Princess of O'Khasis (OFFICIALLY DISCONTINUED)

Pick-Pocketing

"Melody! Can you come help me train? I can't get the new technique right..." Anastasia said, coming into Melody's office. Anastasia was by far the best student there, and she had been here much longer than most of the others, she was one of the original three that Melody found in the forest that day. Thinking about that day, and the reason she had even been there gave Melody an ominous feeling, but she ignored it, instead accepting the dark blue-haired girls request.

Melody took anastasia outside to the little training field and helped her perfect her aim using throwing knifes. After that, they worked on the basic acrobatics that Melody had taught earlier in the week. She was progressing fast, but Melody was concerned about her teamwork skills. Anastasia preferred to work alone, and could be slightly bossy to the other students. A couple weeks ago, Melody has assigned groups of three and gave them each a different scenario to figure out. Anastasia's group got a perfect score, but Melody later found out that she hadn't allowed the two other kids to work with her. If she didn't learn to let others contribute, she was going to have a problem in the future.

"Anastasia, stop for a minute. I want to speak with you." The girl finished her somersault and stood up, brushing the dirt off her pants.

"Yes Melody?"

"I want you to come with me to the village. Nothing too big, just pick-pocketing, but this is going to be a team effort, okay?"

"Okay, sounds good."

The two took the back way into the village, Melody pulled her scarf up to cover her face, and Anastasia did the same. While they were walking down the street, headed for the marketplace, Melody explained it to her.

"I want you to put more effort into your teamwork. Its a very important aspect of thieving."

"But lots of thieves work alone, why can't I?"

"Because we aren't petty criminals, working alone is dangerous. Now, I want you to pick-pocket a few people while I keep a lookout. If I want you to stop I'm going to make this hand symbol,' Melody held up her right hand, crossing her middle and pointer finger," If you see that, it means stop what your doing and head to me. Got it?" The girl nodded.

"Alright, lets do this."

Melody was at a stall, pretending to haggle with a man selling fruit, but her attention was focused directly behind him, where Anastasia was asking a woman for directions. She smiled and shook the woman's hand, thanking her, but Melody's sharp eye caught the woman's bracelet coming off in Anastasia's hand afterwards. She glanced at Melody, signaling she was done, and Melody left the man, declaring, 'you would think those strawberries are made of rubies from how expensive they are!'

The girls were about to leave the marketplace when a man, an armored soldier at that, stepped in your path.

"Excuse me? Is there something wrong?" Melody asked politely.

"Not at all...Princess."

Melody paled...the only ones who knew of her royal status were the guild, nobody else could possibly......oh. Oh. Of course. Caleb. That little-

"Now, if you wouldn't mind coming with me, and you might as well bring your little friend to, I'm sure he would like to meet her too." The man said, stepping forward towards them. However Melody stepped between the soldier and Anastasia, pulling out a knife from her boot.

"Listen. I want you to walk away. Go back home, got it?" Melody said, staring at the man, but behind her back she crossed her middle and pointer finger with her free hand, signaling Anastasia that she really meant her. The man laughed, a short, haughty laugh.