Dreams and Ambitions

So there I was, running down the corridors of Fort Lenora. Hoping to beat that sell sword before he could see the boss first.

“There’s no way he can be behind me right, I ran faster than a hungry wolf to make it before him.”

It’s probably overkill for me to rush in head first like this, but you gotta understand. I need to leave the first impression by showing up first, and if I show up in front of the boss before that guy then he’ll have to know I got something important to say. Just you wait, you clean shaven louse, I’m gonna outshine you right in front of you employer. Was what I thought, until something hit me.

“How am I gonna sell myself to the boss anyway?”

Oh well, I’m sure I’ll manage. Afterall, Rule #6 of being a thief is to be able to manage even when you have a little. That said I better get a move on, since Rule #22 of being a thief is to be prompt and on time to meetings/gatherings. You hear that gentlemen, you follow these rules and even you can be nice and suave like me. That said, I GOTTA GO!

****

After two more minutes of running, and passing the room twice, I stand before the bossman’s chambers. I could hear the big three laughing on the other side of the door, I guess they were breaking the ice before talking business. I told myself this was my cue, and with courage I pressed my hands on the wooden double doors and gave them a big push. The big three sat puzzled for a minute before turning to face me. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, one of them spoke up.

“What are you doing here you spineless gonk?”

It was Rich, Pocket full of coins Rich, the group’s second in command. He was chubby, yet also built in the arms. He wore the same leather armor Steve wears, which makes sense since Rich is like a mentor to him. Taught the guy a couple moves with rough housing, although Steve uses anything as a weapon and Rich is an Axe user. Rich also has brown eye and a black beard, as for hair… Well to be frank he’s bald. Mentioning that is a good way to get your ass beat. Rich is the boss’ main defense when he decides to take center stage, and now this man’s testing my courage before I can speak to the boss.

“Why have you been standing there for the past two minutes thinking, say something you dolt! Wait a minute, DID YOU JUST THINK OF MY BALD HEAD!”

Oh S***, he’s onto me! Was I really standing there for two minutes thinking. I thought the world pauses when the main character is in thought, but what would I know about that.

“Wait Rich, if the lad didn’t mention your balding head then how would you know he was thinking it?”

“This F***ing guy! YOU TOO NOW!”

“I jest, still what do you want from us Latrine Boy?”

Crap now Joffry is making fun of me, but since he spared me from the wrath of Rich it’s only fair that I take his bullying. Before the two heads of cerberus could say anymore or attempt to kill each other, the main head decided to make his presence known.

“Stand down you two, remember the only arguments worth having are the ones you get when you’re s***-faced off good ale.”

Rich and Joffry stop teasing one another and go silent, as expected of the boss. He doesn’t need much to resolve the conflict, I think it’s about time I introduce him. Meet Moe, leader of the bandit group The Mountain Moes! His skin is slightly tan, his hair is dark gray, his eyes are smokey black, and he wears a dark green hood over his shirt and pants(don’t forget those leather boots!). I can’t help but be in awe of him, this is the guy no the thief I want to be in the future! Then the boss man himself asks me.

“So Latrine Boy, why are you here?”

“The latrines are as clean as a church house, your excellency!...No, what I meant to say was- Well I uh!?!”

Goddammit, his aura of impressiveness stunlocked me. I was at a complete loss of words, and now I look like a total dumbass in front of the gangs’ heads.

“Wait what?”

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!! This guy always manages to make me laugh!”

“You barged in here to let us know we can feel cleansed when we take a crap, you truly are worthy of your name. Latrine Boy!”

I can’t believe this, I’m so embarrassed! Rich thinks I’m a buffoon, Joffrey thinks I’m a grade A comedian, and the boss sees me as some janitor. How can things have gone so bad? Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I heard a familiar mocking laugh.

“Heh, so this is why you wanted to reach here before me, truly I need to start using that moniker now. You fulfill your duties well, Latrine Boy!”

