissa watched, frozen behind the door as Luc struggled to his feet. The other boys were clearly drunk, standing, swaying as they circled Luc. Ghant stood apart from his friends, leaning casually against the table, watching Luc carefully. His back was turned to Lissa, so she couldn't see his face. To her, he seemed like a vulture hanging over it's prey.

Luc finally got to his knees, and raised himself up to look around at the group of savages hanging around him, but just as he straightened up, Ghant reached out with his foot, and making sure to use no more force than absolutely necessary, pushed him down again. Luc fell to his side, and Lissa heard him cry out as he landed on his arm. She felt herself cringe as she imagined his arm twisting painfully back behind him.

“Be a good little noble boy and stay down,” Ghant said.

Luc quickly slowed his breath, hissing in pain between clenched teeth. He turned to face Ghant, looking up at him from the floor, “Idiot,” He spat, “What do you think's going to happen to you when this is over. You could be hanged.”

“I could be, but I won't.” Ghant said. His voice was steady and even. He wasn't playing now, he wasn't looking for fun now, not like he was with her. He was angry now, and apparently had a purpose.

“You think I won't tell anyone? Is that is?” Luc hissed, “You think I'll be ashamed that I couldn't stand up for myself when you had four of your friends grab me and tie me up? Do you think you'll beat me so badly, I'll be afraid to tell anyone?” She heard him give a gentle, derisive snort, “Think again. If you don't let me go right this second, I will see you hanged.”

“I don't think so.” Ghant said. “You see... I've got four witnesses here saying that we were just messing around here, admittedly maybe drinking some wine... and you decided to bother us.”

“That's stupid. No one woul-”

“You saw us running off into the woods, maybe you were upset that we bothered your little Lissa... Decided to deal with us yourself. Or maybe you just wanted our wine.” He gently kicked at a few bottle sitting under the table, which Lissa hadn't seen at first. “It wouldn't be very noble of you, would it be? Your father would probably send you off somewhere, to make sure you didn't disgrace him further. Honestly... A young noble beating up on village boys.” He crouched down closer to Luc, and Lissa could just hear him say, “Isn't that despicable?”

“They wouldn't believe you!”

“Even with witnesses?” Ghant asked, eying his friends. “There's to many people here willing to lie for me, Lord Luc. The words of five respectable young men against one young Lord?” He reached out quickly and grabbed Luc's hair, pulling his head so that he was staring right at Ghant. Luc grunted with pain, but held back his cries. “Besides. What do you think we'll do to your little servant girl?”

“You'll keep your hands off her.” Luc growled.

“Yes, yes. No one touch the little whore in training.” Ghant stood up, “Honestly, the way you protected her, you'd think you actually loved her.”

“You set one hand on her and... and I'll kill you myself!”

Ghant put his hands on his hips and stared down at Luc for a long moment before laughing loudly.

“Well. It looks like I've nailed the issue. Lord Luc loves the little thiefling.” He gave a long, loud laugh, his friends joining him with their drunken chuckles, and slurred, unintelligible speech. Once Ghant stopped laughing, he looked back down at Luc “And here I thought she was just an easy screw for you.”

Lissa reached up, one hand over her mouth to muffle her breathing, another grasping at her throat to try to elevate the constricting feeling she was getting. Luc did love her! She wasn't just a servant to him. Her mother was wrong. However, she couldn't be overjoyed, as she knew she would be. Panic and fear had bullied out anything even close to joy that she might have felt. Luc was here because of her. He was in trouble because he had tried to stand up for her.

And besides. Lord Mintas had plans for Luc, just like he had plans for Lissa herself.

“Now then.” Ghant said. He turned around, took a bottle from under the table, and poured himself a drink. As he stood up, Lissa could see that one side of his face, which she had thought was just obscured in shadows before, was actually blue and purple with bruises. His eye was swollen shut, and she could see a long cut along his lip.

