I wrote the first page of the new story that will in the same universe as Honor Among Thieves. I have my fairydragon story that I'm finishing before this one, but I wanted to see what everyone thought of it.
The flags of Redlion fluttered high above the white stone walls of the city. The red lion with it’s crown, golden stalks of wheat crossed on the right side and crossed swords pointing downward on the left showed all who approached that it was a noble and just city that provided for its people and defended itself, but didn’t go looking for a fight.
The guards patrolled the streets in their red uniforms, the sun glinting off their swords and helmets. Keeping order and protecting the citizens, they made sure every street in Redlion was safe for even the smallest child to play in during the day. During the night, the streets belonged to the Thieves’ Guild. They crept silently through the shadows or leapt lightly across the rooftops, protecting the city in their own way. No one ever became too rich or became too poor, and violent thugs in their territory met mysterious ends.
When the Thieves’ Guild crossed paths with the Redlion Guards, it was bad for both of them, and so as much as they could they stayed out of each others way to keep the balance the city depended on.
Very early one morning, between dark and dawn, two old women wearing hand woven black shawls came walking up the road to the city’s main gate. Walking with them was a girl with pitch black hair, worn in two long braids. Her faded dress was threadbare and patched, and her green eyes were sad as they took in the sight of the city. She had dark rings under her eyes as if she hadn’t slept, and she looked as if she hadn’t had a full meal in a long time either.
“It’s too early to open the gates,” the guard on the wall called down. “You’ll have to wait another hour.”
“There’s no need for that,” one of the women said in a stern but dignified voice. “This girl here is an orphan from our village, and so we are leaving her with the city.”
“What?” the guard asked, frowning. “Doesn’t she have any other family?”
“None at all,” the second woman replied. She wore a cruel expression on her face as she spoke. “Her mother was a whore who abandoned her, and her father was a lunatic who drowned himself in the lake last week. The whole family is cursed, and we’re happy to get rid of this one before...”
“Hush Griselda,” the first woman told her. “There’s no need to drag out all the gossip.”
“It’s not gossip, Esmerelda, it’s the truth!”
The dignified woman sighed and turned back to the guard. “But look here young man! Our village pays taxes to the city. This girl has no one to look after her, and you’re supposed to deal with this sort of thing, it’s the law.”
“Fine. Hold on a minute,” the man sighs, coming down off the wall and opening a small side door near them. “What’s your name?” he asks the girl.
“Jetta...Jetta Blacklake.”
“Is what they’re saying true?”
“Y-yes...except my father wasn’t crazy. ” Jetta glared at the woman who had told the story. “Griselda is just a mean old hag with a grudge against him.”
“Hmph.” The woman sneered back. “Like father like daughter, I can already tell.” She spit in the dirt, then turned back to the guard. “Anyway, we’re leaving the little brat here. If you don’t take her in, she can just starve. She’ll never amount to anything either way, and she’ll be more trouble than she’s worth.”
Esmerelda looked embarassed, tugging at her arm to get her to turn away. “Come along Griselda, there’s no need to get worked up. You’ll just tire yourself out, and it’s a long walk back home.”
The two started slowly back down the road, leaving the guard and the girl alone.
“Well Jetta, my name is Tanser.” He smiled at her, but she only stared at him warily.
“Hey, you look hungry and tired. There’s a bakery right around the corner, let’s go there and then find you a place to rest.”
After a long moment she nodded and followed him through the door, taking her first steps into the city.
