I Double Dog Dare You|Maelstrom Thief Guild

[Kender Bard]

In the Maelstrom thieves' guild, not everyone had welcomed the wayward Ilyamen brothers with open arms, and some of the sentiment had rubbed off on the children as these things often did.

A native-born guild-raised boy, a couple years older than Coral, sought the girl out, trying to make his grin friendly and not nasty and only half-succeeding. "Hey! Hey Coral! Rat-brat!"

The name was one that was beginning to pick up popularity as a slur amongst the children.

[Northen Light36]

Hearing that loathed nickname had Coral gritting her teeth and eying a rock thoughtfully. But tossing it at the boy's head would only get her into trouble. "Don't call me that, Kon," she spat as she turned to face him. "What do you want?"

Some of the other Ilyamen thief children watched the exchange with interrest, including Niamh. Having her five-year-old sister watching only made Coral more determined not to let Kon upset her.

[Kender Bard]

"Did you hear that there's some rich snob's celebration tonight?" Kon asked casually with a half-grin. "Good pickings... if you're even half a thief."

[Northen Light36]

Coral glared at Kon, then smirked. "I've heard and agree. I guess you won't be going though. Since, as you said, you'd have to be even half a thief."

The Ilyamen children began to snicker.

[Kender Bard]

"Of course I'm going," Kon scoffed with a scornful look at Coral. "But I don't expect to see YOU there." He lowered his voice, tauntingly, "Unless it's to beg for scraps at the back door."

[Northen Light36]

Coral scowled and tightened her hands into fists. "You take that back right now!" she shouted. "Of course I'm going, and I'm no begger, Kon."

"Not any more," one of the Maelstrom thief kids muttered and Coral blushed faintly. The fact she'd once been a guild charity case, rather then one of the thief-born kids (since her father had left the guild before she was born) or a true thief sometimes bothered her.

"Shut. Up," she growled.

[Kender Bard]

"Yeah, well, we'll see what you're made of tonight, won't we?" Kon laughed, his confidence restored at having one of his fellow Maelstrom fellows backing him up on the challenge. "If you get caught, we'll know you're not fit to serve the thieves here."

[Northen Light36]

"I won't get caught," Coral replied. "I'm just as good a thief as anyone." She paused, then added, "And when I get more then you do, you have to get on your knees and admit, in front of everyone, that the Ilyamen thieves are better then you any day."

[Kender Bard]

"Deal!" Kon agreed hotly. He didn't really have any doubts about his thieving ability. He knew he could outdo this Ilyamen rat-brat. Of course, just to be sure, he wouldn't be above asking a mate or two to lend a hand where nobody was looking. After all, Maelstrom had its pride.