The Trahiad Page 11

  “Yes?” Elizabeth asked. “You were going to say something?”

  “Sorry,” Elisa said. “I’m nervous around nobility,” she added. If I can’t think of anything else, just act like Wyatt, a complete and utter fool!

  Darthyn reached forward and put an arm around her. “It’s all right,” he comforted.

  She took a deep breath, and said, “I just saw the apple, and was so hungry for it, that I couldn’t bear the thought of not having it. Especially since you had given it to me out of the goodness of your heart! I was—”

  “Oh dear,” Elizabeth said as she also moved forward and put an arm around her.

  Curse me, these people are too nice. Just let me leave already.

  “When was the last time you ate?” Darthyn asked at the same time Elizabeth said, “Let’s bring her home with us, she can get cleaned up, and we can set her up with a good job, in a good part of the city.”

  Curse me!

  “What’s your name, girl?” Elizabeth asked softly.

  Elisa looked up and saw Elizabeth looking at her with the most concerned eyes she had ever seen. She looked to Darthyn and saw a similar expression. These people are the greatest people I’ve ever—

  “Elisa Ander!” a man suddenly shouted from in front her. “That’s her name. Remember the girl who stole the Scot seal that we had to hunt down? Remember the girl that broke into the palace and stole the shipment of draestl last spring! Her name is Elisa Ander!” Magistrate Mavin yelled as he suddenly appeared out of the crowd.

  Elisa felt her heart stop and the arms around her shoulders tighten. She looked up, and where the calm concerned eyes had greeted her earlier, now she saw skepticism and hints of betrayal.

  “A thief?” Elizabeth asked, surprised. Don’t look at me like that!

  “Elisa Ander?” Darthyn said as he stepped back. “Yes, it is you, isn’t it! How could I forget a pretty face like that! Elisa Ander!”

  Guards were suddenly stepping forward threateningly. The Templar was suddenly next to her, his sword drawn and pointed directly at her face. Elisa swallowed hard. I need to do something.

  “I was coming to steal some food, but your wife gave me it instead! That’s all!” Elisa yelled out.

  The guards stopped and Darthyn and Mavin stared at her, the former with a look of understanding, the latter with a look like she was a piece of meat being eaten on feast day. Elizabeth’s expression didn’t change. The Templar didn’t even move.

  “I promise!” Elisa said as she tightened her hand around the ring. Curse me, if they search me at all, I’m done!

  “Take her to prison,” Mavin said. “We’ll hold her until she can be seen before the High Judge. We’ve been searching for her for a long time, and we finally have her!”

  With each word, Elisa’s stomach sank. And if my past isn’t enough to convict me, what’s in my hand will be.

  Guards approached and grabbed her roughly by the arms. She winced as she looked at the Scot’s, feeling even more remorse at the look of betrayal on their faces. Magistrate Mavin smiled. The Templar smirked. Curse me, it’s your fault you thought I was something different from who I really am!

  She saw Wyatt from the side and was surprised he looked as put together as he did. His clothes were as neat as they could be and he had a minor scratch on his head, but otherwise there was little sign that he was just in a major brawl. How he gets himself out of those things is beyond me!

  But then she saw the determined look on his face. Could see how he was flexing his fist and then releasing it over and over. He’s going to try to rescue me. He thinks I’m in trouble—well, I am, but…

  She shook her head viciously at him. You know the agreement! If one of us gets caught, the other stays free! Live up to your promise!

  She looked down to the ground, consigned to the inevitable. She heard Farmer Hetrick say, “Justice will be served!” and could feel the joy emanating from Mavin. I really hate that man.

  “Stop!” Darthyn suddenly yelled as he walked toward her.

  “My lord,” Magistrate Mavin said. “I see that look in your eyes. It’s not the proper place to show… leniency. Look at all the people!” he said as he gestured toward the surrounding crowd.

  Darthyn shook his head and looked back at Elizabeth, who smiled softly and nodded. Then Darthyn turned back toward Mavin, but his eyes stared right at her. “Are you Elisa Ander?” he asked.

