Fan Fiction ❯ Master Theif ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: DarkObsesser 
Enter Tavern and Kaya. Oh, and, please review
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Comedy / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.19.2005 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.9K | Visits: 399 | Status: Completed
Enter Tavern and Kaya. Oh, and, please review
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Comedy / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.19.2005 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.9K | Visits: 399 | Status: Completed
Tavern sprinted down the street, shoving the oncoming traffic aside. People shouted and waved their fists, but Tavern ignored them. He had to escape. He arrived at a gap in the crowd and skidded to a stop. Tavern looked around, then ducked into a small alleyway. He bent over, bracing himself on his knees, desperately trying to catch his breath. ‘I hope I got away,’ he thought. Tavern was too tired to see the shadow. One of the large men who had been chasing Tavern earlier came up from behind and whacked him in the head.
The other man jogged up, club in hand. They grinned at one another and began to beat him. He tried to get up, but one of the men slammed him back down with his foot. Tavern thought he felt a few ribs crack. Pain exploded throughout his body. His head was pounding and he could not see due to the blow to his head. The men knew he was in pain, and they enjoyed it. The blows started coming even harder. Tavern saw no way out.
"Stop!" After what had seemed to him like a century of beating, Tavern's mind could couldn’t function. He could not concentrate on anything but his own pain. He didn’t notice when the voice spoke again.
"How dare you hurt this boy? What has he done to you?" the voice asked accusingly, as they came rushing over to Tavern. Taver was startled when hands grabbed him, helping him up. His vision was still impaired, so he had no choice but to accept the assistance.
"Are you all right?" a woman whispered into Tavern's ear. Before he could answer, someone else spoke up.
"What has he done to me?! What has he done to me?! He stole food from my inn, that's what he's done to me!" Tavern knew that voice. I'm surprised that the little butter ball had made it this far, he thought. It was Stanton, the innkeeper. Tavern had stolen from him before, but only because the man was a prick.
At the age of forty, and at a height of barley five feet, Stanton Innsman* had become wider than he was tall and one of the greediest men around Middle Market. The food had cost more than Tavern had with him, so he had tried to skip out on his bill. He did it all the time. Only this time, Stanton had hired thugs to stop him. Tavern could imagine in his mind what Stanton was doing while he ranted about what an ingrate Tavern was. His small, pudgy face turning six different shade of purple. Little digits curling up and being waved at him. Spittle flying from his mouth.
Here,” said the voice. There was a clink of coins. The ranting stopped abruptly.
"This should pay for what he took," Stanton grunted. Tavern could hear him rattle the coins around. He was counting it up, seeing if he could squeeze more from the woman. Tavern was surprised when he heard Stanton walk away. The heavier steps that followed meant that his bully boys were gone as well. Tavern reasoned that the voice must belong to some high born's daughter, for Stanton to walk away like that. Suddenly, lights played across Tavern's vision. He swayed, almost falling back down, but the girl still had a grip on him.
"Steady now. Your sight will come back in a second. Just hold still," she said, her voice holding a much gentler tone than it had when she was dealing with Stanton.
"How would you know?" Tavern asked.
"I fell out of a tree when I was five and hit my head on a root. I was blind for a week. I learned about pressure points from the healers who treated me. And," she added, chuckling a little, "not to climb trees that were half dead." Slowly Tavern's vision returned, but he had to close his eyes. The sun was blinding. (No pun intended.)
She let go of Tavern and started inspecting his wounds. From the sounds she was making Tavern suspected that he would be the colors of the rainbow before the day was over.
"What do we have here? Oh, that needs to be wrapped up." Tavern reached up to the spot on his head that she was indicating, and felt warm, sticky blood on his head. The sting caused him to wince. The girl tore up her petticoat and wrapped the strips around his head.
"That should do for now, but you should see a doctor." Tavern nodded, swaying again. The girl caught him on the chest before he fell. Tavern hissed in pain. She snatched her hand away.
