Page 1 of The Sorcerer's Thief
Chapter 1
Cricket
I’m one-quarter fae on my father’s side, but I pass for human, which is the best of both worlds if you ask me. Other fae underestimate me, humans accept me as one of their own, and my latent magical abilities are invaluable to my questionable and sundry career choices.
Whatever needs doing, you can bet I’ll get it done.
For instance, at this very moment, I’m slipping unseen through the shadows of Ralossi Palace’s labyrinth of hallways. Down an old, stuffy corridor, wiping errant cobwebs off my face, I sneak ever closer to the royal family’s wing.
Silent as a sleeping tiger, graceful as a gliding swan, deadly as a daring—no, wait. That’s a lie.
I’ve never killed anyone.
I’m just good at making their things intomythings.
But I could be deadly if I wanted to be. Which I don’t. Because even though I’m a thief, I do have morals.
I’ve been stealing to get by all my life. Well, practically all my life. As far back as I can remember anyway. Don’t judge. I have my reasons. If you knew, you’d understand. Maybe. Probably.
Alas, my life of crime will soon be behind me.
Luminia is a different land now, so they say. Fair and equitable and just andboringfor everyone, not only the royal bloodlines. We’ll see, I guess.
If it’s true, there’s no need to steal to survive anymore.
A pity because I’m excellent at my trade. The secret pockets sewn inside the lining of my vest are stuffed with various jewels, shiny trinkets, and little souvenirs from each noble whose room I’ve managed to burgle during my time here within Lemossin’s walls. Nine so far.
My goal is a nice round ten.
After that, I’ll leave behind the snobby inhabitants of this snobby palace in this snobby city and head home to farmlands outside of Irondale, where I belong.
Not that there’s anything left for me there. My home is gone, and so is my family.
One last hurrah and then I’m off into the night, southward bound.
But who’s to be my next target?
Only a member of the royal family will do for my last heist. Shall I go after the new queen herself? Or perhaps one of her brothers, the two prickly princes?
The royal wing of the palace is guarded, but I expected as much. The three guards on duty, milling around and picking their noses, won’t be a problem for me. A simple spell will do. One I’ve perfected over the years.
With a flourish of my fingers, I send a revolting whiff of passed gas wafting in their general direction.
Like a charm, the first guard sniffs, scrunches his nose, and glowers at his comrades with distaste. “If you have to drop a load, just say something. Don’t stay here and make me suffer.”
“What?” The second guard catches the scent, his face twisting in disgust. “That’s not me.”
They both glance at the third man, who is covering his nose with his hand. “Well, I didn’t do it.”
While they’re busy arguing, I call to the shadows, cloak myself in their dark embrace, and scurry past the guards on silent feet.
Gotcha.
That trick always works.
Chuckling to myself, I choose the second door on the right and slip unnoticed into some rich fae’s chambers to have a look around. Are they in here, snoring away, dreaming about whatever the privileged dream about?
Or do I have this room to myself?
