Once a Thief

Book I

"We may be fanciful about everything except fairy-tales."

~The Everlasting Man, G. K. Chesterton~

Chapter 1

The woman was dead. Darkness fell outside and the boy knelt beside her bed, weeping. A man stood at the open door holding a lamp. He glanced at the sobbing boy and the still figure upon the bed; he did not need to ask why the boy cried. He stared in disgust at his crippled hand, the hand that kept him from providing for his family. His wife had been a weaver and had provided for the family in his stead, but now she was gone, dead of some illness no one had a name for. The last light of the retreating sun was engulfed by the coming night: a perfect depiction of the last dying glimmers of hope fading from his heart. He could neither provide for the boy nor ask the boy to support a crippled father. Without a word, he turned on his heel and entered the empty barn. He flung the lamp into a pile of dusty hay; the entire structure was soon engulfed in flames.

The blaze pulled the grieving boy from his mother's bedside, and in horror he watched all that was left of his life vanish in the flames. He no longer felt grief, horror, or anything at all. He was numb, his heart was dead and empty within him. He spent a sleepless night with a myriad of disquiet thoughts running through his mind. When the sun rose, he found a shovel and dutifully buried his mother. There was nothing left of his father. He then went back into the house looking for anything that might have use or value, there was not much to find. He found a waterskin, a blanket, a few scraps of food, and a tinderbox. With his meager treasures, he set off with no hope and a broken heart.

His scanty supply of food quickly disappeared. For days he lived on nothing but what he could scrounge from the land: a scrawny squirrel, a few berries, a small trout. He tried to hire himself out to anyone he met, but they distrusted the look of the unwashed and desperate boy. Times were tough and work was hard to find, even for honest-looking men. With starvation looming on the horizon and unable to procure food honestly, he became what people feared he already was: a thief. At night, he would slip onto a farm and steal a few chickens or whatever came easily to hand. Often dogs or watchful farmers chased him off, but he succeeded often enough to survive. His wanderings brought him to a large market town where the pickings seemed better than the skinny chickens he was used to poaching. He learned to sneak through open windows and unlocked doors in the dead of night and filch whatever came easily. He became skilled at finding targets and avoiding detection. The locals thought a mob of bandits had invaded their town when it was all to be laid at the feet of one hungry boy.

One night, he climbed quietly into the second story window of a large house. He waited on the sill and listened intently. Once he was sure no one occupied the room, he silently crept inside. He glanced around quickly and seeing nothing of value, made his way towards the door. As he crept towards the hallway, he caught the glimmer of moonlight on steel. Before he could vanish out the window, a man emerged from the hallway and held a sword to his throat.

So you are the perpetrator behind this little crime wave? asked a firm voice with the slightest hint of a smile. The boy nodded dully. Are you working alone? asked the man. The boy nodded again. I am afraid I must arrest you, said the man, I hope you will not make trouble? The boy shook his head and reluctantly placed his hands behind his back. Very good, said the man, cooperate and things will go better for you. The boy sighed but said nothing. The man gently, but firmly bound the boy's hands and then, placing a strong hand on his shoulder, escorted him from the house.

The family was gathered downstairs, both frightened and excited by the night's events. That is our gang of bandits? asked the incredulous father.

The boy's captor smiled, it appears to be. We shall know more in the morning at his trial. I thank you for your help in apprehending our little thief. Goodnight. The entire family bowed politely to the man as he led the boy out into the night. You shall spend what little is left of the night in my custody and then in the morning I must turn you over to the local authorities, said the man quietly, you have cost me much sleep of late. The boy was not sure but he thought he heard amusement in the strong, quiet voice.

They entered a small inn and retreated immediately to the man's room. He unbound the boy's hands long enough for him to eat a little supper and then tied them once more. The man said, I am sorry to keep you bound but I am afraid I cannot quite trust you not to run away. The boy nodded sleepily and gratefully fell into forgetful sleep. Dawn came too quickly for both of the nocturnal adventurers, but the man roused the boy and instructed him to wash as best he could in the basin of cold water. After his ablutions, the man took him to the common room for a filling breakfast. After his first real meal in living memory, the man bound his hands once more and led him to the building in which his trial would be held at midday.

