Spirits of the Earth

The young woman clung to the neck of the bay as the animal galloped through the heavy wood.  She rode bareback and with an ease that spoke of a natural affinity for horsemanship and experience.  Nimbly, she shifted to avoid the outstretched branch of a nearby tree, then ducked low to miss its low-hanging twin.  The horse splashed through a stream, throwing up water and mud in his wake and splattering the legs of his rider.

Kathryn didn't appear to notice; she felt only the wind against her face and felt, rather than heard, the thunder of the hooves against the packed earth.  Her heart hammered in time with the familiar rhythm, flushing her pale features and pushing adrenaline through her system.  A ride like this -- a dangerous pace in the woods -- always made her feel so alive.

The pair broke into a small clearing, and with a soft sigh of contentment, the noblewoman gently tightened the reins.  Her horse, well-trained from their years together, obediently slowed and allowed Kathryn to direct him back towards the stream.  Accustomed to having only the horse for company, she slid to the ground and asked, "Where have you brought us this time?"

The horse's only reply was to dip his snout into the cool, clear stream.

With a smile, the young woman patted his neck fondly and reached up to run a questing hand over her hair.  She was relieved to find it firmly in place, locked in a strawberry-blonde braid that wrapped around her head.  Satisfied, she lightly stepped downstream and over a series of small, but usable stepping stones.  Water lapped at her riding boots, and she momentarily entertained the idea of jumping into the stream herself...but something else caught her eye.

A single boot print stood out in the mud on the opposite side of the stream.  It was obviously a recent print, she realized, drawing on the instincts and knowledge she had honed through hunting.  A proper lady would have turned and fled back to her horse -- but a proper lady wouldn't be racing through an unfamiliar part of the forest either.

Kathryn barely hesitated; with a hand resting on the hilt of her hunting dagger, she moved silently through the brush in the wake of the print, easily picking out the other signs that a person had passed this way -- a small indent here or a broken branch here.  And, of course, the cozy cabin tucked away not far from the stream...

Unable to resist the temptation, the wayward lady skirted to the side of the cabin and moved closer to the small window beside the door.  If she was careful, she could get a peek of the owners -- and then be gone.

It was unusual for someone to travel so deep into the woods, let alone a lone rider.  For years, his ears had been trained to pick up all the minute details of his surroundings, and today was no exception. Dekka Blade had been scouting the area, securing his treasures in their usual hiding areas when he heard the approach of a horseman.   

He remained aloof, stepping backwards into the brush and watched the rider from a distance.  The rider seemed, small, slender even as he studied them, and it wasn't until they had become closer he realized the rider was in fact a woman.  He wouldn't have been impressed with her riding skills other wise as he gave a smirk and continued to keep his green eyes locked upon her as the horse drank from a nearby stream.

His mind whirled over the possibilities as to what brought a woman so far out here into the forests?  She seemed to have a fine, trained animal, but wore civilians clothing. Was she a spy? A bounty hunter? Though she seemed rather young for the job... and he might have been fooled before but now...
He continued to watch her, studying her as she noticed his tracks. He looked down at his muddied boots and frowned. He wasn't careful enough to cover them.  He remained low, stalking forward as she approached his home.  It wasn't much of anything, but no one had yet to find the elusive home of the King of Thieves.

His eyes narrowed on her dangerously, but from her mannerisms he couldn't help but tell that, well, she must hardly be a professional thief, assassin or bandit. As she timidly lifted her head to peer into his home, he moved forward with stealth. She'd be, unhappy, to say the least, to find the cabin was empty-
Just a small table and chair, a simple bed, a chest and a few articles of clothing and cookware scattered about. 

Yet no one was inside.

Dekka was now directly behind the girl, and had she been looking too far in the window, she might miss his reflection in the glass...

But it was too late. The blade was already at her throat, his shadow over whelming her.
"You know, trespassing is illegal," said the thief, his voice against her ear.