Despite herself, she felt bad for Ghant. She assumed that his father had beaten him up in response to a complaint from a young Lord about Ghant.

He took a drink of the wine, and turned back to Luc. “Here's what's going to happen. My friends here are going to beat you up. You're going to sit there, take it, and then crawl home and go to sleep. Don't worry. We won't hit you where it shows. You can try to fight back. You can yell, scream... But the more trouble you cause for us, the worse we're going to beat you... and you think you have trouble looking after Lissa now?” Ghant chuckled under his breath, “You won't be able to let her out of your sight, not for a second. She leaves the safety of your little house there, someone will be trailing her. She won't be safe, and she won't be just your little whore either... Oh I'm so sorry!” Ghant grinned, his voice heavy with sarcasm, “You're little servant lover.” Ghant snorted and looked up to his friends, “At least he'll have woman who'll serve him on hands and knees.”

“you insufferable ass-”

“Don't you understand? Do you have any idea what we can do to her? We could kill her. She's a servant. No one cares.”

“... And if I cooperate? You'll leave her alone?”

Lissa felt like she was going to cry out, and bit her lower lip to keep herself quite. 'No Luc,' she thought. 'I'll take care of myself. Just don't let them hurt you!'

“She'll be bothered no more or less than she is. Heck, I might even forget about her if I have enough fun here. I mean-” He slipped back into his sarcastic tones, “Had I known that you wanted her, that you loved her, I wouldn't have touched the little whore.”

“You leave her alone.”

“You're not in a position to barter.” Ghant said. “We're not bartering at all, actually. I'm threatening you. If you don't cooperate, We will hurt Lissa. Badly. We'll break her every way we can, and we'll keep beating on you until you're afraid of your own shadow.”

Ghant's friends snickered, circling Luc like clumsy beasts. Ghant drank the rest of the wine in one gulp, and slammed the cup down on the table. “You cooperate, and this never happened. Everything goes back to the way it was. Keep a careful enough eye on Lissa and she might just be safe.”

Lissa wondered for a moment if Luc knew that he was to be married to a woman in Rawlins. To the deformed daughter of a man who owned a brothel.

When Luc was silent for several long moments, Ghant finally said, “I think he's got the message.” He looked at his friends, and backed away, “Have fun.”

Lissa saw the first kick coming, cringed, and looked away, but couldn't block out the sound. Luc was kicked into something -a chair perhaps- which fell down on top of him, the clatter was accompanied by a loud cry. There was another kick, the sound thick and hallow. They hit him over and over, what was first loud cries of pain turned into grunts as Luc lost the energy to cry out.

It was sickening. He couldn't even defend himself... And even if he could, would he?

Lissa took a chance and looked out the crack in the door again, One of the boys had broken away from the group, and found a large, discarded bottle in the corner. He took the long, slender neck in one hand and turned it into a glittering, green glass club.

'They're not going to kill him' she reminded herself. She turned away and looked at the floor, her eye running along a piece of rotten wood that lay near her. She reached down, and gently lifted it with one hand. Bugs scattered out from under it and ran into the darkness. She recoiled, but held onto it. With one hand, she reached up and fingered the pendent hanging around her neck. The pendent, the house... Being in this room while someone she loved was being beaten on, and all because of her.

The drunken friend lifted the bottle in the air. The others parted, giving up their kicking in hopes of abetter show.

Lissa ran out from the room, her makeshift club grasped in both hands, and swung widely as the bottle came down. She struck the boy, and heard a feral cry as the bottle was knocked form his hands, and shattered against the wall. The boy fell to the ground, his hand cradled in his arm.

“The bitch broke my hand!” He screamed.

Lissa ran to Luc, dropped the club, and fanatically tried to untie him. He coughed, and blood splattered onto the floor.

“Lissa?” He whispered.

“We need to run.” She said as she finally loosened the rope. She threw it to the side and started to help him up. His eyes glazed over for a moment as he looked at her, and she worried that he would pass out. He smiled softly at her, then focused past her.

