Chapter One: Erevan

It was in the early hours of night in the city of Kino. Darkness was spread throughout every nook and cranny of the extravagant city, only being kept at bay by some dim lights in a few houses and buildings.

But the one thing that wasn’t being kept at bay was the dead silence of the night. No footsteps sounded, no crickets chirped and no owls hooted.

The perfect night for a theft.

A dark silhouette darted from one alley to the next. Keeping a steady pace as it ran down the alley it leaped into the air grabbing a flag pole.

It allowed itself to be flung upwards towards the rooftops. It twisted itself so it landed on its shoulder in a fluid roll. Crouching low it slowly made its way across the rooftop. It peaked over the edge and looked out over the courtyard.

There on the other side of the courtyard was its target.

The large academy building. Inside it held the prize the silhouette was seeking. The silhouette ran across the top of the buildings, gathering speed as it neared the gap between the last building and the academy. It leaped…

…And managed the grab a black banister hanging off the side of the building. It climbed upwards and opened a window by the side of the banister top. The silhouette was in.

It led to a dorm room.

Several beds lined each side of the dorm room. It silently crept across the room, making extra effort not to step on loose boards

Eventually, it had made it to the other side of the room. It grasped the doorknob and slowly turned it…

It was locked.

Wasting no time, it reached into a sack hanging from its waist and pulled out two thin rods, one straight and the other with a curve at the end.

It slipped the two rods into the lock and fiddled around until it clicked open.

Slowly the silhouette stepped out of the room and into the candle light.

It was revealed to be a teenage boy. Tall with good looks and raven black hair tied back into a pony tail.

He smirked when he saw the poster on the wall across from him.

It read Wanted; Erevan Tribal for 100 silver pieces for theft. Under that it had a poor rendition of his face.

That’s when he felt a cold object being pressed up against his neck.

“Don’t move.”

Erevan recognized the voice instantly. “Katrina,” he smiled, delicately removing the knife from his neck and turning around.

Katrina was truly a beautiful girl. She had long blonde hair, with blue eyes that looked innocent enough to melt any mans heart.

Good thing Erevan knew her better.

Erevan and Katrina had always been close ever since they were found abandoned by their parents on the island Lantrn, the Thieves island, evolving from at first just friends, to best friends and eventually lovers. Neither had expected to get any closer than that, considering Katrina had an always wandering eye.

“Erevan,” she replied sweetly, before they embraced each other is a passionate kiss, rubbing gently against the wall behind her. Eventually he pulled away.

“I’m surprised you’ve got this far,” she said, quietly.

He smirked “I could say the same for you.”

They’ve always had a friendly rivalry.

“I hope you do well,” she said, smirking back.

“I’ll meet you at the tavern when this is all done,” he replied, pulling her back in for one last kiss.

Katrina pulled away and winked at him before leaning back into the shadows, and she was gone.

He stood there for a few more moments before heading down the corridor behind him.

Soon enough, he came upon a guard strolling up and down the corridors on his night shift.

Erevan slipped under a nearby table and watched him walk by taking no notice to the shadow that he was.

The next door was where he needed to get to. The jewel room held the most important prize of all, the Fire Stone.

Erevan slipped quietly out from under the table and into the jewel room.

There in front of him in a glass case was the fire stone. The beautiful red gem shone brightly in the pale moonlight.

He walked slowly up to the gym and removed the glass case protecting it. He carefully picked it up, feeling the amazing warm sensation flowing all the way through his body at his touch. He put a regular red jewel in its place and slipped the fire gem into a brown leather sack hanging at his side.

Déjà vu he thought as a knife was again pressed against his neck, accompanied by a familiar voice. “Hand over the jewel Erevan.”

Katrina.

“Aw Katrina, I’m beginning to think you’re stalking me.”

She laughed. “Just give me the jewel Erevan.”

“Can’t do that babe,” he replied, elbowing her in the stomach, and freeing himself from her grasp. “After all,” he said, moving to the nearby window and stepping out onto the ledge. “This is a competition.”

She quickly regained her composure and ran at him. He stood unflinching as she grew close and closer, eventually reaching out to grasp him.

But to her surprise he leaned back slowly, falling backwards out of the window as she reached him.

Scared to death she immediately jumped onto the ledge.

And there he was, swinging to the building across from them on a rope used for decoration.

She smiled and laughed. He truly was good.

……………………………….

“And the winner of the Fire Jewel tournament is Erevan Tribal,” the Thieves Guildmaster, Bartimos shouted to the crowd gathered at the academy in towns square.

The crowed cheered as Erevan walked out from behind the stage and accepted his metal.

“Now Erevan,” Bartimos said, proudly hanging the medal around his neck. “You are a true member of the guild.”

“Come on Bartimos, you couldn’t have made it any easier, having to break into my own guild.”

Bartimos roared with laughter. “Perhaps you are right; we might even have to change the rules next year for the tournament, if there are any more students here with as much potential as you have.”

Erevan just smiled and searched the crowd.

Halfway to the back he found Katrina, smiling and meeting his eyes. She mouthed let’s Go.

He smiled and mouthed back Meet you at the tavern.

She nodded and made her way out of the crowd.

And he too gradually slipped away.

……………………………

“Congratulations Erevan,” Katrina said, as he sat down in the chair across from her.

“Let me buy you a drink,” he said.

She nodded and he called the barmaid over, ordering two beers.

In a few minutes she was back with their drinks.

“So what are you going to do now,” Katrina asked. “You’ve won every tournament on the island.”

Erevan sipped at his drink and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

A frown came on to Katrina’s face. “Don’t tell me you plan on staying here forever.”

“I haven’t really thought about it,” He confessed.

“Well I’ll tell you right now Erevan, I’m going to be on the first boat off this island.”

He sighed. “Well I have always wanted to leave here eventually,” he said. “But not so soon.”

“Well if not now when,” she persisted. “Is there really anything left for you here?”

Erevan thought about it. There really was nothing keeping him here after that last tournament. Only the thought of being away from home. He chuckled “I guess you’re right. I’ll leave on the same boat you leave on.”

She smiled and took a swig of her beer. “That’s my Erevan.”

He smiled “Let’s spend tonight together.”

She returned the smiled “Of course. The boat leaves tomorrow afternoon.”

Erevan’s eyes widened. “Tomorrow!”