Wars of Suns and Shadows (Tales Of Erobred #1)
Chapter 1
Petty theft and dark magic had kept me alive since I moved to the outskirts of Erobred almost twelve years ago. It was a ruthless and dangerous city for people like me.
I pushed my way through the crowded streets, slipping bracelets off wrists and coins out of pockets. It was the same routine almost every day. The stores selling jewelry, dresses, and shoes always attracted people better off than myself.
The air was thick with the smell of freshly baked cakes, leather, and chimney smoke. My stomach growled loudly, protesting at the lack of breakfast this morning, or dinner the night before. Then it twinged in guilt as I remembered the nearly empty food basket I’d left behind this morning.
I bumped into a tall, older man who looked to be a high-society royalist, judging by his golden jewelry and superior demeanor.
I mumbled an apology before sliding his watch off his wrist and dumping it into the pocket of my cloak.
It landed with a little thud, indicating that the watch was made of heavy, valuable material.
“Dirty peasant,” the man spat behind me, but I barely registered his disapproval of me, the gnawing in my stomach commanding most of my attention.
I took a turn and continued down the familiar, deserted alleyway. With a surge of excitement, I entered the rundown building, the little bell above the door warning of my arrival.
This shop was filled to the brim with metallic knick-knacks, porcelain, and other trinkets that people with money could waste their gold on.
A reflection caught my eye, and I turned to search out the source. A little, golden necklace, with a crescent moon pendant, sat on a dusty shelf in the corner.
Walking to it, I stretched out my gloved hand to caress the dainty chain. The pendant was faded and worn, but something about this little jewel called to me. I ran my thumb over the moon, and longed to rip the glove off my hand. Longed to feel the rough edges of the stones embedded in the center.
I couldn’t explain why, but it felt familiar. Like I’d once found a sense of safety and comfort in the pointy horns of the crescent shape.
A deep voice snapped me out of my fascination with the little jewel. “Are we selling or buying today, Prudence?”
I spun around, letting my hand drop to my side. The weight of the loot in my pocket felt hefty.
I liked coming here: Tudor didn’t ask questions about things that didn’t concern him.
I hesitated for less than a second before grabbing the necklace and placing it on the counter. “Both.”
Fishing the watch, an emerald-embedded bracelet, and an unusual leather pouch from my pockets and placing them on the counter, I looked expectantly at him. Then I held up the necklace to show him my interest.
The bracelet should bring in at least 20 gold. The watch too, if I was right about it being made of silver.
“I will give you 30 gold, and throw in the necklace,” he said, nodding knowingly.
“You think this is worth 10 gold? Come on Tudor, I wasn’t born yesterday.” I shook the necklace, grinning as he rolled his eyes playfully. “I’ll take 35 gold and the necklace.”
I looked him straight in the eye with a determined stare, flicking my long braid over my shoulder.
Tudor wasn’t marked like me, and even though we’d never discussed my circumstances, I was sure he’d figured it out.
I’d come to him to sell ever since I’d stumbled upon his little shop a few years short of a decade ago.
Which was why I knew he was challenging me with this offer, hoping I’d take the bait and bargain with him.
He seemed to consider me for a moment, then his lips broke apart into a hearty laugh. “You always were a good haggler, Prue. You got yourself a deal.”
My smile widened, and I pointed at the pouch. “And this?”
His face fell at the sight of it. “Sorry, dear. I can’t buy that. I’d be losing money even if I gave you one silver for it.” Genuine regret shone in his kind eyes, but he confirmed my suspicion that the thing was worthless.
I nodded in understanding, looping it into my worn belt. “I’m sure I’ll find some use for it.” He smiled warmly and shook his head in amusement.
“Your perseverance is inspiring. Now scram, kid. I have a nasty client coming in five minutes, and I don’t want you in here drawing attention to yourself.”
He counted out the golden coins and placed them into my hands with a quick wink that made the lines around his eyes dance with shadows.
I filled my new pouch with the coins, then gave Tudor a mocking salute that made him dismiss me with a wave of his big hand, though a bright smile was still plastered on his lips. “Get out, you goof.”
I grabbed the necklace and headed out the door. “See you soon,” I called back, pulling the hood of my cloak over my head.