“Ghant!” he cried.

Lissa turned around in time to see Ghant standing just behind her, the club in his hands aimed at Lissa's head.

Ghant swung. Luc pushed Lissa down to the floor. There was a loud, wet sounding crack as the wood shattered, the echos filling the room. Luc reeled back and fell against the hearth, his head smacking against the edge of the stone.

Then everything was silent. Ghant held the makeshift club in the air where it struck Luc's head, staring wide-eyed at the corpse. His friends, suddenly sobered by shock and fear, stood still staring. One fell to his knees, his hands raised to his face.

“You killed him.” he stated flatly, as though he might have been stating what a lovely, or alternately, miserable day it was. But that was enough to bring everyone out of the shock, and back into the reality where a man had just been murdered before their eyes. The boy on his knees starting shaking, sobbing into his hands. “Ghant, you killed him! You killed him! You-”

Lissa made to stand up, to go over to Luc. But felt something hit the back of her head.

She hadn't even known she was unconscious until she woke up. She wasn't out for long. The others were still there.

“We killed Them! We're going to be hanged, we're-”
“No!” Ghant snapped. The cool tone was gone from his voice. He was very obviously panicked, and sounded like a scared child. “No.” He repeated. “She killed him.”

“What do you-”
“We were all here, us and Luc, having a few drinks. Stupid, sure. She came in, and attacked us, killed Luc, broke your hand, then we stopped her.” The panic in his voice didn't subside. “We're all witnesses, they're both dead... No one has to die.”

“They already did!”

“No.. It.. They don't matter.” Lissa heard something, likely the club, fall to the floor. “No... It's ok.” he said, much like a child trying to make a broken dish go away. “It'll be fine. They're already dead, we'll be fine... Everything will go back to normal.”

“How can it be normal! Ghant, we killed them! We're murderers!”

“NO!” Ghant yelled, “We're not. They are, and they're dead!”

Lissa heard footsteps, and the door to the house opened with a long, loud whine. “come on... Let's go for help... It'll all be alright.”

Someone whispered, “Come on.. Get up. Ghant is going to take care of this... It's going to be alright.”

“No...” Came a sobbing voice, “No... It's never going to be alright ever again.”

“Get up at least! Do you want to be hanged? We need to go with Ghant.”

There was a moment of shuffling, and Lissa heard a soft, weak voice saying, “Hanging would be better.” before the door was closed with a loud creak.

As soon as she was alone, Lissa pushed herself up from the floor, and reached her hand up to the back of her head. Sobbing, she felt along where she had been struck. There was blood, but she couldn't feel a cut. She didn't know if it was her own blood, or Luc's. She crawled over to the corpse by the hearth, gently reached out to stroke the blood-matted hair, then fell back, kneeling on the floor, sobbing into her bloodied hands.

-M.K.Barry

Chapter 3: It's Called Desperation Chapter 5: Sunset

A Proper Young Thief: Chapter 3: It's Called Desperation

A Proper Young Thief

M.K.Barry

Chapter 3: It's Called Desperation

“I don't understand. You get me?”

Lawson let out a deep sigh, casting a sympathetic gaze upon Lissa. “You really haven't been told?”

“What do you mean you 'get' me” Lissa asked again, her voice shaking slightly. She took several steps backwards until she was in the middle of the room.

“Exactly what I said.” Lawson said, “You were there at dinner. Lord Mintas wants his son to marry my daughter. You're essentially the dowery. Mine.”

Lissa stood in silence for a moment before softly saying, “He can't do that.”
 Lawson shrugged, “He can. You could refuse, I suppose, but where does that leave you? From what I've been told, you and your mother are essentially his slaves-”
 “We are no such things!” Lissa hissed, standing up straight as she did, “We do honest work for Lord Mintas.”

“For what? You're not paid.”

“For food, for a place to live.”


