Is this the Right Place?|Ilyamen Thief Guild

[Skittlebug]

Wilf follows Acqua through the streets, making a point to try and remember the way out of habit. The building she leads him to leaves him a little confused though, it's just a shop. He'd been expecting something...well, he didn't know what he'd been expecting, but it wasn't this. The boy hesitates for a second as Acqua goes in, but he doesn't want to lose her, maybe she's just stopping for something on the way?

[Northen Light36]

The shopkeeper smiled at Acqua as she entered, then raised an eyebrow at Wilf following her. "Don't have enough already, milady?" he teased.

"Ha. Ha," Acqua replied dryly. "I assure you I've got plenty. Let us down, Will? Kid's got talent, he's wasted on the street."

"Ah," Will replied. "Of course." He looked carefully at Wilf for a moment, then smiled - apparently he liked what he saw. "Welcome kid." He tossed a key to Acqua. "Oh, milady? Your daughter's down there, looking for you."

"Wonder what's gone wrong now?" Acqua muttered, rolling her eyes. "Thanks for the warning. Come on Wilf." She opened the concealed door and threw back the key. "Down you go."

[Skittlebug]

Wilf listens curiously, apparently this was the right place, but why did the shopkeeper call Acqua 'milady'? He guesses he'll find out eventually and eyes the door that she suddenly opens. He peers down the stairway, not seeing the bottom he feels apprehensive, but he doesn't figure he has much of a choice at the point, and starts his way down, slowly.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua follows him down - and is tackled by Letha almost as soon as she reaches the bottom. "Muma!" the little girl sniffles. "You left without me!"

"Letha, honey," Acqua sighed and knelt to be on her daughter's level. "I told you, I'm working today."

"And I wanna help," Letha replied with a pout. "Please?"

"You're not old enough," Acqua replied. "Give it time."

"I'm ready now though," Letha countered. "And you worked when you were even littler then me."

"I didn't have a choice," Acqua sighed. "Letha, we'll discuss this later. Does your father even know you came here? Or did you leave him to tear up Maelstrom looking for you?" Her daughter's sheepish smile told Acqua all she needed to know. "Someone let Mat know Letha's with me?" she called.

"Of course my lady," one of the minds currently drinking at the bar called.

Letha eyed Wilf, noticing the boy for the first time. "Who are you?"

[Skittlebug]

Wilf's wide eyed examination of the place is interrupted as Letha plows into Acqua. He jumps, surprised, then stands a little awkwardly not sure what to do. He grins when Letha questions him, her energy was catching, "I'm Wilf, yer mum brought me here."

[Northen Light36]

"Oh, you're new!" Letha grins. "I thought so. I know most everyone here. I'm Letha, but you heard that. Muma, can I show him around? Please?"

"Why not?" Acqua agrees. "Introduce him to some of the other kids, but stay in the guild. Come find me in half a candlemark or so and I'll explain anything you haven't told Wilf, so don't bombard him with infomation all at once."

"Okay," Letha agreed. "Where will you be?"

"I need to go talk to the tunnel Earths for awhile," Acqua replied. "So just wait in your father and my rooms if I'm not back when you're done. Don't come into the tunnels."

Letha shuddered at the idea. "I won't," she promised. To Wilf she added, "What do you want to see first? The kids' rooms?"

[Skittlebug]

Wilf grins excitedly, "Sure, are there a lot a' kids here? And what are t' tunnels?"

[Northen Light36]

"Yeah, there are a lot of kids," Letha replied. "But a lot of us are out working. Or playing. The older kids go out to pick pockets and stuff, but some of the younger kids are still around. Come on, I'll introduce you. The tunnels go between the guild branches, but only the Humontis tunnel is open. They're creepy."

She took his hand and led him towards the children's rooms where half a dozen children of various ages under ten were playing with a large collection of toys. "Everyone, this is Wilf. He's new. Muma brought him in!"

"Hi," most of the children call out a greeting and abandon their games to come greet the newcomer.

"You got brought in by Lady Acqua?" one of the children, a girl of about five, demanded to know.

[Skittlebug]

Wilf can't imagine a tunnel all the way to another nation, he would have to see that when he got a chance. He doesn't get to ask anything else before he's crowded by the children. He blinks at the little girl, "Yeah...she's a lady?"

[Northen Light36]

"She's the Lady," the little girl remarks.

"Hush August, he's new. He wouldn't know," Letha scolds. To Wilf she adds, "Muma and Daddy are the guild leaders. The Thief Lord and Lady. Muma's a noble lady too, cause Uncle Amaro's a real noble." She grinned and added, "My big brothers and sister are even best friends with a princess."

[Skittlebug]

Wilf blinks at Letha, "She's the leader?" His eyes widen, "And I tried t' steal from her..."

[Northen Light36]

"You what?!" All the children stare at Wilf in shock, awe and amazement, then burst out laughing.

"Opps," Letha giggles. "Better not try that again. We're not supposed to steal from each other." She snatches up a cookie from a plate on a table and takes a bite. "And you're a kid like me. We're not supposed to work the streets, cause we're not ten yet. But I'm the best in my lessons. Well, me and my twin, Robin, so I really wanna get Muma to let me try for real. You've stolen for real?"

[Skittlebug]

Wilf figures that's probably one of the most important rules, and he certainly wouldn't try to steal from anyone he knew was in the guild. "Well, yeah...but mostly food and because I had to."

[Northen Light36]

"Muma had to do that when she was real little," Letha remarked. "She and her big sister, Aunt Alethia. I'm named after Aunt Alethia. Muma used to call her Letha when Mum's was little, so that's my name. Cause two Alethias would be confusing. You got any brothers or sisters?"

[Skittlebug]

Wilf shakes his head, "Naw, just me, I always wanted a brother though."