The Fall of the Keepers

Chapter 14 Milkshakes and Mercy

I strolled through Los Eres, enjoying the rare sunny day that was melting away the piles of snow into murky water that flowed down the streets. Quetta was making a national announcement today and had given my team their first day off since we had begun training. Not wanting to get roped into some other project, I had escaped the palace and was wandering somewhat aimlessly through the city, attempting to enjoy my free time. It was difficult to do, however, with so much weighing my mind down. I had not seen David again and no one seemed to know where he had gotten off to.

I was desperate for answers to my past, hoping beyond all reason that they might provide the solution for my present. I kicked a pebble with the toe of my boot and watched it skip across the cement.

"Hey, stop! Thief!"
A shrill voice shook me out of my reverie.

My head shot up to spot a gangly boy dodging pedestrians as he tore up the street clutching a cash box. An older woman was standing outside a small shop waving her arms and shouting for help. No one seemed much interested in assisting the poor woman, swiveling their heads to watch the thief getaway but not lifting a finger to stop him. I huffed, stretched out a hand a grasped hold of the boy with my wind. He struggled against me but after holding back Jasper, a teenage thief was a piece of cake. Strolling across the street with my other hand in my pocket, I casually dragged the offending teenager back down the street, creating quite the spectacle for the bystanders. The boy's eyes were as large as saucers by the time he reached me.

"So tell me, sticky hands, whatever made you think stealing from an elderly lady was acceptable?"
I stared down at him, imposing my height.

He tried to speak but couldn't manage it while my wind held him. I released my grip, and he fell to the muddy street, still clutching the cash box. There was a pause, and then the fool attempted to scramble to his feet and run away. I let him get about twelve feet before I dragged him back with a mere flick of my wrist.

"Is that all you've got?"
I asked in a bored tone.

"Now hand over the money."

I held out my hand expectantly. He spat on it, glaring at me menacingly. I sighed, wrinkling my nose as I wiped my fingers on my pants.

"Sassy one aren't you?"

I wiggled two fingers and my wind snatched the box right out of his grasp. It was only a small steel square and out of curiosity, I unlatched it to look inside. Laughter rumbled in my throat and I flipped the box around to show the thief it's contents.

"Where you seriously attempting to steal this woman's card collection?"

The boy raised his eyebrows in shock as he caught sight of old notecards, signed by one Franklin Leshaw. There was not a single cent in the box for him to have used. He awkwardly got to his feet, jaw hanging open. Then he dashed away and this time I didn't bother stopping him. Still chuckling, I passed the box back to its rightful owner. Her hair was gray, on its way to turning white and two emerald eyes glittered out of the wrinkled folds of pale skin.

"I can't thank you enough dear. These were from my husband, I've kept every note he ever wrote to me. They may not be worth much to a boy like that, but they mean the world to me."
She closed the lid, giving the box a fond look.

"I'm only sorry no one else bothered to help you."

"Oh it's commonplace enough, the thieves and bandits have come out of the woodwork now the rebels are in control. There's no order anymore, everyone does as they like."

"I am sorry for that. I'll speak with Glass, the head of the militia and see about getting some soldiers placed in the city."
I assured her, for all the good it might do.