The boy was placed in a lonely chair facing a great table at which sat several important looking people, including his captor. At his back, the room was packed full of curious onlookers from the town. For the most part, he kept his head bowed and his eyes on the floor, but occasionally he glanced up at the stern faces of the tribunal, hoping to find some glimmer of compassion, but saw only righteous indignation or disgust. Only his captor maintained a neutral expression. Finally, everyone seemed ready to begin and the regal man in the middle stood forth and read an extensive list of the boy’s supposed crimes. Many of the deeds were his, but it seemed anyone that had anything go missing of late had blamed it on him. He thought he would remember stealing a cow!

Once the list had been read, his captor stood up and said, I found him last night sneaking into a house where he had no legal reason to be. He admitted to being the source of your little crime spree and also to working entirely alone. He tells the truth, but I think the list of his crimes is a bit too extensive. I doubt the boy stole a cow or anyone's daughter.

The man sat down and a woman stood, it is now time for you to make your statement and defend yourself if you can. The boy said nothing and just sat looking dejectedly at the floor. It did not seem to matter what the future held for him. You decline to make a statement? asked the woman. The boy shrugged. Very well, said she, we shall withdraw to decide upon a verdict. The tribunal withdrew for some little time and then resumed their seats.

The important man stood again, it is the judgment of this council that you are guilty as charged, save for some revisions to your extensive list of crimes. As you are a first time offender and your crimes are not violent in nature, the death penalty is not warranted. However, your crimes are numerous and it is the decision of this council that you be sentenced to five years in the penal quarries for your crimes. The boy at last showed some emotion. The rock quarries were notorious for being a prolonged death sentence, which might be worse than a quick execution. He would not survive a year, let alone five in such an environment. His captor noticed his reaction and spoke quietly with the man who had just passed down his sentence. They argued quietly for a few moments and then the rest of the council joined in the silent debate. Finally, all nodded in agreement, if not wholeheartedly.

His captor stood and said, after some discussion, the penalty for your crimes has been altered slightly. You are very young, alone, and apparently in desperate straits. I offer you one last chance to save your life. I will take you into my custody, and you will serve me a year and a day. If you do so faithfully and cause no further trouble, you will then be allowed to go wherever you will or to stay on in your service to me, or those I appoint over you. If you cause trouble or otherwise fail in your duties, you will then be handed over to the overseers of the quarry to work off the balance of your original sentence. Do you accept this offer? The boy nodded adamantly; anything would be better than a lingering death in the quarries. The man smiled slightly, very well. I adjourn this trial. Everyone stood up and started talking at once. They were thirsty for vengeance, and this show of mercy was not something they had anticipated.

The man felt the mood of the crowd and quickly moved to secure the boy and get him out of the room. The boy did not resist as the man led him from the building. The crowd was so caught up in their discussion that few noticed that the boy had vanished. It was many weeks before the tribunal members could speak of anything else to anyone in town. The man cut the boy's bonds and said quietly, you will be expected to do as you are told immediately. Disobedience will not be tolerated. Do you understand? The boy nodded silently. Good, smiled the man, then we shall get on well. We shall be traveling for several weeks and once we reach our destination we shall see where your fate takes you. Can you ride? The boy shrugged, he was not sure if sitting astride his father's plow horse bareback counted as riding. I guess we shall soon see, said the man. He led the boy back to the inn where they shared a quick lunch. Afterwards, they went round to the stable where a great horse stood patiently with a shaggy beast beside it, somewhere between a horse and a pony in size. Mount up, said the man.