Lawson shook his head slowly, “I am sorry...”

Lissa took a deep breath, calming herself. “I have been asked to bring you your wine. I have done that.” She curtseyed before Lawson, “I shall take my leave, sir.”
 “... No no, you misunderstand.” Lawson said, taking a step towards her. “I”m sorry that you were not informed.” he sighed again, turned, and poured himself a goblet of wine, “Lord Mintas said that he would speak to you, and that you would be told all the details before being sent up to me.”

“I was told you wanted wine.”

“Well... I did.” He shrugged and turned back to Lissa, taking a large drink of wine before leaning back against the window frame, “You were told nothing other than that?”

“No.” Lissa said, but as she said it, she remembered her mother trying to tell her something before she left the servant's room.”

“Do you know who I am, Lissa?”

“I do not. I know you are a man from Rawlins named 'Lawson'.”

“A young lady such as yourself should know nothing more than that. Perferably less.” He took another sip of wine, “Young lady, I run a brothel.”

“But.. but you're-”

“I am a very wealthy, respectable man who runs a successful brothel. We attract a lot of nobles who pay handsomely for an evening with my women. I'm well known, and well respected, and very wealthy.”

“and... me?”


“You're a servant. Lord Mintas told me that were it not for his charity-”

“We do not take-”

“-Were it not for his charity, you and your mother would be living on the edges of town, starving and isolated. He took you into his house, and now he's going to make a profit.”

Lissa wanted to say something, anything to dispute his words, but she couldn't find her voice. Lawson took a few steps towards her, and set his hand on her shoulder. “You're to be my personal servant now, you will-”

Lissa slapped his hand away and stepped away from him, pressing herself against the door. She realized at that moment that despite the vitality he showed, the power in his speech, he was still an old man. An old man with sore hands. He bent over slightly, clutching one hand in the other, rubbing his fingers. After a moment he looked up at Lissa.

“I will blame that on the circumstances.” he hissed. “Go, talk to Lord Mintas. He'll tell you it's all true... Talk to your mother, Lord Mintas said she would agree to it.”

Lissa turned, swung open the door and ran back downstairs, not even thinking to check at Luc's door. She slipped halfway down the stairs, and slid down the rest of the way, bruising her leg badly. She ignored the noise she made, stood up and ran into the kitchen. She had expected it to be empty, but to her surprise, her mother was there. She was looking out the window which looked out into the darkened back garden . She turned around as Lissa entered the room.

“Mom... “ Lissa whimpered. She closed the door, leaned against it and slipped to the floor, slowly starting to sob. Her mother was at her side in an instant. Her arms wrapped around Lissa's shoulders, comforting her.

“It's ok.” She whispered.

“It's not!” Lissa sobbed, “You don't know what he said. What he wanted-” She cut herself off with sobbing.

“It's ok.” her mother said, rubbing her back slowly. “Lawson isn't the nicest man, I've been told, but he'll take care of you. You'll be safe and provided for, and-”

Lissa slowly pushed her mother away from her. Between sobs, she took deep breaths to calm herself. “...What?”

“...Lissa.”

“You knew?”

“Of course I knew.” she said, “Lord Mintas told me to tell you but...”

“You agreed with it?!”

“Of course I did.” She said, raising herself up a little, taking her hands from Lissa's shoulders. “Do you think I've not seen how you've been treated here?”

“How I'm treated here? I'm a servant in a respectable house! That's worse than being some man's whore?”

“You're tormented every day. No one respects you... No one respects me here, but you at least have this chance to leave. You can go to Rawlins with Lawson, and-”

“And be his whore.”

“...would you rather be a whore to the men around here?”

“What's wrong with being a servant?”

Lissa's mother stood up, brushed her dress off, and started to walk away from her, towards their room, “Sooner or later... you'll be expected to be someone's mistress. If you're working for a man, and he wants you, there's little else we can do.” She said. “Us?... We're lucky we have what we do.”

