Amateurs

Tucked between the gables, Thewyn had a perfect view of the crime in the alleyway below. The three men wore rough masks and accosted the drunken reveler. Their knives shook, and their voices were too loud and fast. The robbers were amateurs.

If they hadn’t been, they would’ve ensured he didn’t scream. Especially since the unbecoming yelp was loud enough to alert his nearby guards. Thewyn winced at the sound the man would probably deny having made later.

The robbers may have been amateurs, but the man’s guards were not. Quick and concise, they stormed the alley with swords drawn.

From Thewyn’s vantage, she watched the robbers’ eyes widen. Watched them spin about. Watched them run chased by the drunken man’s cries. “Circle! Circle! I’ve been robbed by the Circle!”

Thewyn rolled her eyes. Of course. He blamed the circle. As if they’d be caught that stupidly.

Extracting herself from the shadows, she ghosted over the rooftops, tracing the mens’ path. They moved quickly and outpaced the guards. Thewyn would give them that much. Of course, the guards were probably less interested in chasing than ensuring their lord’s safety.

Several alleys over, the trio stopped, gasped for breath, and broke into manic laughter.

“Did you see that?” One asked, smacking the shoulder of another.

Tha man laughed nervously.

“We can do this! We can–”

“Get yourselves killed,” Thewyn said.

The men’s eyes swung upward and locked onto Thewyn standing outlined by starlight.

Their eyes widened, and the closest stepped away from her. “You… you’re Circle!” The first man said. No doubt the trio’s leader. Too bad he’d led them into trouble.

Yes,” Thewyn said, her voice dropping lower. “And we don’t tolerate fools playing off of our reputation.”

“Yeah.” The second snorted. “What you’re gonna do alone?”

“Who said she’s alone?” Dwayde emerged from the shadows on the opposite rooftop. The armatures were startled by his appearance. Not Thewyn. The moment she’d broken from her shadows, she’d known she had her nearby fellows’ attention. Unlike these fools, they were not amateurs.