The boy scrambled awkwardly into the saddle as the man leapt easily onto the great horse. Follow me, said the man. The boy knew something of the theory of riding, but had very little practice in the art of it. He kicked the shaggy beast in the flanks, but it stood as if rooted to the earth. The man laughed and reined his horse out of the stableyard and into a back alley. The pony followed of its own accord and the boy did little else but hang on. They took the back alleys and little-used lanes out of town so as to avoid being seen. The man pressed steadily north and east along a narrow cart path. By evening, the boy was very sore and miserable, but starting to feel some curiosity about his companion and his own future. It was the first positive attention he had received from anyone since the death of his parents. As the light was failing, the man dismounted in a little clearing beside a rushing stream. He caught a few fish and had the boy kindle a fire. They supplemented the trout with some flatbread from their saddlebags. As darkness engulfed the surrounding forest, they sat quietly around the fire.

Finally the man said, I suppose you are curious about me and where we are going? The boy shrugged, but inwardly was dying to know. The man smiled as if he saw some faint glimmer of the boy's desire shining in his eyes. He said, I will tell you more about myself once you have actually told me about you. I know you are not a great one for talking, but I did save your life and I think you owe me at least that much.

The boy nodded reluctantly and for the first time in months tried to speak. At first it seemed either he or his vocal cords had forgotten how to go about such an endeavor, but finally the words came. The boy said, my mother took ill half a year ago and died shortly after. My crippled father took his own life that night. I was left alone with nothing but the clothes on my back. I tried to find work, but no one would hire me. I would have starved had I not taken to thievery. My path led me to the town we just left. I stole only out of desperation. Until they announced my sentence, I really did not care whether I lived or died. I guess there is still something within me, deep down under all my pain, that cares about something.

That explains much, said the man quietly, I am sorry for your loss and the coldness of the world to your plight, but perhaps the future yet holds hope. Do you have a name?

The boy almost grinned and said, I was once called Tristan, but no one has called me anything in a very long time.

Well Tristan, said the man, I am called Darrin. The next few weeks will be long and uncomfortable, as you are probably not used to riding or sleeping in the open. But your body will adjust and soon it will come almost naturally to you. We will be traveling for some weeks and I will expect you to pitch in and help with camp chores and any other tasks I decide you need to do. You will be treated fairly, but are expected to work hard. You will be provided with food and a place to sleep and other things as needed or required. Any questions?

The boy nodded, it sounded as if you might turn me over to someone else in the future?

The man smiled, you have sharp ears and a quick mind. You are currently in my keeping, but I am not my own master and your future will depend on the decisions made by the Lady of Astoria. I am often abroad on strange and dangerous missions that are no place for an untrained boy. I suspect you will be allowed to stay in Astoria until your year and a day is completed, and after that you may stay or go as you choose. While in Astoria, you will have chores and classes assigned to you. You can learn many things there, and if you want, can learn a trade of some sort so you no longer have to fall to theft to support yourself.

That does not sound much like a punishment, said the boy, it sounds a better life than I have been living since I left home. Why take any interest in me at all?

The man smiled, in Astoria, it is believed that all lives are worth something, and if possible, we like to give everyone a chance to prove it. There are situations that require the use of deadly force, but in a case like yours, much more good can come of your life than simply tossing you into a labor camp to die.

I have never heard of Astoria, said the boy, but then there are many places I have never heard of.

The man laughed, we will teach you geography, do not worry. It is a small country and really is not close to anything, except the Northern Wilds perhaps, and even that is a journey of some miles. We will continue heading north and east for the remainder of our journey. The boy seemed to have used up his daily quota of words and lapsed into silence. Darrin did not press him and they both were soon asleep.

As the days passed and they continued their journey, the boy opened up more and more each day; his heart slowly crept out from wherever he had deeply buried it. He began at first to grin just a little, but slowly progressed to a full, heartfelt smile. He even began to laugh and ask questions, as was natural for a lad his age. Of course, with the reemergence of his feelings also came his long suppressed grief. There were times when Darrin happened upon him weeping inconsolably, but he never openly displayed his emotions when he thought he might be seen.

