The Last Link

Chapter 2: The Market Thief

The city was large and bright, and she was not sure where to start. She decided to walk aimlessly and, after a few minutes, arrived at the market, which, as every day, seemed to be full of life.

While she walked through the stalls, she spotted Yadiel at a fruit stand. She headed toward him to greet him, but the closer she got, the stranger his behavior seemed.

Quickly, Yadiel tucked some fruit into his cloak while he spoke with the woman at the stall. The woman did not even seem to notice. Intrigued, Alana decided to observe him more closely and follow him without letting him realize it.

After leaving that stall, Yadiel continued “borrowing” some food from distracted people. Eventually, he reached an alley. Alana followed closely and, when she turned the corner, saw that he was not alone. There were two children with him.

Yadiel handed them a fairly large bag. The children smiled excitedly when they received it and ran off, disappearing into the city’s alleyways with the bag in their arms.

Alana: Well, that’s certainly new coming from you.

Alana’s voice from behind startled Yadiel. However, he quickly corrected himself, regaining his usual posture.

Yadiel: What do you mean? Is helping children a crime now?

Alana: I saw how you were borrowing those things.

Yadiel: Well, one does what one can —he said with a sigh—. What, are you going to report me to some guard?

Yadiel placed a hand on his dagger, as if preparing for something, while keeping a false smile.

Alana: No. That you help the children doesn’t matter to me. But now I understand many things. Every time we talk, you never want to tell anything about yourself… because you don’t want Cain to arrest you, right?

Yadiel: You don’t have to be very clever to realize that—he replied, relaxing a little as he spoke—.

Yadiel: Although, if he did, I would manage to get myself out. It wouldn’t be my first time in those dungeons.

He laughed carelessly, relaxing his expression a bit; it seemed that he did not care much about being arrested.

Alana: And those children? Do you know them?

Yadiel: I thought you didn’t care about children —he replied, raising an eyebrow mockingly.

Alana: Well, curiosity isn’t a crime either. Since I arrived in Kimas, I noticed it; there seem to be many homeless children.

Yadiel: Yes, a few years ago, a flu struck the city, taking many adults with it. The children who lost their parents ended up on the streets, confined to the lower part of the city.They were abandoned by the king and by the city in general, so they learned to steal in order to survive. I only help them and teach them what is important.

A mix of emotions was reflected in his eyes as he recounted what had happened. Anger, rage, and sadness alternated in his gaze, as if he were reliving the suffering of those days.

Alana: So you teach them to steal and deceive. Cain said that several times, while he was on guard duty, he came across children crying over some lost toy. When he helped them, he realized that he no longer had any money.

Yadiel —laughing—: Yes, that’s one of the first things I teach them. It’s one of the easiest. When Cain told it, I had to hold back my laughter. You could say I once used it as an exam for the youngest ones in the neighborhood. Of all the guards, he’s the softest with children.

Alana: Well, speaking of Cain, he came to the tavern earlier. It seems he has something important to tell us.

Yadiel: The church? What a place he chose. —he said with clear displeasure.

Alana: It doesn’t matter. Either way, we have to go. It seems the matter is serious.

Yadiel: What are we waiting for?

Alana: We have to find Daiki and Eleanor first. He said we all had to be there. Besides, I’d like to stop by the forge.

Yadiel: Well, I’ll go with you. I don’t have anything better to do.

The path to the forge wasn’t long, but Alana noticed something curious: some children greeted Yadiel from a distance, hiding and peeking out as if they were playing. It was such a subtle behavior that, if she hadn’t spoken with him before, she would never have noticed it.

Alana (thinking): Despite everything, he’s still quite reserved.