A Different Hero

I didn't want to be a thief. I didn't want to be a liar or a sneaky pickpocket. My past formed me into all of these things.

My name is Megan Veranza III. A few years ago I lived with my mother and father in a beautiful castle in the Alfenden Empire. It burned down, and no one knew I had survived.

Now I live in a little stick hut outside the humble village of Raneem, which is right next to Alfenda, the most powerful place in the region.

Today is the first day of autumn, so all the people will be celebrating the Harvest, the time to get food for the winter.

I think it should be called the "Delivery" because the Alfenden harvest their crops and give some to Raneem.

Before everyone rises to feast, I walk into the marketplace and head toward a little bakery. It belongs to an old woman who knows me very well.

Nariza was a very good friend of my mother's, so she recognized me when I crawled out of the wreckage of my home covered in soot and burned all over. She takes care of me sometimes, but I don't live with her because she has no room.

Nariza turns around and smiles at me. "Hello Megan! How are you? Do you want something to eat?" She says.

I'm feeling bad today. Maybe it's the festival I'm not part of. So I lie, "No thank you, Nariza. I was actually wondering of any of the other shopkeepers are around. I don't always want to take things from you."

Nariza laughs. "How sweet! No one os home today, Megan. Everyone is out awaiting the Alfenden to bring crops. I'm about to join them."

Bingo! That's all the information I really wanted from her. " OK, I'll get some berries in the woods." I say before I leave.

That's also a lie. I'm actually going to go steal.

I hide my lifestyle as a thief from Nariza so the Alfenden Guard, our government, might pardon her if she didn't know she helped a criminal. If they find out, that is, which is very unlikely. I'm ashamed to say I'm a professional burglar and good at hiding.

My first target is a butchers shop a few street turns away from Nariza's bakery. It belongs to a man named Baston. He lives on a floor right above his shop, and his meat is locked up with the key in his bedroom. Good thing I can climb; like I said, I'm sadly a great thief.

I practically leap up the windows quickly so wandering eyes don't see me. Someone weirdo might be here instead of at the festival, so I'm always carful.

Inside, Baston is sleeping in again. I go to his drawers at the side of the bed and take the little copper key.

Before I can leave, the door handle turns. I dive under the bed without thinking and hold my breath.

This was a dumb move. I should have snuck behind the door then silently knock the person out. I've done it before once.

A pair of feet that look like they belong to a woman walk around the room, probably searching for the key I hold.

"Oh, Baston probably lost it again." she says as she leaves the room to search for it. I'll let her have it when I'm done.

I take the opportunity and leave the room through the window and climb down to the shop. I go to the chest in the back of the place.

I'm disappointed. There's only 1 slice of meat about the size of my hand. I'll have to go somewhere else.

The key is left on the store's counter and I run off just as the woman from before comes downstairs.

Now what? Everyone is outside, but all the food is probably prepared for the feast taking play after the harvest. I'll have to wait to take what the Alfenden deliver.