[Firenze]: 56.Sharman - The New Beginning: Chapter1

There is a saying in Nied. Everyone has a purpose in life whether it is big or small, but it is better to start off small as you will have more purpose in life and you will enjoy life to the fullest. At times the saying came true for some but for others, well I rather not go there.

Kerrin stood at the marina waiting for her father to return from Jera. As she stood there waiting and watching all the merchant ships coming in and out she thought to herself, why do they always have the easy life? Then it struck her like a lightening bolt, all her life she had dreamt of escaping the dreadful life of poverty and be able for once to live like royalty.

But since she was born, she had lived in the darkest and poorest parts of Nied's capital city Isa, following in her father's footsteps as a thief. This only happened because her mother died whilst giving birth to her, her father did not know what to do with her. So he decided that when she was old enough he would train her in the way of an artful thief and assassin in the most notorious gang in Nied. The Hajj. Since her mothers death she was raised by every crook in the Hajj gang. Her father was known as Othel because of his craftiness and ability to get into any building he wished to enter but there was only one area of the city he had not entered in the duration of his lifetime and was the Sharman's Guild.

"Hy Kerrin!"

"Good to have you back father, did you get what Sigel wanted?"

"Yes and it was a bit of a bastard to get as well" he lifted his shirt up to reveal a large gash going across his back.

"By the name of Thurisaz, how in Nied did that happen?"

"Well, I was climbing out of the Jeran Kings' Palace after nicking this beauty of a royal necklace and the palace guard caught my back as I jumped off the wall, bloody twats, of course I legged it too the marina as quick as I could too catch the boat back here to Nied. This bloody necklace must have a high price on it, seen as Sigel wants it."

"I wouldn't know, Sigel hasn't told me anything about it. I have to be off; you know what day it is!"

"Ah yes, its Daeg today isn't it. You had better hurry up and get to the main street before the Sharman get there."

"I will be there on time don't you worry about that, I have a few other jobs whilst the others are confusing the Sharman at the Daeg."

"Just you be careful, I don't want another catastrophe like last year, okay. Before you go take this." Kerrin caught the sword in mid-air and glanced at it for a moment.

"It was your mother's sword, take care of it my daughter, you look more and more like her everyday. Good luck and may Thurisaz be with you."

"Thank you and farewell father." Saying her farewell to her father had never felt like this before, it felt as though it is going to be the final time she would she him but she knew that the mission she was about to undertake would probably be her last.

As she reached the main street, she looked around to see if everything was ready for the Sharman's distraction. Everyone was in place ready so Kerrin could make the dash to the Sharman Guild and from the distance a cry could be heard, "Hy Sharman approaching!" This was Kerrin's moment as she prepared to run a sudden rush of nervousness came over her, she had heard many stories of people entering the Guild but never returning. Some say that they themselves became Sharman and some say they were thrown into King Larem's dungeons, either way they were doomed, if they became Sharman they were classed as traitors by the lower classes and if they were thrown into King Larem's dungeon they would be starved. She paused and waited for the Sharman to walk into the trap, her heart raced as they came closer and closer to her and the trap, then suddenly a voice from above her shouted "Now!" A shower of red powder came raining down and she ran too the Guilds wall and climbed over it landing in a thorn bush. Whilst picking out the thorns from her clothing, she heard cries of rage and curses coming from the Sharman and laughed at them because of their foolishness, and the fact they were outwitted by The Hajj.

Kerrin had never imagined the Guild to be such a big area, the trees rustled in the wind as she crept though the forest, hiding behind the trees she was careful not to tread on any twigs that maybe on the ground. As she neared the college building, she saw a globe of light floating only a few paces from where she was standing behind a tree. Kerrin watched the globe with intense eyes wondering what could be making the globe, as the globe began to come nearer to her she began to recite the thieves code under her breath to stop herself from running.

- A thief must be proud, the shadows are a thief’s friend, a thief must be strong, brave and dexitile.

As her nerves began to return to normal she felt a cold breath go down her neck and the globe disappeared. She slowly turned and there standing behind her was a Sharman, his eyes glared into hers and she slowly backed away watching the Sharman's every movement but he just stood there watching her with his cold dark eyes, she moved her hand to grip her sword under her cloak. Still watching her, the Sharman spoke in a deep amused voice, "I wouldn't do that if I were you" and he began to walk slowly towards her. She drew her sword and pointed it towards the Sharman "Don't yer come any closer to me or I might have ter cut that pretty face of yours"

"I'd like to see that thief" answered the Sharman.

