Thief's Terror

[Northen Light36]

It had started out as such a pleasant day. Amaro was home, and even if he'd torn strips off Acqua for hours, he had forgiven her. Acqua was just happy to have her family home. And to top it off, she'd received a message from Mat that morning, promising to be back in Talen'sul soon.

With everything in her life going so right this morning, it was no wonder that Acqua's mood wasn't even dampened by being asked to baby-sit Spice, Crentha and Aria while Talon and Amaro were at work, Cass was checking in on the Bardic guild and Alethia was out washing clothes. In fact Acqua's enjoying the chore and happily telling the Veatherfall children some amusing stories of her time with the Thieves Guild. She doesn't even bother to glance towards the door when she hears it open. “Home early, Alethia?” she calls. “We're in Spice's room.”

“Hello Kitten...”

Acqua freezes for a second, then slowly turns. Daniel smiles at her, leaning against the door frame and enjoying the terror in Acqua's expression. “What? No hug, Kitten?” he rasps. “Why, that's no way to greet an old lover.”

“We weren't lovers,” Acqua hisses, finding her voice at last. “You used me.” Daniel chuckles.

“Details, details, Acqua,” he replies. “In the end does it really matter?” Daniel stepped forward, slowly, menacingly, and smiled as Acqua took a half step back. “Hmm, perhaps you'll break easier then I thought.” Acqua glared and Daniel laughed, delighted. “Then again, maybe not.”

“I heard you were dead,” Acqua spat. Daniel stepped forward again, striding forward to grab Acqua's chin painfully tightly. Acqua jerked a knee up, only for Daniel to side step the attack.

“I got better,” he hisses, his breath hot on Acqua's face. “Too bad for you.” Letting go of Acqua's face, he grabs both her wrists tightly and takes a moment to enjoy the vivid red marks his fingers had left on Acqua's face. “Now, are you going to be sensible and come quietly, or do we have to make a scene in front of the little ones?”

“Go to hell,” Acqua snarls, but her gaze flickers fearfully to the children. “Spice, take the girls and run.”

[Kender Bard]

Spice didn't listen. The young boy, wooden sword in hand, instead tried to wriggle between Acqua and Daniel, shooting the man a look of righteous anger. "You stay away from my family!" he ordered. "Or else!" He brandished the sword.

[Northen Light36]

Daniel looked down at Spice and raised an eyebrow. "Kid, your auntie and I are having a discussion here," he hisses. "Why don't you take your sisters and run along and play, hm? Before you get hurt."

"Don't touch them!" Acqua yelps, struggling in Daniel's grip. Daniel scowls and slaps Acqua hard.

"Shut up," he rasps.

[Kender Bard]

"I said," Spice growled, eyes flashing with rage, "not to touch her!" With all his childish strength, he thrust his wooden sword at Daniel at chest level. Spice's chest level, which was considerably lower on Daniel.

[Northen Light36]

Spice might not be even nearly as strong as Daniel, but the Black Swan hadn't been expecting an attack from the small boy and therefore the blow hit home in Daniel's groin. Immortal he might be, but he certainly felt pain.

Acqua didn't hesitate when Daniel let go of her arms to double over in pain. "Spice, take Reny's hand and run!" she orders, grabbing Aria and taking Spice's hand, running outside with all three children. Looking back over her shoulder fearfully, Acqua keeps the children running until they're a few blocks away from the Veatherfall house and well into the city. Only then does she feel safe enough to lean against a nearby wall and shiver while the Veatherfall toddlers catch their breath.

[Kender Bard]

Crentha cried, a soft sobbing sound. Spice hugged her and awkwardly stroked her hair like he'd seen his mother do countless times to both of them when they were frightened. He panted heavily but there was a fierce joy in his eyes. "I slew him!" he cried triumphantly.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua managed a small smile at that. Forces, had she ever been that innocent? No, probably not.

Kneeling, Acqua hugged Spice and Crentha as best she can while still holding Aria. "You were very brave, Spice," she tells her nephew. "You were too, Reny sweetie. Can you stop crying for me? Please? It's going to be all right now," Acqua adds reassuringly as she tries to think of what to do now.

Normally she'd go straight to the guild, Echo needs to be warned... But there are the kids to worry about... Acqua takes a deep breath. "Spice, Reny, I think we should go see my friend Echo," she tells them. "Until your mum gets home. But Echo's in a very secret place, so I need you to promise you won't tell anyone about it, okay?"