Kathryn studied the small room in front of her a moment, releasing a soft sound of disappointment when she realized the house was empty.  All that sneaking and anticipation for nothing!  Just as she turned to go, she caught movement in the corner of her eye in the glass -- a man-shaped shadow that sent her heart pattering in her chest even before he placed his blade to her throat.

But it wasn't fear alone she felt.  A thrill crawled up her spine, and, with her back still to the man, she smiled at the shiver than ran through her.  It wasn't quite what she had been looking for, no, but she could no more resist the tug of danger than she could ignore the sharp blade at her throat.

"So call the sheriff," she answered tartly, her amusement spilling into her voice.  He wasn't a bright man, she thought -- or, perhaps, he was simply accustomed to underestimating women.  She was grateful either way.  Her hand, already hovering on her knife, twitched; instantly, the hilt of the eight inch blade was in her hand, and its pointed edge was pressed lightly against his lower stomach.  "Or kill me, if you think you can slit my throat faster than I can bury my knife between your legs."

At first he didn't believe her, but then realized where the blade was pointed.  Smiling against her ear, he gave a chuckle.
"How deceptive. The young lady trespassing on my property's got some bite." His smirk widened.
"But you'll have to realize that if I cut your throat, you'd bleed to death. I, on the other hand, can deal with a bleeding leg."  Dekka wasn't about to be out smarted by woman, and more notably, a young woman one at that.  And one that smelled rather nice- like sweat and perfumes. His lips twitched at the smell.
"Now answer me this, what are you doing in these woods?" the blade remained where it was. He wasn't about to back down just yet. Maybe he had been fooled. Perhaps she was some sort of bounty hunter or assassin.

Kathryn laughed out loud, a light, carefree laugh that betrayed just how much fun she was having.  "It's a beautiful day for a ride, don't you think?"  There, that answered his question!  Still, she felt obligated to correct him.  Smirking openly, she added, "And it isn't your leg I'm aiming for," she quipped, pressing the blade back a mere fraction just to emphasize her point.  The knife pressed neatly just above his groin.  She had learned a lot about the male anatomy the previous year -- far more than an unwed girl her age should.  And she intended to use that knowledge to her advantage now.  "Do you always make an effort to be so friendly to your guests, or am I a lucky exception?"

"Well now, who can argue with that?" and it was hard to tell if he was replying to her first comment, or the last as he moved his blade away, taking a step back as he observed her.
"I hardly doubt you came all the way out here to visit a shabby looking shack in the forest." he lowered his blade, his eyes still fastened on her as he studied her.  She was a pretty little thing. Did she not fear what a man could do to her all alone?  Now that brought up some interesting thoughts...

That meant she was either naive, bold, or confident....

Perhaps even crazy, but by the sounds of her tongue..
Dekka couldn't quite pin it on how familiar it sounded as he tilted his head.
"You look a little young to be riding around without an escort," he said, his eyes tracing her form (clearly, just studying her). "There are many things that lurk about in these woods.  Wild animals, wild weather, wild men..."

"You're right," she answered with a smile, finally turning to face him fully.  As she did, she switched the grip on her knife so that she could use it to defend herself, should the need arise.  The immediate threat had passed, but that didn't mean she was out of danger yet.  Her dark eyes, shining with humor, swept over him, taking in every detail of his person before answering further.  "I would have had to know your shack was here before deciding to visit..."

"Anyway, what makes you think I need an escort?  I seem to be handling you just fine."  Her eyebrows rose as she teasingly added, "Or are you just letting me win?"

When she turned to face him, he admired the view. He fancied she had a pretty face, almost too pretty for a commoner, and a bit of arrogance about her, almost TOO much like a nobles.  But a noble woman wouldn't find herself all the way out here unless...
He smirked.

Unless she was running away from something. It would be an interesting though, indeed, if she turned out to be some sort of run away princess.  Though, he shook away those ideas.  He had to remember, she had a knife. What noble woman carried a knife, road upon her horse this far into the wilderness for no good reason?