"Oh, I'm sorry.” The girl slowly felt around his chest to see what was wrong. "No cracks or breaks, I think you're ribs are just extreamly bruised up. Again, you need to see a doctor before too long. Those men really beat you up." Tavern tentatively opened his eyes to see he damage for himself. The light was bright, but not as it was before. Tavern looked at his rescuer. The first thing he noticed was that she was around his height, with the longest hair he had ever seen. It came down past her waist and was a golden blond. He studied the rest of her.
Her eyes were a sharp blue. She had nice features, and almost no nose to speak of. Every bit of her was slim and petite. Only her fingers were long and graceful. She wore a plain dress with a long, green skirt and white top with puffed sleeves. Her shoes were made of basic brown leather. Over everything was a long, very fine, green cloak. She had pulled back the hood.
"Do you know a place were we can talk? I need to find someone, and I am hopelessly lost." Tavern nodded and they walked off. Once they had gotten back out in the open street, Kaya had put her hood back up. She had kept her head low and avoided answering most Taverns’ questions. As they strolled down the street Tavern learned that the girl’s name was Kaya. She was 16, which was only a few months younger than him.
Everything else Tavern got out of her was vague. She was looking for someone and at the same time hiding from someone. Kaya seemed to be a master at avoiding Tavern's ploys. He would ask one thing and she would slither out of it and into another subject before he could react. It was a talent Tavern wished he could master. Tavern and Kaya made their way through the streets of Middle Market. It was confusing, to be sure, but Tavern had never become lost in Middle Market. It was no where near as complicated as Lower Ways, where Tavern could easily become lost.
Tavern was taking Kaya to an inn near Upper Heights. It belonged to one of his friends. As they neared it, Kaya looked a frantic.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice a little panicky.
"An inn. It's called the Broken Arrow. My friend owns it. Why?" Tavern replied.
"Aren't we a little close to Upper Heights?"
"Just a bit, so don't be so nervous. Afraid a friend is going to spot you walking with a commoner?" He teased. Kaya's eyes widened and she stopped dead in her tracks. She stared at Tavern.
"How did you know I was a high born?" Tavern thought if her eyes went any larger they would pop out.
"I guessed." He explained. "Your clothes, no matter how simple they may look, are of a finer make than what you would normally find around here. The same with your cloak, and the way it's dyed. The color is rich and deep, also much better than anything you would find around here." Tavern jerked his thumb back in the direction of the ally. "Then there was the thing back there with Stanton. There is no way anyone but a high born could have paid him off like that."
Kaya gasped. "Is it really that obvious? Can others tell, to?"
Tavern laughed. "No, probably not. I'm just a bit more perceptive than others,” he grinned. "You see, in a way, it’s kind of my job." Oh, yeah Tavern. Great way to put it. But, what am I supposed to say? "Hey! I'm a thief! I can spot a high born and how rich they are from a mile away. Then I rob ‘em!" That would be the perfect way to put it. Not.
Kaya sighed in relief. "That's good. No can know who I am." This last part was whispered so quietly that Tavern almost did not catch it over the din of the street crowd. He cocked an eyebrow.
"Why can't anyone know who you are? It's not like you’re wanted for murder or something." When she did not reply, he asked. "Are you in trouble with the King's Guards or something?"
"No...not exactly the Guard," Kaya said slowly.
"Then what?" Tavern prompted. Kaya shut her eyes and shook her head. Hair threatened to break free it's confinement under the hood.
"Just forget it. Look, I really need to get off the street. So, let’s just go, OK?" She looked at Tavern, waiting for him to lead the way. As they resumed walking, Tavern thought over the conversation. Who was she? What was she hiding from? Tavern realized that the only way for him to find out was to get to the Broken Arrow, where she might be comfortable enough to open up. He increased his pace. Tavern was going to find put what Kaya was hiding, even if it was the last thing he did.
============================================================= ===========
*A cultural note on Dacosta. The last names are not the same as they are today. They tell everyone else what your profession is. Ex: Stanton Innsman, Tavern and Arian Guildsman, ect. So, if Tavern goes to stay the night in an inn, he gives them his last name, Guildsman and he sticks the word "Of" after it and then tells the name of whatever city he is from. Ex: Guildsman Of Capitol City.
