The Trahiad Read online

  Mistress Lugan laughed and hugged her back. “You know that I’m a horrible liar. And a wedding ring isn’t something you may misplace now and again. Elizabeth Scot is always wearing it!”

  “You won’t have to lie,” Elisa said with a smirk. “Because Princess Scot won’t even know she’s missing it.”

  “And how do you expect to accomplish that?” Mistress Lugan asked, incredulously. “She’s not blind!”

  “I’m certain there is a jeweler who has forged it before. You’ll see,” Elisa said as she reformulated the plan again in her mind. It will work perfectly. “You’ll see,” she said again as she reached forward and kissed Mistress Lugan on the cheek.

  “You be careful then!” Mistress Lugan said as Elisa broke away and started back toward the window. “If you get caught stealing from Elizabeth Scot, you’ll be sentenced to death! Promise me you won’t get caught!”

  “I promise,” Elisa said as she stepped halfway out the window. “It will be easy. I have a perfect plan in mind!”

  “Just be careful, and Dear Creator… why don’t you use the front door?! I can’t understand why you insist on sneaking into the library when you know I’d just let you in!”

  “Ah, it’s not as much fun, and this gives me practice!” Elisa said with a laugh.

  “Just be careful,” Mistress Lugan called one more time as Elisa began climbing down the wall. “And promise to still visit after you’ve joined the Trahiad!”

  “I promise! Thank you, Mistress Lugan! Thank you!” Elisa said.

  Then her feet hit the ground, and she darted toward the gate, the smile on her face spreading even wider.

  This really can work. I just need to convince Wyatt to be a bully.

  5

  The Trahiad Collectors

  The art of deception is hoping that the person you are deceiving doesn’t recognize the difference between reality and illusion.

  “Absolutely not!” Wyatt said emphatically, his face hot with anger and a look of disbelief etched across it. He was pacing back and forth in the alleyway, each pace becoming a little faster than the last.

  Just like he always does when he gets upset, Elisa thought. Getting him to agree may be tougher than I thought. “Wyatt,” she said, calmly. She tried to give him her best motherly tone. Not that I know what that sounds like…

  “I said no!” Wyatt exclaimed, cutting her off by raising his giant hand. It was only about an inch from her face, so she was grateful when he paced again. He shook his head in disbelief with every step. “Seriously, Elisa, I can’t believe some of the foolhardy, dragon cursed plans you concoct.”

  “It’s not that foolhardy,” Elisa explained, feeling a little defensive. Ok, stealing a wedding band from a Princess might be a little crazy… Then a smile crossed her face. The same smile that Wyatt always said would lead her to the gallows one day. But she couldn’t stop it from spreading.

  “Wyatt, this will work! I promise!”

  “Promise? You, promise? Like how you promised that if we stole buttermilk from Master Gorma, that he’d never find out. Well, your side of that plan worked. You didn’t get caught. But me! I had to spend a month cleaning his garderobes. His bloody garderobes!”

  “You were the one that started feeling all guilty so you slowed down. If you hadn’t—oh stop it, Wyatt, I’m not getting into this again!” she said as she folded her arms across her chest. Curse him!

  “Almost all of your plans end in trouble,” Wyatt stated.

  “At least I’m trying!” Elisa snapped back. “Curse me, Wyatt. I don’t want to spend another night out on the streets. Not another night!”

  “Better the streets than prison. Magistrate Mavin will have our hide, if Darthyn Scot—bloody, Darthyn Scot, the High Judge of bloody Ardonor—doesn’t catch us first!”

  “We won’t go to prison,” Elisa clarified.

  “Or the cursed gallows,” Wyatt said as he touched his throat. “Dragon’s blood, Elisa… If we get caught stealing from Elizabeth Scot? We might end up in the gallows!”

  Elisa smiled. He said if we get caught this time. “I know it’s dangerous,” she said carefully as Wyatt continued to touch his throat. She watched him swallow hard. Curse me, my older brother is such a wimp! “But with careful planning—”

  “You really think this will work?” Wyatt suddenly asked. She looked up at him and stared directly into his eyes. He had big, brown, soft eyes that reminded her of the eyes on her only toy as a child. A small, fluffy, stuffed bear. Dark, soft, and calm. Always calm. Even now, as his body was rigid with anxiety, Wyatt’s eyes were calm—and a little desperate. She knew he wanted freedom from their circumstances even more than she did. He blamed himself for their current circumstances, even though she knew it was entirely out of his control, but he blamed himself. And she knew he wouldn’t change his opinion until they were off the streets.

