Chapter Text
A woman sits at a desk quill in hand, her parchment lit by candle light. She appears deep in thought, bowed low enough that her short black hair brushes the page as her quill speeds across it, pressed hard enough to almost tear a hole right through, the quill splitting, large ink blots make the writing almost illegible. Still she continues as if nothing is wrong.
I fear many people have no idea how close the world came to being plunged into eternal darkness. The evils I have encountered on my travels have been many, the fear of failure extenuated by the feeling of helplessness and inadequacy, I feel I should record them as to make sure they can not be forgotten. Or Goddess forbid, repeated.
Though my early life seemed difficult while growing up as a street urchin in Harburg, stealing for a living after running away from the orphanage I was sent to after my parents died, barely able to read, stealing just to survive, compared to the trouble I found myself in, it seems as though it were a much simpler time....
A street urchin stands in the shadow of a side street, noble men and women pass by without a second glance hurrying to the safety of home before the darkness fully descends onto the town.
"Nobles." The urchin sneers, eyes narrowed as they watch them walk by. Men chortle amongst themselves, sneaking glances toward the women who giggle behind gilded fans attempting to catch their eye. "Look at them, not a care in the world."
"Come on Mel," the street rat, Mel, startles, pulling a knife from the waistband of her patchwork breeches, nearly cutting a new hole into them at the speed she removes it, and turning toward the voice, a balding man stands with a smile more akin to baring of teeth than a show of joy. "Them not having a care makes life that much easier for us."
"Goddess Boden! I've told you before not to do that," She hissed, slipping the rusted blade back into place. Careful not to catch herself with it. "and what's this us? I'm the one that does all the dirty work around here, not you."
Boden looks down at her, scowl in place, arms crossed over his threadbare shirt.
"Without me you wouldn't have any jobs to begin with, this is a symbiotic relationship here, one without the other and it's mutual destruction, you understand?"
Mel rolls her eyes at the man, turning back toward the nobles she so hated. Baring her teeth in renewed anger.
"I've told you before not to use such big words. I don't know what you're trying to say to me."
A sigh comes from the man. "What I mean is without me," a hand grips her upper arm tight enough to bruise and pulls her round, face inches from Bodens. "You would be dead if not worse. Or have you forgotten how I saved you from the guards."
Boden keeps eye contact for a few more seconds before he releases Mel's arm and steps back.
"I know I'm a bastard. But at least I admit it. Us in the underbelly, we have to look out for each other cause no one else is gonna. You're my best thief Mel. I raised you as if you were my own, taught you all my tricks. It would be a disappointment if all that hard work was put to waste."
Mel grins. "Aww Boden! I always knew you had a heart in there somewhere, as shrivelled as it must be. You almost sounded as if you worry about me then."
He rolls his eyes as he turns and walks deeper into the alleyway.
"Yeah yeah. Come on, I've got a new job for you."
As the two walk further from the lamp lights of the upper district the buildings become more and more rundown. Many looking to be condemned. They should be abandoned but the two know that they're far from what they appear. The bricks turn from a grey to almost black from mould and detritus. No street lamps are lit but silhouettes can be seen moving around in the darker shadows, low voices sounding like hissing. Not many people will be out much longer, to the south growls can be heard, not from animals, but from the monsters. It's not often they wander into the town from the forest, but it has been known to happen, and with the slums being so close to the tree line one can never be too careful.
They arrive at a door that looks like a strong breeze would blow it down. As Boden attempts to shoulder it open Mel looks into the street from the corner of her eye, a habit she picked up from the years of observing her surroundings and targets as to not arouse suspicion, and to keep an eye on her back to make sure she isn't caught off guard.
She sees a young boy no older than nine sulking round a corner into one of the rundown buildings, eyes shifting every which way as if to be sure no one is following. A strip of light appears then disappears just as quickly as he makes it into shelter. No sooner has the door closed a older man turns into the street. The man is heavy set, out of breath and sweating. Face bright red, eyes darting about. On his fingers Mel can see several rings, some with gems that look to be worth quite a bit of money. His clothes are nothing to sniff at either, looking to be inlaid with golden thread and silken lining where the waist coat doesn't close over his full physique.
