Nobility for a Thief

[Vorgin]

Xel grumbled, "That isn't for you to ask Miss..." He took the letters and open the crest sealed one first and read it to himself. Solessa took the ham and began to cut it up. A large slab for Rob, a medium piece for Matt, herself, and Xel, and a small piece for Neiva.

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Neiva took the morsel of meat without complaint.

 

The first letter was from Lord Garthfello himself. It said, he only has one daughter, and this Neiva girl he has no clue who she is. He thanked for returning his carriage and asked a price for his best horse back. He claimed he sent the empty carriage to the next town over to help his mother get around and she sent it back to him.

 

 

The second letter was sloppy, and in bad penmanship. It begged for Lady Neiva's safety and security, saying about her delicate health and said they'll pool their monthly payment together and other money they can get for ransom. It said it wouldn't be much but it was all they had at the moment. Another detail was in a different hand, a little neater then the rest. It said to give them two weeks and they'll have the money. The letter was signed with "All of us".

[Vorgin]

Xel blinked in confusion and handed both letters to Neiva, "Any thoughts on your part?"

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Neiva sighed and read her father's letter. "Half true. I was sent to spend time with grandma at another town. She's old, and can't remember much, so dad makes me go to say out of the way when having parties and such. He doesn't know my name, because my family calls me "that child" or "girl" although I'm almost twenty one. " She read the other and rubbed tears from her eyes. "From my servants. They are the ones who are like family to me. This is in the gardeners penmanship... the last bit is from my nanny. She gave me my name, because she told me a child should have a name.

 

I said my family doesn't care of my safety. They care for beautiful people, power, finances, and what's good for business. They are boot lickers to the king and selfish, narcissistic people who don't care for anything old or different. My mother didn't even name me because I was wrinkled and so pale my vains showed when I was born. She shoved me to the nurse maid and said she "never had that thing, get it out of her sight"..... I did tell you, you wouldn't get a copper from my father for me."

[Vorgin]

Xel took the letters back and read them over again, "...great... either we get nothing or we rob a bunch of poor people..." He sighed and looked at Solessa, "What do you think?" Solessa looked at Neiva and back to Xel, "To be honest, let the girl go to her servants, we got enough money from this raid to last till the next one."

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Neiva tilted her head. "The baker always makes extra bread for anyone who needs it. " She snagged a knife from rob who was digging into his meat and cut a little bit of her hair off tying it in three knots in different places and held it out to him. "If you show this to the guards at the gate, they'll lead you to the kitchen to get food if you need it.... you can still get money for the horse though... it is his best breeder... main reason why I had you guys take it..... I knew you'd get nothing for me..."

[Vorgin]

Xel looked at the hair, "...We'll keep the horse... and we don't need gifts from you." He stood up and went to his tent, "Take her to her town today. No gifts, no ransom."

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Neiva sighed and went to her tent packing up. Rob picked up her bags when she came out. She left the hair on the made up cot they let her sleep in. She thanks the big man and put up her parasol. Her selves where rolled up from the heat. A big black blue mark on her arm from who knows what. When questioned by Matt, she said she didn't know about it until now, but she isn't surprised, it happens quite often. "I know it isn't my place to say this, but for thieves, your quite nice and well mannered. You seem to take only from the rich.... I find that noble... more so than my family and all their wealth for all its worth..." She said to Solessa as they started to move. She'd faint within a few minutes anyway so there wasn't any need for knocking her out.

 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2015 by AroaraAngelwolf

[Vorgin]

Solessa made sure she was well on the trip, "I wouldn't go that far... we steal from anyone who comes into our turf. We just dont ransom the poor. It's not fair to talk living people from those who have nothing. Xel knows this, and lives it."

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Neiva tilted her head. "Again, not my place, but you've piqued my interest... what do you mean by 'he lives it'? If it's too personal for a stranger to know, we can talk about other things. This certainly more entertainment I have gotten in a while, and more interaction with other people then I have gotten in my entire life time...."

 

 

Matt had stayed behind. He stood at Xel's tent. "You... um alright? Guess it wasn't a good score as I thought. We got the horse though. Uh...." He scuffed the dirt with his shoes. "Well, if you want to be left alone.. I can check out the traps, see if they caught anything interesting..."

 

[Vorgin]

Xel sighed from inside the tent, "I'm fine... We got money and a horse... And a nice girl who's rich family has gold so far up their ass that she is meaningless to them... And I thought we were criminals..."

 

Solessa shook her head, "He's just... Tries to play fair... For a thief I mean."

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Matt sighed. "She was very nice. Unlike most of the others we take from. Sad, it's like she doesn't exist. Well... I'm going to check the traps.." He left.

 

 

"Still, it's more chivalry then I receive. And I'm sure my servants would appreciate it... I'm quite glad of it. I have my twenty first birthday in three days." Neiva grinned, and twirled her parasol. " You and Xel look alike... are you siblings?" She asked to keep up conversation until they reached the road

[Vorgin]

Xel stayed in his tent until someone came back...

 

Solessa nodded, "He is my brother. A good leader, and an excellent strategist. I guess was from before he dropped out of military school."

[AroaraAngelwolf]

"..... only the high end and well off get to attend such school. Don't mind me, I'm quite sorry, I think aloud sometimes. I'm not used to human interaction...." She stopped and set a hand lightly on the other woman's shoulder. "Slower... walk slower.. I feel useless being carried and like a dim witted damsel who's corset is to tight by fainting all the time. If I do, I have salts in my skirt pocket." She informed Solessa.

