Red Skies: Tavon's Lesson

“Tavon! Could you go fetch me some water from the well?” A small woman asked Tavon as he ran past her dwelling. Tavon stopped in front of his neighbor and nodded. “Sure!” he answered her, “I can carry both jugs!” He grabbed the empty ceramic jug she held out to him and continued his way to the well nearby. Once there, he ran into his friend Jayson who was busy repairing a ripped tarp. “Hey Jayson! Wanta go to the marketplace today?” Jayson looked up and smiled slyly. “Sure, kid. There are new deliveries coming in today from the caravans. Should be a good haul!”

Every few months, caravans from all over the Kingdom arrived in Gryphon Heights to do business in the capital’s marketplace. Wagons would come one or two at a time throughout the months, but this was the biggest inflow of new merchandise for half of the year. Security was too tight while unloading, so the any would-be thieves and conmen waited until the goods were placed in the stalls and ready for sale.

Down in the marketplace, the boys wandered through the crowds of customers, careful to avoid the constables and any other enforcement officers.  Jayson picked up a few gold pieces here and there, while Tavon swiped a piece of fruit and a couple candies. Though the blood-rushing high when lifting items from someone’s pocket or stand was exhilarating to the boys, they were very careful not to take too much or otherwise more would join their village by their actions. That said, there were some who went too far. These people were either in prison or had been kicked out of the city by the citizens. They boys also stayed away from the stalls of those operated by their impoverished neighbors, a silent law that all tried to obey who wanted to live in the village within the city.

As they made their way through the market, Jayson showed Tavon a few tricks for picking pockets. By afternoon, the two had stolen enough to pay for at least one meal each. This was better than usual and Tavon was ecstatic. He and his father were going to be able to eat well tonight! Suddenly, there was movement at the opening of the alley in which the boys had stopped to count their bounty. Enforcement officers were moving people aside, making way for someone behind them. A very well dressed man, surrounded by guards, walked proudly through the market and taking in the sights of the economic hub of the Capital. He seemed enraptured by what he was seeing, as if he had never seen such diversity before today. Obviously older than the boys but younger than their parents, the young man must have been very important him to be guarded by six men!

A coy grin spread over Jayson’s face as an idea popped into his head, his eyes shining with excitement. He leaned down and whispered to Tavon, “Imagine what that man could be carrying on him! He is stopping at some of the stalls, so he must have money with him. All we need to do is get close enough…” Tavon swallowed hard. That seemed like a bad idea. The image from before of the man yelling at him when Tavon had tried to swipe the man’s coin purse played before his eyes. “But what if one of the guards sees us? Or what if we can’t even get near him?” he asked his teacher, hoping to be told that there was some magical way of getting around the guards. “It’s okay,” Jayson answered reassuringly. “It’ll be a piece of cake. Come on, I’ll show you how it’s done.” As Jayson moved forward into the crowd, Tavon held back. Fear gripped him as he focused on the sword sitting on the hip of one of the guards. He couldn’t move. Jayson looked back and saw the frightened boy, but just shrugged it off. The boy would probably get them caught anyway.

Jayson maneuvered through the crowd until he was only a few feet from the rich young man. The guards held a close formation around him until he approached one of the stalls with silver and bronze jewelry. “…. could possibly happen to me if you are standing around the stall? Can’t you give me just a few feet of room to myself?!” The rich man exasperated to the guard closest to him. At this outburst, the guards backed off a little and gave him some personal space as he shopped. This is my chance, thought Jayson. He slipped between two onlookers and finally made it past a guard. He reached over toward the young man’s pocket and extended his two fingers for the lift. An accidental bump should do the trick. Seeming to not be paying attention to where he was going, Jayson “bumped” into the young man and lifted a piece of paper from his pocket.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Jayson mumbled as he hurried away, not noticing the shock on the face of the young man’s face or the alarmed expressions of the guards. One of them stopped Jayson before he got away. “Halt! State your name and reason for being here.” “I’m Jayson and I just came here to shop? Is that a crime?” the young thief answered, his voice quivering a little. Another guard came up behind him. “No, but stealing is!” He reached into Jayson’s sleeve and pulled out the paper he had lifted from the young man. As Jayson tried to protest that the paper was his, the guard opened the paper and one look from his icy glare silenced Jayson. He got a glance of the paper as the first guard grabbed his arms and pinned them behind his back. His heart stopped – it was a note from the king saying something about the market. He had really stepped in it this time! He squeaked as the air cuffs were placed over his wrists, an invisible rope that was cast by a mage. Who would have mages as guards?!

Tavon stood rooted to the spot as he saw Jayson being dragged way, tears streaming down the 14-year-old’s eyes as he weakly tried to break free from the guard’s grasp. Murmurs rippled through the market crowd as they watched the young thief being taken away. Then a few people had apparently checked their own pockets and discovered things missing. The murmurs began turning into angry shouts as people demanded to get their money back from the thief. Finally waking from his stupor, Tavon turned and ran down the alley. He didn’t stop running until he reached the village, tears streaming down the child’s face. What had begun as a normal day had just turned into a disaster.