The Silver Crown

4.

As I wandered through the muddy streets, I took in the view of rundown houses, of broken people and dirty clothes. So many of the people in Arovia were poor and barely scraping by and it was exceptionally obvious in the capital. The unfairness of the world was well known, however that didn't mean that I could just accept it. Wasn't it a duty of the king to take care of his people?

I snorted to myself. Obviously it could be the king's duty, but that did not mean he would perform it.

I stepped out onto the main road. The city was built on a hill. At the top was the palace, where the monarchs and their family lived. Many noble families had rooms in the palace and visited often. Noble houses and estates were next on the hill. Most nobles had a small castle at their fief but some also had their own city homes, rather than staying in the palace.

Next were temples to the Sun God and Moon Goddess and the other lesser gods and goddess who they ruled over such as Lord Abrax, the god whose court I was so desperate to join.

Lower down were the guild houses and merchant homes and then the city center where the upper middle class homes spread out from there. Then in the lower city were the muddy streets and the poor people and the beggars and the orphans and the slave pens. And just like the hill, there was less on top than on the bottom. If only I could have changed that, but what could someone like me do?

"Kade." A thick arm was slung over my shoulder. I immediately shrugged it off, but I didn't flip the person over my shoulder because I recognized the voice.

"What do you want, Kiro?" I said, my voice dry, my eyes still on the people in front of me.

"Did you do it yet?"

"Kiro." I warned him.

"So you didn't do it yet?"

I didn't answer but I picked up my pace.

"Kade, I don't want to lose this client," Kiro stepped in front of me, causing me to come to a halt inches from his chest. Kiro was a lot taller than me. He was also built like a bear. Probably why he dealt with the clients and I did the actual acquiring. It was a decent partnership because I didn't like people knowing who I was and Kiro couldn't be a thief if his life depended on it. But he definitely didn't understand my desire for secrecy. Of course, if we were caught, I would go to a labor camp for ten years and he would go for six months.

"Kiro, shut your mouth in public," I snapped, shoving around him. He stood there in the middle of the street for a moment then came after me. He wrapped his thick fingers around my bicep and yanked me over to the edge of the street. A few people gave us a fleeting glance but no one stopped. I didn't expect anything else in the Lower City.

"You promised that you would have it," Kiro whispered, leaning down to look into my eyes.

"I don't make promises I can't keep, Kiro."

"So you have it?"

"I'm getting it tonight," I said, shrugging out of his grip and stepping back. "I'll have it." I walked away, poised for Kiro to storm after me. The man had a temper.

"Alright, I trust you. You've never not delivered...Except for that one time," Kiro said, jogging up to me. When he ran he looked like a big floppy sheep dog. It was more embarrassing than adorable.

"We don't talk about that one time," I stated habitually. Kiro couldn't help bringing up my one failure with the diamond broach.

"Yeah, yeah," Kiro said. "Anyway, I promised Nell that I would come by the bordello sometime today."