“We are lucky! That's why I can stay here! I don't' have to run off and be Lawson's little servant. I can stay here, and take care of the house, like you! You're not anyone's whore!”

There was a moment of silence that Lissa didn't expect, a moment where her words suddenly seemed very far away, as though, in her mind, she had spoken them years ago, and now they still echoed in her head.

“You're not...are you?”

“...I, like every woman, do what I have to do.”

“You... I can't believe...” sudden shock turned to rage. “You... and Lord Mintas?!”

“Her mother turned back to Lissa in one quick movement, “Yes, me and Lord Mintas.” she snapped, “You want to know why I agreed to you going with Lawson? Because otherwise you would be here, with Lord Mintas, or Luc whenever Luc decided that he had the right to you.”

Lissa slowly pulled herself to her feet. Her mother came over to her, and in a much gentler manner held her shoulder. Lissa shrugged her off quickly, gaining a strange, surprised look from her mother, as though she had just done something so terrible that her mother was having a hard time deciding if it really happened.

“You're a whore.” Lissa muttered

The slap happened quickly, and Lissa felt one of her mothers fingernails scratch her cheek. She kept her head turned to the side. She didn't want to look at her mother.

“Fine. I'm a whore.” she said. “I did what I had to to keep a roof over our heads, to make sure we had food. To make sure that you didn't have to beg in the streets, and do who knows what for anyone offering you a slice of bread!”

“I wouldn't do such things.”

“You haven't been hungry. You might be too young to remember before we left home and came here, too young to remember me giving you the only loaf of bread we had, and you complaining because it was too dry. Too young to remember me going three days without any food, just so you could have crumbs. Me sleeping through cold winter nights without blankets so you could have that extra bit of comfort. You remember dull food and chilly nights. I remember starving, and half freezing to death so that you wouldn't.” She turned away from Lissa, walked back to the door, but before she left the room, she stopped, “You can call me a whore if you want. You see what happens to you when you're hungry and cold. If you don't want that to happen, then go with Lawson. Being his comfortable mistress is better than being a half-starved whore on the streets.”

“It's sick.”

“It's called desperation. I'd hate to see you face it.” She opened the door, slipped inside, and closed it firmly behind her. Lissa thought she heard the click of the latch, locking her out, but she couldn't be sure. She stood up, and made a tentative step towards the door to check, but stopped. She didn't know if she wanted to know if it was locked or not. She didn't even know if she wanted to be in the same room as her mother. She certainty didn't want to be in the same house as Lawson, and Lord Mintas. In a state that to her felt like she was still half asleep, she made her way to the servant's exit, and very quietly stepped out into the night.

On the other side of the village, just on the edge of the forest, was a small, abandoned shack. The shutters on the windows were rotting, and falling off their hinges while in a single window, the remains of a curtain fluttered in the wind. Grasses grew high around the house, coming up to Lissa's waist. Young trees struggled to grow tall and expand the forest in the surrounding area. What was once a garden was now a cluster of wild and untamed flowers, mixed with those few cultivated blooms that managed to hold their own against nature. The walls of the stone house were covered in moss and vines, decorated in large spider webs which glittered in the moonlight as the artists sat in wait of prey.

“Home.” Lissa muttered. She had not returned here since her mother had taken her away. She remembered hard times too, though not as bad as her mother had said they were. She remembered days eating nothing but bread. She remembered cold nights, and silent days where her mother alternated between sobbing and staring out the window. Lissa had had no desire to return, not until now. Not until she had found herself wandering the edge of the village, facing the chill of the night air alone, afraid to go home, afraid to wander into the village proper, for fear of seeing someone. She remembered the boy who's mother's called her mother a whore. She had not known the reason for her cruelty at the time, but now she did. Now she realized that it wasn't cruelty, it was her telling the truth.

She needed to go somewhere where she was out of the cold, away from people. She just wanted some solitude, some silence. Perhaps if she could have a few moments to just think in peace, things would make sense. Nothing made sense now.