What your last name is and where you are from determines what kind of room you get.
Now, the high born's, or nobles, are named after their parents. Like, say, Neville Raymondsson. Now, if it's a girl, she takes on the name of her mother, like Mary Hannasdaughter. This is also true for royalty. Sage is a minor exception the rules of last names. Don't ask why.
The other man jogged up, club in hand. They grinned at one another and began to beat him. He tried to get up, but one of the men slammed him back down with his foot. Tavern thought he felt a few ribs crack. Pain exploded throughout his body. His head was pounding and he could not see due to the blow to his head. The men knew he was in pain, and they enjoyed it. The blows started coming even harder. Tavern saw no way out.
"Stop!" After what had seemed to him like a century of beating, Tavern's mind could couldn’t function. He could not concentrate on anything but his own pain. He didn’t notice when the voice spoke again.
"How dare you hurt this boy? What has he done to you?" the voice asked accusingly, as they came rushing over to Tavern. Taver was startled when hands grabbed him, helping him up. His vision was still impaired, so he had no choice but to accept the assistance.
"Are you all right?" a woman whispered into Tavern's ear. Before he could answer, someone else spoke up.
"What has he done to me?! What has he done to me?! He stole food from my inn, that's what he's done to me!" Tavern knew that voice. I'm surprised that the little butter ball had made it this far, he thought. It was Stanton, the innkeeper. Tavern had stolen from him before, but only because the man was a prick.
At the age of forty, and at a height of barley five feet, Stanton Innsman* had become wider than he was tall and one of the greediest men around Middle Market. The food had cost more than Tavern had with him, so he had tried to skip out on his bill. He did it all the time. Only this time, Stanton had hired thugs to stop him. Tavern could imagine in his mind what Stanton was doing while he ranted about what an ingrate Tavern was. His small, pudgy face turning six different shade of purple. Little digits curling up and being waved at him. Spittle flying from his mouth.
Here,” said the voice. There was a clink of coins. The ranting stopped abruptly.
"This should pay for what he took," Stanton grunted. Tavern could hear him rattle the coins around. He was counting it up, seeing if he could squeeze more from the woman. Tavern was surprised when he heard Stanton walk away. The heavier steps that followed meant that his bully boys were gone as well. Tavern reasoned that the voice must belong to some high born's daughter, for Stanton to walk away like that. Suddenly, lights played across Tavern's vision. He swayed, almost falling back down, but the girl still had a grip on him.
"Steady now. Your sight will come back in a second. Just hold still," she said, her voice holding a much gentler tone than it had when she was dealing with Stanton.
"How would you know?" Tavern asked.
"I fell out of a tree when I was five and hit my head on a root. I was blind for a week. I learned about pressure points from the healers who treated me. And," she added, chuckling a little, "not to climb trees that were half dead." Slowly Tavern's vision returned, but he had to close his eyes. The sun was blinding. (No pun intended.)
She let go of Tavern and started inspecting his wounds. From the sounds she was making Tavern suspected that he would be the colors of the rainbow before the day was over.
"What do we have here? Oh, that needs to be wrapped up." Tavern reached up to the spot on his head that she was indicating, and felt warm, sticky blood on his head. The sting caused him to wince. The girl tore up her petticoat and wrapped the strips around his head.
"That should do for now, but you should see a doctor." Tavern nodded, swaying again. The girl caught him on the chest before he fell. Tavern hissed in pain. She snatched her hand away.
"Oh, I'm sorry.” The girl slowly felt around his chest to see what was wrong. "No cracks or breaks, I think you're ribs are just extreamly bruised up. Again, you need to see a doctor before too long. Those men really beat you up." Tavern tentatively opened his eyes to see he damage for himself. The light was bright, but not as it was before. Tavern looked at his rescuer. The first thing he noticed was that she was around his height, with the longest hair he had ever seen. It came down past her waist and was a golden blond. He studied the rest of her.
