of sol-crystals. Just don’t get caught.”
Ange caught him in a hug before slipping away. “Oh, thank you Daren! I’ll be right back,” she promised before she crossed the street and skidded into an alley and took the long way around to the vendor where he wouldn’t spot her as she neared.
She grinned deviously as she quietly walked through the shadowy alleyway and crouched down as the fruit stand came into sight. She slowly crept forward, keeping her back pressed to the wall and glancing around for any signs of the Justice Guard or any witnesses. She listened carefully and peeked slightly past the dark stone bricks to the fruit stand. The fat vendor seemed occupied, his back was turned to her as he rummaged through a box.
She smiled pleased and snuck a little farther out, keeping her eyes on the man, he began to whistle.
Ange smile quirked as she executed a perfect silent roll forward, her back touching the stone sidewalk without a sound and she ended up on the tips of her toes behind the stand and with the fruit crate at arm’s length.
She suppressed a giggle at how easy this venture was going to be.
Quietly she reach for one fruit and plucked it out and passed it to her other hand before she reached for another. She noticed a bright red one and stretched to get it, her fingers wrapped around it and she smiled.
A shadow at the edge of her eye caught her attention as a strange pulling in her chest forced her focus away from the fruit. She turned her gaze to the source of the spark, as if someone had called out her name.
Walking across the street strode a tall lonely hooded figure, a long cloak billowing out behind the body. As if feeling her stare, the dark hood turned partially in her direction and she glimpsed a single golden eye in a face enshrouded by shadows.
Her heart skipped a beat and restarted in a thundering pace, echoing in her ears as the face fully turned to her. Two blistering sun yellow eyes scorched into her as the pulling in her chest became a yanking, compelling her to walk to the stranger.
“What are you doing?!” roared an angry voice as a large hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and squeezed it with painful force.
She squeaked in pain and surprise as the fat vendor suddenly pulled her up to her feet. Her gaze snapped away from the unknown as the freighting sensation in her body vanished, she gazed up shocked into a pair of angry brown eyes set in a pudgy face with a long black beard and a snarl.
Ange struggled trying to pull her hand away from the deadly grip, the other fruit hugged to her chest as she tried to pull herself free, but the man’s grip was too strong.
She stared in dismay at the thought that she had had gotten caught, now she had to think of a way to get away, but the worst part was that he had seen her face. One of the basic rules of the guild repeated itself in her mind, ‘Don’t steal in daylight, don’t get caught, and don’t get seen.’ She groaned feeling suddenly discouraged.
“You little thief!” the vendor snarled, dragging her closer.
Suddenly another hand shot into view and she squeaked in horror as a silvery-white gauntlet covered hand grasped the vendor’s wrist with a powerful grip, his hand began to instantly redden with the hold and loosen on Ange’s own wrist.
“Let’s not be too hasty now, shall we?” suggested a silky voice.
The vendor and Ange turned to the source of the voice and Ange couldn’t help feeling relieved that the armor the man wore was not of the Justice Guard. The armor in fact, was too beautiful, elaborately designed, and obviously made of a material she had never seen before, it was white but glittered like ice in the sunlight. She had never seen anything to its likeness, the main material seemed to shine like a gemstone or silver but had the appearance of hard snow-white leather. Her gaze then traveled to the most beautiful face she had ever witnessed, but at the same time was the most alien she had ever seen. His