Shai

Qiara’s cheeks bulged as she stuffed all kinds of breakfast foods into her mouth. Shai stared, shaking her head.

“Whub?” Qiara asked, pausing with a forkful of eggs in her mouth.

“I know we never ate this lavishly with The Cliq, but we weren’t starving,” Shai said.

Qiara chewed and swallowed. “We had to share with about a hundred other people. Sometimes I got to the dining table when there were only scraps left.”

Shai snorted. “Right. Meanwhile, Madame Kalyssah ate like a queen every night. I’m so glad to be away from that place.”

“Me too.” Qiara chugged juice until some dribbled down her chin, then set her goblet down and wiped it away with the palm of her hand. “So. You still determined to let Prince Jistan believe you’re completely free of The Cliq?”

“Shh,” Shai hissed, looking around at the other people in the dining hall. They sat at the end of one long table, and the other dozen or so people in the room were scattered several feet from each other. Still, people would occasionally walk by. “And yes, I’m determined to keep him from knowing the truth.”

“But what if Madame Kalyssah calls on you?”

“We’re only going to be in the city for a few more days. After that, I shouldn’t have to worry. By the time we come back, I’ll be ready to tell Jistan the truth.”

“But what if he can help you now? He could free your mother from Madame Kalyssah’s clutches by paying her off or making a bargain with her.”

“Great, so now my mother and I are tradeable goods.”

Qiara shrugged. “Gold is the only language the leader of The Cliq knows. But…if you’re forced to stay with the gang, I’ll rejoin too. You’re the closest person I have to family, so I’m staying by your side.”

Shai smiled. “I appreciate that. But I don’t want you going back, not even for me.”

Then the prince’s voice came from behind her, “Going back where?”

Shai jumped, almost knocking over her goblet.

Qiara cleared her throat to disguise a laugh, then looked at the prince. “Nowhere interesting. Good morning, Your Highness.” She bowed her head.

“Good morning, Q. Good morning, Shai.” He moved to stand next to the latter girl. “Do you ladies mind if I join you?”

Shai looked up at him in surprise. “You want to sit here?”

“Yes. Despite who I am, I don’t sit on seats of gold all the time.” He flashed his handsome grin, and Shai averted her eyes, her face flushing.

“O-of course you can sit with us,” she stammered, running her hands over her lap, smoothing the soft blue cotton of her dress.

He sat beside her, and Shai squirmed, feeling self-conscious and very aware of the few inches that separated her body from touching his. Across from her, Qiara grinned widely as she popped a grape into her mouth. Shai glared back, knowing the indecent thoughts going through her friend’s head.

Jistan took an omelet from a platter of them in the middle of the table, then started cutting into it with a knife and fork. “How are you girls adjusting to living here? For a second time, in your case, Shai.”

“I love it,” Qiara said, her mouth stuffed with fruit. It came out as ‘I lub ih.”

Shai winced at her lack of manners, but Jistan laughed and said, “I think I’m going to enjoy having you around, Q. You don’t care what anyone thinks about you.”

She swallowed. “Of course not. Life’s too short for that.”

Shai shook her head, smiling.

Jistan peered at her as he ate. “You haven’t given me any details about how your conversation with Madame Kalyssah went yesterday. I find it surprising there weren’t any problems.”

Qiara raised her eyebrows, watching Shai for her answer.

“Um…” Shai could tell him a partial truth. “She still wants me to come back if she needs me for certain jobs.”

“Oh. Are you going back?”

“My mother lives there.” She was aware that was avoiding the question.

He frowned, setting down his fork. “Is the Madame threatening your mother?”

“No.” She kept her eyes down so he couldn’t read the truth in them.

But maybe he still did, because he said, “When we come back, my priority will be helping you get her away from there.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that…”

“It’ll be my pleasure. Especially since I wasn’t able to save my own mother.” He picked at his omelet.

Qiara bowed her head. “Goddess bless our late Queen.”

Shai nodded in agreement, touched that Jistan was willing to help her mother, but unsure if he actually could, short of killing or arresting the leader of The Cliq. And that would only cause chaos within the gang.

As the three of them finished their breakfast, they talked about lighter topics, such as the recent Pact Day events and the historical meaning behind the day. Jistan explained that during the signing of the Quint Pact, the other four countries had bestowed gifts to Casland.

“Like the Diamond Gem of Irisei,” he said, giving the two thieves a meaningful look. “A former Emperor of Irisei gave that to my ancestor centuries ago.”

Qiara and Shai shared a guilty look. Then the former girl said, “It must be worth a lot for Madame Kalyssah to want it so badly. But I’m glad we didn’t give it to her.”

“And this Obsidian Chest,” Shai began, “won’t stealing that destroy what little peace is left between Casland and Zanteos?”

“At this point, I don’t think it matters,” Jistan said, draining the last of his drink. “There’s so much fighting going on at the border of our two countries that this won’t make much of a difference.”

Shai swallowed. This politics business sounded like it could get messy.

The prince wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood. “Thank you for allowing me to eat with both of you. I have a couple of meetings till noon, and then maybe you’d like to go for a stroll around the palace with me before lunch, Shai.” He turned his questioning gaze on her.

“Oh…I’d love to,” Shai replied, hoping her brown skin hid her blush.

Qiara bounced up and down as if she were the one who’d been asked.

Jistan grinned. “Excellent. I’ll meet you at your room later.”

Shai could only nod before he walked away.

Qiara grabbed her hands, shrieking. “He wants to spend private time with you!”

“Hush!” Shai scolded her, but she couldn’t keep her lips from curling up too.