She pulled the rotting door open, cringing as the hinges howled out. She let it hang halfway open before slipping in.

It was not as she had expected.

She had expected dirt and dust, the leaves of the Falls past littering the ground and rotting. She had expected bugs and rats. But instead, the inside seemed to have been kept at least semi-habitable. Dirt and dead leaves were swept off to a side. A rickety table was in the center, littered with old bottles. Several old mugs sat upside-down on the table. Curious, Lissa wandered over and lifted the cup. There was nothing underneath, but she could smell old wine off it. She set the cup back to it's place and went over to the fireplace. It too seemed to have been used recently. Fresh black ash was piled up, turning the already dark and cold fireplace into a deep black hole. She set her fingers into the fireplace, and brought them out. Her fingertips were black. She rubbed her thumb over the silken ashes, and spread them over her fingers.

'Whose been using this place.' She though, 'runaways? Homeless people?' she shot a glance at the bottles on the table, 'Drunks?'

She got up and went to what used to be her mothers room. She opened the door and quickly realized that whoever it was was only using the main room. Her mother's room was covered in dust and dirt and rotting leaves. Something scurried out of her vision, and from a hole in the rotten floor, the beginnings of a small tree were growing.

Before she had time to contemplate this, she heard the front door creak. She stifled a small gasp, and hid herself in the darkness of the room, pushing the room door closed, save for a small crack. She kneeled down in the dirt and tried to make out the figures moving in the darkness. Someone was thrown to the floor as someone else set something on the table with a soft thud. A moment passed, and a small, clay lantern on the table which was shaped like a small wolf glowed with light, illuminating the room, spilling light onto Ghant's face as he set down a tinderbox next to a small, clay lantern which was shaped like a small wolf. He turned around to the group that had been with him earlier, and smirked as they stood over Luc, who was bound at the wrists, laying still on the floor.

-M.K.Barry

Chapter 2: Trinkets ........ Chapter 4: Cornered

A Proper Young Thief: Chapter 2: Trinkets

A Proper Young Thief

M.K.Barry

Chapter 2: Trinkets

Luc wasn't at supper.

Lord Mintas and his guest from Rawlins sat alone at the long table in the bright dining room. A large, wide window looked out into the fields, which were tinted red in the light of the setting sun. It was dark enough, however, to warrant several large candles on the table.A small cluster of them sat at one end, where Lord Mintas sat at the head of the table, with the Rawlian man to his right. Lissa didn't know who the man was, and knew better than to ask, but the way he carried himself made her think that he was a very important man. Perhaps he was even more important than Lord Mintas. Lord Mintas sat in his best finery, a red silken tunic and matching pants with gold embroidery forming looping patterns at the cuffs. A large gold chain hung around his neck, and he had a collection of rings on his hand. Upon closer inspection, one could see that the rings were old and tarnished, that the clothes were frayed, and a little too small for Lord Mintas' girth. The Rawlian man, on the other hand, was dressed in subtler finery. A Dark blue tunic with simple silver buttons, and a plain silver chain around his neck. He wore one ring, a gold signet ring. He was old, his face seemed sunken, his eyes large, and what was left of his white and wiry hair was slicked back with oil. Regardless of his age, his movements were sure. He sat straight, never slumped, and when he spoke, it was either with a playful, careless tone, or a tone of strict coolness. It made Lord Mintas' occasional stammer seem worse. When Lissa, who for the most part was hiding in the corner, was beckoned forth to pour the man a fresh goblet of wine, she was terrified of making a mistake, of spilling the wine, or dropping the fancy decanter that Lord Mintas had apparently insisted they use, along with the rest of his finest dishes, most garish dishes.

“Very nice.” the guest said as Lissa finished pouring his drink in one fluid motion. He took a long sip and nodded at Lissa, “Indeed, very nice.”