"Hey you!" The man stalks toward the alcove they are stood in. Face pulled into an awful grimace. By just the look of him he seems unhappy to even be in the vicinity of the two never mind talking to them. Mel rolls her eyes as he approaches. Of course. She thinks to herself.
"I'm taking to you, you street rat!" He puffs. "I'm looking for someone, a child. He -"
"I haven't seen anyone." Mel cuts him off before he can start his rambling, not having the patience to even listen to the man who is so obviously looking down on her. Boden cursing behind her as he moves the door another inch.
His face turns purple, fists clenching and teeth grinding. "Now see here you little-!"
"Shit!" The door finally swings open and Boden falls into the entrance, dust lifting off the floor. Mel grabs him by the arm and helps him up as he spouts even more curses to himself.
"I'd suggest you make you're way back into your own part of town. Before you lose some of those fancy rings you have there. Goodnight, sir."
Mel slams the door in the man's face before groaning as she turns back to Boden, who is brushing the dust off his trousers and muttering to himself.
"You'd think that they'd have more sense than to walk into this part of town with that much jewellery. I wouldn't be surprised if he lost more than a few rings on his way home tonight."
Boden walked down the hallway into his office, Mel close behind. The echoing of their footsteps bouncing down the long corridor. No other sounds can be heard from in the building apart from the usual creaking of the walls, which means all the other thieves are out, either on jobs, or hunting for information.
"What's this job you have for me then, boss?" Mel drawls.
"Its a simple one, don't you worry." Boden starts shuffling through the papers scattered on his desk, no organisation to speak of. "Here we go."
He doesn't bother handing the paper over to Mel knowing it moot as she only has a simple grasp over the written language. He taught her the basics, but 'reading isn't needed for thievery' as Mel has told him too many times to count.
"A woman wants you to go into a house not far from here, 12 factory road. Apparently when her mother died the brother stole some valuables saying it was his inheritance."
"And she wants them all back so it can be split evenly?"
"Not quite. She only wants one thing, a hand painted fan. Supposedly, it's been in the family for generations, more sentimental than monetary value, she's worried when her brother finds out he'll just throw it away. Think you can do it?"
"How much for the job?"
"Says here she doesn't have much money to spare, thinks she can scrape together 20 gold, after my cut you get about 17. How about it?"
Mel furrows her brow in thought, silence stretches between them for a few moments. Boden knows not to interrupt Mel as she is thinking. Should be quite quick, just in grab the fan and out. But if it's a man he could be two times bigger than me, maybe more. Not to mention how much stronger than me he'll probably be. Is it worth the risk? But 17 gold. That could last 3, maybe 4 days... Mel finally seems to reach a conclusion as she remakes eye contact, determination clear within her gaze.
"You can count on me Boden. I'll get it done."
"That's my girl. Needs to be done by the night after next, think that's doable?"
"Please, it almost sounds like you think I can't do it. A simple pick up? I was doing this when I was fresh out the orphanage."
Boden leans forward on the desk, fingers interlocked under his chin. "I know how good you are kid, don't tie yourself in knots. It just seems to me like it's been a while since you've had a proper meal. You've lost weight again, you're pretty much blending into the walls."
"Yeah yeah, all the better to get in and out without being noticed. I'll be back soon with the fan, don't wait up."
Mel made her way to the door, standing on the floor board that is half raised that makes entering the building so hard. The door closes softly behind her. The street is now empty of any people, darkness fully engulfing the town. Mel takes a deep breath in and let's it out slowly. Time to get to work.
Rather than go directly to the house, Mel takes a meandering walk around, going down side streets and sticking to the shadows. Making sure to keep out of sight of the guards she finally makes it to the house in question.
No lights are visible from the windows Mel can see and so she walks up to the door. Might as well check here before I attempt any windows. She thinks to herself. Slowly, Mel pushes the door open, luckily for her the hinges don't seem too rusted and the door makes minimal noise, unnoticeable unless stood within a few yards. Slipping through the small gap Mel shuts the door silently. Score one for me, now where's this fan hiding.