No, she was just some educated twit, he imagined.

At her comment about not needing an escort, he looked down at his blade and raised a brow at her, and one side of his lips as he smirked.
"I suppose you can handle your tongue well enough." he said, slipping the blade away as he studied her again. After all, he wouldn't need the knife against her.  He doubted she really knew how to wield, hers, after all, again, he had to note, her skin appeared far too perfect for sword play.

But again.. if she were naive...

"Perhaps I'm just playing the gentle man and fool," he admitted, eyes scanning her form before he folded his arms across his chest.  "But I need to ask again, and a bit more seriously, if you don't mind, as to why you're really here." He lifted his head, keeping her under a scrutinizing gaze, but also a gaze that held a playful glimmer.
"You just decided to ride your horse all the way out into this part of the forest for no reason?"
An idea that was just a little hard to fathom-
especially..
from a woman.  But again, maybe she was that young and naive.


There had been a time once, when he knew a girl like that.
But this lady was hardly her-
and she.. well, she'd be much older and probably married.
And a noble lady at that.
This woman?
Yes, perhaps she did smell of peasant-
a more well to do peasant, perhaps.

"Yes," she answered simply, her smile broadening.  Her own knife stayed firmly in her hand.  After all, they hadn't called a truce, had they?  "Would you like to ask me again?"  Really, who was he to think someone would come all the way out here just to have a knife held to their throat?  "And then I followed footprints -- yours, I assume? -- to your shack.  I was curious to know who lived out here in the middle of nowhere."  She paused for effect.  "And now I'm wondering who lives out in the middle of nowhere and threatens young ladies who happen upon his home..."

Her eyes held a mischievous sparkle.  "Most would call upon the law...  But, not you.  I wonder why?"  She was watching him, searching for clues in his face and body language.

Dekka had to smirk at her statement.
"Call me cautious," he said with a clever sneer before his dark eyes flickered to her knife, then back to her face.  "And yes, I'd hope those boot tracks were mine." He gave a sniff, staring up at the sky that hung with fat, grey clouds. "Damn rain made the ground soggy." He frowned at this, and noted the tracks and began to lightly press them over, until the imprints were no more.

"And let's just say you can never be to cautious when you live in the woods. And here.." he drew in a breath, his chest puffin gout as he took int he fresh, clean mountain air.  "Let's just say you can't shout for a guardsman to help you, now can you."
He looked at her, a subtle smile on his lips, his eyes sparkling almost as dangerously playful as hers.

But in all honesty, what was her game?


"So.. a walk in the woods?" He laughed at her excuse, even though he didn't know it was true, turning away from her as he looked over at her horse, hands to his hips as he rubbed his nose against the back of a sleeve. "Nice horse you have there. I bet it would bring in a hefty price," he said, rubbing thoughtfully at the hair upon his chin.

"Probably less than whatever it is you're hiding," she replied, truly amused by his supposition.  "Are you a runaway slave?" she ventured curiously.  "Or some kind of criminal that escaped execution?  Is that why you're out here all on your own?"

It had to be something, after all -- this was just too out of character!

With a laugh, she amended, "Well, I suppose you're a criminal either way, aren't you?"

Dekka's smile grew dangerously wider as she hit the nail, just about on the head, but snorted directly after her slave comment.

"A gentlemanly criminal living in a most prestigious shack," he informed her; another smirk. "But I suppose, those who like the added comfort, could call it a small cabin." He smirked at her again, just as a cool wind picked up, tossing the long, framing bangs around his face, though the heavy braid of hair still remained settled against his back.
"A cabin, that I might add, has absolutely nothing of value to hide."
A lie, but she didn't need to know that.

This little kitten was hitting things right on the mark, and he began to question who she was as his eyes studied her face.

Yes, a pretty face was very deceptive.
Perhaps, whoever was after him this time was smart enough to realize one of his weaknesses..
as he always had a fondness for ladies..