Lissa bent her knees in a half curtsey, and moved back to her corner where she could remain silent. She occupied herself by thinking of the nice meal she would have later. The leftovers.

Lord Mintas nodded while he chewed something, then swallowed loudly before raising his goblet, “Nothing compared to what you're used to in Rawlins, Lawson.”

“Granted that, but my business allows me some special privileges.”

'He's not a Lord.' Lissa thought. 'A Lord wouldn't be in any kind of business.'

“Such privileges too.” he took a deep drink of wine, “But not the Privileges you want, am I right?”

“I am not used to talking around issues, Lord Mintas.” he said, “If you have something to say to me, say it.” he was standing so still, and speaking with such a careless, cold tone that for a moment it was hard for Lissa to imagine he was as old as he was.

“You're old.” Lord Mintas said after a long pause.

“I am.” Lawson said, nodding in contented agreement. “I didn't think that was a crime. It's hardly something I can be blamed for.”

“Of course.” Lord Minras said, “And you've lived a good, long, full life. Outlived two wives, didn't you?”

Lissa saw Lawson clench his hand on his lap, which was hidden from Lord Mintas's view. 'He's lost his wife as well... how could be be so heartless?”

Lawson looked up and gave a broad smile as he forced his hand to relax, “Yes. Two wives, one to illness, and the other to childbirth. I've also outlived two children.”
“It's a sad thing when a parent outlives their offspring... But you have one left, aye?”

“I do.”

“A girl?”

“Yes. She's nearing twenty.”

“And... unwed?”

“While she is my own pride and joy, the sickness that killed her mother destroyed her beauty.”

“Her face is deformed.”

“Yes.”

“Makes her hard to marry off. Especially if you wanted to marry into a noble family.”

Lissa clutched at the decanter. It was painfully clear what he was getting at now. He wanted his son, he wanted Luc, to marry some woman from Rawlins. Some deformed woman from Rawlins!

“You're not suggesting that you want your son to marry a common woman from Rawlins.”

Lord Mintas glanced up at Lissa, then back at Lawson. Lissa was supposed to be invisible. She didn't matter.

“Well, your own little business won't bring you into any nobility.”

“No. it won't. What I'm asking is why does this matter to you? You're son hasn't met my daughter, so I doubt it's love at first sight. Even if they had met I would doubt-”

“The nature of your business puts you close to lords in Rawlins.” Lord Mintas said. “Very close. And if someone like myself, a relative nobody in terms of Kingdom politics wanted to move up-”

“Ahh. I see.” Lawson rose his goblet to his lisp and took a deep sip. “But at the same time, I have to think of my daughter's well being.”
“Of course. Well, it goes without saying that I have an interest in the continuation of your business.”

“And my daughter? If your son can't make it to a simple meal...”

“Well, he's normally more reliable than this.”

“And what of myself? As you yourself said, I'm old.” he half drank the rest of his wine and motioned for another refill from Lissa. She came forward and again concentrated on pouring the wine without spilling it. She didn't notice Lawson looking her up and down, eying the curve of the dress against her waist, or how her hair fell around her face. “What of my comfort in my old age?”

“...I'm sure something can be arranged.”

Lissa slipped into the servants quarters. Lord Mintas and Lawson had finished their dinner hours ago, and went into Lord Mintas' study to continue their discussion. Lissa had eaten leftovers, and helped clean up before going to bed. Now Her mother was in the room, unrolling the clothes that Lissa had been poking through earlier.

“How was the dinner?” She asked. She unrolled her brown dress before turning around to Lissa. She froze, and stared at her for a moment.

Lissa sighed and started to undo the lacing. “Sorry I borrowed it without asking. Theresa told me to wear something nice, and I didn't have anything that would do.”

“It.. it's fine.”

“I am sorry. Were you looking for it?”

her mother came up and put her hands in Lissa's shoulders. The years since Lissa's father had gone had been hard on her. Her once smooth face was lined with wrinkles. Her hair was white and thinning, her hands were worn and calloused. The worst thing, however, was her resignation. The way she seemed to take everything, accept everything with the same method of plunging forward.

