One night a month later, the three were in Alex's room, taking a break from spell-casting, when there was a knock on the door. Alex opened it, to reveal Robert, Duke Edward's personal servant, standing there.

"He wants to see ye," he told Alex.

"What did you do now?" Stuart joked.

"Nothing, I thought," was the girl's reply.

"Alexander, please come in," the Duke told her. "I do not wish to keep you for long, since it is almost time to turn out for the night. I just wanted to tell you, I'm allowing you free time to go into the city tomorrow morning. Since it will be your first visit, an older boy may go with you."

"May Josh - Prince Joshua - come?" Alex asked. "We've been spending a lot of time together, and I imagine nobody knows the city as well as one who's lived above it all his life."

Duke Edward smiled. "Yes, you may go with Prince Joshua. And, you may go into the city from now on with the other boys, the first Saturday of every month. You are dismissed."

"I have, but I've never been here before, just the busy residential area," Alex told him. "I never knew there was such a bright part of the city."

"Well, you haven't seen much of the city, then," Joshua told her. "At least, not the best haunts."

"Um...Joshua, is that guy watching us?" Alex asked, and the man in question disappeared into the crowd. "I guess not anymore."

"Come on, let's go down this alley, it's a shortcut to the best area of the market," Joshua said, and led her down a dark, abandoned alley.

"It doesn't seem safe," Alex whispered.

"Of course it's not." The two pages turned around; there were five men standing in the way, blocking the opportunity to retrace their steps. Alex turned around, and saw that five other men blocked their exit. "There's no way out," the one who had spoken told them. He stepped forward; a long, red scar ran down the left side of his face, starting at his eye and continuing down to his chin. "Just hand over your money, and nobody gets hurt."

Joshua had a dagger in his hand in a flash. "You'll never get any money from us," he said.

Alex followed his cue and revealed her own dagger.

"Where'd you get that?" Joshua asked.

"Hey, I need to protect my Prince, don't I?" she answered with a half-grin. "I'll take Scar-face and his gang, you can take the others."

The rest happened so fast, Alex couldn't keep track. The attack, Alex wielding her deadly weapon, the crooks closing in on them, the mysterious streak of white coming, attacking the enemy until they had all run or been knocked unconscious.

"Thanks," the Prince said with a heavy breath.

The man looked at him and lifted an eyebrow. "I'd no idea I was saving the Prince of all England," he said, his voice thick with the city accent.

"Why did you save us, then?" Alex asked. "I could've sworn you were watching us just five minutes ago."

"That I was. But it wasn't both of you I had in mind to save," he answered. "Just you, the one with the yellow eyes."

"Why me?" Alex asked.

He shrugged. "I was- drawn to you, for some reason. It's becuase we're alike, but because we're alike, I can't find out about you."

"What do you mean?" Alex was confused.

"Magic," the strange man whispered. "I can sense it in you."

Alex tried to reply, but stuttered, not able to form an objection. "Don't deny it, lad," the man told her. "We both know it. Even the Prince here knows it. But it's not safe to talk about such a secret thing in the open city. Come with me, and we'll have a chat."

"You're crazy!" Alex said. "You claim you have magic, and you want me to go somewhere with you, and I don't even know your name! How do I know you don't want to steal our money?"

The man smiled. "No, I wouldn't want to take on you and the Prince, after seeing how good you are with knives. I have no fight or aim with you."

"Alex, I think we should go with him," Joshua said.

"Listen to your friend. What do you know, royalty can be smart at times," the man said in all seriousness. "Now, let's go, before these guys come to and see my face."

Alex looked at this strange man as they walked through the city streets. He was tall, about six feet, had brown eyes and dark blonde hair, and a slightly big nose. Alex decided he was handsome when he smiled, and his eyes shined, as normal brown eyes usually did not. He said he was twenty-one and had lived in the city all his life.

"Yes, but you still haven't told us your name," Alex pointed out.

He laughed. "Nothing gets by you, lad," he said with a smile as they entered an inn. "I'm Marek Nazzir."

"You are a thief!" Alex accused.

"Why do you keep saying that?" he asked.

"Because now, I know you are. I've heard of you before," Alex told him. "You better not try to steal any of our things."

He smiled. "I told you, I have no reason to get into a fight with you."

"Are you really a thief?" Joshua asked.

"Aye, the most honest one this side of the Pacific. Actually, I'm the head thief," he admitted.

"I don't nkow how a thief can be honest," Alex growled.

"Well, I can be to my friends," he told them. "And I'd like for you to be my friends."

"Why, so you can break into the palace easier?" Joshua accused.

"No, I have no interest in the palace. I'm honest, and what I said earlier was the truth. I'm interested in you because you have magic as well. I hear they're giving a special class on it at the palace. And, is it true, Earth's running out of natural resources?"

"How did you know about those?" Joshua asked. "They're both high-class secrets. Not even Duke Edward knows about the classes..."

Marek smiled. "I have connections," he stated plainly.

"You mean spies."

"Whatever you wish to call them. But, they can find out anything going on in the palace, if I want. Usually I don't bother. But those two stories interested me," the thief said. "But it's true, about the energy?"

"Yes, and I'm sure your gang will have a tremendous blast when it happens, breaking into helpless families' homes," the Prince said drily.

"Oh, no, I'm merely curious to prepare myself," Marek told him, and Joshua made an ungentlemanly snort. "Do you doubt me, your Highness? I told you I was honest. But, how long will we have before this happens?"

"The Great Goddess told me it would be complete in four years, so supplies will be scarce in at least three years, if not sooner," Alex told him.

The thief whistled. "You talked to the Great Mother Goddess?"

"In a dream, yeah," Alex said.

"Dream or no dream, you were priveledged enough to talk to her," Marek said. "I'm both awed and frightened at the same time."

"Well," Prince Joshua said as he rose from the table, "we must be getting back to our lessons. It was nice meeting you, Marek Nazzir."

"Please stop by anytime you get to," the honest thief offered. "I'm usually here at the Singing Swan. Hey, I didn't name the place, I merely live here. Or, if I'm not here, ask old Jack over there, and he'll find me quick enough."

Alex smiled. "Don't doubt we won't use that invitation," she said as they left the inn and walked into the bright sunlight.

Last Chapter
Next Chapter
Writings
Home