One evening as they sat by the fire, the man said, it is all right to cry. You must not keep the grief buried so deep that it eats away at your heart and causes bitterness and resentment to fester in your soul. You are no less a man for shedding honest tears. It will aid the healing if you do not keep back or hide your emotions. The boy gave him a weak smile of thanks. As the days passed, the weeping subsided and soon he seemed much more adjusted to the fact that his parents were gone, but life still must go on.

Do you have a family? asked the boy.

Darrin looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, my parents and siblings have been dead for many long years. My current mode of life makes a family impossible. I have given up the joys of a family in pursuit of other things.

What other things? asked the curious boy.

My life is spent defending the innocent and helping the helpless, said he, my life is fully dedicated to the service of others.

Like me! smiled the boy.

The man could not help but smile in return, such is my service and my reward.

Are you some sort of knight errant or hero out of the stories? asked the boy.

There have been many stories about others of my kind, said the man, but I am no hero. I am simply a man who does what he must on behalf of others.

How can you live such a life? asked the confused boy, I thought the one thing all men held in common was a propensity to live selfishly.

I could not do it of my own accord, said Darrin, but with the Master's help it is possible.

The Master? asked the skeptical boy, After what happened to my parents I have come to wonder if such a Being could truly exist. The stories say he is everything good and wonderful and loving, but how can that be in the face of such evil?

The man laughed, that is a good question and one many people have struggled with throughout the ages. How can ultimate good and pure love exist in such a damaged and broken world? The answer lies in the fact that this world was once perfect and unbroken, but something happened to change that. The Master gave all of His thinking creatures the gift of choice and some of those creatures chose to pursue evil and selfishness. The Master could have made us all mindless beasts, but such is His love for us that He gave us a mind of our own. He wants willing servants, not mindless slaves. It is a long story, but in the morning of the world man chose evil over good and the whole world fell into darkness. The Master shed His own blood to save us from complete darkness, but we must be willing to accept His sacrifice on our behalf and then live our lives in accordance with His plans. Those that dedicate themselves to His service completely, body and soul, are called the Brethren and they dwell in fabled Astoria.

The boy stared at the man in complete astonishment. You really believe all that? asked the flabbergasted boy.

The man smiled, I do not just believe it. I live it. I have wagered my very soul upon it.

The boy said, then you are one of the Brethren? The man nodded. The boy continued, is everyone in Astoria one of them?

The man laughed, no. Anyone who wishes may join our ranks but there is no requirement to do so in order to live in the city or attend classes. As I said, you will be free to stay or go once your sentence is up.

What do the Brethren do? asked the boy.

The man said, as I mentioned, they have dedicated their lives completely to the Master, but there are many different things we can do with our lives in His service. Many are Teachers who travel about or stay in Astoria teaching the Truth, history, lore, and much else in song and story. Others are Philosophers who add to our collective knowledge, interpret the Truth and the Law, or act as advisors to Kings. Then there are the Warriors, such as myself, who use the sword in defense of others and pursue justice. The smallest sect is the Messengers, who are some combination of the three and are sent on very dangerous and often secret missions by the Lady herself.

Very interesting, said the boy, yawning, but I think I must go to sleep.

The man smiled, I hope I am not that dull a speaker? The boy shook his head and crawled into his blankets. The man watched him for some time and then gazed thoughtfully into the fire.

The end of their journey was as uneventful as the beginning. After many weeks of riding they finally arrived in Astoria. The boy gazed in wonder at the walled city and its towering castle. He looked upon the armed guards and the great seething mass of people going about their daily business with equal trepidation. He had never seen nor even imagined so many people in one place. True, there were far greater cities than Astoria, but for one who had never seen any city at all, it was quite a sight. They rode through the vast maze of shops and homes that had grown up over the centuries to surround the walled city. At the gate into the city proper, a pair of guards kept careful watch, occasionally questioning those wishing to enter. They paid no particular attention to Darrin and the boy. They wound their way slowly through the bustling streets and rode unhindered through the castle gates, though the guards seemed to question everyone else wishing to enter.