When they left the dining hall, the two girls went on a tour of The Queen’s Garden outside, then Shai showed Qiara a couple places in the palace she used to love when she was little. But one big difference between then and now was the palace guards shooting them suspicious glances whenever the girls passed one of them.

When this happened, it was impossible for Shai to forget where she came from. She still felt like a thief, even though she wore fancier clothing.

A couple hours later, Qiara wanted to see more of the palace, but Shai wanted to get ready for her stroll with Jistan, so she headed back to her room just before noon.

As she walked down the hallway, she thought about her mother and found her fingers touching Nahya, which was tucked in the waistband of her pants again. The knife had always been a constant reminder to keep working toward a better life. Now it was a reminder to come back from this heist as soon as possible so she could save Mama.

Shai reached her room and closed the door. As she headed toward her window, a searing ball of orange flames shot past her face, heading for the logs in the fireplace. She yelped and flinched, holding up her hands, but the fireball was already past her, setting the wood aflame and casting flickering light into the room.

She gaped at it, then swung around to face the person who’d cast the fireball, who sat on a maroon divan on the other side of the room. He lounged there, not wearing a mask as usual, donning a black shirt, black pants, and a dark orange jacket. He held a green apple in his hands, taking a bite as he peered at her. He must’ve got it from the bowl on her table.

“Ed!” Shai cried, shaking with rage and probably fear. “What—how did you get in the palace!?” She glanced nervously back at her door.

“It was easy,” the thief drawled. “All I had to do was disguise myself as a servant and come through their entrance at the side of the palace. And did you know there are secret passageways hidden within these walls?” He took another bite out of the apple, its loud crunch echoing through the room. He moaned. “Is it just me, or does the fruit here taste better?”

She stormed over to him. “You can’t be here! Why—” She broke off, realizing the answer before she finished the question. “Madame Kalyssah sent you, didn’t she?” She hoped she wasn’t needed for another heist already.

“Of course she did. She sent me to keep an eye on you. She wants me to join you on your quest.”

“Why? To make sure I come back? She has my mother; of course I’m coming back to Valizea.”

“Not just that. I have to make sure you bring it to her.”

Shai’s eyebrows furrowed. “Bring her what?”

“The Obsidian Chest the prince wants you to steal, of course.”

Cold dread ran down her body. “H-how does she know about the chest?”

Edmun smiled his crooked smile, clearly enjoying her reaction. “She has spies everywhere. She had a feeling there was more to you leaving The Cliq than just joining the RDP, and her hunch was right. The prince needs your magic for a difficult job.”

She gritted her teeth. Curse that horrible woman, she thought. “I can’t give Madame Kalyssah the chest! Emperor Akeil wants it. He needs the treasure inside it to bring peace between the countries and stop the Crossover War.”

“And our leader needs it to secure our position as top bandit gang in Casland.”

Shai stared. “That’s hardly important.”

He shrugged, speaking around another bite of apple. “Doesn’t matter what you think. You still work for her. You’re only appearing to work for the Prince and Emperor. Remember where your loyalties lie.”

She glared, then flashed another glance at her door. “Prince Jistan will be here in a moment. I could just tell him to kill you. He’s a great swordsman, and I can neutralize your magic.” She lifted a hand in what she hoped was a threatening manner.

He casually straightened his jacket. “You’re not going to do that. Because I would tell him the truth before he killed me, that you still work for The Cliq. He doesn’t know that, does he?”

She bit her bottom lip. Ed was really testing her morals about not killing anyone.

He chuckled as he chewed his apple. “That’s what I thought. Besides, killing me solves nothing. Madame Kalyssah would just send someone in my place.”

“Maybe, but it’ll be someone I don’t hate so much.”

“Oh, but you and I have so much history. Remember the fun we had stealing the Diamond Gem together?”

Her upper lip curled. “What I remember is that you left Q and me to take the fall for it.”

“Yes, but that all worked out in the end for you, didn’t it?” He hopped up off the divan, chucking his apple core to the floor. “I expect a servant will clean that up later.”

She scoffed. “You’re disgusting.”

He smirked. “I can tell we’re going to have a lot of fun traveling to Zanteos together.”

“You know you can’t be seen by anyone, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll just travel out of sight. It won’t be too hard. And if you try anything to get rid of me or keep the chest away from Madame Kalyssah…well, I wonder how your mother’s soul would fare after being removed from her body for a couple hours? Would she go mad and jump off a cliff? Or would she end up paralyzed, staring at a wall till the end of her days?”

She wanted to slap the smirk off him. “Alright. I understand.”

“Good. Because I have several ways to keep you in line.” With a gesture, a wall of flames sprang up in a tight circle around Shai, her clothes starting to smoke.

She waved a hand too, dispelling his mana, the fire disappearing. Then she leveled a dark look at him. “Don’t even try playing the magic game with me. My power always trumps yours.”

She barely blinked before he was on her, his knife pressed to her abdomen. Her breath shuddered as his deadly gaze stared down into her eyes. “You forget, I’m also skilled with knives. Can you say the same?”

Before she could answer, a knock sounded on her door. “Shai, it’s me,” Jistan announced.

Ed flipped his knife and tucked it back into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Shall I introduce myself?”

“No!” Shai whispered harshly, her heart pounding. She gestured toward the drapes. “Just hide!”

Still smirking, Ed spun around her and darted over to the window, slipping behind the elegant gold drapes.

Sighing, Shai hurried over to the door. She paused to look up at the ceiling, praying for strength and patience. Then she flung open the door, forcing a smile onto her face.