The lucky number seven. Seven guards were lined up at the front door of the enormous castle, attempting to look intimidating but only succeeding in making Andy smirk. He didn't recognize any of the seven guards, which was an extreme advantage; they wouldn't recognize him.

Andy inspected his fine, silk robes again, making sure that the rich, purple linen trimmed in gold flowed smoothly down to the ground around his feet. It was a bit big for him, but it would have to do. At least it hid his small frame and made him look well fed like a nobleman.

He spit in his hand and slicked his hair back before plopping a baggy, black hat on top of his head of short, brown locks. Shoulders pushed back confidently, Andy marched toward the entrance to the overly extravagant building looming ahead of him. As he got closer to the guards, a tall, thin female with long, brown hair fell in step beside him.

Perfect timing.

He turned and nodded to her, and, in a fluid motion that would make the king look like a klutz, gently took her arm in his and strolled up the wide, marble staircase to meet the guards.

"Tickets," the guards stated in a monotone voice. Andy smiled arrogantly, as he had seen the nobles do many a time, and swept two small pieces of paper from the pocket in his robe.

The guard glanced at the ticket, and then back to the youth standing before him. Andy silently cursed himself for not taking Tom's offer about the fake mustache; he probably looked far too young to be a nobleman.

But the guard eventually nodded, handed the tickets back, and let the couple through the towering double doors without another word.

The couple gracefully stepped into the great dining hall at the front of the castle. Both pairs of eyes shifted across the sea of finely dressed nobles whom were oblivious to their entrance. The chandeliers above everyone's heads shed a bright, white light across the hall, but failed to reach the crevices, corners and alleys behind the columns that held the balcony. Out of the corner of his eye, Andy witnessed a slight movement in the shadows behind the columns.

He bent his head closer to the woman's. "They're already here."

She smiled and nodded at a few passing patricians. "Of course they are, the group is always early."

"I was just informing you, Rachel." Andy nodded towards a finely dressed elderly couple standing at the back of the room. "There are the hosts. Shall we?"

Rachel smirked slightly and the couple made their way through the crowd of people. Stopping to the left of the white-haired man in an expensive gray and silver robe, Andy cleared his throat.

The man turned toward him, looking startled. "Oh, how may I help you, m'boy?" he asked, studying the young man.

Andy bowed low. "My name is , and this is my wife, Jezzilbella."

The man nodded slightly, narrowing his eyes. "Yes, of course. I am Lord Chester Cedco. Eh, welcome to my home, Master Stone, now if you'll excuse me-"

"It is an honor to have been invited to these festivities," Andy continued. "What a lovely dining hall you have." He gestured up at the ceiling, which was painted completely in the color blue, with different shades and designs in every corner, coming together in the middle in a whirlwind of brush strokes. "May I ask where you happened upon such a beautiful design?"

Cedco beamed with delight. "Well, m'boy, seems you have a taste for good art." Andy nodded solemnly. "The one and only Sophacia designed the ceiling of this room in the year 3093, shortly after he finished painting the Courier Chapel ceiling. It only took him a few months to paint it."

"That is amazing. Sophacia, did you hear that honey?" Rachel nodded enthusiastically. "It must have cost a fortune, but of course for a man of your wealth, only pocket change."

"Oh, well." Cedco shrugged happily and smiled. "What about you, young man, where did you say you were from?"

Andy hesitated for only a moment. "We journeyed here from the west, but this is such a lovely town, don't you think dear?" Rachel smiled politely. "We believe we'll be staying in Runerow for a bit before we continue on our way."

"That's wonderful, m'boy!" Cedco bellowed. "We need more level headed young men of your stature in a place like this!" He swung his arm around Andy's shoulders and led him away, leaving the small group of listeners mumbling about manners. Rachel wandered off, looking exasperated. "Only one type of person ever notices the fabulous designs on my ceiling," Cedco continued. "The brave, intelligent, cunning."