[Kender Bard]

Spice's eyes lit up. This day was just better and better. First he got to be a Valiant Hero and now he gets to learn a Big Secret. Did Efilive come early this year? "Of course," He promised.

Crentha stemmed her cries and nodded silently.

[Northen Light36]

"Good," Acqua tells them with a smile. "You know, Bas and Pas might be there today too and you can play with them while I talk to Echo," she adds, leading the kids to the thieves' guild. "Is Echo home?" she asks the shop keeper/doorguard.

"She is, but..." the shop keeper glances doubtfully at Spice and Crentha. Acqua scowls.

"I need to talk to her now, Erin," she growled. "Spice and Crentha can keep a sceret." Erin sighes, but nods and opens the door to the hidden staircase.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Kit," he remarks. Acqua gives him an uneasy smile.

"So do I," she replies, taking Crentha's hand. "Spice, be careful going down the stairs," she warns as the group make their way down into the Thieves' Guild. Pas and Bas are there, playing with some wooden horses on top of one of the tables in the dining hall. Looking up to see who's coming down the stairs, they squeal happily to see Spice and Crentha.

"Spice! Reny!" they shout, scrambling off the table as Echo looks away from a report.

"Kitten!" she exclaims in surprise, hurrying over. "What are you all doing here?" Seeing the handprint on Acqua's cheek, Echo's eyes darken. "What happened?"

[Kender Bard]

"A bad man came," Spice happily reports. "He was going to hurt Aunt Acqua but I stabbed him and slew him. I'm a hero!"

Crentha smiles and hugs Bas, glad to see her friend. "Scary," she whispers to them solemnly.

[Northen Light36]

Bas hugs Crentha back. "Not scary here," the little girl promises. "Lots of fun. I gotta new dolly. Wanna see?"

"Wanna play horsie?" Pas asks Spice, showing the other boy his toy horses.

"It was Daniel," Acqua whispers to Echo. "He's alive." Echo blanches and it's only the presence of the children that keeps her from swearing. To give herself time to think, Echo kneels and hugs Spice.

"Thank you for saving Acqua, little one," she says softly. "That was very, very brave of you. You certainly are a hero."

[Kender Bard]

Spice had assented to Pas's request but swelled so greatly under Echo's praise that he thought he might burst. He even got a hug from a Pretty Maiden, just like the heroes in Daddy's stories!

"I have a destiny," the boy said with a deep and serious solemness, trying to recall lines from a fairytale Talon had told him. "I must walk a lonely..." he frowned for a moment, trying to recall. "-path! Now I need a magic sword."

[Northen Light36]

Echo and Acqua hide their smiles and keep from laughing with an effort. "I think you're a little young for a magic sword," Echo replies, patting Spice on the head. "But you never know what'll happen as you grow up. Go on, go play with Pas now."

While the children play, Echo and Acqua sit down to talk. "You should stay here tonight," Echo tells Acqua. "And maybe head to Ilyamen in the morning. We can all go, it'll be safer if we stick together." Acqua shakes her head.

"I can't run out on my family, Echo," she replies, rocking Aria a little as the baby whimpers. Echo sighes.

"Well I don't want you alone, Kit," she replies. "And unless you plan to gag Spice, you're not going to be able to keep this from your family." Acqua sighes.

"Alethia's going to flip," Acqua mumbles. Echo pats her shoulder.

"How about this, you and I will stick together when you're not with your family and we'll stay here," she suggests to the younger thief. "And I'll help you explain to your family, tactfully, why you're bringing their children into a pit of vipers like this." Acqua laughs.

"Thanks Echo," she replies. The two thieves chatter happily about lighter topics until it's about time for Alethia to be coming home and Echo walks Acqua and the children home. "Alethia?" Acqua calls. "You home yet?"

[Kender Bard]

"In here!" Alethia calls back as she puts the childrens' dried clothing away.

"Mommy, I'm a hero!" Spice shouts. Alethia's laughter floats from the other room.

[Northen Light36]

"Spice," Acqua says quietly. "Why don't you take your sister and the twins out to play in the yard while I tell you mum all about how brave you were." After shooing the kids out to play and putting Aria down for a nap in a pile of cushions, Acqua heads into the children's room with Echo. "Um, sis?" she says nervously. "Spice was... kinda... telling the truth."

Slowly and very reluctantly, with a lot of gentle prompting from Echo, Acqua explains the morning's events to her sister.