Especially fiery ladies who knew how to handle their tongue.


Or...

Who knew? Maybe the Gods were just in his favor for that night?

"Well," she replied cheerfully.  "There's no need to be so sensitive.  It's bigger than mine.  And your ceiling probably doesn't leak, does it?"  She had never quite learned how to plug up the holes.  Really, it made the shack look even less inhabitable anyway, which made for a clever disguise!

"You needn't have bothered waving your knife around threatening me and the like," she added.  "I'm not interested in your head.  My parents think I'm at Mass -- and, were they to learn otherwise, they would likely turn me out."  That wasn't entirely true; they were more likely to lock her in her room until her wedding day, then advise her husband he do the same.  "So, unless you want me to come back here, kill you, and move into this -- suddenly -- regretfully empty house, I think we can agree that we never saw one another..."

It was a dangerous proposal.  Of course it was -- Kathryn wouldn't have had it any other way.

"Oh, so you live in a shack as well?" he stared over at the animal. "Must get awfully crowded with the horse." Though, she could tether such a beast outside, wouldn't it be rude not to invest in a stable?
He glanced her over, smiled again before saying,
"I don't think it's quite that simple. You see, no one ever ventures this deep into the forest, and if a young lady, such as yourself, had done so without much of a purpose, whose to say another person might not stumble upon it as well? No, it hardly seems a viable option to play ignorance."

He folded his arms over his chest, eyes still studying her.

"And I do like being alive, it would be a shame if you were to come back here and to try something funny..." he narrowed his eyes. "Though there's one thing you're not calculating in your little plan." he said, advancing upon her with a few swift steps.

"You shouldn't mess with fire," he said, smirking as he reached his hand out, that of which was now lapped with flames and touched the faint end of her clothing, watching it burn, burn with the classic symbol from his ring which he had been famous from-
A snake twisted around a fiery blade set a top a crown.

The mark of the king of thieves.

Magic!  In spite of herself, Kathryn immediately made a sign of protection with her hand.  She hadn't even realized she had done it; the action was so automatic and ingrained in her that it was done before she knew her hand had moved.

Kathryn jerked her arm away from him -- although, of course, she was backed up against the house with nowhere to go.  She swatted at the burning fabric, her expression moving from horror to awe.

"You wield magic," she began, looking up at him with a new light shining in her eyes.  One corner of her lips twitched upwards -- and then, suddenly, she laughed.  It was a full, rich laugh, coming from somewhere deep inside that, for the life of her, she could not restrain.  "You're a mage!"

"And you're naive," he said, the flames having died down, the knife he had before now pointed again at her throat.
"Are you going to drop the act an enlighten me on who you really are? Or do I have to get creative?" he said, his lips twitching into a smile.
"You should know by now, girly, that mages... mages are everywhere. And I.." his lips twitched again, still grinning. "I'm not just an ordinary mage."

If his symbol was lost to her, perhaps he ought to enlighten her.
"Mage, thief... " he snickered. "A king, if you will." he couldn't help but let his ego get the better of him as he pulled the knife away, pressing his hands against the cabin wall as he had her pinned beneath his gaze.

"Lady, you're talking to the one and only, king of thieves."

For some reason, that sent her into even greater peals of laughter.  "You?  You're..."  His intimidation was entirely lost on her.  She leaned against the wall, as much as for the support it offered more than anything else.  "A King?"  She was laughing so hard that a snort nearly escaped!  She held up her hand -- the one not holding the knife -- to silently ask him for a moment to let her work the laughter out of her system.  After a full minute, she fought back the laughter hard enough to ask, "So, I found not an escaped slave, not a rapist or a coward, but the magical King of Thieves?"

She held a straight face for about five seconds before dissolving into another fit of giggles.  "That's," she gasped out between snickers.  "That's fantastic!"

Dekka only stared at the girl.
And stared...

And stared some more as his face twitched a bit at her glee.