It was Reginald, how did he catch up to me so fast! Just as I thought that he closed the door so no information could leak out, the boss gave off an air of seriousness.

“What took you so long?”

“You already know, I wanted some entertainment before our conversation. In all honesty, I’ve been waiting by the pillar outside your office for the past five minutes watching him make a fool of himself. Ha! It was worth the wait.”

Five minutes? I opened the door three minutes ago, which meant he saw me have to run back after I missed the place twice. Dear god, why today of all days. Right when I felt like I wanted to be a turtle, the conversation I shouldn’t have been apart of finally began.

“For a guy who’s so serious about his work, you really know how to play around.”

“Well, considering the work I put in. It only makes sense I deserve a few laughs.”

“Fair enough, now then let’s get down to business shall we?”

Everyone looks directly at boss man Moe, meanwhile I’m too ashamed to even raise my head. However, Rich seemed to notice the elephant in the room.

“Wait, hey gonk! Why are you still here, GET THE HELL OUT!”

I was honestly about to cry, I came in here full of ambitions and made a fool of myself. However right before I turned to walk for the door the boss raised a brow and spoke.

“Why should he leave?”

“What, Moe are you telling me you want this kid to listen in on this?”

“Well, he’s obviously not a double agent and secondly this guy just gave me a good laugh. Considering the news I’m about to drop, and how tense I was feeling, I think he deserves a little reward.”

“Wha- You can’t be serious!”

“I second that opinion, Latrine Boy has impeccable timing!”

“The Womanizer too!”

“Well it’s really not up to me, but that was a nice laugh. Whatever you say goes, Moe.”

“SELLSWORD!?! You know what fine, I guess this guy can stay.”

No way, the boss advocated for me. He did that for little old me, this man…I’LL FOLLOW HIM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!!!!! After defending my honor, the boss starts the conversation, for real this time.

“My informant reached out to me, there’s a big merchant group coming in. About Four caravans and one wagon full of wine tankards, this is the first haul to come in for months. That’s why we’re gonna hit it!”

“FOUR WAGONS ARE YOU SERIOUS!”

*whistle*

Hot damn! No wonder the boss was tense, the most we get around here is one to two caravans at the most. For this traffic to come our way before harvest time is bizarre, but if it is true...This could be one hell of a hit!

“I was wondering why you called me down here, you know I’m not a crook right?”

“I know that Reginald, what I need to do is crowd control.”

“Crowd control?”

“Wait a minute! THE KNIGHTS! What are they doing at a time like this!”

“I was getting to that Rich, apparently the knights are heading off to some special training in the next town over. This is the perfect chance for a good haul, shit we might even find a way to get closer to the town. This heist might be our biggest play yet. However it’s strange, so many caravans and a wagon full of booze? Right when we were running low, somethin’ ain’t adding up. To make matters fishier, I haven’t heard from my informant for almost a month before this and he usually gave weekly correspondence before.”

“You think you’ve been had”

“That’s why I like you Reginald, you think quick on the uptake. That’s why I want you to search the surrounding areas for traps and hidden knights. If you find them, kill them.”

“That’s nice and all, but what’s in it for me?”

Reginald walks up to the boss’ desk and places his hand on it while saying that. Rich was flabbergasted, even Joffry whistled again because of the gall of this guy.

“Heh, once again kid, that’s why I like you. You always know how to talk business, that said I’ll make these yours.”

The boss fishes in his pocket and tosses out 3 gold coins, Reginald caught them all in a flash. Rich was about to say something, but Joffry shushed him. I guess Pocket full of coins Rich wanted some coins for his pockets. Still though THREE GOLD COINS! That’s enough to buy a house and live well for two years straight! The boss must be taking this seriously to throw that much coin at him, well played Boss! You might wonder why I’m applauding the boss for giving up so much money here, well let me ask you something? If a thief makes a lot of money, why don’t the quit being a thief? Easy because Rule #13 of being a thief is that for a thief money holds no value. It’s just one thing that we steal and love to see. Furthermore, a real thief doesn’t stop even if they have a bunch of money, because of Rule #15 of being a thief. Rule #15 A true thief is in it for the love of the game. A true thief doesn’t steal because they have to, but because that s*** is too damn fun! That said let’s tune back into the conversation.

