Stealing Immortality
Origins: The King of the Thieves
Chapter One: The Thief at Market
The bazaar in
the slums of the port town Dirn was buzzing with activity. The midday
rush had begun. Merchants stood outside of their stalls, calling out
to passerby in hopes of gaining their attention. For some, their
livelihood depended on today's sales; others were luckier, with no
particular need for a good day of business, though it was naturally
welcomed with open arms. The day was a pleasant one; the normally
beating sun was just barely poking out from behind thick clouds,
which gave no signs of incoming rain. A particularly graceful young
man slipped through the crowd, gliding through the booming
marketplace with ease. He called no attention to himself as he looked
around with piercing blue eyes from underneath a black hooded cloak
decorated with navy blue swirls. He chewed the inside of his lip as
he probed the contents of each stall, searching for one with an
inattentive owner. Eventually, he spotted one whose owner was busy
chatting up a few women, trying to get them to look through his cheap
jewelry. Although the bracelets and rings were not particularly well
made, the gemstones set in them were undoubtedly real.
“And the fun
begins,” muttered the man as a mischievous smirk spread across his
face. After maneuvering his way through the bustling crowd, he
slipped behind a stack of crates, completely unseen. Luckily for the
man, the stall's owner was completely invested in the conversation
with the women. How he kept their interest was a mystery to the man,
as he was short, squat, and toad-like. He crept up to the stall,
carefully gauging the possibility of discovery. Deciding that the
time was now, he deftly snatched several pieces of jewelry as he
casually walked past the stall, stuffing them into a pouch around his
hips. He walked right by the owner, who paid him absolutely no mind,
still trying to convince the girls to browse his wares. The man
bumped shoulders with one of the women as he passed, who then
proceeded to bid the man good day as she spun on her heel and began
to calmly follow the cloaked man. She slowed down to savor the angry
shouting of the merchant, who began to scan the immediate crowd,
looking for potential thieves.
The hooded man
dodged a few people walking in his direction and sidestepped his way
into a dark alley, eventually stopping to lean against one of the
walls. He pulled his hood down and patiently waited for the woman to
arrive. He scratched the dark stubble coating a strong jawline as
shoulder length dark brown hair fell into place. His hand traveled up
his face, over an upwardly hooked nose and high cheekbones to his
eyes, which he rubbed profusely. He was quite charismatic, and his
height and lean, toned body only increased his overall
attractiveness. Eventually the woman from before turned and walked
into the alley.
“Took your
time, didn't you?”, he asked her.
“You know how
I enjoy hearing them wail in frustration,” she said politely with a
smile.
“You're a
terrible person, you know,” began the man, who stood up straight
and began to walk further into the alley, “for enjoying anguished
screams as much as you do.”
The woman
smirked. “Don't pretend you don't like them either, Varan. I've
seen that devilish grin you put on as you walk away from a successful
steal, pockets full of loot.”
“I might like
it too, but you savor it. If anguish could be manifested physically,
you'd bathe in it. Who was that other girl you were with?”, asked
Varan.
“A nice young
woman I met at the tailor's shop. Very friendly. I think you would
have liked her,” she said with a smile.
Varan scoffed
at the notion. “And why is that, Kari?”
“I don't
know. There was just something about her. Something I think you would
have found... enticing.”
He scoffed
again. “Where'd she run off to, anyway?”
“She was
about to leave until I pointed out the stall and suggested we take a
look at it.” She frowned slightly. “I believe we made her late
for something.”
“I'm sure
she'll get over it,” Varan said as he pushed open the door to a
tavern in the deepest recesses of the slums.
As soon as he
opened the door, a piss drunk man was thrown out into the alley. He
looked like his nose was broken, and he sported a black eye. He got
up, yelled something unintelligible into the tavern, and stumbled
away. Varan grinned as he checked for any more inbound patrons.
“Things like
that are why I love this place,” he said with a huge smile. After
confirming that no more men were going to be thrown out at them, he
held the door open and moved to the side.
“Ladies
first,” he said politely with a bow. “Wouldn't want to be rude.”
A large man to the side of the door looked over with a smile as they
walked in.
“Varan! Kari!
You're finally back!”, he said in a deep, booming voice. “Well?
How'd it go? Get anything good?”
“Hello,
Morris,” Kari said with a smile. “I believe today's haul was the
best in a long time. What do you think, Varan?”
“Shoddy
jewelry, but the gems are certainly real,” he said as he fished out
a necklace. He tossed it to Morris, who held it under a light and
whistled loudly.
“That's the
real deal, alright. Davus is in the usual place. I'm sure he'll be
willing to buy this for a pretty penny.” Morris tossed it back to
Varan, who snatched it out of midair. He pulled the pouch of loot off
of his belt and handed it to Kari.
“Why don't
you show him the loot while I grab us some drinks?”, he asked with
a smirk. Kari puffed out her cheeks and pouted.
