___

  I turned to leave, and as I reached out to pull back the curtain, I heard the blankets move as he stood up. “Thanks for stitching me up this morning—Izzie.” I didn’t stop the smile from showing on my face this time as I swung myself down, found my clothes, and left the guild for good.

  ___

  Three Months Later

  “Seven gold.” The shopkeeper turned the jewelry over in her hands and glanced back at me. I had my hood up, and fabric covered everything but my eyes. I was unrecognizable here.

  “No, it’s worth much more.” I kept my voice low and stern. The merchant grinned and handed it back to me.

  “Fine. Good luck then, dearie.” Taking the pieces back and turning away before tucking them into my cloak, I tried to refrain from running back to my tower. I could feel the anger course through me, but I kept my breathing calm. I couldn’t draw attention to myself here. I never came to this part of town: the outskirts were filled with richer targets, more people, and rooftops spread farther apart, so there were less quick ways of escaping. And with the weather changing, a cool crisp air was pulling at my clothes. A hint of colder weather in the months to come.

  I hated it here, but was desperate for something worthwhile to sell. It had been days since I’d had enough food to make a meal. And the trip was turning out to be worthless, anyway. Making my way through the people, and keeping my head down, I slipped the necklaces and rings into a bag I kept hidden underneath my top clothes, fingering the beads and gems that adorned them as I walked.

  My spirits were low, and I glumly made my way back to my hideout, thinking of how little coin I had left in the hiding spot next to where I slept.

  Maybe I could still buy a piece of bread, I thought. As I broke away from most of the crowds, I looked up. The sky would be almost light by the time I got back, and I wasn’t even sure I’d have time to risk robbing a house for breakfast. Sighing, I resumed my walk, grateful to finally be away from the crowds of the night markets, but begrudging the lack of coins in my pockets.

  Turning, I walked down a small alley, the quickest route back to the rooftops. My rooftops, where I belonged. My stomach rolled, and I could feel the hunger gnawing at me. It had been a long while since I had had a proper meal. I almost regretted not taking the merchant lady’s offer earlier.

  Keeping to the walls, I heard a noise up ahead. Removing my hand from my pocket where I kept the jewelry, I grabbed a throwing knife. I stayed to the side of the wall, crouching down in the shadows and away from the glow of a nearby fire. Creeping along, making sure my steps were low and silent, I saw shadows move.

  There was a young child, much too young to be out on the streets alone. That is, I thought, unless he was a thief as well. I took in their stance and assumed the small shadow figure to be a boy. He had his hands behind his back, leaning against a wall and looking straight ahead. I thought about turning back and finding another route up, but this was the fastest way. To find another route, and chance taking one I wasn’t familiar with, would take too long. The sun would be up soon, and I had to be home before it was.

  “Izzie.” The boy whispered. I watched him and he hadn’t moved. I couldn’t believe he could have spotted me, not where I was, and I hadn’t made a sound.

  “Izzie.” Again, the same thing. I was about to turn around, fearing a trap, but the next words stopped me. “Isabel, right?” The boy had turned slightly, but just enough to show it was directed at me. I stayed where I was, uncertain what to do. “I know you won’t come near me,” the boy spoke again, keeping his words low. “But it’s not a trap. Adrian sends his regards.”

  What was I doing? I was in a dark alley, wasting time I couldn’t afford. That was it. I was leaving. Turning silently, I was about to step away when the boy spoke again.

  “I have a message. Here.” I turned my head, enough to make out the small shadow placing something on the ground and walk off. He hadn’t even bothered to stay out of the fire’s light. I guessed he was small enough to not have to worry.

  Adrian, I thought. I was curious and wondered what he wanted, or how he had found me. Then again, maybe guilds have easier ways to keep tabs on someone. The thought of someone watching me made the hairs on the back of my neck itch. Looking around, I couldn’t see anyone nearby. Although it was stupid, curiosity got the better of me. Again.

  As quickly as I could manage, I crossed the street, grabbed the paper, and continued on. I wasn’t going to risking looking at it until I was back at my base, safe.

  It was a long journey back, and not one I would usually make if I wasn’t desperate. My mind wandered to the Terra Edem Guild, though I hadn’t thought about them in months. And Adrian. I thought about his room at the church and again compared it to the life I lived. But that didn’t matter, I reminded myself as I ran. That’s not my life anymore, and it couldn’t be again.

  Climbing up the tower, I swung onto the landing that worked as my front door. If I was in this same spot for much longer, I might have to cover it, as the season was growing colder. It was a small alcove. Blankets piled on the floor served as my bed, with some loose boards that I used as stash points. The tower was old, a part of a remaining section of town that this city had forgotten about.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I had known a few others who used this place as a temporary refuge, too. That didn’t mean people couldn’t steal your things, but it was unlikely since we were all living on practically nothing. A small common courtesy among the poor here. I knew from experience—it wasn’t like that everywhere.

  I crouched under a crossbeam and sat down on my makeshift bed. Grabbing a candle from a gap in the beams that I used as a shelf, I lit it with some old matches I had found earlier. I had made good time getting back here, and it wasn’t quite day enough yet to see without the extra light.