“You can expect 5 more coins like that when the job is done.”

“WHAT! Moe you can’t just-”

“Who’s the boss of this group, Rich?”

“Well, uh…”

“I’ll take it that you understand, my apologies Reginald. Do you like the price?”

“Indeed, you have my sword. I’ll begin my scouting as soon as possible.”

“Excellent…”

The boss and Reginald continue going over plans, but can I really watch this. This might be the start of the next generation for our group. If this works out, we might even move on to a bigger town. This is our golden chance, and if I don’t speak up here and now… If I don’t make a stand here, THEN I’LL NEVER BE THE GREATEST THIEF I CAN BE!

“WAIT BOSS!”

“Yes Latri-”

“LET ME JOIN THE RAID!”

Everyone in the room goes silent, Rich goes red in the face, Joffry starts giggling, Reginald finally looks shocked at me, and the boss folds his hands and sits quietly.

“Care to repeat that?”

I inhale and exhale, but before I could speak, Rich started in on me.

“YOU LITTLE CRAP!!! You interrupt this meeting and now you wanna call the shots. Listen you little bastard, even I have limits!”

“I’m well aware Sub-boss Rich, but still…”

Rich repulses hearing me stand my ground, and the boss smirks.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime, a bandits dream. How can I hear about this and not want to join, after all these months of cleaning s*** how can this not entice me. If I want to be a thief, let alone the world’s greatest, then why not make my debut here in our group’s biggest raid yet!”

Everyone in the room is puzzled by my statement, but the boss chuckles and looks at me.

“So you admit you’re lacking in experience, well then consider me intrigued. Tell me Latr- Oh forgive me, Thief, what are your plans here? What’s your goal?”

“Well boss, you remember what I told you when I jumped at your feet and begged you to let me join you right?”

“Can’t say I do?”

“I said that you were my ideal goal, what I aspire to be someday. This has to do with that, I want to be more than just some low-life. I want to be the low-life, just like the four great thieves. I want to ride life's highs, arms stretched high standing atop mountains of stories and stolen goods. So why not start here, where our crew might get an opportunity to step out the shadows! If I wanna be like you, or even the four greats, there’s no way I can’t be apart of this!”

“WHAT! Listen Latrine Boy, there’s no way-”

“F*** it, you can join.”

““Huh!?!””

Me and Rich both went silent, however I recovered first and tears entered my eyes.

“Boss, you mean…”

“No way, Moe you can’t be serious!”

“Well, he has humor and if not that as you can see, he has ambition. That all I had when i started out, besides that you begged for your apprentice Steve to join Raid activities a while back. So how about this, if I let Steve join then this kid joins too.”

“HE AIN’T EVEN A BOY! The bastard is 26!”

“Same difference”

“S***, fine you got yourself a deal!”

“Splendid, you hear that Thief. You’re in!”

I can’t believe it, my first raid and it’s gonna be monumental. I’ve been waiting for this day, I mean I knew this day would come! This is the first page of my legend after all! I don’t get why these guys are so surprised.

“Well color me impressed kid, looks like the boss likes the cut of your jib.”

“Well, as long as this doesn’t mess with my work.”

Even Reggie and Joffry don’t mind, this is a dream come true!

“Alright, Thief you know the drill, make sure you have your affairs in order and talk to Mitch too. You’ll probably want to grab some of his trinkets before you go on your way. The heist itself is the day after tomorrow, be ready by then!”

“Yes sir!”

I take the boss’ advice to heart as I go on my merry way. At long last, my adventures as a thief have finally begun!