Without a King (Greatest Thief 1, mxm)

Bonus - The Greatest Thief

Eight years before Without a King

"Mother..."

"Hush, Finagale. Whining won't solve anything. I'm cutting your hair whatever you say."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Out of habit, I blew my bangs away from my eyes and then groaned when my mother chuckled.

"And you tell me it isn't too long?"

"I like it," I complained.

"You look like a Telt," she pointed out patiently.

I froze. If there was one thing in the entire world I didn't want to be, it was a Telt. My mother started to hum to herself as she gently cut away my hair. I behaved and stayed still until I heard her put down the knife and she ruffled my hair.

"Much better, don't you think?"

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. "It's not awful."

"That's my good boy," mother turned my head and kissed my cheek. "It's late now, you should get some sleep."

I hopped off of the bed and brushed loose hair off of my tunic. "Here?" I asked, trying my best to not sound too hopeful. I loved staying with my mother, but it didn't happen very often. She was young and beautiful. I'd heard men compliment her perfect skin and her long, curly hair. I knew what she did and I understood why I couldn't always stay, but I was always hopeful.

"For now," she said with a smile. She was trying to look happy, but she looked a little sad instead. "Unless someone calls for me. Come now. Lothian Dusk has come and gone and it's time for little boys to go to sleep."

"I'm not little," I argued, as I climbed back onto the bed and snuggled under the sheets. "Good night." I couldn't stop the yawn that came after my words.

"Good night, Finny." She leaned over to kiss my forehead, and I fell asleep soon after.

I woke up before mother when I heard knocking at her door. There were always sounds at the brothel, and usually I managed to sleep through them. After a pause the knock came again, more insistently.

"Zila! Wake up! You have a client!"

Mother tightened her arm around me. "Send him to someone else. I have Finn," she called back sleepily.

"He asked for you," the girl replied through the door.

Mother sighed heavily. "Who is he?"

"That castle guard. He came in complaining about how he had the worst watch assignment and how the only thing that kept him awake was imagining you—"

Mother clasped her hands over my ears, but it didn't matter. I'd heard it all before.

"Sabrine! I have Finn!" she said shrilly.

There was a pause. "Sorry. But he's getting impatient."

"Yes, I know. I'll see him." Mother released my ears. "Finny..."

"I know," I rolled over so that I was facing her and could snuggle into her arms. "I'll go in a second."

"I'm sorry," she stroked my back. "I hate sending you away. I'm a terrible mother."

"No you're not!" I sat up, my eyes wide and horrified by her suggestion. "You're not terrible! You have to work. Everyone has to work. I understand."

She met my eyes and after a moment a small smile crept onto her face. "Of course you do. My smart little son. I love you more than I've ever loved anything in the world. Zianesa willing, one day I'll be able to take care of you."