"Sire, you flatter me," Andy smirked.

".And wonderfully distracting thieves."

Andy faltered. Cedco motioned in front of them, and Andy turned to see three huge guards towering over him. Each one had a disgusting grin on his face, revealing the rotting, yellow and green teeth behind each lip.

Andy looked the guards up and down, calculating his next move. "There has been a mistake, sire," he said steadily.

"Oh, no mistake." Cedco nodded his head at the men and all at once they jumped at the youth.

Andy's muscles jerked to attention and he swiftly turned and ran through the crowd. He could feel the men practically breathing down his neck as he began shoving people out of the way in order to reach the door across the room.

Spotting Rachel against the wall, Andy took a sharp left turn and raced toward her. She was talking to a handsome, dark-haired man, who looked to be quite infatuated with her. Andy tapped her on the shoulder as he flew by, his legs pumping him between row after row of nobles. Glancing back, he was pleased to see that the large, clumsy guards were having a hard time making their way through the crowd after him.

Andy turned forward again, only to see an even bigger guard looming just in front of him, and before he could stop, the large man slammed his fist against Andy's face, and the youth fell back onto the ground.

For a moment, Andy couldn't see clearly, but seconds later the decorative art on the ceiling stopped spinning and he was able to focus on the group of four giant piles of muscle standing above him.

"Well, m'boy, it looks as if your pathetic little fiasco has been put to rest in my house."

Andy, blinking rapidly to clear his vision and gazed at the white-haired man. Then his eyes darted past him to the large brute who was holding Rachel around the neck and grinning down at him. Rachel looked only slightly alarmed, and was watching him closely, trying to catch his eye. Andy's cheeks bent in a painful but confident smile for a moment, then he turned his attention back to the men standing over him. He was vaguely aware of the feeling of warm liquid running down the side of his head. Well, he thought while trying to work out what to do next, this should be a night to remember.

"But," Andy began, deciding to attempt to distract Cedco while he thought, "how did you know I was a thief?"

"Curious to know so you can improve your acting next time?" Cedco asked, amused.

Andy smiled slightly. "Maybe."

"Well, then may I suggest that the next time you meet a man of my stature, you do not proceed to inform him of the expensive things in his home that would cost 'pocket change' to him. It shows, fairly clearly, what you're interested in. M'boy." He added the last part and chuckled. Andy was slightly impressed; most of the people he robbed would be too blinded by the compliment to have realized what it implied. He decided that he would have to work that part out of his dialogue for next time. Oh, yes, there would be a next time.

Something dark like a shadow flew past above the ballroom floor, and Andy could just barely make out a familiar figure in the shadow. He smiled again, this time bigger, letting his solid confidence show clearly through his eyes. He saw Rachel's eyes darting upward as well. She knew.

"What are you smiling at, you scoundrel!" Cedco yelled, his face contorting into an unusual look of rage. "As soon as the last of the guard gets here, you'll find yourself spending the rest of your days in the dungeon under this room!"

Andy's smiled widened. "Are you implying, sire, that you require your entire force to take out only two lowly thieves?" he mocked.

"Why you insolent-" Cedco began. Then his brows lowered and he smiled a smile that made Andy's slightly lesson. "I was going to let them take you down quietly, but I see that you're in need of an education." He turned to the seven ripped guards and nodded. "Have some fun with him, boys."

The guards, one by one, turned to the boy on the floor and grinned a terrible grin. Andy's smile evaporated. The biggest lunged onto the ground, fist first, aiming straight for Andy's face, just as the shadow from before broke into the middle of the group, and sent the largest guard tumbling harmlessly off to the side of the room.

