Guild of Thieves (Book 1) ✓

𝓒𝓱.28 ~ 𝓒𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓻𝓾𝓮𝓵

Over the next seven years Caine was labelled a cruel leader. Rodger was the first of many thieves to be punished for their failure. Some were missing fingers, hands and even their tongues. He couldn't afford to lose them as thieves, leaving his disgraced thieves so they were still able to serve and work for him. Their punishments would always be remembered and be a reminder not to fail him again.

Some thieves tried to leave the Guild as soon as they heard about what happened to Rodger, who went by the name of Patch nowadays for the eye patch he wore after that tragic day. Caine put a stop to any defectors wanting to run away by bribing them to stay with gold and a threat. Anyone who tried to leave would be executed by Caine. No one dared to step a foot outside of the mill factory or tried to leave again. He became known as Caine the Cruel.

The Guild members now feared him and weren't lining up eagerly for jobs like they normally would. A few thieves volunteered to go on the mission for the Jewels of Arondale, wanting to see Caine's dream become a reality. Unfortunately none of the thieves ever returned and Finn started to get suspicious of their disappearances.

"You have been sending thieves on the mission again haven't you?" Finn asked Caine straightforward.

"What makes you think that?" He said casually.

"Oh I don't know...perhaps the recent disappearances of our best thieves?" Finn said, all serious and business like.

Caine couldn't deny the accusations, cursing Finn for being an observant thief. "Okay you got me. What are you going to do about it now that you know the truth?"

Finn didn't answer straight away, staring at the leader with fire behind his eyes.

"Nothing. There's nothing myself or the others can do or say to try and sway you from those damned jewels." Finn erupted in anger. "One of these days your past is going to catch up with you Caine."

The man stalked out of the Meeting Room slamming the door behind him, making the entire room shake. Caine knew the man would not tell the others. Finn was a smart lad and he was right, nothing and no one would ever change his mind about obtaining the Royal Jewels.

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Finn was pissed off at his almighty leader for his stupid obsession over these jewels no one has ever seen only heard of. Caine was letting his obsession get the better of him, not able to see that his goal is out of reach and unobtainable.

He used to admire Caine and look up to him, but in between losing Arianna and becoming a father, the man lost his own way. Finn was now afraid of Caine and feared he might lose his way forever.

Making his way to the kitchen, Finn helped himself to some honey wine and a bowl of whatever the chef slapped together in a stew. Finding a place at an empty table, not wanting to be disturbed by anyone, which didn't last long. Kaleb sat across from him with his own meal, the boy didn't know Finn wanted to be left alone.

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"You alright Finn?" Kal asked, eating a big spoonful of stew.

He hoped the meat was beef and not rat, the chef was known to slip the vermin meat into their meals to compensate for the lack of meat...Kaleb tried his best not to think too much about what was in the food. He noticed Finn has a storm cloud above his head, hoping to cheer his mood up.

"Not in the mood for chitchat today Kaleb." Finn grumbled around a mouthful of food before Kaleb could speak.

"Say no more! I will leave you be." Kaleb grabbed his steaming bowl and moved to another table.

Finn was certainly in a bad mood, Kal wondered what had soured his mood. The boy looked around the factory, seeing all the sad and gloomy faces of his fellow Guild members. Once upon a time they used to wear smiles but those days are long gone since the day Caine gauged Rodger's eye out.

Rodger has never been the same either...

This is why Kaleb wanted to see Jezamine running the Guild. She was the best thief and certainly wasn't cruel or mad like her father. Jez was the kind of leader that would salvage what was left and make it great again.

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Jezamine was in her usual place on the roof of the mill factory watching the sun set behind the large mountains in the distance. She wondered what was on the other side of the snowy ridge, wondering if she would ever get to see any place other than the realm of Arondale.

The weight and pressure of being the heir and prodigy weighed heavily on her shoulders, not wanting to disappoint her father. The man was unrecognisable as of late, ready to snap at any moment. Everyone was afraid of Caine, including herself. 

If she had the strength to leave her father to run his own Guild into the ground, she would, but she didn't have the strength to run away. Jezamine has to stay because being a thief was all she knew and she was the heir to the Guild. Jezamine was too scared of what would happen to Caine if she ever tried to leave...

With a sigh she climbed down from the roof, making her way inside to the room and gloom. Maybe one day she would get to see what was beyond Arondale and the snowy mountains. If not, she could always keep dreaming of far away places but deep down, Jezamine longed to be more than just a thief. She never voiced her thoughts on the matter knowing Caine would lose it if he knew that his daughter didn't want to be the heir to his Guild.