A Little Birdie Named Jay (The Volumes of Blue- Vol. 1) #Wattys2016

Chapter 3: In What One Might Have a Plan... Maybe...

    Jay let go of the ledge and snatched onto a rusty drainage pipe, its rust leaving an orange smear on her hands. With Ellion wrapped tightly around her, she used the pipe as a kind of ladder: allowing her and her brother to safely descend into a narrow alley, its swallowing darkness covering the two criminals' arrival from the summer festival taking place outside in the blazing sun. The instant he and his sister landed on the shadow-inhabiting ground, Ellion unraveled himself from Jay and attempted to join the flamboyant celebrations outside. However, Jay shot her toned arms out and grabbed the collar of the eager boy's frayed shirt, thwarting his escape.
    "Before you go there and get thrown in jail, we need to go over some rules first." Jay scolded, her brows furrowed as she kept the speedy boy from exiting the dismal alley. Ellion groaned, the sound making an audible echo throughout the slim space, most likely waking the drunkards that inhabited the thin-walled apartments.
    "First rule: no complaining." Again Ellion made groan until his stern sister shot him a look that made his almond eyes widen in fear.
    "Next rule- Ahem." Jay glared at the eight year old who was now shifting towards the tempting festivities. Ellion murmured a quick sorry as he leaned back towards Jay.
    "Next rule," Jay continued,"don't go out by yourself. We work as a pair from now on. Got it?" Ellion nodded, his sandy hair creating wispy bangs over his eyes.
    "Some other rules," Jay dictated, "if you get caught either go back to the apartment or Miller's, don't hang around the crime scene, blah ble blah blah.." was what Ellion heard, his overactive mind itching for some action until his face was met with Jay's long fingers snapping in front of him repeatingly. Jay sighed, infuriated.
    "Were ya even listening to me?" Jay asked, her hands thrown up in the air out of exasperation. Ellion nodded his head furiously, his blond hair flying along with it and some of the long strands being caught in his mouth. The copper girl muttered something along the lines of teaching him some better manners as the blond boy eyed the bright festivities outside, full with food and nobles with cumbersome purses...
    "Look this is what we're going to do." Jay sighed, the morning was really not her friend, "We'll go to the pawn shop first, I have some jewels that I'm sure will go for a pretty penny. Then we can go visit Miller and Rachel and pick up some bread. If you're good I can go over the basics of pick-pocketing for ya, kay?" Ellion nodded again, excited at the prospect of seeing his red-haired friend Rachel again.
    "Now shall we go?"

    The summer festivities always were colorful and exuberant as there were only a few short months that held the sun's interest. Traders with entire caravans came along with multiple exhibitions that captured the attention of bored nobles from the rich side of the extending Divide. Peasants, or as Jay liked to call them people, had a multitude of stands set up in the hopes of gaining enough coin to last through the long winters. Not that their hard work would pay off anyway. The harder they worked, the more the King raised the taxes to fill his own selfish desires.
    Walking into the blinding sunshine, Jay had to blink several times to adjust to the summer sun. Jay was glad that she did not have to wear her covering, criminal disguise right now— as it was, the summer heat was already mottling her forehead with beads of sweat that dripped down to her lips to allow a salty taste. Ellion dashed ahead of Jay, excited to rush among the stream of people flowing steadily throughout the cobblestone streets. Knowing that Ellion was only going to play with his friend Rachel, Jay held no protests as her little brother was submerged into the blurring sea of people. Jay slid into the crowd of hopeful wayfarers after the eight year-old, only she had a different destination in mind.

    "Twenty pelons and that's all I can give ya." Greg the pawn dealer said, his bristly bead shifting as his mouth underneath it moved into a smirk. Jay was infuriated, she was sure the bag of stolen jewelry was enough to get her fifteen golden klangs, but the thieving bastard did nothing but insult her work with and underpayment of twenty pelons. Luckily, the tomato red that coated her face was not seen as the discreet pawn shop had boarded up windows that eliminated most of the outside light.
"Twenty klangs." Jay replied, struggling to keep her voice void of any emotion.
"Two klangs and twenty seven pelons." The dealer cockily replied, his own voice only showing boredom at the bartering.
"Nineteen klangs."
"Four klangs."
"Sixteen."
"Nine."
"Fourteen and I won't hurt you."
    "No need to get violent."
    "Not violent, just diplomatic."
    "Thirteen then."
    "It's worth fifteen and you know it."
    "Thirteen klangs and nine pelons then."
    "..."
   "Okay, okay! Fourteen then!"
    "And..."
    "And ten pelons." Greg grumpily submitted, he'd lost this battle and they both knew it. Jay slid the heavy sack of gaudy jewelry and in return was rewarded with an equally heavy sack of klangs and pelons.
    "Pleasure doing business with you." Jay chirped as she weighed her new prize in her hand.
    "Yes, a pleasure as always." Greg muttered dryly, his hands fingering four tarot cards— all of them were blank.