  “I promise it will work,” Elisa reassured. “The plan is solid. Fool proof. It will work!”

  Wyatt rubbed a hand through his hair and shook his head. Then a smile cracked across his big, handsome face. “It just might! Wouldn’t it be something?”

  “Freedom!” Elisa said. “And I know Racin Poe will value this. He’ll value it—”

  “Or he’ll kill us because we’ve offended him beyond repair,” Wyatt countered.

  Elisa frowned. “I was going to say he’ll value it above all else, Wyatt. My goodness, you put a negative spin on nearly everything! What’s wrong with you?”

  “I’m sorry,” Wyatt said as he took a deep breath to steady himself. “I’m really nervous. We’ve never been this close, like, actually this close to real freedom ever before in our lives! Just think about joining the Trahiad! Think about living in that magical city!”

  Elisa beamed alongside her brother. “So you’re with me?” She finally asked, carefully.

  “I’m with you,” Wyatt said with an even larger grin. “Let’s steal the bloody wedding ring from Elizabeth Scot! What’s the first step?”

  Elisa tightened her smile. He will not like this. “First step, well, uh,” she tried to figure out how to explain it in a way that he might understand.

  Wyatt’s eyebrow shot up questioningly. “Elisa? What exactly is the first step?”

  Elisa tried smiling her most disarming smile. “Nothing, really, you just… well… uh…” she took a deep breath as he raised his eyebrow further. She could tell his anxiety was building. I might lose him if I don’t hurry and blurt this out. “You need to beat up a jeweler,” she finally said.

  Wyatt’s suspicious look changed to one of confusion. “Huh? Beat up a jeweler?” Then his confused look turned to one of pain. He never enjoys using his muscles like the Creator intended them to be used…

  Elisa nodded, feigning like she didn’t see him getting upset, and tried to smile to make him comfortable.

  To her surprise, Wyatt took a deep breath and then sighed, as if he was accepting defeat. “Why do I always have to do the mean stuff? You know I don’t enjoy doing that. I’m not you!”

  “Because I’m too beautiful to get my hands dirty,” Elisa quipped, ignoring her brother’s subtle jab. It’s not my fault I get things done!

  Wyatt raised a wondering eye. “And who do I have to beat up?”

  Elisa smiled. “Adrian Kor.”

  Wyatt’s grin spread. “Well, that I can do. Why didn’t you lead with that? I might actually enjoy this. In fact, I wager I will enjoy this!”

  Elisa smiled knowingly. It’s always easy to beat up someone who stole your girl. Then she remembered that Adrian was the easy part. I just hope he’s brave enough to deal with Darthyn…

  Adrian Kor’s jewelry shop was on the far side of the Worker’s District, and it was remotely quiet for this time of day. Elisa held up a hand to slow down Wyatt as they approached the street from the cobblestone road. A home halfway down the street looked as if it had been completely blown up.

  Wyatt saw the destroyed home as well and whistled softly. “I
f I’m not mistaken, isn’t that Kloin’s place?” he asked.

  Elisa nodded. They’d never worked with him directly before, but they knew of him. Nearly everyone knew of Kloin. He was one of the best dralchemists in Alderidon. “It doesn’t look good,” she observed.

  From the look of the structure, it had been destroyed recently. The ground was blackened with ash, and where there should have been a house, now there was a gaping hole that still looked as if it was smoldering.

  “I wonder what happened?” Wyatt asked.

  “I have no idea, but it must have been something significant,” she answered. She stepped closer despite Wyatt’s protests. She noticed a transformation sign drawn over one of the lone beams that was still standing. “Someone thinks he turned into a dragon. Odd… considering he’s a dralchemist,” Elisa reasoned. “A dralchemist should have been able to control whatever was happening. Did you know that dralchoms—”

  “I’m not in the mood for one of your lectures,” Wyatt said, cutting her off. When Elisa stiffened he added, “I get that you know practically everything, I just don’t want to hear it right now. And seeing Kloin’s house,” he said as he pointed to the remains, “is giving me serious doubt about this entire plan.” He shuddered.