"I have a name yer know"

"And what might your name be then thief?"

"My name is Kerrin; Family of Tir and what might yours be Sharman? Or aren't yer gonna tell me?"

"Family of Tir, eh, I knew someone in the Family of Tir and would very like much to see her again, my name is Sharman Kenaz"

"You know someone in my family well ain't that a surprise, everyone knows my family Sharman what's yer name and personally I don't think you will be seeing any of my family if I have something to do with it." Said Kerrin sarcastically towards Sharman Kenaz.

"Yes I do know a woman in the family of Tir and her name is Jenna and she married a once honourable man called Othel." Sharman Kenaz began slowly to draw his sword from its sheath.

"Don't you ever mention my parent’s names, especially my mothers; you have no right to mention her name!" Roared Kerrin as she went to strike Sharman Kenaz, a sound of clashing swords sounded throughout the forest.

"I have every right to mention her name in front of you, seen as she is my sister and I haven't seen her for sixteen years"

The shock of what Sharman Kenaz said to her caused her to stagger back to a tree and slump to the ground. "I don't believe you, your lying too me, everyone knows Sharman can read people's minds." Said Kerrin quietly.

"I don't care, if you don't believe me or not, I just want to know how my sister is! Plus Sharman can't read a mind unless the person is willing for it to be read or it is crying out aloud."

"She is dead; she passed away when she gave birth to me sixteen years ago." Said Kerrin and she heard in the distance another voice calling for Sharman Kenaz. "Sharman Kenaz!?"


- I am by the old fountain Sharman Willin and guess who and what I have found, could you possibly get the High Sharman to come because we will need a judge for a suitable punishment
.
- I do not know Sharman Kenaz but I am sure you are going to tell me anyway.

- I have caught my sister's daughter breaking into the guild and have heard some very disturbing news about her; she passed away whilst giving birth to her daughter.

- I am sorry for your loss Sharman Kenaz, I will seek out the High Sharman, wait a minute he has just appeared behind me, and we are on our way.

"I am sorry to hear that Kerrin, it must have been hard growing up without a mother to care for you" answered Sharman Kenaz.

"It wasn't that hard really, I was raised by the Hajj thieves and taught how to steal and assassinate people since I was five" replied Kerrin as she continued to watch the Sharman.

Sharman Kenaz sat down by a tree near Kerrin wondering what was going through her mind, it must be devastating to find out that you are related to a Sharman after so many years of hate and distrust, a life full of fear and danger that she was raised in flashed before his eyes not realizing what he just saw, he looked at her. Her deep green eyes full of mysteriousness and hate felt as though she was with him throughout his life, whilst her pale skin looked as smooth as a rose petal to the touch and the brownness of her hair glistened in the sunlight. She looks just like her mother he thought to himself. Still admiring her, he didn't realize that the High Sharman and Sharman Willin were standing behind him until look of shock struck Kerrin's face as she jumped up and ran towards the wall.

Kerrin ran towards the wall and felt as though she was running on air and wasn't getting anywhere, she looked down to the ground and she was levitating. Concentrating on how she could be levitating as she didn't have any Sharman powers. Then a sudden rush of air as she flew to a tree hit her lungs and pinned her tight against a tree. Kerrin struggled to get free but it was no use as it was magic that pinned her to the tree.
 
A sense of hopelessness came over her as the three Sharman advanced towards her.

"What do you want with me?" cried Kerrin.

"You broke into the guild, you must be punished and by law thief you should be sent to the palace dungeons." Said a Sharman as he emerged from the shadows.

"Well send me to the palace dungeons I'm not bothered as I have been there before."

"But before the High Sharman decides your punishment, Lord Kenaz has informed me that you are his sister's daughter and therefore you will be tested for Sharman potential, and from what I have read from your mind your people would class you as a traitor what a fitting end to a thief."

"I thought Sharman couldn't read a mind unless the person is willing and you wouldn't dare turn me into a Sharman even if I do have a high potency of Sharman magic within me."

"Why not? If you do have high Sharman potential you will be forced to join the guild and your powers will be released" Said Sharman Willin in a commanding tone.