Andy smiled happily for a moment, then gathered his thoughts and cursed out loud when he remembered what was supposed to happen next. Feeling a little woozy but lacking the time to acknowledge it, he tumbled to his feet and ran past the dumbfounded Cedco, heading toward the guard holding Rachel. The room was almost completely empty; the serving staff was just ushering the last of the guests out. Behind him, Andy heard the noise he had expected: the crash of the guards toppling over onto the floor, where he lay only seconds before, by shadows swinging from the ceiling.

The guard holding Rachel was fixed on the sight of his comrades being flung to the floor, so when Andy, using the momentum he gained from his sprint, swung his first over Rachel's head and into the man's cheek, he released the girl and fell backwards, cursing and holding his face.

"Are you alright?" Rachel asked as soon as her former captor was inching helplessly across the floor, away from the battle.

Andy smiled slyly, and replied, "But of course, my dear." She rolled her eyes. His smile disappeared, and he grabbed her arm and ran in the direction of the entrance to the hall, dragging her along behind him.

"I can run on my own!" She cried angrily.

"I've no doubt!" he replied, smiling, but kept his eyes on the door. "The rest of the guard should be arriving at any moment. We should be prepared-"

Suddenly, his hand behind him was tugged to a stop. He turned to see Rachel frowning at him, and she pointed with her free hand to the pile of guards lying at the other end of the room. Chester Cedco was sprawled on the top of the pile, moaning slightly, but without any visible injury.

Andy smiled and shook his head. "They really should have better security at these types of functions. One could just walk in, wreck the party, and walk back out again without a scratch on him." He saw Rachel dart her eyes to the side of his head. "Well, maybe a little scratch.."

"Time to leave, kids," a rough voice echoed from the rafters. Just then, the door across the hall was swung open and a platoon of giants marched in the room. They took one look at the pile of bodies before them, and were suddenly sprinting across the marble towards the couple near the exit.

"I'd say Tom's got the right idea," Andy chucked gleefully, then scrambled out the door with Rachel just at his heals.

***

Andrew Masters and Rachel Stroud chased the darkness through the city streets and past the damp and lonely buildings in which light had never even considered entering. They followed it over cobblestone and dirt and dust of all colors and past closed up shops and shop masters that could not be disturbed from their slumber save for by the sun entering their open windows and the thought of the darkness of the streets hidden away. It would hide in shadows, in corners, and under the rooftops of those poor souls lacking windows facing the east to catch the first rays of light on fine mornings. Rachel and Andy chased the darkness around corners and over bridges and all through the city; they laughed and found glee in their adventure, for they were free, and even the sun rising against the backdrop of their chase could not silence their howls of laughter; their happiness.

The two youths raced down the streets with the boy in the lead. Andy had swung off his baggy fitting attire and was dressed in his usual clothing: a thin, gray shirt that was frayed and torn and a pair of loose fitting brown trouser pants. He had no shoes; he never enjoyed wearing shoes. He liked to feel the texture of the ground beneath his feet, and he felt that there was no other way to run than to do it with the ground, not across it.

Ahead was the final turn before they could exit the city. As Andy rounded the corner, his hand caught hold of a lamp post and he swung around it to enter the next street, only to find the wind of a new day blustering through his hair and against his thin, torn clothes. He stopped and closed his eyes, feeling the air wash over him and allowing himself to believe for just a moment that this was his life and he loved it. All thoughts save for this were swept from his mind and, for a moment, he was unaware of where, and who, he was.

Realizing that he had not moved for quite some time, Andy took his hand from the post and looked around. Rachel was standing beside him, looking just the way that he felt; as if when she opened her eyes, she would gaze upon a world in which she had nothing to fear. Andy watched her stand there, her dress fluttering in the strong breeze, her eyelids still and serene, and he felt that he could stand there forever and gaze upon her, without ever needing anything else.

He felt something warm against the back of his neck, and glanced behind him to see the first rays of the sun settling upon the earth and spilling across the vast countryside the youths were about to enter. The soft, golden glow of light rose from Rachel's dress, to her calm and daring face. Her eyes fluttered and opened. She turned to Andy and frowned, blushing.