"Well now.." he said,  moving away from her with a bit of a laugh, stretching his arms about above his head. "That'st he first time I can say I've introduced myself that I've simply been laughed at." here he paused, turned back to look at her before rubbing at his chin.
"That only means you're truly some innocent waif, or.." he paused a moment, his eyes narrowing upon her.  "You might just be beyond naive." He smirked. 

"And you still haven't given me a name..." he said, eyes lingering upon her playfully. "After all, I already checked it and it seems you've forgotten to bring me a money pouch to steal." He gave her a egotistical smirk, letting her know that, yes, he had made a brief check over her with his hands.

Slight of hand worked marvelous when others were distracted by the flames...

"For all I know, you could be the Queen of Thieves." he said, his smirk growing more devilish as he admired her.

Kathryn was still giggling like a school girl, although she was trying -- in vain -- to school her expression.  "I'm sorry," she managed.  "It isn't you.  It's just..."  Well, he likely wouldn't find it so funny!  With a few lingering chuckles, she began to pick herself up off the ground.

"I'm Amy," she said with a broad grin, falling back on the name she gave whenever asked.

Although his next statement caused another short-lived burst of laughter.  "Don't," she warned between snickers, pressing a hand against the stitch in her side.  "Don't say funny things like that right now!  I'm trying to be serious!  You're a very bad man, after all!"  Another giggle.  "I should be terrified or something!"

Dekka looked around, almost to see if anyone else was watching as he sighed.
"How old are you anyways?" he had to ask, his ego a bit bruised by her incessant laughing.

After hearing her name, he raised a brow and studied her.
"Amy? Perhaps I'll just stick to calling you girl," h e quipped with a smirk.
"And I suppose you think yourself very clever being all the way out here." he studied her again. "Where are you from, then, actually? Are you some lame girl, bound to the woods?" His guess would be as good as any. She seemed to hardly have any sense about her and it was grating on his nerves.. and pride.
"Maybe shunned from your town for that hideous laugh?" he smirked at her. He could play her game just as well.

"Maybe!" she agreed brightly, pulling herself back together.  Barely.  Of course, he couldn't see the humor in the situation.  Of all the people she should have never met, this man was, perhaps, at the top of the list.  She should have run from him in terror to the nearest church, where she should have dropped down on her knees to ask for forgiveness for everything she had ever done.  He was a warning -- as if God had dropped the shack and its owner down on the path before her to warn her to turn back.

Instead, she said, "Will you tell me what it's like?  What you do and what you've done?"  Realizing she had just spent the better part of five minutes laughing at him, she hastily added an apology.  "And I'm sorry!  I wasn't laughing at you.  Truly!"

"Tch," he made a sneer. As if he'd believe anything that came from this woman's tongue.  Rubbing at the back of his neck, he frowned and closed his eyes as she began to ask him excitedly about.. well, about what he was.

"A true king never divulges his secrets," he replied with a smirk and eyed her up once she seemed to have... calmed down. But he knew better and folded his arms across his chest again.

"Have you been living inside a cave all of your life?" he wandered out loud, tilting his head as he observed her.  "Do you honestly want to know what it's like to be... what, a thief?" he laughed, and then laughed again, his laughter echoing around them as he appeared quite amused by her interest.

"I think it's time you ought to go," he told her, gesturing towards her horse.  "Or i'll make it a case to remind you why you should't travel into unfamiliar grounds."

He didn't have time to play baby sitter with this child. For that's what she was. Maybe an attractive, GROWING child, who was blossoming into a woman, but a child none the less.
She was harmless, and he? Well, he was too particular to entertain a mere child.

Well!  There was no reason to be rude about it!  Kathryn eyed him a moment, looking wholly unimpressed.  Finally, she moved past him, boldly trusting him not to throw a dagger into her back, and pausing to scoop up a handful of acorns that had fallen from the tree towering overhead.  Returning her dagger to its sheathe finally, she cupped the acorns in her left hand, then, using her right, tossed one at his chest.  She wasn't a half-bad shot; the acorn hit its target, if a bit off-center.