Her eyes were a sharp blue. She had nice features, and almost no nose to speak of. Every bit of her was slim and petite. Only her fingers were long and graceful. She wore a plain dress with a long, green skirt and white top with puffed sleeves. Her shoes were made of basic brown leather. Over everything was a long, very fine, green cloak. She had pulled back the hood.
"Do you know a place were we can talk? I need to find someone, and I am hopelessly lost." Tavern nodded and they walked off. Once they had gotten back out in the open street, Kaya had put her hood back up. She had kept her head low and avoided answering most Taverns’ questions. As they strolled down the street Tavern learned that the girl’s name was Kaya. She was 16, which was only a few months younger than him.
Everything else Tavern got out of her was vague. She was looking for someone and at the same time hiding from someone. Kaya seemed to be a master at avoiding Tavern's ploys. He would ask one thing and she would slither out of it and into another subject before he could react. It was a talent Tavern wished he could master. Tavern and Kaya made their way through the streets of Middle Market. It was confusing, to be sure, but Tavern had never become lost in Middle Market. It was no where near as complicated as Lower Ways, where Tavern could easily become lost.
Tavern was taking Kaya to an inn near Upper Heights. It belonged to one of his friends. As they neared it, Kaya looked a frantic.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice a little panicky.
"An inn. It's called the Broken Arrow. My friend owns it. Why?" Tavern replied.
"Aren't we a little close to Upper Heights?"
"Just a bit, so don't be so nervous. Afraid a friend is going to spot you walking with a commoner?" He teased. Kaya's eyes widened and she stopped dead in her tracks. She stared at Tavern.
"How did you know I was a high born?" Tavern thought if her eyes went any larger they would pop out.
"I guessed." He explained. "Your clothes, no matter how simple they may look, are of a finer make than what you would normally find around here. The same with your cloak, and the way it's dyed. The color is rich and deep, also much better than anything you would find around here." Tavern jerked his thumb back in the direction of the ally. "Then there was the thing back there with Stanton. There is no way anyone but a high born could have paid him off like that."
Kaya gasped. "Is it really that obvious? Can others tell, to?"
Tavern laughed. "No, probably not. I'm just a bit more perceptive than others,” he grinned. "You see, in a way, it’s kind of my job." Oh, yeah Tavern. Great way to put it. But, what am I supposed to say? "Hey! I'm a thief! I can spot a high born and how rich they are from a mile away. Then I rob ‘em!" That would be the perfect way to put it. Not.
Kaya sighed in relief. "That's good. No can know who I am." This last part was whispered so quietly that Tavern almost did not catch it over the din of the street crowd. He cocked an eyebrow.
"Why can't anyone know who you are? It's not like you’re wanted for murder or something." When she did not reply, he asked. "Are you in trouble with the King's Guards or something?"
"No...not exactly the Guard," Kaya said slowly.
"Then what?" Tavern prompted. Kaya shut her eyes and shook her head. Hair threatened to break free it's confinement under the hood.
"Just forget it. Look, I really need to get off the street. So, let’s just go, OK?" She looked at Tavern, waiting for him to lead the way. As they resumed walking, Tavern thought over the conversation. Who was she? What was she hiding from? Tavern realized that the only way for him to find out was to get to the Broken Arrow, where she might be comfortable enough to open up. He increased his pace. Tavern was going to find put what Kaya was hiding, even if it was the last thing he did.
============================================================= ===========
*A cultural note on Dacosta. The last names are not the same as they are today. They tell everyone else what your profession is. Ex: Stanton Innsman, Tavern and Arian Guildsman, ect. So, if Tavern goes to stay the night in an inn, he gives them his last name, Guildsman and he sticks the word "Of" after it and then tells the name of whatever city he is from. Ex: Guildsman Of Capitol City.
What your last name is and where you are from determines what kind of room you get.
Now, the high born's, or nobles, are named after their parents. Like, say, Neville Raymondsson. Now, if it's a girl, she takes on the name of her mother, like Mary Hannasdaughter. This is also true for royalty. Sage is a minor exception the rules of last names. Don't ask why.