1 Thief

In retrospect perhaps it was stupid to be a thief….

At first, it was just about surviving, getting enough to eat, drinking water, and having a place to sleep.

I started by stealing a stale loaf of bread from a vendor in a stand. He wasn't looking as he was attending to a customer. I was young so I was impulsive, I was hungry since I had no food at the orphanage.

So I took the loaf of bread and ran away before he could figure it out. He noticed it was missing later but he couldn't find me. That day I went to sleep with a full stomach and that made me happy.

I lived in a heartless world, I was abandoned by my parents. Everyone has parents right? Including me of course but in my case, I was just unwanted by them. So I lived most of my life at an orphanage.

I didn't hold a grudge or anything, I just think of it like I was born without parents.

So I thought why not do it again, so I went to another vendor and stole an apple. I started a routine of stealing from different people every other day. Enjoying their various foods and sleeping well at the orphanage.

I enjoyed the rush of stealing, the taste of the food, and the feeling of a full belly. The first time I slept with a full stomach, I nearly cried with joy.

But eventually my crimes caught up to me, I was kicked out of the orphanage. I wandered the streets looking for a place to sleep. That's when I met Lewis, he was the Branch leader of the thieves' guild.

When I met him, he gave me a loaf of bread and told me to follow me. He lead me into the sewers where the Silent swords guild was hidden. He trained me with some new recruits. I lived there for 3 years training and doing various assigned jobs.

The day that this all started, I had found out that the Cambell House was looking for temporary help for a party in 2 days. I looked into the circumstances of the party. I found out that they were having this party to commemorate their son's journey to adulthood.

I looked into the Cambell House and got some interesting information. The Cambell House got its wealth for investing well especially in diamonds. Even their nobility was bought and not earned, so their wealth is staggering.

I thought about the party especially the fact that they would be distracted. So I planned on not stealing the diamonds but rather finding out what they want to invest in next.

Diamonds could be traced and could be stolen. But information can be hidden, and can't be traced with good countermeasures.

So I went to speak to Lewis about my idea. Lewis was seated in a booth with some other members, he was a short a muscular man with a large frame. I went over and whispered in his ear, he stood up and told me to follow him.

We walked to the stairs of the sewer and went to a selection of rooms. We entered one to the furthest left. It was a decorated workroom with ledgers and rare items all over the room.

If even a bit of it disappeared Lewis would know and as the boss of this branch of the thieves guild. This stuff is what he has to send so no one ever messes with the items.

I recapped my plan to Lewis as he sat in his chair and thought.

"So what will you need to get the job done," Lewis said as he rocked back in his chair

I spoke candidly to Lewis, I owed him everything so I hid nothing.

"Information: I need blueprints, I need people on the inside, and I need a few forged documents. Although my childish age gets people's guard down and this is just temporary work I don't need to look irregular."

It was one of Lewis' lessons, blend in, never stand out, and always be careful. Regardless of how prepared you are you can get more prepared.

I took that lesson to heart, he also taught me that it can be stressful to always be guarded. So always have someone you can confide in, to me that person is Lewis.

"Alright, I got someone who can get you some fake papers, showing you've worked for nobles before. I assume you know how to act?" Lewis calmly said

"3 Years here has taught me quite a lot I think I can handle it."

"This is a big job and you're going alone, although there will be some help. I understand your skills but remember if you get caught and reveal any info about the guild. Well, don't expect your age make them put their guard down understood." Lewis said with a stern voice.

"Understood regardless of what happens it will be my own problem. I can only blame my bad luck if this fails."

Lewis scanned over my face one last time before he spoke.

"Alright be back here tomorrow I will have your papers."

I left and wasted the day reading in the guild lounging area. I came back got my papers and went to the Cambell House. At the top of a large hill was the Cambell mansion at the front were some servants in suits. I walked up to one of them.

"I am here for the help job in this flier." I handed the paper over to him

The servant spoke to the old man for a moment then they both looked at the man the old man spoke.

"Do you have any previous work experience and papers issued by the noble family you worked for?"

"Why yes sir," I said with a cute little smile as I handed him the paper. I moved my blonde bangs from my eyes. As my blue eyes sparkled like an ocean, I made eye contact with the old man.