“You know how
much I hate the way Davus looks at me. I'll get
the drinks,” she said sternly as she tossed the pouch back to
Varan.
“Goddammit,”
Varan muttered under his breath as he headed over to the table in the
corner.
The
man at the table was slumped in a chair. His long, greasy hair was
messy, and held behind his ears. His eyes were hidden behind a pair
of tinted glasses. He had a stern expression on his face, and in
general looked like one of the last people you'd want to see in a
dark alley.
“Davus,”
Varan said as he nodded to the man and sat down.
“Varan,”
muttered the man as he sat upright. “So, watcha got for me?”
Varan
threw him the pouch, which Davus eagerly emptied. The contents
spilled out onto the table and glittered in the dim candlelight.
Davus whistled loudly as he inspected them more closely.
“Goddamn,
Varan. Cheaply made, but these are the real thing. These are hot as
the summer sun... might be a bit too hot for me, my man.”
Varan's
expression had turned from one of pride to one of utter disgust.
“What
do you mean, too hot for you? I thought this was your game, Davus. If
you won't buy it, then you'd better be able to direct me to another
fence,” he said, his voice full of ire.
“My,
my. What's going on over here?”, asked Kari as she sat down and
handed Varan his drink.
Varan
scoffed and shook his head before pounding down the drink.
“Davus
won't buy it. 'Too hot for me,' he says.” He threw his hands up in
the air and slumped into his chair, rubbing his eyes as he did.
Kari
frowned deeply as she turned towards Davus, the mood in her eyes
changing from calm and understanding to a harsh glare.
“I'm
disappointed, Davus. You've been our fence for nearly four years now.
You've always gladly bought what we've brought you. Even the bust of
the third king from the home of a noble family in Hightown.” Her
tone was harsh, and her words stung like nettles.
Davus
gritted his teeth, then opened his mouth to speak. He couldn't find
any words to say, and eventually sighed in defeat as he sunk even
deeper into his chair.
“I
don't know, guys. There's just something about them... somethin'
nasty. I've never had a feelin' like this before. I don't get it
either. It's not even like I couldn't find a buyer for them. I know
guys who'd probably take 'em in an instant. But... it just don't seem
right.”
Varan
and Kari looked at each other, both incredibly confused by what Davus
was saying. They'd never heard anything like this from the fence
before. Eventually, Varan spoke up. “Well,
point us to a buyer. We'll tell 'em we're there in your stead.”
Davus
looked up at the ceiling, then back at them, looking thoughtful. “I
think I know a guy. I'll send him a mouth. Hang on.”
Davus
pulled a necklace out from underneath his shirt. A pendant emblazoned
with a toothy grin hung on it. He muttered something under his
breath, and the grin spun around into the form of an ear. He mumbled
a few words into the ear before it sunk into the gold of the pendant,
completely vanishing. He fiddled with it until the grin reappeared on
the surface of the pendant. He held it to his ear, and looked up at
them with a smile.
“Alright,
you two. I've got a girl who'll buy. Fifth street down from here,
deep in the second alley on the left. Toss a pebble in the fountain.
She'll show.”
Varan
grinned, and Kari did the same.
“'At's
the Davus I know," Varan said with a proud tone. "What's she buying it for?”
“Two
hundred a pop.”
Varan's
eyes widened, and Kari practically spat out the remainder of her
drink.
“Say
what now?”, asked Varan. “I was expecting at least 600 for it all
from you. But 200 a piece? Girl's crazy, but I won't complain.”
“A
rather ludicrous price indeed,” Kari said with a look of confusion.
“Are you certain you haven't been paid to put is into a trap?”
Varan
raised an eyebrow as he shifted his gaze from Kari to Davus. He stood
up and leaned in close to Davus' face. “If you are, I'll gut you
with my bare hands.” The look on his face was intimidating and
intense.
Davus
put his hands up in front of him and leaned backwards with a
frightened expression. “These might be too hot, but I'd never do
something like that to ya. Ya've gotta believe me, here.”
Kari's
expression returned to one of serenity. “Calm down, Varan. I'm sure
we'll be able to get away if he has indeed flipped. When should we
go?”
Davus'
voice cracked as he said, “any time today. You could even go now.”
Varan
sat back down in his chair. “She's got nothing better to do but
wait? Must be a bored woman.”
“Indeed,”
said Kari as she finished her drink. “A little suspicious, but if
she'll buy them for this much... Let's go, Varan.”
“Good
call,” Varan said as he stood up. “I'm getting sick of Davus'
face anyway.”
Davus
scowled. “A pleasure doin' business with you too, Varan.”
“Don't
mention it,” muttered Varan as he spun on his heel and headed for
the exit, closely followed by Kari. “Later, Morris,” he said as
he lightly punched the doorman on the shoulder and held the door for
Kari. “Stay outta trouble, kids,” Morris called after them.