The boy whispered, why do they not stop us?

Darrin smiled and said, I am known here. They recognize one of their own and know they need not fear us. The boy wondered what it would be like to be known, accepted, and trusted again. They dismounted in the courtyard and a servant led Tristan's small horse away, but Darrin's mount was unharnessed and allowed to go of its own accord. Tristan had noticed before that Darrin never used a bit and his mount was never hobbled. He wondered at this strange business but said nothing. Darrin was speaking quietly with a servant who quickly dashed away. He said, the servant will see if the Lady has time to see us.

Tristan jumped, we are going to see the Lady herself?

Darrin smiled, she deals with many 'small' issues herself. There is no matter too small for her to take an interest in. Of course she cannot deal with everything herself, but in this case I think she will become involved; I also need to report upon my last assignment, so she will see us one way or another. The boy looked mortified. Darrin clapped him on the back, do not be afraid, just be polite and you will do well. She is an impressive woman, but she has not the arrogance of many rulers and nobles. She still remembers she is human like the rest of us. The servant returned and motioned for them to follow. Tristan slunk behind Darrin, feeling as if he were about to meet his own executioner.

They entered a small but elegant chamber in which the Lady sat, she rose as they entered and made their bows (though Tristan's was quite awkward). She motioned for them to take the waiting seats as she smiled warmly at Darrin and said, welcome home. I will hear your news later, but you must first introduce me to your friend. Tristan blushed and tried to hide behind Darrin, but there was nowhere to escape her eyes, which seemed to miss nothing.

Darrin forced the boy to stand beside him and said, this is Tristan. I was asked by the residents of Greenfield to help them root out a horde of bandits that had apparently invaded their town. Their crime wave can be laid at the feet of the boy. The Mayor and his council were going to toss him into a labor camp. I intervened and agreed to supervise him for a year and a day if they would spare him the quarries. He knows that if he disobeys, causes trouble, or runs away he still faces the better part of five years mining stone.

The Lady looked at Darrin skeptically but said, he does not look a hardened criminal, perhaps he can yet find a useful purpose for his life. She looked at the boy, Tristan, I must send Darrin off to places you cannot go. You will be allowed to remain in Astoria for the rest of your sentence. While here, you will be expected to attend diligently to your chores and classes. You will learn many things, and if at the end of your time here you wish to stay a while longer you may do so. But you must promise to obey our rules and do as you are told. I cannot have troublemakers distracting us from our larger purpose. Will you abide by our laws while you reside with us?

The boy looked at the floor but something prompted him to look her directly in the eyes and he gave a very quiet, yes Lady.

She smiled, very well. Welcome to Astoria. A servant waits to get you settled. Darrin will check on you later. The terrified boy bowed and fled to the door, where a servant led him deeper into the castle. After the door had closed the Lady and Darrin both laughed. She said, it will not be for lack of fear if he fails. What did you tell him to terrify him so?

Darrin shook his head, I have no idea. He has had a difficult life of late. He took to stealing to survive after the tragic death of his parents. He was cold and emotionless when first I met him, though he has warmed much upon our road hence. He is a quiet boy but puts his whole heart into everything he does. I do not doubt that he will do well at whatever he decides to pursue. The Lady nodded thoughtfully and then they both turned their attention to Darrin's report on his latest assignment.

Chapter 2

It was at the evening meal that Darrin finally found the boy sitting quietly in a corner by himself. The boy smiled as his friend approached. Darrin took a nearby chair and said, how was your first day in Astoria?

The boy could not decide whether to cringe or grin. He said, I like having new clothes, but I am not sure I like wearing a uniform.

The man laughed, it is just so we know what business you have in Astoria, it helps keep things organized. We cannot have a hundred random students running about without knowing that they are truly our responsibility.

The boy said, I am to help in the stables, which is good because I like horses very much. I am glad I was spared the kitchens.

Darrin smiled, I am sorry to tell you that everyone gets to help in the kitchens when need be.