He looked it over and smiled at me.

"Alright all I need you to do is move the food around and you'll get 6 silver."

"Thank you so where is the work area?" I said looking around innocently

"Follow me I will show you."

We left the dining room and went to the kitchen where the chefs were busy cooking. The old man pointed to a table near the door.

"Over there is where the food will go you are to place them in their correct areas. Wines go there, foods next to it, snacks, and other assortments go on the third table. When someone comes and asks for something you give it to them. When a chef says come pick it up you bring the items here. If we get busy you will be out on the floor serving the nobles understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alright, you can start." The old butler said as he walked away

I started working and organizing the food as the day went on. It got especially busy at night and I went to the floor and started giving food to the nobles. All the trips made the ball of my feet feel the pain. I am often on my feet but not continuous for 14 hours. I stayed working so that when I take a break. from feet pain it won't look strange. Especially as a little 9-year-old child.

I told the old man I was going on break he just smiled at me and said I could rest. I went to the kitchen and looked for a chef with green shoes and a tattoo on his ear. When I found him I showed him the tattoo on my arm he brought me over to the corner.

"Here's the floor plan for the mansion, in his study drawer there is likely to be some info. But the best bet would be his floor safe. I had someone check it's under the carpet near the cabinets. We had an expert look at it, here's a list of codes it could be." He said as he handed me a few parchments

He then pointed to the end of the corridor.

"Be fast guards may do a sweep near there. I'll cover for you if you don't get back in time but after your break work for the rest of the night. So you don't look like a suspect."

"I made the plan you don't have to worry." I said with an almost smug expression

He escorted me out of the kitchen and I started sneaking around the mansion. My first priority was securing a diversion. I looked outside and saw some guards holding back commoners. I snuck out the window and went over to them. I went up to one of the guards.

"Sir Cambell told me to come ask you guys if you need more guards?" I said in an innocent childlike voice.

"Yes, any help would be great now." He said as he pushed one of the commoners of the premises.

With that, I went back to the mansion and snuck around. Occasionally I would see some guards but I would hide and wasn't found so far. I got into the study and found the cabinets. I carefully remembered and removed the carpet then found the safe. I put in the pin the first 18 were wrong but on the 19th is succeeded.

"Why are we sweeping all day who would dare steal from the Cambell family." Said someone outside the room.

I froze for a moment and moved the carpet out of the way when the guards came in. I hide behind the desk. I thought about this happening so I took a rock and threw it to the bottom left corner of the room.

"What was that?" Said one of the guards as they walked towards the sound. I snuck around the desk and left the room silently. I was already trained in quick quiet feet and effective diversion. So I did it all without a hitch.

I went down the hall as fast as possible then stopped halfway and turned around. I walked forward slowly when one of the guards left the room and saw me in the hallway. He walked towards me with a stern face.

"Why are you here no one in the kitchen staff is allowed here."

"I was on break and was looking for the bathroom. It's my first day here." I said embarrassingly with a smile.

The guard's face softened as he was calmed by my childish demeanor.

"If it's just the bathroom it's straight down here 2 sections on your left."

"Oh also some of the guards near the front are asking for help because they are overflowing with too many commoners breaking in they need some help." I said as if I had just remembered

"But Sir Cambell told us to keep guard here no matter what."

I shrugged my shoulders and carelessly said

"You can ask him yourself he said get it done quickly."

"Alright, we'll be there soon." The guards said in a haste.

I walked away going to the bathroom so I wouldn't look suspicious I kept a lookout. Then the security guards left and I returned to the safe. In it, I found some gems and jewels as well as a ledger.

I took out a bunch of papers and some coal I wrote down names and purchases. I also wrote down any additional information especially the names of the people they traded with. They were who to go to when getting evidence.

I considered taking the gems and jewels but any disruption could ruin the heist. So I left the items there and left.

I was originally going to stay the night working but if those guards talk to each other about me or Mr. Cambell. They'll realize I am lying and search me, I'll just tell my contact I need to leave.

I went back to the kitchen found him and told him the situation he okayed it and I left. I snuck over the fence and disappeared. I told my contact to say that I was sick and couldn't remain otherwise I would risk the food.