"That's too bad," she began lightly, meeting his gaze without flinching.  "I thought the King of Thieves--"  She threw another acorn at him.  "--would relish the company of an impressionable young girl."  A third acorn bounced off his chest.  "Corrupting her."  Her eyebrows lifted, and she tossed a fourth acorn his way.  "Seducing her..."  Not that she would ever, ever let that happen, but men were easy to play with...

Kathryn's horse whinnied suddenly.  She half-turned towards the sound, the game turning, suddenly, serious.  The bay was still near the stream, but it stood alert now.  And that was the first rule of horsemanship: always trust your animal.  "I thought you said no one came out this far."

Dekka only eyed her, his looking growing sharper as she continued to throw acorns at his chest.
Was this girl for real?  Did she honestly think...?
Well ok.. he DID have a reputation with women but...

He caught the last acorn and gave a hot sigh through his nose.
"Is that why you came out here?" he replied, moodily. He tossed the acorn aside. "Looking for trouble? Well, I've got news for you, I like my women easy, not child like or brats." he spoke, approaching her with every word, his dark eyes never leaving hers until he was finally upon her, about to place a hand over her on the nearby tree when....


SHHHHHHHHNTK


An arrow graized past his head, and sunk into the bark between his fingers.

He froze, eyes widened as he turned to the arrow between them.
"Fuck."

Kathryn wasted no time -- if he wanted to stand there like an idiot, it would be his funeral!

Wishing she hadn't left her bow behind, she dove for cover on the other side of the tree trunk.  It was a huge tree -- almost big enough for two.  The attack itself was bad enough, but she recognized the colored fletching on the arrows -- and that meant she had been discovered.

And that meant she was probably never going to be able to leave her room ever again...  Maybe it was all just a terrible coincidence, and they didn't know who they were shooting at?

"Surrender!" a deep, masculine voice bellowed out, needlessly loud in the quiet wood.  "My men have been tracking you all day.  We've come to take you back!"

Well, so much for that hope...

"Shit." Dekka breathed the words out and immediately joined Kathryn on the opposing side of the tree-
though they couldn't stay their long.

"God damn city guards," Dekka snarled, eyes darting around as he thought of a plan.  He was already working at fetching something from his boot, then his sleeve, then from his hair-
and before she'd know it, Dekka was twisting together a short cross bow.

He put an arrow in his teeth, quickly fastening the cross bow around his arm as he tugged it, ensuring it was securing before peering behidn the tree and examining where the enemies might be coming from.
He caught sight of two of them before another arrow came at them, biting intot he tree.
Dekka ducked away in time and pushed the young lady back.

"Stay behind me, we gotta move!" he commanded, pushing away from the tree, the cross bow now secured to his wrist, fully loaded and aimed ahead.
He kept his other arm open and to his side, protective of the girl as he moved to hide behind another tree.


"Halt, thief!" one of the men declared, and Dekka snarled at him as he watched the archer take aim. He was quicker, aimed his bow and fired.
The arrow bit quickly into the man's shoulder as he let out a yell.
"Keep moving!" Dekka shouted, as he turned tail and began to run, hastily loading another arrow as he peered over his shoulder at the other advancing men.

"We've got to find a way to get out of here.."
and that's when he noticed her horse pawing uneasily at the stream.
He smirked and placed a hand upon kathryn's shoulder and spoke closely to her ear.
"Call your horse. I saw what you can do with it. Call it over here so we can get the hell outta here."

Kathryn watched him assemble the crossbow in surprise.  Well, that was certainly, er, different.  And handy!  She thought about stopping him -- but when a man was risking his life for you, it was only fair you let him...at least for a bit.  Besides, it was positively thrilling to be shot at!

But, of course, the guard would never hurt her.  Even in this situation, if she came home wounded -- or not at all -- there would be hell for them to pay!  But it would do no good for them to outrun the guards -- not for her, anyway.