“I was.” She said after looking over her for a few moments, “But I think it looks better on you.”

“You do?” Lissa looked down at herself, and ran her hands over the curve of her hips.

“You look a little like I did when I was younger.”

She took her hand and gently held it to Lissa's cheek, cupping her cheek and holding her face towards her, examining her.

“You're a good girl.” She said. “I'll miss you when you're gone.”
Lissa smiled and gave her mother a quick hug, “I'm not going anywhere.”

Lissa's mother frowned, and was about to say something when the door opened, and Theresa poked her head in. “Ah.” She said, eying Lissa, “You're still dressed. Good.”
Lissa gave a small sigh, and turned towards Theresa, tying up the lacing once more. “Yes, I'm still dressed. What do you need?”

“Lord Mintas's guest is spending the night here, rather than sleeping at the inn. Lord Mintas wants you to bring some wine to his room.”

“More? He had a lot at supper.”

Theresa nodded and have an irritated sigh, “well, I guess when you're as important as he is, as rich as he is, you can afford to be soused night after night.” She half left the room, then poked her head back in, “Just make sure you bring him the decanter of wine I set on the table.” She turned, and let the door close behind her.

Lissa sighed and gave her mother a firm hug. “Thank you.” she said before chasing after Theresa. She let the door swing closed behind her, and took the stairs two at a time until she was at the kitchen. It had been a long day and she wanted nothing more than to lay down and rest.

On the kitchen table was a silver platter with a single goblet, and the decanter from earlier. Lissa muttered under her breath before picking up the tray and carefully making her way out of the kitchen. It would be a lot easier to just carry the decanter up the stairs without the tray. However, presentation was important, and Lissa know that Lord Mintas, if he was trying to impress Lawson, would do so by flaunting his nice things, his prettiest dishes, the finest linens which she herself had made the guest bed with. He would flaunt his nicest trinkets in attempts of impressing him.

She pushed the door out of the kitchen, and toed her way through the hall. The candles in the hall had been snuffed, and the only light was coming from the moon outside. Lissa was glad that there was nothing on the floor, but still traced her route with her toes. The stairs made her shiver as she started to climb them. They were narrow and steep, and she often slipped on her way up, and had to clutch at the railings to keep from falling. Now, in the near dark, and with a heavy tray in her hands, she had to feel her way up. Pushing her toe against each step before moving. It was slow and tedious progress, but she made her way to the top of the stairs, went down the hall, slowing only for a moment before Luc's door to see if she could hear anything. When she couldn't, she sighed and went on to the guest room. She knocked gently at the door, and waited until she heard a muffled, “Come in.”

She opened the door and walked into the mostly darkened room, Lawson was standing by the window, looking at the view which stretched over the village and into the forest on the other side of town. The full moon cast it light onto the clouds below it, making them glow vividly, and warping the light on the darkened landscape below. Between a thin bed and the window was a nightstand, with a single candle flickering on it.

Lissa walked up to the nightstand, and set the wine down, gently shifting the candle out of the way as she did.

“I've brought you your wine, Sir,” She said. “Is there anything else?”

“Yes,” He turned around slowly, and took a moment to look her over. “You're beautiful, you know?” He smirked, and gave short little laugh. He seemed to be standing less stiffly than he had been at dinner. Perhaps he was indeed very drunk. “I'm sorry. Like I said at dinner, I'm not one to skirt issues. Can we go right at it, or do you need a drink first?”

“...I beg your pardon sir?”

“You haven't been told?” Lawson muttered under his breath, “That Lord Mintas is a tactless one, isn't he?”

“What do you mean?”

“You're mine. In return for my only living daughter... I get you.”

-M.K.Barry

Chapter 1: The Little Thiefling ...... Chapter 3: It's Called Desperation