RavenGuard

Part 1

"Honest jobs don't pay much. Now the traders pockets on the other hand, they're lined with coin!" Kaamen proclaimed, confidently flipping a silver coin up in the air and catching it in his gloved palm. He'd cut the fingers out of them, claiming it let him pocket the coin faster. It certainly helped him blend in to his role as a street runner. Then again, his patched up pants and worn shirt should were proof enough.

"Yeah, we all got that down. You can spot 'em from a mile away." A taller blond haired boy said, leaning against the stone wall with his muscular arms crossed over his chest.

"Just like you Nash." I grinned from the window. I sat on the stone ledge, one foot braced against the wall, the other dangling in the air. My worn black boots barely made a sound as I jumped the five feet down to the ground. Marco piped up from the corner as I walked toward the door, swiping my share from the table as I went.

"Where you goin'? We 'avent even finished celebratin' yet." He said, staring me down with his one good eye.

"Back to see my other crew. Don't worry Patchy, I'll be back tomorrow." I teased, lazily waving my hand over my shoulder as I left. I tucked my share inside my coat before closing the door quietly behind me.

Rain soaked the streets, turning the hard packed earth into a sopping mud pit. The beggars began to move into doorways and overhangs, trying to stay dry. Their attempts were futile, as were mine. With no cloak to hide under, I flipped up the collar of my thin leather coat.

The dirty streets of Rivertown were home to the lowest class of people. Beggars and castoffs lined the streets, mixed amongst the small stands and merchants on market day. Though I lived on the better side of town, the side roads and back alleys were my daily place to be. Between other odd jobs, shelling out information pays, and pretty good too. Enough to feed myself, and most times my family as well.

By the time I stepped through the front door, I was soaked to the bone. I managed to strip off my boots and jacket before a ball of blonde curls flew straight at me. She hugged me tight around the hips, burying her face in my stomach. I returned the gesture and gently placed my hands on her shoulders.

"Cana, where were you today? I missed you." Lily complained. She turned her big brown eyes on me with a pout.

"Lily, you know she has to work." Lance walked over to us, untangling our younger sister from me. He then turned his dark eyes to mine. "Welcome home." He said, taking his turn to hug me. I welcomed his warm embrace.

"When did you get so tall?" I asked, finally noticing our inch in difference.

"I've been taller than you for half a year already. You just never spend enough time here to notice!" He grinned proudly. In response, I ruffled his yellow mop of hair, earning myself a narrow eyed stare.

He may have been my twin, but nothing about us was alike. While I was out running with the boys, he kept his head in whatever book he could find. Because we didn't have much, he just reread the few leather bound collections we had; an ancient history book, a collection of folk tales, some children's stories and the required Book of Beginnings, even though most citezens of Rivertown couldn't read or write.

Our father wheeled out from the second room of our three-room complex. We were fortunate, we had two more rooms than ninety percent of the folks in this district. His heavy wheeled chair made the floorboards creak as he approached the three of us.

"Welcome home Cana. It's nice to have you back for a change." He said, giving me the usual scruffy smile.

"It's nice to see you too Papa." I leaned down and kissed his cheek. Even before Papa lost his legs, he was gentle and kind. He'd never get angry or raise his voice, but remained calm and composed. Even when I would disappear for days at a time, he always welcomed me home with a smile.

I padded into the bedroom we all shared. Three beds had been placed inside, two smaller ones on one side of the room for Lance and Papa and a larger one for Lily and I. A wooden folding screen had been placed in the middle, separating the two sections. Papa said he'd built it in the style of something he'd seen on the islands when he was a travelling merchant. The four panels were held together with copper hinges, allowing the piece to be stored more easily when it wasn't needed.

I slipped over to the dresser and knelt in front of it. I pulled out two night dresses, one for myself and another for Lily. I laid hers on the bed and quickly changed into mine. I returned to the other room, hanging my wet shirt and leggings on the wire in front of the fire. Lance ladled soup into a bowl and set it on the table in front of me. I sipped at it, careful not to burn my tongue.

As it grew dark, we all resigned to bed. Lance stomped out the fire and lit two candles. I could hear my brother helping Papa into bed before settling in his own. I helped Lily into her nightdress and she climbed into bed beside me. It was always a little funny how she slept curled up at my side, her little arms tucked to her chest as if cradling something the rest of us couldn't see. I waited until she was fast asleep before blowing out the candle and falling to the darkness as well.

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