  Removing the note from my pocket, I noticed the writing was clear. As if whoever wrote it had gone to school for a while. At least long enough to pick up on clear penmanship. I had some reading ability, but I couldn’t write. And I had hardly any use for reading now, so I couldn’t make out what it said. There were more useful skills for me to have making my living thieving. Looking at the page, I realized I wasn’t going to be able to decipher the letter on my own. I hadn’t had any practice reading anything since I was a child.

  Later that next night, I headed to one of the side merchants from my place. Most merchants had some sort of training in reading and writing, or at least those whose parents made a small amount of money, or were schooled themselves. Thankfully, I found someone quickly who was willing to exchange an apple I picked up from a nearby house for the quick reading of the letter.

  The note was brief, reading:

  Izzie,

  I’m going to assume this makes it to you, since the kid I’ve hired from TE is actually pretty good at his job. However, I have a favor to ask. I need to speak to you. And I know it’s a long shot that you’ll actually show up, but I figured I’d try. I’m in jail. County 11. Stupid mistake, but anyway, come find me. East side, towards the harbor. Window, 3rd from the left, facing the old pharmacy building. I’m assuming you know of it.

  Three nights from the time this letter reaches you. The guards on shift that night are a bit lax, which might buy you more time. Guards switch every 2 hours, 15 minute gap. Don’t get caught.

  See you soon.

  A

  Memorizing the instructions that the shopkeeper told me, and returned to the safety of my tower. I didn’t know what to think, and the fact that I had paused long enough to get the letter from the boy in the alley was troubling. I knew better.

  Frowning, I thought about the letter and its information. County Eleven wasn’t a rich place. It was in a neighborhood close to the slums. And of course I knew the spot he meant, since every thief knew that the pharmacy was abandoned. Which meant it was empty of regular people, but it was a standard hangout back when I used to team up with some of the other thieves. Not that I ever had much time to hang out, trying to stay alive and all.

  Why should I even go? The thought crept in as I sat up, my back against the wall, my blankets underneath me, creating a barrier from the rough wood floor beneath. I owed Adrian nothing, and if he was stupid enough to get caught in the first place—no, I wasn’t going. There was too much risk, and for all I knew, it could be a set-up. And there was no reason for me to go, anyway. I folded up the letter and stashed it between a set of boards in the ceiling.

  Laying down, I felt the breeze through the ‘doorway’. The boards still covered most of it, and this room wasn’t really an official place in the tower. Just a small space that was probably intended for storage, or just a part of the construction scaffolding and forgotten about. It wasn’t even connected to the stairwell that ran off the tower, it had been completely abandoned. I guess that’s part of why I liked it. Only one way in. It was as safe as I could be here.

  The sun slowly came up and light filled my room between the gaps in the boards surrounding me. I could see the dust filter through the rays, and smell the mildew as the room warmed. Sighing, I checked that my money was still hidden inside the wall and covered myself with a couple of blankets. It wasn’t comfortable exactly, I thought, thinking back to Adrian’s room. While the guild itself hadn’t occupied my thoughts, Adrian’s room had often crossed my mind in the past few months. All of his knickknacks and an actual desk.

  Even the thought of having time to need a desk seemed quite funny to me. I fell asleep shortly after, remembering how soft Adrian’s bed had felt.

  I woke up when it was still daylight. That was normal. I usually spent the rest of the evening until it got dark repairing my clothing, or trying to fashion lock picks out of stray metal I had picked up. But first, I changed my clothes, removing my dirty ones and putting on my second pair of garments that I kept stashed away. Eventually, I would have to spend a few hours and take my stuff to the river. I hated it. It was out in the open, with no way to really make sure you were alone. It was too easy to get into trouble, but even so, I could only work in the same clothes for so long.

  Again, my thoughts drifted to the guild and how that lady just took my clothes and had them washed for me. I hadn’t even thought to find her and thank her before I left. So I spent some time taking a mental inventory of what I had, and crafting a few lockpicks. It wasn’t strenuous work, but it was time consuming. The problem was that it allowed me time to think of the guild, and more specifically, Adrian’s letter.

  After a while, I put down the pick I was working on and took out the letter again, just glancing over the words. He had wanted to talk to me, and probably risked that boy’s life to do it. Then again, there could have been more people around that I didn’t see. I didn’t know how things worked in a guild anymore. Especially not Terra Edem’s specifically.

  And that was just it. I didn’t know. I knew nothing of Adrian or Terra Edem. And I knew nothing about what he wanted to talk to me about, or why he would risk contacting me.

  And ultimately, my whole body was tense with curiosity. I wanted to find out. Something about this letter, and having been to his guild, intrigued me. I’d been thinking about it the night before, too, when I first got the letter.

  Terra had so much power, maybe there was something I could find out about them? Maybe even trade information in return for some real coin, I mused. Glancing outside, the sun was going down. I looked back at the letter I held in my hands.

  I knew where to go. I even knew how much time it would take for me to get there. I crouched down and sat on my bed, putting the letter back. My worn-out boots sat in their usual spot beside my bed. I slipped them on and tied the laces. I guess this meant I was going out tonight.

  I had a prison to visit.