  She thought about lying, but was afraid that if she did, he’d ask for them to search her anyway and once they found the ring… They’ll probably execute me.

  “Yes,” Elisa finally answered.

  Darthyn looked relieved. Why? “Then we have no rightful claim to bind you. Mavin, no!” Darthyn said as he held up a hand as soon as Magistrate Mavin protested. “We have no proof it was Elisa Ander those times before.”

  “We have eye witnesses!” Mavin exclaimed. “Who know her! I know her! She’s stolen my saddle before!”

  Elisa tried to stop the smile from crossing her lips but failed miserably. I forgot I did that…

  “See? She thinks this is a game! She thinks it’s funny!” Mavin declared, disgustedly.

  Darthyn actually smiled. “We have no proof. And today, though she was about to steal, she didn’t. There has been no crime committed. None whatsoever. Elisa Ander, you are free to go! Damon, please stop pointing that sword at her and let her go.”

  Damon? She realized Darthyn was referring to the Templar as the Templar’s draestl sword lowered. It surprised her when she locked eyes with Damon and he smiled at her. No wonder he’s the protector of Darthyn Scot. They both find thieves funny…

  But she couldn’t believe her ears. Curse me, the Creator is with me today! The guards let go, and she smiled at them, glared at Mavin, and then looked carefully at the Scots. “Thank you, my lord and lady. I’ll never forget this day!”

  “Just make me a promise,” Darthyn said. “That you’ll never steal again.”

  Elisa nodded and hated that she was lying to him. I’m joining the Trahiad, Darthyn Scot. Thieving is the only thing I’ll be doing!

  She turned around and started off toward Wyatt, who was smiling at her with eagerness. The first chance she got, she slipped the genuine ring into her pocket, and then she focused on the path ahead of her and out of the square. Each step gave her more hope that they would actually pull this off. She could hear the Scots discussing something from behind, but she was to the point of ignoring them. I’ll never forget how kind they were to me, and their kindness enabled me to join the Trahiad!

  “Where’s my ring?” an exasperated voice suddenly exclaimed.

  It froze Elisa in her tracks, and she immediately regretted stopping as soon as she did.

  “Elisa!” Mavin said. “She knows, she just stopped. See! Guards seize and search her! It makes complete sense, she’s after the ring! She stole Elizabeth’s ring!”

  Elisa locked eyes with Wyatt, who once again looked like he was on the verge of charging, but she shook her head slowly. She formed her mouth and spoke the words quietly but clearly so that Wyatt would understand. “I’m caught. Run and stay safe! Live a wonderful life!”

  The guards grabbed her and turned her about. Elizabeth was glaring at her, and Darthyn looked at her with disbelief. Damon looked suspicious. Mavin looked pleased. Curse that man.

  “Is this true?” Darthyn asked.

  Elisa couldn’t bring herself to admit it. She hung her head low, praying that it would be over soon.

  “Search her,” Mavin commanded.

  One guard grabbed her by the wrists and held her arms high into the air, while another guard started patting. She felt the hands against the sides of her ribs, moving up and down. Only a matter of time until they touch my pocket.

  “A ring?” a voice suddenly asked. “This one?”

  The guards relaxed as everyone looked toward the apple cart.

  Farmer Hetrick was on his knees trying to salvage as many apples as he could, and in one hand h
e held up a shining object.

  The forged ring!

  Elizabeth rushed forward and grabbed it, holding it preciously in her hands as she examined it.

  “It fell off again?” Darthyn asked. “I told you to have the jewelers resize that since you’ve recently lost some weight! Why haven’t—”

  Elizabeth leveled a glare on Darthyn that froze him.

  Curse my bloody luck! Elisa thought. She forced herself not to smile. Stay calm, stay calm.

  “It can’t be!” Mavin exclaimed as he first glared at Elisa and then at the ring. “It just fell off your finger!” Elisa felt the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

  “No,” Elizabeth said. “It must have fallen off when I tried to catch Elisa. She was trying to keep herself from falling into the crates and avoiding this complete disaster. In fact, most of it was my fault, if I hadn’t been so clumsy when I handed her the apple, this would have never happened.”