The necklace would be a perfect birthday present for Lili.
My feet dragged as I took the last turn towards home. The trek back and forth from the city was at least twenty minutes, depending on how tired the day had rendered me.
After seeing Tudor, I’d spent the better part of an hour at the market buying, stealing, and bargaining for the bread, jam, and nuts now packed securely in my bag.
When I reached the building, I gave the loose oak siding a little tug to reveal the small space we called home.
I slipped inside and looked around. The place had cluttered up a bit over the years, both of us having accumulated a few personal items since moving in. Most of my items were small daggers that I had no idea how to use and useless junk Tudor had refused to buy.
“Hi, Lili,” I smiled, sitting down next to the girl who was practically a younger, taller version of myself. Small dust particles encircled us as she shrieked and threw herself at me. I pulled her into a tight embrace, closing my eyes at the relief of seeing her safe.
Our lives had been this way since we moved to the city. I hated leaving her alone in our tiny home. But we needed the money for food and clothes, not to mention our savings.
There was nothing for her to do out here. The rundown buildings had once been in use, though for what I didn’t know. Now, they mostly housed people like us. The Defenders rarely made their way out here, so it was a perfect place for us to live.
“You were gone longer than usual. I was afraid something had happened to you,” she pouted, and a familiar surge of guilt hit me in the gut like a rock.
I ran a gentle hand over her copper-blonde hair, one of the many features we had both inherited from our mother. “I know, I’m sorry. Did you eat today?” I asked, checking the corners for the woven basket that contained our food-stash.
Nodding, Lili pulled away from me. “I had an apple, and that last slice of bread,” she replied, just as her stomach gave an audible growl. I shook my head at her hollowing cheeks.
“I got us some dinner from the market. There’s enough for you to eat for breakfast tomorrow, too.
I’ll probably leave before you wake up.” I pulled her back into a one-armed hug, but her body tensed at my words.
I knew what she was thinking. Leaving her again, with only the dust and stray cats keeping her company.
I looked around for anything to distract from the unspoken words of disappointment between us. My eyes stopped at the thing that had kept Lili occupied all day. “What are you drawing?” I asked.
She looked down at the ink and canvas that I had gotten her a few months ago.
A merchant’s carriage had broken down, one of the wheels snapping in half, and amid all the chaos, I was able to snatch a pouch from the back.
I still remembered the disappointment I felt as I realized it contained nothing of real value.
The only thing that could’ve potentially brought in a few golds was a long, sleek-looking, feathered quill. But Lili had begged me to let her keep it.
“A family portrait,” she mumbled, and I frowned at the painting. I couldn’t help but admire the progress she’d already made. A tall, broad-shouldered man had his arms around a woman in a full-length gown. Around them stood five children of different ages, all smiling in fine tunics and pants.
I looked up at Lili with a raised brow. “This isn’t mom and dad.”
“I never said it was our family portrait,” she retorted, pulling the drawing toward her to roll it up.
She had a dejected look on her face as she stood up from the floor and brushed the dust off her pants with her free hand.
I got up too, pulling my bag over my head and placing it on the floor along with my coat.
“I didn’t mean that it isn’t beautiful. It… I was just—” I paused, finding my words. “Surprised.”
“I’m trying to make us a little more money. So that we can get out of here,” she admitted. “So that we can go find them… The rebels.”
She picked nervously at her fingers. My stomach lurched. I wasn’t any closer to locating them than I had been a year ago. People weren’t eager to share that kind of information, let alone with a stranger. You could get killed for even mentioning the word, most people not daring to even think it.
“What?” I breathed, gripping her arm tighter than I intended. She looked solemnly at me, her blue eyes watering. “Please don’t put yourself at risk, Lili. We must stay in the shadows. Did you talk to anybody while I was gone?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Did you go to the city by yourself?”
She nodded, fixing her gaze on a spot on the floor. I let go of her, running my hand over my face, trying to calm myself before speaking.
She’d gone to the city without me. A small part of me knew that was probably the safest option for her. She didn’t have to hide if it was just her out there. Still, my stomach turned icy at the thought.
“What were you thinking?” I asked, my voice low and shaky. Her eyes filled with newfound anger as she tore her stare from the floor to look straight at me.