OF THIEVES AND CONQUERORS

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Submitted Date 06/18/2019
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1. The Thief of Intemeroi

"Today's news!" A dirt-streaked newsboy shouted to the throng. "Get ya news!"

Theo filched a rolled up parchment from the newsboy's sack and sunk into the market throng. Snagging a snack from a cart of imported New Varletian peaches, he unfurled the Intemeroi weekly news. His jaw sagged at the front-page headline: The Conqueror Captures Amorian City, Calls Himself King of the Allied City-States.

Theo skimmed over the account of the battle, his eyes lingering on the only part of the story that concerned him.

 

Self-proclaimed King of the ACS sends general and soldiers to the last Free City of Intemeroi. Sources say the King plans to negotiate a peaceful transfer of power from the Intemeroi City Council into his own hands.

 

He crumpled up the paper, tossing it into a pool of muddied snow melting in the heat of the crowded market.

The cacophony of barter and trade clogged his ears as he pulled up the hood of his cloak and wound through the colorful carts. He gnawed on the peach he'd lifted off the cart, dodging peris and nymphs, daemons and daevas winding in and out of shops and arguing with cart owners in shrill tones. A water nymph shivered in a clear basin of water as children paid coppers to touch her diamond-like skin, her shimmering scaled tail.

Theo nearly toppled over a red-cloaked Traveler, blinded by the nymph's brilliance in the late afternoon sun. He glowered, of course, but the Traveler simply smiled before moving around him, recognizing a lost cause when she saw one. Her pointed hat bobbed and red-robes fluttered behind her as she strolled toward a group of children, bending down to offer them pocket-sized red books.

Theo rolled his eyes before he pushed into the melee once more.

Keeping his head down as his hands fished in and out of pockets, Theo wondered why the old conqueror had emerged from retirement. It would have been well and good if he'd stopped with Amorian since Theo didn't particularly mind seeing those wealthy bastards suffer a little.

But Intemeroi?

Intemeroi was not a wealthy city and it was a breeding ground for magic and mischief. It was no secret the so-called King of the ACS hated magic so his interest in Theo's city just didn't make sense.

Theo shook his head, hardly noticing the toothless vagrant calling out for coin as he passed an otherwise vacant ally.

The streets of Intemeroi had raised Theo. He'd lived the hard life and now he had it easy. Well, easier. And he did not intend to have his easier life destroyed by that greedy conqueror calling himself King.

Yet the Artist was always telling Theo to keep his nose out of business that could get him in trouble. "Or one day, boy," the old man would say, "someone's going to cut that pointy thing off."

So, as he did with most deliberations in his life, Theo left the decision up to Lady Luck.

He fished his last tarnished golden from his pocket and flipped it, calling heads just before it plinked into his open palm. Heads it was. He grinned.

Retracing his steps toward the alley where the bum begged, Theo tossed the coin into the man's ragged old cap. While the bum's attention was glued to the gold, Theo imagined a sootgull.

It wasn't so much imagining as creating a quick sketch in his mind. He grimaced for a moment as he tried to remember the intricacies of the sootgull wing. Tapered but not pointed, large feathers at the base and finer ones at the tip.

Yes, that was right.

The shift crackled through his veins, manifesting in a soundless explosion of skin. Theo's sootgull cawed at the clueless vagrant who was sprinting toward the marketplace, gold coin in hand. As dusk settled over Intemeroi, he flapped into the open air and soared toward the city gates.

Comments

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  • Alexander 4 years, 9 months ago

    Really liked this slice of your story! I wanted more towards the end, but I think your world has a lot of depth, even in this short snippet.

    • Haley Clark 4 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks so much, Alexander! I'll probably be posting more of it, so be on the lookout :) Cheers.

  • Ceara 4 years, 9 months ago

    An intriguing beginning into this story! I look forward to reading it further.

  • No name 4 years, 9 months ago

    My cat's name is Theo, haha. But I really liked the setting and he seems like a fun character!

    • Haley Clark 4 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks, Kiersten! An adorable name for a kitty :)