"We're almost there. Come on." She led the way forward through the street and against the sun. Andy took a deep breath and followed behind her.

Before the couple could reach the end of the road, a tall, muscular man dropped down from the rooftops and landed in front of their steps. He had a shabby black beard and light blue eyes and looked at the two youths sternly, one of his hands resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Andy frowned. "Really, Tom, do we have to do this now? We just spent the night running across the city. This is much more of a bread and ale time than a 'run for your life' time."

Rachel nodded in earnest. "I'm going to have to agree. I'd like a nice nap before more training, if you don't mind."

The stern look on the man's face did not falter, and he drew his sword from his belt. "It's always time fer trainin'," he said. "A madman could jump out at any time and attack ye brats and what would ye do? Tell 'im it's time to drink and nap? I don't think it'll get 'im off yer case."

The youths moaned and rolled their eyes. "Please? Just give us an hour, and we'll be all yours!" Andy begged.

Despite their pleads, the man lifted his long, curved sword above his head and swung it waist level in front of him. Both Andy and Rachel ducked in plenty of time to miss the blade, then were back up again with annoyed looks in their eyes. They glanced at each other, then back at the man. Both of their lower lips jutted out, and their eyes became big.

"Please?" They asked, attempting to look their cutest. First Tom frowned angrily, then his lip began to quiver, and finally he burst out with laughter. Andy and Rachel smirked knowingly at each other, as the man placed his sword back in his scabbard.

"Alright, kids," Tom chuckled, "I'll give ye a few hours to freshen up before we begin the next lesson. But I'm warnin' ye now, Boss ain't too happy about yer performance last night or you're not being back with the rest of us. Ye'll be hearin' about it back at the caves, mark my word."

"Marked and noted, Tom." Andy and Tom clasped shoulders, and Tom was gone before they knew it, disappearing over the rooftops. "I wonder what sort of speech and punishment Boss'll be planning for us today," Andy pondered out loud as they set off again, leaving the city streets behind. Rachel only chuckled and shook her head.

Traveling across the barren wilderness on the outskirts of the city was a trip very few city dwellers ever attempted. The Terrian Desert stretched long in front of them with no sign of stopping, or of the air cooling from its scorching temperatures. The sun beat down hard on the land without the shade of trees or any life to speak of. Andy and Rachel traveled these lands regularly, and were not daunted by its intimidating appearance. Any member of the Terra Brigade knew of the caves that lay in waiting underneath the surface of the land, and knew of the many entrances that one could take to escape the heat of the desert and find shelter in these caves.

The two youths headed for the entrance nearest to the city, which lay only ten minutes into the desert. They spotted a small stick poking out of the ground, then cleared away the sand that had drifted around it after its previous use. Directly underneath the stick was a square, wooden trapdoor. Andy flung it open and jumped down into the darkness of the caves.

***

"Look who's back. It's the Prince of Thieves himself, Andrew the Mighty."

Andy entered the main room in the caves with Rachel following closely behind him. He glared at the person who spoke; the tall man was a little over twenty and sitting in the corner of the room, carving a piece of wood with a dull pocketknife. There were only two other people in the room other than the tall man in the corner: two men sitting at the table, one young with long blonde hair tied with a string behind his back; the other older, smoking a pipe. They both looked serious.

Candles were aligned along each wall on carefully carved ledges, and a torch sat in each corner lighting the room to a comfortable degree. The room was bright considering how dim and dull the rest of the caves were; especially the hallways, which were only lit by three or four candles every twenty feet or more.

"Lord, boy, what happened to you?" The older man asked, looking alarmed. Andy suddenly remembered the cut on the side of his face.

"Oh, it's nothing, not too much to worry about, James. I just need some water, is all." The cigar-smoking man waddled out into the hallway.