 

 

Matt came back with two pheasants and three rabbits. "We got some food boss! Now where's that knife.. oh..." He went to the tent Neiva was in before. "Um boss..." She handed him the hair and a note on old yellow parchment paper. The note said her thanks in treating her well and she enjoyed the little adventure for a small time. The hair would be a little reminder that not are as they appear. And in case he changes his mind during the grueling winter months.

[Vorgin]

Xel read the letter and grumbled, "Thank us? Naive girl..." He took the knife from Matt and threw it at a nearby tree. The tree shook from the heavy impact as the knife landed perfectly into it. "This heist never happened... We find a loose horse with a money bag attached. Put that hair in a chest or something..." He went back to his tent.

 

Solessa nodded and began to slow her pace, arm around Neiva lightly.

[AroaraAngelwolf]

"Yes sir!" He said snapping at attention and went to try and pull the knife out of the tree but failed to do so. He pulled out another one, smaller one. And prepared everything to eat.

 

 

Neiva saw the town ahead and sighed. "You guys go back. I'll take it from here" "and you faint in a bad side of town? Not many of us are as kind as you say... " Rob said quietly, shifting from foot to foot.

 

Neiva sighed and looked at Solessa.

[Vorgin]

Solessa looked at them, "We escort you to the door of the house. If you cause trouble, we will abandon you. I didn't come this far to get arrested."

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Neiva nodded and went on taking the back ways to not be seen. When they reached a large estate, she went to the smaller garden gate where a guard was posted, the crest on his shield. He lowered the spear at the two. Neiva raised her hand. "No one is here but me." The man hesitated then stood at attention.

 

"I'll go in from here..." She said to the two as she opened the gate. "YOU WRETCHED THING!" A shrill voice sounded. A older woman with rich brown hair and dark eyes came up in a rage. She was finely dressed and dripping with jewels. Emeralds on her fingers, diamonds on her neck. Lace on most of her dress. She snagged the hat off of Neiva's head and stole her parasol, throwing it behind her. She ripped the hat, took her fan and snapped it across her cheek. Then she shoved her roughly into a rose bush. "That horse was a dowery gift to the king! You lost it, so you must pay it back! Tomorrow you'll weed this garden by yourself, no breaks, no hat or gloves. That horse was the best breeder in Garthfello history and you will pay us back in blood money. " She threw the broken fan on the ground and straightened her dress before walking off.

 

 

The guard rushed to the girl, now crying in the bush. He tried to get her untangled and out of it. She sat as still as she can to avoid more scratches as her white skin and tunic was already trailing with crimson as the thorns pricked her delicate skin.

[Vorgin]

Solessa stared in shock at the woman's treatment of Neiva. Realizing the conditions she lives in, she began to grit her teeth. "Rob... I think someone owes Neiva an apology..." She marched to the woman and stepped on her foot, the second she opened her mouth in pain, Solessa grabbed her neck, "How dare you treat a human being like this in front of me!!"

[AroaraAngelwolf]

Rob nodded and helped get Neiva out and on her feet, then helped out Solessa.

 

Lady Garthfello glared at her. "Interloper!" She croaked around the hand on her neck. "I'll have you... hanged for trespassing!"

 

Neiva was scratched up bad. Her shirt back was torn, the threadbare fabric crimson as well as her arms and neck. Her cheek was red and quickly darkening. She was crying and leaning heavily on the guard, trying to hide her sensitive eyes from the light.

Edited June 19, 2015 by AroaraAngelwolf

[Vorgin]

Solessa glared at her, her grip tightened, "Oh trust me, I'm wanted for way worse..." She threw the woman into the same rose bush. "You should be hanged for abuse and excessive punishment! You monster, you self righteous *!"

[AroaraAngelwolf]

The woman streaks loudly as she pulled out with small scratches and rips on her dress. "You horrible low life! Guard! Kill her!" She shouted. The man threw down his shield. "She's right, and I quit. "

 

The woman looked shocked, then ran to the house screaming.

 

"Go.. all of you. The other guards don't know me.. they are the kings own knights.. they won't hesitate to kill you." Neiva croaked out.

[Vorgin]

Solessa looked at Neiva slightly saddened, "Alright..."

She handed a small item to Neiva and whispered to her, "I know Xel will hate me for this... But if you need to run away... Blow into this at the edge of town, Rob will hear it and get you." She stepped back, "Thank you good sir, see to her wounds and safety please... Come on Rob."

[AroaraAngelwolf]

He nodded. "I will. And quite possibly.. can I join your band? I'm a excellent fighter, and my.. um.. house mate is a skilled pit pocket.. no one really notices him. I'm sure he will be willing to take up the trade again.... if not, we'll figure out our own way..." He nodded to them and picked up Neiva carrying her to a side door in the house.

 

Rob left with Solessa. "I didn't know it was that bad.... I'll keep an ear out for her call...don't tell boss you gave her that?"He asked.

[Vorgin]

Solessa shook her head, "No... I'll let him know in due time. If you hear that call, feel free to lead the guy and his friend here too if they are still interested." With that they went back into the woods.

 

When they got to camp Solessa sat next to Xel and told him everything that happened except giving her the whistle.

Xel gritted his teeth, "...I probably would have killed her... But you showed your point... Eat up everyone, we got a big day ahead of us."