  Elisa could see doubt overcoming him.

  “In fact,” Wyatt continued, shaking his head. “I’m not even sure I can face Adrian today. I don’t know if I trust myself not to do something stupid. Do you know what he said the last time I saw him?”

  “Wyatt Ander? Is that you? Did you come to find Grianne?” Elisa impersonated in what she guessed Adrian would sound like. She had never met him, though she had seen his incredible work. “She’s not here at the moment,” she continued in a high-pitched mimic. “But it’s probably a good thing. She wouldn’t remember who you are and I’m just not in the mood to deal with your broken heart.”

  Wyatt’s face dropped in dismay as he glared at her.

  “Did he say something like that?” Elisa asked while she tried to cover her smile with her hand.

  Wyatt’s glared deepened. “You’re not helping!”

  “Just stop it, Wyatt. Adrian is a bonehead and nothing more. And in my opinion, if Grianne left you for him, then good riddance!” Elisa said emphatically. When she saw Wyatt’s face brighten, she continued. “You deserve way more than Grianne.”

  Wyatt took a deep breath. “You’re right. But you know me, I, well…” he trailed off and didn’t finish.

  Elisa knew why. She rarely had an answer to explain her view of herself either. That’s what you get when the only home you know is the Slums…

  They stepped away from the ruins of Kloin’s house and back toward the street.

  “If I’m not mistaken, Adrian’s house is just a few more down,” Elisa said as she tried to look at the next home’s address.

  “It is,” Wyatt said. “After Grianne told me off, she had me walk her to Adrian’s. It’s two more houses down,” he said as he pointed to a home ahead.

  “She made you escort her to her new boyfriend’s house?” Elisa said as they began walking the short distance to the house that Wyatt was pointing at.

  Wyatt nodded.

  “And you listened to her? I would have told her off! Slapped her in the face, in fact. The audacity to dump you and then ask you to walk her to her new boyfriend’s home? Wyatt, sometimes you amaze me. Stick up for yourself! Your big enough to knock around basically anyone, and yet you—”

  She cut off as Wyatt’s face suddenly dropped in worry.

  She turned to see what had changed Wyatt’s demeanor and saw a gangly man slightly older than Wyatt walk out of a nearby house. The house Wyatt had pointed out. The house with a jewelry sign in the front door window.

  Adrian Kor.

  He was an ugly man and so skinny she wondered if she’d be able to see him if he turned sideways. She imagined he was one of those people that you could see crevices between their ribs they were so skinny.

  But what had her amazed was his nose. It was the largest, ugliest, and most crooked nose she had ever seen. It bent in a ninety-degree angle half way down! What topped it off was he had a smirk that revealed broken and rotting teeth.

  “That’s Adrian Kor?” she stammered. “Grianne left you for him!?”

  Wyatt glared at her and then turned and marched straight toward Adrian.

  Adrian’s mocking smirk vanished as he saw them approaching. Then Adrian recognized who was approaching, and when he interpreted the look on Wyatt’s face, he let out a squeak and tried to scramble back up the stairs to his house.

  But Wyatt was too fast. With two large strides he reached out, grabbed Adrian with a single hand, and picked him up—curse me, Wyatt literally just picked Adrian up!—Then he started pushing him back toward the home.

  Elisa was convinced that the look she saw on Adrian’s face must be the look of someone right before they faced death. It changed from over confident and arrogant to one of outright fear. Adrian reached up and tried to pry Wyatt’s fingers away, but Wyatt’s entire hand seemed to swallow Adrian’s smaller form. Adrian opened his mouth to say something, but Wyatt glared. Quickly Adrian quieted down.

  How did he ever get Wyatt’s girl? He’s a total loser!

  “Open the door,” Wyatt said. It wasn’t a request.

  Adrian tried to get the keys out of his pocket but promptly dropped them.

  “Adrian,” Wyatt hissed.

