The Elf Thief

Chapter 1: Sonya

Chapter 1

Sonya

Sonya was in the King’s treasury, a place no maid should be. But then again, she wasn’t a maid; she was just dressed like one. Dropping to one knee, she pulled out a small leather knapsack, and started shoving golden goblets, silver coins and jewelled crowns in it. She had just finished filling the bag when she heard angry voices coming up the stairs.

By the One!  she swore to herself, Already? Her little diversion should have given her enough time to fill at least three bags!

As she hid behind the door, all she could do was hold her breath while the guards passed. Then she turned and ran down the stairs. Not the slyest of escapes.

“Hey!” a voice came behind her. “Hey, wait!”

Waiting was the last thing on her mind as she ran into the first guest room she saw. As she climbed out the window, and onto the roof she did her best not to look down. Quickly as she could she pulled off the stupid skirt and apron to show her standard Elf Thief uniform, breeches, boots and an elbow-length white shirt. The voices were getting louder, so she took a deep breath and launched onto the castle wall almost ten feet away. Luckily, the bricks held firm as she landed on them. She stood up and looked back at the window. Five young soldiers looked at her, then at the fifty-foot drop from the roof to the ground. Letting out a short laugh, Sonya offered a little bow, and then gave them a flirtatious wink, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

She swiftly grabbed one of the many vines growing on the castle wall, and started to scale down the grey castle wall. The King would certainly tear down all the vines afterwards, but it didn’t matter; Elf Thieves never escaped the same way twice. She landed on the chocolate soil right as the gate began to open and more soldiers poured out. Without hesitation, the elf turned and sprinted towards Fay’s Forest.

She dashed through the forest, leaping over moss-covered logs, and rotting roots jutting up from the moist dirt. As she ran she wondered how the alarm had been sounded. The assistant cook must have recognized her emerald eyes. Or maybe her pointed ears had not been completely covered by her braided raven hair. Either way now the guards were hot on her trail and she was almost ashamed that she hadn’t lost them yet. Being an elf she was much more nimble and ten times as agile as any human guard. Not to mention nine out of her sixteen years had been thief training, so she should be able to easily to ditch this small cluster of militia.

Sonya risked a glance backward to see who was following her. What awaited her eyes stunned her. The most elite soldiers, Quarries known for their clear quartz arrowheads, chased her, their bows strung tight and silver armour glinting in the occasional ray of sunlight.

But her glance back cost her. Sonya did not see the tree root in front of her, protruding from the soft soil. Her foot caught on the despicable curb and it sent her tumbling down into the soft charcoal dirt. She tasted the gritty soil in her mouth as she landed face first on the earth. She shot up and spat out the dirty mix, then searched for a place where she could melt into the shadows. Her eyes settled on a part of Fay’s Forest known as the Gilded Glade. The Gilded Glade was the thickest, swampiest part of the forest. It was a place where quicksand waited for the unwary and tree snakes hunted from the foliage, green skin blending in perfectly with the vines and leaves that hide them. Most were poisonous, and all were deadly. A malicious grin grew across the Elf Theif’s face. She knew that there she would have the upper hand. To Sonya, the Fay’s Forest was just a playground, a place where she could go and do as she wished. But to the King’s warriors, Fay’s forest was a dangerous location where they could be ambushed by the dreaded Elf Thieves, or attacked by the terrible Elf Guard it the unwittingly ventured two close to their secret city.

Sonya scrambled up a large tree and perched one branch. No sooner had she settled in her posture then the militia arrived.

Despite herself, Sonya felt very flattered. Not only had the King sent the Quarries after her, but also he had sent a commander with them! Of course he had sent such and elite group after her because she had gotten into his castle. This was more of a matter of honour and security than recovering what she had taken. 

The commander was wearing bronze armour, and a gold helmet both encrusted wit diamonds, emeralds topazes, and opals. His helmet covered up his hair, but the red plume accented his rough features.

“Spread out and find her!” he barked, “She can’t have gotten far in this swamp.

The men shuffled and looked at each other. A younger solider spoke, “But what about the elves? I hear that they know the ancient magic so that they become one with shadows and can attack you at any place or time.  They are faster than a phoenix and more lethal than a manticore.

It took all of Sonya’s self control not to fall out of the tree laughing. Cormack would be proud. Cormack was another Elf Thief who was like a brother to Sonya. One day, the twenty-two-year-old elf was complaining that the Elf Guards got to have all the fun, creating rumours, messing with human’s minds. So Cormack tried a rumour; Elves had pet manticores. This of course was totally and utterly impossible. The manticore would eat its “owner” before he could give a command. But humans would believe just about anything. But at the same time, Sonya was starting to wonder, to whom had Cormack told the story?

“Wives tales!” the commander sneered. “I didn’t know that the Imperial Guard is now made up of superstitious old women!” The arrogant commander laughed at his own joke.

“Why is there still a forest then?” a voice muttered. “They say that the King lost two–hundred-fifty Quarries trying to level the forest. Two-hundred-fifty!!”

The commander stopped laughing abruptly. “If you like your home better than a cell in the King’s dungeon, then I suggest that you. Find. That. Elf!” he bellowed and the soldiers shot off. The commander took a satisfied step backwards, right underneath Sonya.

Idiots, Sonya grinned to herself, they never look up. She dropped down silently behind him. Before he knew what was going on, she had him in the dirt and her bag swinging towards his unprotected neck. She felt the bone snap under the momentum of the heavy gold and jewels.

Right before he passed out she whispered, in his ear, “Fool, they were right to fear the Thieves.”

(A/N Sorry for bad grammar and/or spelling mistakes. I have no editor :( Oh well, I hope you enjoyed it.)