Andy strolled over and sat down at the table. Rachel walked over to the blonde man, kissed him quickly, then left through the east corridor, which stood open on the opposite side of the room. Andy watched without emotion. "So, where's Boss? I hear he has a few words, and maybe a medal for me."

The man in the corner rose. He had short, choppy black hair and light gray eyes. "Boss went out looking for you, wondering why you didn't come directly to the caves after that show you put on last night."

"The boy was no doubt running amuck through the city, putting Rachel in even more danger every second, aye Geoff?" The blonde man added. He shot a look at Geoff, who then walked quickly from the room.

"Indeed." Andy replied, pretending not to notice the man leaving.

"Well, I hope you're prepared to face the consequences. I'm sure it won't be pretty."

"Surely not."

The blonde man was silent for a moment, watching Andy closely. "You couldn't care less what sort of dangers you were in, could you?" He asked, finally.

"Not too much less, no," Andy answered. After a moment, he added, "But I do try to keep Rachel out of it if I can, you know that, Sean. I don't mean to put her in danger. She volunteered for this mission."

Sean hesitated, then nodded, not taking his eyes off Andy. "I know."

They clasped shoulders, and Sean headed out of the room, the way Rachel had gone.

"You keep yourself out of trouble too, boy. Seventeen isn't a healthy age to die," he said as he was leaving.

Andy just smirked. He poured some ale into a wooden mug and lifted it to his lips. Suddenly, sharp pain shot through his head, causing him to let out a cry and drop the mug onto the dirt floor. Thick, brown liquid splattered everywhere, and turned the dirt dark.

Andy's fingers clenched his head tightly. His teeth held together and his face contorted to a look of severe struggle, he fell to his knees over the spilled ale, and could do nothing more than feel the waves of pain shooting through his head, blurring his vision, and making him lose all sense of himself and time.

It seemed hours later that James was bent over him, a look of terror etched across his face. The aging man tried to ask Andy what was wrong, but the words were like water running through his fingers, and Andy couldn't concentrate on them long enough to understand them.

James hauled the youth to his feet, and half-carried him to a chair against the wall.

Andy felt a distant release, and the pain slowly died away into a dull headache. The boy looked up at the aging man standing before him; James watched him closely, and seeing the confusion leave the boy's face, he sighed loudly.

"What was that, Andrew? Is your wound hurting you?" The old man asked, looking almost as weary as the boy did.

Andy panted and held his head in his hands. "I-I don't think it was the cut.I was just getting a drink..." he explained, shaking wildly. "I don't know what that was. It felt like...two years ago, in Concord, when that bastard of a guard cut my leg open. It felt like that, only all through my head." He shuddered and looked up at the man. "It wasn't the cut. What was it, James? You can fix it, can't you?"

James was shocked, not by the pain the boy had experienced, but by the fear swimming in Andy's eyes that had never let itself known before. "I don't know, m'boy," he stammered. "In all my years of medicine, I've never seen anyone just collapse like that, like your mind was going to burst out of your body." He seemed to collect himself again. The man stood up straight and took on a thoughtful look. "Surely Glen would call it the devil's work, but we both know he's a lot of nonsense. I'd wager that that little episode was the result of staying out all night for two nights in a row, and not having a bite to eat since yesterday afternoon. Some of the others have been having pains as well when they don't get enough downtime, and--"

"Eddie and Van get aches in their arms and legs, but they're older even than you! They're entitled to sore limbs when they're past their prime and they've just spent the night fighting goons that were ten years younger and fifty pounds heavier than they are. I'm seventeen, not yet even a man in this country's eyes! I do not have sore joints and an aching back, I have...I don't know what I have. Just forget it. I won't worry about it unless it happens again." He shuddered again, and closed his eyes.

"If you think that wise, Andrew, then I won't argue with you, but I will continue to search for the cause of what happened."

"Please do. But first..."

"Yes?"

Andy gestured over to the table. "Pour me some more ale?"

James smiled. "Of course, m'boy."