The Tales Of Esmeralda

Chapter 2: The Lonely Life Of Little Old Essy

Es. Esmers. Meralda. Esmeralda.

These were just some of the things people called her. Others were more offensive.

Slut. Bitch. Whore. Wench.

She didn't like being called those things. But people did that anyway.

She was poor, and lived in an old, abandoned, burned down house. The only things she had were the clothes she wore everyday, a bear pelt as a blanket that she made, some money, her father's old sword, and a white and orange cat with matted fur.

She opened the creaky wooden door to get into her house. She kept the door open for light.

"Mrrow," the cat said. It stretched as it walked toward Esmeralda.

"Hi, baby!" Esmeralda said happily. She put down her sword, and picked up the cat.

"Mow," it meowed quietly.

"Hi, Triana! I managed to get you some food! It's not much, but I got us some bread and some chicken. But it's better than nothing." She put the cat on the ground. She sat right in front of the cat. She got out her bread and chicken. She split it in half, and put one half on the floor. Triana started eating the food. Esmeralda pet the cat. "There ya go, girl." Esmeralda started eating her own food.

When she was halfway done her food, she stood up and walked out of her house. She went to the river nearby, grabbed her bowls she always kept there, and she filled them up with water. She walked back into her house, and put a bowl down for Triana. Triana immediately started drinking it. Esmeralda went back to eating.

After she finished her food, Esmeralda went into a darker part of the house. She grabbed the bear pelt, and laid down on the ground, using the bear pelt as a blanket. Triana walked over to Esmeralda, and curled up in a ball next to her. Both girls fell asleep.

~~~~

CRASH! BANG! "DAMMIT!"

Esmeralda woke up in her house, and she sat up quickly. "Who-who's there?"

"Dammit!" the voice said again.

"Yes, I heard you the first time. That's why I woke up."

The voice sighed. "I usually get in, steal the thing, then leave!" The voice sighed again. "I'm loosing my touch..."

"C-come out!" Esmeralda said in a brave voice. She stood up slowly.

The thief opened the front door, and Esmeralda could tell it was a woman. She had long reddish blonde (or strawberry blonde) hair, and baby blue eyes with a little bit of gray in them. She was wearing a peasant outfit, but her gold and sapphire necklace looked expensive.

"Hello," the rich peasant said.

"Hi," Esmeralda responded. "Um, whatcha doin'?"

The woman shrugged. "Stealing."

"Stealing what?"

"This." The woman held up Esmeralda's sword.

"Give it to me," Esmeralda spoke sternly as she took her hand out.

"Okay." The woman put her hands up in surrender. She gave Esmeralda her sword back.

"So...why are you stealing...from a thief?" Esmeralda thought that if she said she was a thief the woman would leave.

"Hm, I steal from everyone. Kings. Warlords. Murderers. Thieves."

"Have you ever stolen from a god?"

"Why of co -" The woman stopped to think. "No. No, I haven't stolen from a god! Oh my gods! Why didn't I think of that?! Wow! If I do that I'll be legendary! Well, I mean, I already am, but I won't just be known in Greece! I'll be known all over the world!"

"Y'know, if the gods are even real."

The woman looked down at Esmeralda with curiosity and sadness in her eyes. "Why, of course they are. Why-why would you say otherwise?"

"Because I've prayed to them everyday with no answer."

"A lot of people pray to them. Just wait your turn."

"I've prayed everyday for three years."

The woman was silent. "Oh. I see. I'm sorry. For-for that."

"No, it's fine. But...you mentioned how you're legendary all over Greece?"

"Yes, actually!" The woman smiled. "I am a wanted thief everywhere in Greece! Well, mostly. I might not be wanted in Sparta. Hrn. Gotta work on that..."

"Then who are you?"

"Oh. Right!" The woman straightened up. "My name is Yolanda."

"Oh, hey, I've heard of you! Around here you're known as the Queen of Thieves!"

Yolanda gasped. "Really? Aw, that's so nice! But, uh," she cleared her throat, "it's nothing."

"Yeah. Sure." Esmeralda raised an eyebrow with a smirk on her face. "So, uh, why are you stealing a sword?"

"Oh, no reason. It's just..." Yolanda sighed. "I'm known as the Queen of Thieves yet I have not stolen many swords. I've only stolen...two? Three? Eh, something like that." She waved her hand down. "So I wanted to change that."

"You know, if you wear a gold and sapphire necklace with peasant clothes people will suspect something."

"Hm?" Yolanda looked down at her necklace. "Ah! Gods dammit!" She kicked the wall. "Ouch!" She grabbed her foot. "Son of a fucking maenad!"

"Hm, okay." Esmeralda laughed weakly. "So...why are you here? In Afidnes?"

"Oh. Um, I'm heading to the next place over. They have a king, and it's really nice there. I plan on living there. At least for a little while."

"Oh. Cool." Esmeralda then thought of what Kyra had told her...

"What if," Esmeralda suggested, "I came with you?"