"And I personally will take your guardianship and make your life a living hell if you resist or retaliate at anything within the guild including your tutors." said the Sharman in a sly voice.

Kerrin stared at the Sharman's face knowing she had seen it somewhere before but she couldn't remember where to.

"I think we should test her now, don't you Sharman Kenaz and who is going to test her?" said Sharman Willin with an ungrateful smile.

"Yes we should Sharman Willin and I will test her for her potency, Sharman Kenaz will you keep her restrained" said the High Sharman.

"Yes my Lord I shall" he said to the High Sharman but aside to Kerrin he whispered "Do not worry about the testing it does not hurt, just don't resist" as he backed away keeping the restraints on her tight he gave a reassuring smile but Kerrin did not trust Sharman at all. She had no reason to trust them but she was in no position to complain as she was their prisoner and totally helpless. Sharman Legaz came towards her and gently placed two of his cold fingers upon her forehead and closed his eyes. She felt a presence in the back of her mind protruding in and out, then a sudden spout of energy went running through her veins and felt as though she was totally refreshed from her old life and was about to begin a new.

- Sharman Kenaz, I wish to speak with you.

- Yes High Sharman, what is it?

- You niece has a very strong Sharman powers stored within her almost as strong as mine but they have already been released by someone.

- That can't be, Sharman magic can only be released by a Sharman.

- That is true Sharman Kenaz but I think your niece is a natural Sharman and natural Sharman are very powerful indeed, we will definitely have to keep her at the guild to see if the theories about natural Sharman are true. I think that it would be better if you took on her guardianship rather than me.

- Very well my Lord.

"Kerrin you are going to join us at the guild, seen as it looks like your powers have developed naturally over the years and you look as though you have complete control of them but how I do not know." said Sharman Legaz in a commanding voice.

"You what!"

"You heard what I said and you uncle Sharman Kenaz will be your guardian for now. Also your arms will remain bonded until you reach your uncle's apartment. Now move."

Hanging her head between her knees, she knew she had been defeated and she had lost the war. The shame of what they had told her brought tears to her eyes as the thought of never seeing her father again stuck her heart. She was now a tool of the Sharman, an apprentice; one word ridiculed her mind as she stood up and began to follow the Sharman 'traitor'. Was she a traitor though? Why did this happen to her? And what will her father think of what has become of her? The very thought and notion of what her father's expression will be like if she told him that she was a Sharman. Then she told herself 'I must not think of these things'. Noticing what heartache Kerrin was in her uncle went to her and whispered "We will visit your father tomorrow and I shall tell him, so cheer up." After hearing this Kerrin smiled a weak smile.

Kerrin began to feel tired as they neared her uncle's apartment and wished that she was lying down on a soft cheter mattress that she had at home. Kenaz opened the door to his apartment and said his farewells, whilst Kerrin walked in and slumped down in a chair to tired to move. "Well this is my home and yours for the next five years. The apprentices room is through that door there if you wish to go to bed." Said Kenaz as he walked to the table. He turned around for Kerrin's response and saw her there sound asleep and he thought to himself, 'my sister maybe dead but at least I have someone to remind me of her' and gently shook Kerrin to wake her up and send her to bed. Once in her bed Kerrin fell into a deep sleep where nobody could harm her.

Meanwhile in the city Othel was in his room when Sigel came busting in with news that Othel had been dreading all his life. "Kerrin's been captured Othel and she isn't in the palace dungeon" said Sigel out of breath.

"That could only leave one possibility she has been found by her uncle" Othel said to himself.

"Her uncle? What's 'er uncle got to do with anything?" Sigel asked.

"Yes her uncle. My dear wife's brother, Thurisaz bless her soul, is a Sharman. When Kerrin was young she was tested for Sharman potential by her Uncle Kenaz, this was Jenna's last wish before she died so I had to obey it but I did not tell Kenaz that his sister was dead. As Kenaz tested Kerrin something happened and myself and Kenaz felt the effects of it as well, Kerrin's Sharman powers released themselves naturally which is very rare, so I took her and ran, and that was the last time I saw Kenaz." Othel shook his head and placed his hand upon the fire place.

"Would you like me to send out a search and rescue Othel?"

"No, Kerrin will return tomorrow in the early hours of the morning I know it."