  The fear on Adrian’s face intensified. He looked questioningly at Wyatt and then looked pleadingly to Elisa. She stuck her tongue out at him, and then immediately regretted it. Really? Stick my tongue out? We are supposed to be intimidating him…

  She looked at Wyatt and saw that there was no way Wyatt would let go of Adrian, so she bent over and picked up the keys. She fumbled with the lock, but a moment later it opened, and they stepped inside.

  When they were inside, Wyatt threw Adrian onto the floor. Elisa quickly shut the door behind them, changed the sign on the door to closed, and then rushed to the windows and shuttered the blinds. When she finished, she returned to the entryway and scanned the room.

  “Is anyone upstairs?” Wyatt asked as Elisa moved through the rest of the main floor.

  “What are you doing!” Adrian asked when he finally got enough courage to speak. His voice came out like a squeal, and he brought a hand up to cover his mouth, his face turning bright red.

  “Got something in your throat?” Elisa asked from an adjacent room. “Or did Wyatt break your vocal chords?”

  She walked back into the room and saw Wyatt glaring at her, a look of doubt crossing his face. Dragon’s blood, I forgot he’s so sensitive. “Well, answer my brother,” she tried to say in a rough voice, but she knew she sounded almost as bad as Adrian had a moment before.

  “N-n-no one’s here,” Adrian stammered. He still had a look of terror on his face as he looked from Wyatt to Elisa and then back to Wyatt. “It’s just me. And I was heading out,” he continued. Then a look of hope filled him. “In fact, I’m meeting Grianne,” he said with a smile, his confidence growing. “She’s expecting me. If I’m not there soon, she’ll send for the guard, I’m sure.”

  Elisa noticed him look at the clock. He may be telling the truth. She waited for Wyatt to say something, but her brother stood with his arms folded and a look of concern etched across his face. Dragon’s blood, you aren’t believing this are you? She coughed, but Wyatt didn’t stir. So she walked up to Wyatt and kicked him—as discretely as she could—in the back of his calf.

  “Ow!” Wyatt yelled out. “What was that bloody for!” he said as he rounded on her.

  So much for being discrete.

  She glared at him. Then looked at Adrian and then back at Wyatt. Do something, she mouthed.

  Adrian looked at them like they were both idiots, and stood up, feeling more confident that they didn’t have a reason to be there. It tempted her to say the demands herself, but she knew Adrian. He didn’t think fondly of dealing with w
omen. If she tried to negotiate, he would most likely refuse. It has to come from you, Wyatt. Now do your bloody part!

  Adrian’s movement—and the confident sneer pasted on his face—did the trick. Wyatt turned on him, raised a threatening hand, and growled. He growled! “Sit down, you bloody dragon!”

  Adrian stared with horror at the threat. Even Elisa stepped back a little. Either this is an impressive act from Wyatt, or he’s actually mad!

  “You threatening to call the Guard on us? On us?” Wyatt asked as he stepped forward. Adrian cowered back to the ground. Wyatt’s massive shoulders blocked most of the view from Elisa, but she didn’t need to see Adrian because she could feel fear emanating from him.

  “N-n-n-o,” Adrian stammered again. “I just meant, you need to be about your business, quickly, that’s all. Before Grianne gets worried.”

  Wyatt scoffed at Adrian, and Elisa saw the little man try to squirm away from her brother. She cleared her throat to get Wyatt’s attention, and when he turned, she stepped back again. Curse me, Wyatt looks angry! “Hurry,” she whispered. “Get to the point!”

  “I am,” Wyatt said, annoyed. Then he turned back to Adrian. “We’re here to collect,” Wyatt began.

  “Collect?” Adrian asked innocently.

  “Collect,” Wyatt repeated. Colder this time.

  Elisa was impressed with the act. I imagine that’s probably exactly how it sounds.

  Adrian swallowed. “Collect,” he said again, this time with understanding. Then he must have had an idea because a smirk crossed his face. “Collect? I don’t deal with thieves, Wyatt Ander. Just don’t even pretend like I owe a debt to someone. And since when did you become a collector? You’re big enough—bigger than an ox!—but a collector? You’re too dumb to—”

  He cut off as Wyatt backhanded him across his face. Elisa winced as Adrian fell to the ground, put both hands to his cheek, and started rocking back and forth, crying.