The Lady Thief Proposes a Promise

"Alright, this is my father's room," the boy explained, peering around the corner with the girl at the polished ash wood door. She'd gotten lost enough times for him to start to doubt her claim as a thief, but every time he did, she procured an item from her pocket that she stole from out of nowhere.

"Does he lock his door at night?" She wondered, examining the silver cuff links he'd been wearing. He looked down to see his sleeves split open around his pale wrists, wondering when she'd even managed to steal them.

"Only when he's out on business."

"Like, for instance, when he's meeting with the emperor?"

"How did you know about that?" He asked, stunned.

"A good thief always knows the correct opportunity to strike." As she spoke, she handed him back his cufflinks, seeming to decide that she didn't need them. Her touch was cold as she put her hands over his, curling his fingers around them. "Make sure to keep a better eye on your things."

He was left wondering why her fingers had so many small cuts along them.

She broke off from behind the wall, flicking her wrist so that the dagger in her sleeve jumped to her hand. She stuck the thin blade carefully into the lock until it hit the back, turning the dagger with the lock until it clicked open. She offered a grin to the boy and he applauded her effort, amazed as the door swung open.

He followed her inside, nervously fiddling with his hands as she began to look around, unsure really what to do with himself. He'd only been to his father's room a couple of times, and most of those times were him getting scolded. It didn't exactly make him feel comfortable to be here.

"Do you know where the duke keeps things of value?" The girl wondered, seeing nothing but stacks upon stacks of papers on his desk. They seemed to mostly be about the estate and budgeting, but a few were written in a language that she didn't understand.

They were stacked above the others and seemed of greater importance, but she could barely read as it was, ignoring them.

"Did you check the inside of the drawer?"

"Yes I checked the inside of the drawer," she muttered, running her hands along the inside to see if she could feel if there was a secret compartment. There didn't seem to be anything, much to her disappointment.

"What about the other drawer?" She gave him a look and he blinked. "...What?"

"What do you think?"

"You know, I'd be more help if you told me what you were looking for," he pouted, crossing his arms over his chest with a huff.

"I think you're helping plenty by standing there and looking pretty," she grinned at him, leaning her chin on her hands.

"You think I'm pretty?" He seemed honestly baffled and it made her laugh.

"It's your eyes," she figured, pulling away from the desk to observe the bookcase. She poked around, but none of the books seemed to be more than just that–books. Nothing hidden inside them or behind them. "They shine brighter than both the sky or sea, yet somehow seem deeper and more mysterious than both."

She missed as his face flamed behind her. He was unable to do anything but try to stutter a reply as he watched her wander over to the small table by the duke's bed, curiously invading his privacy.

"Hey, apprentice," she called out to him, turning around with a blue felt box in her hands. "Does this symbol look familiar to you?"

"What is it?" He wondered, shaking out of his stupor to join her by her side. He saw there was a thin crescent moon curving across the top of the lid. He tilted his head, unsure of what to make of it.

"This," he traced slowly over the moon as he explained, "is the symbol of the Des la Lunes house. It's the other dukedom that serves directly under the empire, a brother house of ours in a sense. But, considering we've been in conflict with them for generations at this point, I don't know why my father would have this."

With as little regard to the importance he explained as possible, she popped open the box, both staring at a thin silver ring. A small polished ruby shone, flecks of silver creating small wings on either side.

"A ring?" He seemed confused, especially when he looked up to her face to see her pale eyes gleaming.

"This is it!" She grinned, carefully taking it out of the box. "This is what I've been looking for!"

He followed her like a curious puppy to the wide window spanning the wall as she looked up through the frosted glass. Taking the ring, she held it up to her eye. He watched her slowly pan across the night sky, the corner of her lip twitching downwards as it seemed she couldn't find what she was looking for.

"What are you searching for?" He asked her, watching as she lowered her hands.

"I'm not sure," she admitted with a sigh. "I just know that what I'm trying to find isn't there. And if it is, then this might not be enough for me to see it."

"What does this ring allow you to do?"

She looked over at him silently, seeming uncharacteristically introspective. Her mouth finally returned to that mischievous slight smirk that just seemed to be her natural expression–an expression that spelled she was trouble.

Before she could explain, they were interrupted by the sound of footsteps marching down the hall. It seemed someone had caught on to their little escapade.

"Listen up, my apprentice," she explained to him, drawing his attention to her. She had taken his hand, sliding the ring onto his finger. "You are mine as you've already swore your fealty to me, so you are to do as I say. You are to protect this ring until I come back to claim it. And when I do, I shall also be back here to claim you."

His eyes were wide as she pushed open the window, the cold air rushing in and stinging his face. The wind tore at his hair and yanked her hood down, revealing silvery hair curling lightly around her jaw.

He thought she was beautiful.

"Wait," he managed, catching at her wrist before she could fully slip away. She looked down at him from where she was perched on the windowsill, waiting for him to expound upon what he wanted to say. "Why don't you just take the ring with you? Why come back at all?" Was the only thing he seemed to be able to ask. It wasn't what he wanted to say, but he couldn't deny that he was curious.

"Well, I did already steal it," she grinned. "But I have a bigger prize in mind now. Just think of it like a promise. As long as you have this ring, then I will come back for you."

And the boy who had been alone all of his life stared up at this girl, smiling warmly at the first person who managed to make him feel like he was worth something. That he was someone worth returning to.

"My name is Jamais," he explained to her, feeling the need for her to know his name. "Jamais De l'Étoile."

"It's nice to meet you then, Jamie," she leaned down towards him, her pale eyes iridescent. "But you have to realize this promise is also an investment. In order to fully support me when I come back for you, you have to make sure that you're eating properly and taking care of yourself. Do you understand?"

"I understand," he agreed, his voice soft. The way she was talking made it seem like it was going to be a long time before she came back for him.

"Hey now, cheer up." She lifted his chin, pinching his cheeks with her wild grin. "Take care until I come back. Until next we meet."

The door burst open behind them as one of the knights of the manor ran in, shouting at the girl. She gave a cheeky salute before slipping away, her hair a silver streak of starlight behind her before she pulled her hood back up. He heard the knight shout orders to more of the guards in the hallway, something about guarding the perimeter, but he was focused entirely on her as she ran away.

The cold stung his cheeks, but not as much as her pinching had. He played with the ring she put on his finger, unable to keep his face from flushing.

"I'll be waiting," he smiled.

It wasn't until later when he was up at night lying in his bed staring at the ceiling that he realized he never got her name.