  I am the luckiest girl alive, I should steal something else!

  “Preposterous!” Mavin said as he glared at Elisa again. “This can’t be true. Can’t be!”

  This time she did stick her tongue out, blushing furiously when she realized she did, and even more so when Darthyn started laughing out loud because of it.

  “Get off it, Mavin. We were wrong!” Darthyn exclaimed. “And I feel awful for accusing her!”

  Darthyn walked toward her. “We owe you another apology,” Darthyn said as he put an arm around her. “We owe you, even Magistrate Mavin there,” he added as the magistrate harrumphed. “Be on your way, Elisa. Before something else happens this day. You are free. Just don’t steal again. Understood!”

  “Thank you, my Lord,” Elisa said, and then she turned toward Wyatt and ran off.

  “She’s running! The sign of the guilty!” she heard Mavin say from behind, but she didn’t care, she wanted to get as far away from this place as possible.

  It made her feel good when she heard Darthyn add, “do you blame her? We’ve wrongfully accused her twice, only moments apart! Let her be free, Mavin. Let her be free!”

  She smiled as she joined Wyatt.

  “You are the bloody luckiest person I know!” Wyatt exclaimed as they made their way out of the square and further down Stith Street. “Mavin knows your face!”

  “That wasn’t luck,” Elisa said confidently. “That was skill. Entirely skill. And a plan executed just as I thought it would be.”

  Wyatt laughed and playfully punched her on the shoulder. “Exactly how you planned? I think not,” he said with another laugh. Then he clasped her on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re safe, Elisa. I was afraid for a moment that they caught you. But you made it. And you have the ring?”

  They were now well down Stith and away from the crowds. She looked at her brother and glared at him. “I’m offended you even think there was a chance I wouldn’t have it.”

  Reaching into her pocket, she took out the ring and showed it to Wyatt, who whistled at the beauty of it. “We did it,” he said.

  “We did it!” Elisa said as she put an arm around her brother.

  He squeezed her back, and they walked in silence as they made their way toward Mistress Cauth’s home and back to the Trahiad.

  We did it, and we finally have a chance to join the Trahiad.

  7

  The Value Of A Ring

  Some of those who entered the Order quickly discovered the actual truth behind everything. Some could live with that truth, and others—sometimes even the best of the lot—couldn’t bear that truth. So they’d leave. I just hope we can keep enough to maintain a force that can defend against the Bloodheim.

  Elisa stood still, her legs trembling with nervousness, sweat beading on her forehead and soaking through her clothes. All she could do was stare at Racin Poe as he walked back and forth. His pacing was incessant. She wondered if he would ever stop. Why is this so difficult for him to give me a reaction? Doubts constantly raced through her mind.

  “You did what?” Racin asked as he looked at the ring in his hand. “Tell me again, from the beginning.”

  Elisa felt all eyes shift to her. Again. The twelve had returned, and as predicted, they came with various bounties. Draestl was the most common, though one had secured dragons dust! How in the name of the Creator did they get that? Several pairs of eyes looked at her with respect, but most were glaring at her. The ring had generated the most interesting reaction from Racin. For all the other bounties he had nodded proudly and congratulated them, telling them that what they had done was brave and stealthy. But for the ring, his mouth had dropped open, and he had stared at it, dumbfounded.

  “Well, speak, Elisa, tell us what you did!” Racin repeated. There wasn’t a hint of mockery in his voice. But instead—was it awe?

  “You said to bring something you value. Well,” Elisa swallowed. She heard Wyatt grunt and when she looked at him, she could see he was trying to say something. Probably, don’t screw this up! “What more would you value than something that represents the love you feel was stolen from you?”

  Her answer was more blunt this time, but it had a much better effect.

  Racin Poe held the ring up to his eye, staring at it with the most intense gaze she had ever seen. She began to think she had misread him completely. Maybe he was completely over Elizabeth Scot. Maybe he was only teasing Darthyn in the sewers simply to get a reaction out of him. I failed us. She felt tears forming in her eyes and shut them to blink them away. I will not cry. I will not give this handsome idiot the satisfaction of seeing me cry!

