Curse of the Jackalmen

thief

Actually halfway decent writing *gasp*

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Terra Firma was a pleasant relief after our time on the boat. Father payed a man to cart the crates to the Villa and now we stood in the midst of a busy marketplace surrounded by the aura of Rome.

I smiled to myself as I surveyed the scene. The scent of bread wafted from a bakery and enthusiastic chatter filled the air from all around. Real shops, not tent-like stands, surrounded on all sides split by alleyways and two intersecting roads.

"It's good to be here. " I understated the obvious. Hemite, who had forgiven me from the Ptolis incident, nodded in agreement. a small smile formed on her lips but in her eyes was a beam of ecstasy. She had often said she loved Rome second only to Greece.

"I hate this." Ptolis whined. The boat incident seemed to have ruined his perspective of this entire venture. "The whole place is scummy."

"Well I think it cleaner than Egypt. Dirt does as it ought here. " Hemite commented.

"Of course you'd like it. You're scum yourself!" Ptolis pushes her slightly. She opened her mouth to reply, an angry glare in her eyes. I shot her a warning look and cleared my throat.

"Any matter, we need to exchange our money for the proper coin."

Both nodded consent and watched with disinterest as I pulled out my purse. I had it held before me and was just opening it when a boy roughly my age barreled past. When I looked back to my hand the purse had disappeared.

"THEIF! " I yelled but Hemite was already pounding after him.

****

Thievery. It wasn't much of a problem in Egypt and I never was a target when younger so the thought of the threat a richer boy like Syn faced had slipped me.

Now it was all I could think of as I chased the villain. His reddish tunic was difficult to spot against the backdrop of matching red walls. He turned down an alley and I followed, but lost traction and skidded into the wall. Swearing I wiped the grit off my elbow and shoved myself upright and after him. He leapt over low walls and dodged wagons blocking the way. I had not a choice but to mirror him. Deeper and deeper we flew until we reached the heart of one of the poorer sectors of Rome. Here ground fowl ran rampant pecking the dirt. Dogs barked and babies cried from grubby walled houses. The road was pitted with potholes and broken bricks that had fallen from buildings lay shattered on the path. Here my prey stopped. Smirking he pealed into one of the worst looking buildings.

"Return Thief!!" I called. I was nervous about my surroundings. I prided myself in my knowledge of Rome, but I admittedly had never been to this part. The boy stepped back out. His ratlike. features carried a smirk and he showed me his palms.

"I haff not noffing that don't belong to me." His voice was grating and lisped in the way that is amusing in small children but disgusting in a nearly grown one.

"So you have something." I knew I ought not to chastise him on his grammar. "You stole a purse heavy with coin. Return it or suffer the consequences."

"Its you who shall suffer consequences." Rough hands grabbed my from behind, holding my arms awkwardly behind my back. A deep voice husked menacingly. "This boy stole nothing. you're obviously mistaken ..." My arms were twisted painfully. "Right? "

I wasn't going to succumb so easily.

"That... rat.. stole my master's purse." I spat. I realized my error the moment the words slipped from my tongue. Any chance of mercy for being a girl was gone. As a slave I would be assumed to be a petty worker or a concubine. I, fortunately, was neither. Much to my dismay, another man; well muscled and with a rat face to match the boy's.

"Son did you steal it? " He asked. The boy shook his head insistently. "Whose word do I value. My son who I bred and raised? Or a mean looking slave girl? "

I saw red as laughter filled the street. The rat's father stepped closer and slammed his fist into my face. I felt my lip go hot then numb. I probed with my tongue and tasted metallic blood. A lot of blood. I spat a red glob on the feet of the man who punched me.

"He thole th' 'urse." Gods my voice sounded horrendous. I barely made out the words I myself was uttering. Unfortunately the man had no trouble deciphering me.

"You aren't learning this lesson very well. I'm tired of teaching." He raised his fist to strike again. I shrank back and braced for impact. Apparently this struck them as highly amusingly for the laughter that had so recently stopped returned with gusto. I really hated them and Rome right now.

I cautiously started relaxing. Even the man holding my arms slackened his grip. He let go and stepped back for the rat-man to swing and knock me to the ground. Groaning in pain, frustration, and annoyance, I watched them go inside and heard them count the money.

I felt horrible. My legs were sore from running. My lip was a bloody mess, my face was bruised badly, and I hadn't even recovered the tiniest coin of that stolen. I pushed myself upright and wiped my lip with the heel of my palm. I glanced at it and frowned at the smear of red. Wiping this on my tunic I traced my steps back.

The walk back seemed far longer than the run their. Without a guide to chase I had to methodically work my way back on a pair of aching legs. I also didn't know where Dentrilus's villa was located.

My knee was about to give out when I emerged into the intersection Syn had been robbed in.

**

I smiled with relief when Hemite's familiar figure appeared. Waving to her, my countenance quickly fell to a frown at the state of her. She was limping and her lip was cut and bleeding. Her cheek was bruised green and her hair and tunic looked scruffier than normal. She had a sour glare set in her eyes that told me she had failed.

"S'alright Hemi....wasn't much money."

"Thath not th pointh" She struggled out. That was followed by a string of slurred curses. "thupid thlip"

"I can still understand you." I shrugged. she had tried to get the money back. and obviously been beaten up in the process. I walked with her back to my father's Villa. At the end of the street, before we got to the villa, Ptolis was waiting.

"So the scum didn't flee.... but failed to retrieve the purse.Mother isn't too happy. " he smirked. I seized Hemite's arm before she could get any ideas. She merely glared hatefully at him. I had to admit he was rather ungrateful about her saving his life.

We walked back to the villa together. I strode between Ptolis and Hemite. I didn't want a further scuffle for Hemite would win any such contest of physical skill. Back at the villa, my father raised an eyebrow at Hemite to which she dropped her gaze and shook her head. He sighed,shrugged, and walked inside.

My mother, however, stepped out looking livid. Her mouth was a thin line and she glared at Hemite and uttered a monosyllabic phrase that was laced with venom.

"You."