The Other Apprentice

2-1 | Quinn

Dusk came early in Highhold, perched in the mountains as it was. As darkness took the city, small crowds worked the way up the Road of Regents to the courtyard to take in the Harvest Formal. At least, those of the middle and upper classes did. The guards turned the lowborn away at the gate.

Among the crowds, three young women headed up the road, a tightly knit band keeping their distance from the rest. Their number included a freckled young woman with short black hair, a tall, curvy blonde and a slender waif of a girl with long reddish-brown hair.

"Are you sure they won't notice, Sacia?" spoke the freckled girl to the taller of her two companions.

"Relax, Nissa," spoke the tall blond. "No one's going to know that we stole these gowns or that we're lowborn as long as you don't act like you're lowborn. Don't scratch yourself or pick your nose. Stand up straight and eat nothing that could stain your dress."

The third girl added, "and remember the most important thing. We're not here to enjoy the dance. We're here to fill our pockets. There are a lot of foolish boys there with more in their coin purse than in their heads."

"I know! Isn't it great?" Sacia squeezed her own breasts, laughing out loud. "They won't be able to take their eyes off of these things! Not one of them will remember my face."

Nissa looked down at her own bosom—what little there was of it. "I don't think that approach is going to work for me." She glanced over at the other slender woman. "Or for Quinn."

Quinn let out a snort. "I don't need to use my body to lift pouches."

Sacia gave a quick laugh. "If I was as quick with my hands as you were, Quinn, I probably wouldn't either. But it makes it a lot more fun!" The blonde stood in Quinn's path, facing her. "Dance with me Quinn! Show me how fast your hands work while I smash my chest against you!"

Quinn let out a squeal of laughter as she found herself in a crushing embrace by her friend. "Get off of me, you goof! You'll wrinkle my dress!"

Sacia only tightened the embrace and started rocking with Quinn in a mocking dance. "Not until you show me those magic hands at work!" Nissa watched her friends and started laughing.

Quinn grew more serious and pushed Sacia away. "Would you two keep it down? Remember, we're trying not to draw attention to ourselves. And if you dance that close with the boys, I don't know how you'd ever be able to get something off of their belt."

Sacia recomposed herself and straightened out her dress while smiling devilishly. "When I dance that close to them, they usually remove their belts for me."

Nissa went suddenly beet red as she took in the meaning. "Sacia! You wouldn't!"

Sacia let out a more boisterous laugh. "You'd better believe I would. It's a lot easier to empty their pockets when their breeches are on the floor, and they're passed out"

Nissa turned to Quinn, eyes open wide. "I can't do that! Quinn, can I stay close to you tonight? If you're not also going to--"

Quinn shook her head. "The last thing I need is the bastard child of some foppish oaf. And I work alone, Nissa. You know that. Once we're in, we separate. Just look for an opportunity and take it. You can't rely on other people, Nissa. You can't trust people."

"But Quinn! I trust you!" Nissa squealed with wide eyes.

"Then let that be your first lesson. I'm not one to be trusted. I'm looking out for myself. As long as your goals don't conflict with mine, we can be friends. But don't get clingy. I will always put myself first. Now quiet. We're almost at the gate."

Nissa hung her head and sighed. "Yes, Quinn."

The three girls quickly merged with a gaggle of other ladies and moved their way through the gate, with very little scrutiny from the guards. Once past the guards, they each went their separate ways as planned. Quinn stood alone, surveying the scene.