As Mel searches draws and chests in the first room she can hear loud snoring coming from one of the rooms further into the house. Hope the fan isn't in there, but knowing my luck it probably will be. Ugh, just what I needed tonight. Might as well get it out of the way then. Taking slow measured steps Mel makes her way to the room with the sleeping man, peeking round the doorway she spots him, still fully dressed with even his shoes still on. The strong scent of alcohol and vomit comes from the side of the bed the man is facing. Either he's drowning his sorrows, or celebrating, either way the booze should keep him under long enough for me to find what I'm looking for.
As Mel gets closer to the bed some light from the window catches on something half stuck underneath it. The fan. A grin bleeds across Mel's face as she spots it. Gotcha. As she bends down to grab the fan she sees a small bag on the floor that looks to have some gold coins in. Debating with herself as to whether it's worth the risk of the noise waking up the man if she takes that as well. I don't have to take it. However. Having a bit more money wouldn't hurt. Making up her mind Mel decides it to be worth the risk and after putting the fan into her satchel wraps her hand around the entire bag, attempting to muffle the noise of the coins clinking together. The man snorts in his sleep and Mel freezes. If he wakes up now he'll see me right away, and there's nowhere to hide. Dammit! Holding her breath Mel prays to the goddess that the man stays asleep. After a few tense seconds the man rolls over and continues to snore. Letting out the breath she was holding Mel puts the small bag into her satchel as well and wastes no time fleeing the home.
Double checking that no one saw her leaving the house Mel makes her way back to Bodens office. Deciding to take an alternate route back Mel walks past the eastern entrance to the city and in the not so distance she can see Darkthrop tower rising above even the mansions on the hill. The town sitting in the shadow of a monument to evil. The people say that Mordred Darkthrop haunts the entire area of forest that surrounds it and if one sets foot into it they will be cursed for the rest of their days, others say it's just the tower that's cursed.
As Mel walks by she can hear shuffling just within the tree line, eyes drawn to the noise as if compelled and she makes eye contact with some one, or something. The eyes are blood red and from the light of the moon she can see teeth appear as the figure smiles, they almost look like fangs. The smile soon turn into a snarl however and Mel is frozen in fear, dread filling her body. A loud bang comes from one of the houses behind her and she flinches, eyes darting away for a second, but when she looks back the figure is gone, but the panic remains. Heart pounding Mel decides to hurry along, keeping her eyes glued to the cobblestones and she practically runs back to safety. She feels eyes on her the whole way and she pounds on the door as she reaches it feeling more and more frantic until it finally opens to Boden scowling down at her.
"For Goddess' sake Mel what have I told you about-" the scowl makes way for a worried grimace as he sees her. She dreads to think what she looks like. "What is it? What happened?" He questions as he grabs her shoulder and pulls her in the door, automatically putting the latch on. His hands grip Mel's forearms and he checks her over for any injuries.
"I- I thought I saw someone- something- I- I don't know what happened, this feeling of danger just came over me and I panicked and ran." Mel is still trying to slow her heart rate, smothering the urge to check over her shoulder even though she knows she's safe inside. The pricking sensation of eyes on her back still hasn't faded.
"Don't worry." Boden tries for a soothing tone. "You're back home safe and sound nothing to worry about. It was probably just one of the trolls from the forest wandering into town again. Even if it saw you I doubt it could have kept up. You're fine."
"Yeah... yeah I'm fine. Nothing to worry about." As Mel's heart rate evens out she realises how silly it was to get so worked up over a figure that might have even been a trick of the light. Feeling embarrassed, she pulls the fan out and hands it to Boden refusing to make eye contact until the flush recedes from her cheeks.
"You don't have to look so embarrassed." Boden takes the fan from Mel's hand inspecting the paintwork on it. "Haven't I always told you it's better for you to be cautious than in trouble. Mistaking danger is fine. Ignoring signs means you're dead. Remember that." He snaps the fan shut and stashes it on his person. "I'll trade this fan for the payment tomorrow. Go get a proper meal and some sleep, there's some stew on the hearth, George caught a few rats so there's plenty to go round."
Boden makes his way to the office latching the door behind him when he enters. Mel stays frozen by the entryway. A few minutes pass by as Mel listens to the sounds of the building. Upstairs she can hear some of the younger kids laughing at something. It fills her with warmth to know that even though so long ago she lost her parents, she still managed to find a family. A place she belongs. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Little did I know the comfort and security I had was soon to be ripped away from me. And I would not be able to return to my little family for a long, long time...