Robin watched the obnoxious ceremony from a nearby rooftop. Yet again I look down on you, Mayor, she mused to herself. The cold wind bit at her skin, but she could barely feel it. She was numb to the pain, and alive on the anticipation.
Eric scooted closer to her, speaking in a soft voice, "If things go wrong, I want you to run to the old town square. We can meet up there, okay?"
She nodded, and, giving him a thumbs up, lifted up her hood. She had swapped her usual thieving jacket out for a lighter and darker one. Ha, I guess I really look the part of menacing female mastermind now. She silently made her way over to the uneven edge of the roof, the cracked tiles unsteady under her feet.
Checking to make sure Sebastian and Eric were right behind her, she swung herself over the edge and landed carefully at the back of the crowd. Slowly, more and more people turned, until the whole crowd was gaping at her. Her face still concealed, she started forward.
She could hear the whispers, and, for once, she enjoyed them. Yes! She thought. Spread the word, for we are here! Tell everyone how a little girl stood up to the big bad Mayor.
Robin watched as the crowd parted as she walked, and she basked in the attention, the stares of the frightened people. She'd make them afraid of someone else soon. She stopped in the middle of the crowd and, hearing the twins stop in either side of her, she smiled. Its time to make him pay.
"Wait!" Her voice rang out in the dead silence. She grinned as the Mayor and Blake gasped as she threw back her hood.
"Before you make any rash decisions, why don't you stop and read between the lines for a little." She seemed to speak only to Blake, and each word she said drew his attention even more.
"It all seems fair, doesn't it? An alliance and simple money for the removal of some pesky bandits and thieves. But stop and ask yourself, where is that money coming from?" Her eyes bored right into him, blue fury glowing with red-hot passion.
"Taxes, of course. It's not like our wonderful mayor here would break a sweat earning any of it. Taxes are normal, what country can run without them? But there is difference between collection and thievery. I would know." She stopped to wink at Blake before continuing to glare at the Mayor.
She suddenly pulled out a small purse. "Recognize this? This is the Lady's shopping purse, stolen just two days ago. Let me use this as an example." Opening it up, she pulled out a silver coin, and said, "This is three months wages, hours upon hours of hard, backbreaking work. Seems like a fair wage, huh?"
Putting it back, she held up a golden coin. "But this is the monthly tax for a family of three, not including any debt or mortgage. No wonder many of us turn to theivery. However, even as we rob you of our own coin, you continue to spend and spend it. Isn't that what you're doing right now? Spending our hard-earned money to get rid of us?"
She slid the coin back into the purse before continuing. "Well, you can have this back." To everyone's surprise, she threw the purse, standing tall as it hit the ground before the Mayor, who looked absolutely furious. "Seems like I've worn out my welcome." She smiled, a quick, flashing sneer that was all contempt, before turning her back on them.
The Mayor screamed, "Arrest her!" Two guards jumped onto the stage, looking down at her as she remained in the crowd. Not one to run away from a fight, she leaped onto the stage and faced the first guard.
She wasted no time, knocking his sword of his hand with her dagger, before giving him a hard kick to the nether region. He fell to the ground, and she shoved him off the back of the stage. Without hesitation, she turned and threw her dagger at another guards's foot. As he hopped in pain, she brought her dagger down on the back of his head, knocking him out.
Turning to the Mayor, she grinned. Laughing, she asked him, "Only two guards? You're going to have to try a lot harder than that." She gestured to Eric and Sebastian, still standing in the crowd. "My friends here didn't even have to lift a finger. If one thief can easily dispatch two of your Royal Guards, it's no wonder you need help from another country!"
As the Mayor fumed and screamed at her, she walked calmly to the table in the middle of the stage. Grabbing the paper contract, she shredded it. "Oops! I hope this wasn't important!" Grinning at Blake, she told him, "If you ever get tired of this maggot of a man," she motioned at the Mayor. "you'll find me at the Dragon's Inn." Winking at him, she hopped off the stage. Putting her hood up, she slowly walked away from them, disappearing from view in the shadows beyond.
Though she could hear the livid screams of the Mayor ordering her to be captured, she couldn't help but smile. Now it's just a matter of time. She thought to herself. He'll come to me, and when he does... Her grin widened. I'll make the Mayor pay for all he's done.
YOU ARE READING
Red To Black
عاطفيةRobin Swift is a young woman with a temper as hot as flames. To say she was a spitfire would be an understatement. She would do anything for the band of orphans she calls a family, even stand up to the cruel Mayor and his wife. She hears that a neig...