  “It’s the real ring?” Racin asked.

  “We left Elizabeth with a perfect forgery,” Wyatt said. “She’ll never come looking for it. Guaranteed.”

  “A forgery? Who could pull this off?” Racin asked again. That emotion in his voice. It is awe!

  “That’s our secret,” Wyatt said carefully. “We can’t reveal our—”

  “I stole a Trahiad brand when we visited the first time and used it to threaten Adrian Kor. Adrian stole Wyatt’s girlfriend—who wanted Elizabeth’s ring—so we guessed that he might have made a forged ring. Our guess was right, our threat worked, and he gave it to us. And he’s guaranteed not to tell anyone about us. He thinks we are Trahiad collectors and I’ve sworn I will tell his girlfriend the truth if this ever gets out!” Elisa said without taking a breath. She felt like she was about to pass out, she spoke so fast.

  Wyatt stared at her, his face beat red. At first she wondered why until it registered what she had said. Way to keep my bloody mouth shut!

  Racin Poe whistled. “You did all that?” A smile broke across his face as he continued to look at the ring. “Adrian Kor, huh? He has this level of skill?”

  Elisa opened her mouth to answer but shut it as she realized Racin was thinking out loud. She couldn’t tell if he was pleased or annoyed. He just stood there, fingering the ring, with a look of amusement on his face.

  “Well?” Elisa asked. “Do you value it?! I’d wager anything to say that you do!”

  The smile vanished from Racin’s face and he looked at her square in the eye. She wanted to step back, but she instead mustered the strength to stand tall and firm. She glared back at him with as fierce a gaze as she could manage.

  “Would you wager your place in the Trahiad on it?” Racin asked in a voice as cold as death.

  “I already did,” Elisa said flatly. “And more, I’d wager my life on it. You love Elizabeth Scot. And seeing that ring makes you think of her—the thing you value more than anything in your life. I don’t know why you didn’t keep her, why you are alone down here as a thief this very day. But I know that true love is something you can’t just turn off. Something you can’t abandon. Something that you would always value above all else.”

  There were audible gasps as she confronted him, but Racin just stared at her. She wanted to blink, but he wouldn’t, so she stared back until her eyes burned. Curse me, would you blink and either strike me or admit me!

  R
acin opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it. Then he turned toward everyone. “What Elisa and Wyatt Ander have just shared with us is what makes the Trahiad the Jewels of Alderidon. I asked you all to steal something I’d value above all else. Many of you assumed what I valued was material things. But ask yourself this question—is the Trahiad about material things? Do we steal to gain wealth? To gain power? To rule?” He paused as he looked back down at the ring. “Do you think I’m enamored with this ring because of its material value?”

  All twelve of them looked at him and watched as he paced back and forth again. “The Jewels of Alderidon aren’t actual jewels. They are the values we built the Trahiad upon. Values of hope. Of a better world. The only value we really care about is selflessness and caring for others. We never value material goods. We use material goods to accomplish a greater cause!”

  He stopped as everyone registered what he said. Elisa felt hope fill her. Of all the things people had brought back, theirs was the only one that wasn’t only material.

  “Now, I asked Wyatt and Elisa a question. Would they wager their place in the Trahiad on this ring? And she, so eloquently I might add, said that she would.”

  Elisa felt her breath catch. Is he just building this up to humiliate me?

  “Well, you wagered right,” Racin said proudly. “Wyatt and Elisa Ander, I admit you into the Trahiad. You realized what we stand for. We stand for values that will better the lives of everyone around us. You understand what makes the Jewels of Alderidon the special place that it is!”

  There were cheers from the members of the Trahiad who were in attendance. Elisa couldn’t help the elation she felt.

  “The rest of you, begone!” Racin dismissed harshly as the other ten stared. At first they looked confused, then immense guilt and sorrow filled them. Elisa felt a pang of empathy toward them. They looked so much like her, barely able to survive, but the hope of a better tomorrow was snatched from them forever.

  But she also understood now why the Trahiad was so special. These weren’t the best thieves in Alderidon. They were some of the best people. People who believed in a better tomorrow.