Chapter 1

Nech was measuring the mansion. Like the young lord had told there was only two guards. Nech waited, until both of the guards had vanished behind the house. Then without making a sound the thief jumped from the tree branch to the low wall and then sprang down to the wet grass and started to sneak to the mansion.

The autumn had just begun and it was raining non-stop. The mansion, which locked back door was currently being picked open, was located in northern Xafimez. It belonged to one nobleman named Feynen.

This task was like none Nech had had before. This time the object to steal was not any paper or other thing. Nech was supposed to steal a dead body. It was all about just one another ridiculous blood feud between two noble families. Feynen had killed the father of the lord who had hired Nech. Then, Feynen had refused to give back the dead body so it could have been buried. In that point the lord had decided to get professional help.

The thief walked in the corridor. Fifth door from the left... The door opened and behind it was an empty little room. Empty expect the dead body in the corner, veiled by the black cloth. Nech lifted the body up and then suddenly felt a cold shiver. For a brief moment there stood a pale snow leopard in the doorway. Someone was coming. Nech rushed out of the room and out of the whole house carrying the dead body.

The shabby tavern in the outskirts of the town was quite full as the young lord stood in. He noticed that the thief he had hired was sitting next to wall and there was a big sack under the table.

“There’s your father now”, the thief grinned as the lord sat down to the opposite side of the table.

“I thank you.”

“Thank me by your money, not by your words, lord”, the orange eyes of the thief flashed.

Lord put a little leather bag on the table. Nech grabbed the bag quickly.

15 silvery coins was inside it. Exactly like they had agreed.

“May the goddess bless you, my lord”, the thief said happily and left the tavern and the whole town.

“That?!” Xalitha snapped. “You can’t be serious, Xolethane!”

“ I am as serious I can be, Xalitha. You can’t find anyone better”, her sister answered.

Like begging for a help Xalitha turned to look at the third one in the conversation. An odd woman, who had no pupils in her eyes and no eyelids either.

“It’s the fate of this mortal.”

“You heard her, Xalitha. Better believe her. As you know, She is one of those who decide fates of mortals.”

Xalitha sighed.

“Okay then, Xolethane. If you say so.”

Xolethane hugged her sister.

“Trust me. I won’t let you down.”

Nech had not grown up on the streets. Nech had been found abandoned in a forest. Young noblewoman who was then on her way to her new home by her new husband to northern Xafimez. Though other in the company would not have wanted to take the child with them, The young lady didn’t give in and so, Nech got into northern Xafimez. And nobody knew about the parents of the thief. The lady was merciful and gave Nech a place to work in their kitchen. Soon after Nech had become the age of 13, there was a little accident. After that there was only one choice: the streets.

One very skilled thief saw potential in Nech and soon that thief became a master for Nech. And Nech learned well and fast.

Nech knocked the door three times and then the inn-keeper opened the door.

“You’re out late, traveller. If you want a room you will have to pay extra.”

Nech grinned.

“It’s me, Shuy.”

“Nech! Well, it sure has been a while since I last saw you around here!”

“I’ve travelled a bit..” thief answered, smiling. “Would you let me come in? It’s quite cool here outside.”

The man in the doorway made room for the thief.

“Is the normal payment enough for a room?”

“One silvery, and you may have the room for as long as you want.”

“Thank you, Shuy. You are a true friend.”

Nech threw a silvery coin to the reception counter and then went to upstairs into the room, which the thief had used many times before. To that room Nech left the shoulder bag, which held the few items the thief owned. After that, Nech returned to the common room in the downstairs.

“Oy! May someone stab a knife into my chest if that isn’t Flame!” The speaker had been a squat man, who stood up with a little stumbling, in the other side of the common room.

Nech couldn’t help laughing.

“Seems that you’ll live for one more day, Dreg, while it is me!” Nech shouted back at him and walked to greet the man.

Other Nechs colleagues shouted their greeting at the thief.

Flame was Nechs nickname.

... Or to be more exact, Flame is the translation of the name of the thief. Since nobody knew the real name of the thief, they had given the newbie a name Nech, flame, because the thief had flaming orange eyes.

The evening was enjoyable. Nech had much to catch up from the other thieves. In some point, when every one in the group of thieves had got enough beer in their mouths, one pocket thief called Weigen took out his instrument and started to play. Nech climbed on to the table next to him and started to sing along.

The sky was already getting lighter in the east, when Nech staggered into the room the thief had paid of. The voice had got rasp from all the singing, but nonetheless, the mood was great!

... But as Nech woke p on the late afternoon, to a terrible head ache the mood had changed.

I should have drunk less last night, Nech thought quietly. Nech decided to take a little nap.

Nech woke up early on the morning of the next day. The thief dressed and then got up to the streets. Nech headed to the little temple of goddess they had in the town. Without knocking the door, the thief went in. In front of the stony shrine the thief kneeled. Five silvery coins were thrown into a crystal bowl on the far side of the shrine. Five silver coins was a third of Nechs fee, and on that price one could have bought a good horse. Nech surely had asked for an overlarge fee from the services. After praying for a little while, The thief stood up and left the temple.

Xalitha watched the scene eyes all wide.

“The thief went into the temple?!”

“You saw that well by yourself, Xalitha,” Xolethane said, watching at her sister with a twinkle of laughter in her eyes.

“But... Nech’s a thief!”

“So what? How would the fact stop Nech from worshipping the goddess?”

“Isn’t this thief raised on the streets?”

“No, not at all! You have got it al wrong, my sister. But I’m sure that in time, you will hear the whole story from the thief. But look. One’s being generous. Five silvery coins is pretty much for the church from the member of the poor.

Xalitha glanced one more time the picture of the thief in the mirror and the turned to look Xolethane.

“My apologies. I think I judged the thief too rashly.”

“Don’t apologize me, Xalitha. Apologize Nech.”

Nech was spending a quiet night in the room in upstairs, when Shuy came at the door.

“What now?” Nech asked when Shuy knocked.

“In downstairs is this one guy who needs professional help.”

“You have a whole common room of thieves, why to bother me?”

“Because to job includes a getting in to a castle. That’s the reason all the others turned it down.”

Nech laughed.

“Getting in to a castle! How easy is that!”

“Yes... to YOU,” Shuy said, and gave Nech a meaningful glance.

“Well then.... Shall we go and meet my new financial supporter?”

Shuy lead them to a brown-haired man, who was looking nervously around.

“I found a guy, who’s willing to accept the task,” he said and pointed towards Nech.

The man watched the short thief with disbelief.

“But... what..? This...”

Nech watched him coldly back.

“If I won’t suit for the task you have, you don’t have to hire me. But just keep in your mind that this far, I’m the ONLY one willing to take the task. And the price will come by that fact.”

“The price is no problem. I’m ready to pay you two golden ones.”

Nechs eyes widened.

“You seriously need help, eh?”