Chapter 1
Kira panted for breath as she turned the corner. In her arms was a large sack of potatoes. It was way too heavy for a girl of her stature to carry while running away from a bunch of guards.
She tripped on the cobblestone pathway and cursed under her breath.
“Get that boy!” One of the guardsmen ordered from behind.
By the sound of his voice they were getting closer. The trampling of their feet grew louder. They were almost upon her.
That morning, Kira had set out from home telling her father she was going out to the orphanage to help out and play with the children. Wordlessly, he handed her a set of old clothes and a knife. No words were said, but the message was clear. Don’t get caught.
If Kira got caught, the guards would discover that beneath the cap and threadbare clothes was not “boy,” but a girl with long brown hair and a long stretch of a sliver of silver
Kira muttered under her breath. Why couldn’t the guards just be nice for one day and let her go?
Upon arriving at the market, Kira began scouring for her target for the day. She walked past the old vendors sitting on the ground trying to sell their wares sitting on blankets. Kira ignored these people. Their lives were troublesome enough without having their livelihood taken.
After several minutes of wandering, Kira found her target. A wealthy merchant sat at a stall watching the crowd with a predatory eye. He was clothed in silk robes and a silver hat. Several rings perched on his fingers. He was selling food. An abundance of it. A sack of potatoes lay on the table. Next to that were apples and pears. All of which was guarded by two men who stood in front of the table.
A young girl ran up to the stall and snatched a fruit, but a hand shot out and grabbed him by the wrist.
“Girl, what are you doing!” The guard to the right was gripping her hand tightly while the little girl struggled.
“Please! My brother is sick!” Her voice cracked. She was on the verge of tears.
He scowled. “Filth like you need to rot in the dirt where you belong.” Wrenching the apple from her hand, he tossed her to the floor. Then he kicked her hard in the stomach. She gasped for air and began sobbing. “Leave before you are reported!”
Getting up, the little girl scurried away. Kira watched as she darted into the alley way. Kira added the little girl to the mental tab of people she needed to visit after she was done.
Kira turned her attention back to the stall. She contemplated which one to grab. The fruits or the potatoes. The fruits were closest to the edge which meant that she could grab it quicker, and it was kept in a smaller load meaning it was lighter, but the orchard at the edge of the capital often had overgrown trees that reached past the fence. If you were quick enough, you could grab a few of the overhanging fruits and run before the guards saw. However the potatoes were grown far out to the east where much of the goods had to be transported hundreds of miles.
It was decided. Kira walked up to the stall next to a young couple pretending to examine the goods. The merchants eyes landed on her. Kira’s heart quickened. With her clothes, the merchant was undoubtedly going to watch her. Pulling out a coin from her pocket, she dropped it. The merchant’s eyes narrowed.
Bending down to pick it up she put her other hand on the table for support. Her hand instantly found the coin. Kira clenched it in her hand and continued on. While pretending to rummage around the floor for the coin her other hand inched closer to the sack of potatoes. When her hand touched the edge, she gripped it hard. Getting up she began running.
After a few steps the merchants voice called out from behind her. “Thief! Thief!” Kira could hear him struggling to get up. “You two! Don’t just stand there! Get her!” The two guards scurried toward her. And the chase began.