"You should run," she murmured, looking up at him pointedly.  "They aren't after you.  They're here for me."  She paused.  "And I am sorry I brought them to your shack.  I'll distract them.  And you can go."

"You're only making this worse, and your list of offenses is growing!" the first guard shouted out again.  "Come out now, and the Duke may see your desire for atonement and exercise his mercy!"  Hearing no response, he added, matter-of-factly, "You have nowhere else to go!"

Kathryn didn't believe them for a second -- but she couldn't argue with the logic.  "You should go..."

Dekka only smiled at her suggestion.

"I think you forgot who you'e dealing with," he said, turning to 'Amy' as he gave a smirk. "How would you like to fly? No body has ever captured me, and I'm not about to let a  few pomp guards try to make that mark." As he was talking,a nd they were running, he was assembling another devise against his wrist, then, pausing at a tall tree he pointed his wrist up at it, then looked to Kathryn as he secured an arm around her.

"Hold on tight."

And an explosion shot from his hands, catapulted a 4 pronged hook into the air, and the taunt rope connected to it went hissing behind, following like a snake.
Then it bit into the tree, securing itself against a branch..
Dekka pulled, felt it secure and smirked over at Kathryn.

"Now's that time to hold on real tight," he said, and off the ground they went, flying intot he air and snapping to the end of the line-
WIthin seconds they were within the tree, secure on a branch and far, far from their enemy who was calling angrily down below.

Dekka only grinned and looked towards the trees all around them and noted the small look out he had built a few trees over.
"We need to get over there," he said, testing the branch they were standing upon with his boot before moving forward. "Keep close, we gotta move fast."

Kathryn didn't even have time to feel outraged at his lack of manners.  One moment she was on the ground -- and the next...  Propriety forgotten, she gasped in surprise and did as she was told.  As they shot upwards, she clung to his side, and, once her initial terror had faded, she peered downwards at the gathering soldiers with a growing smile.

Well, if this was to be her last day out, she was going to make sure it was something to remember!

She alighted softly on the branch beside him, reaching out to press a hand against the trunk of the tree for balance.  "So this is why you haven't been caught yet," she observed with a grin.  It was, certainly, unexpected!

"You could say that," the thief said with a smirk, giving the young woman a quick once over at how vibrant she became standing beside him in the tree.
"But we need to move, and fast."
He unhooked his hook shot and began scouting the area nearest to him. It seemed the branch he tested would only take so much weight, and now there was two.

Spotting an even larger branch across the way, he was quick to fasten up the hook-shot, took aim-

and fired.
He only gave her a smirk before capturing her within his arms as the two went sailing from tree to tree, and soon were inside the make shift watch tower as Dekka moved towards a locked chest.
The lock easily opened, and he threw up the lid and began searching for a few things inside.
A heavier cross bow was in order as he pulled it out and began to load it with weapons.

"We've got to find a way to either run these bastards off or," he peered over his shoulder at the girl, again, looking her over from head to toe until finally saying. "Or I'll have to kill them." He click noted the arrow was ready as he raised off the floor. "And I can't exactly have guardsmen know where I'm hiding away at now can I?" and he moved to the edge, scouting over it as he examined where the guards were below.   

It wasn't tricky to follow the only 'flying' people in trees as the guards began to near the fat tree that housed his watch tower.


"Surrounder now, or suffer the consequences!" a man shouted.

Dekka raised a brow at him, smirked, then took aim-


and fired.

Kathryn smirked right back at the thief, turning to watch the guards scurry below them.  She was lucky, she thought, that she wasn't afraid of heights.  That was a fear she had conquered years ago...

The small tower was an equally pleasant surprise!  She examined the inside a moment, then watched as he began to paw through a chest.  For the life of her, she couldn't understand why the self-proclaimed King of Thieves -- and a mage at that -- was risking his life for her...  A smart criminal would have taken her advice to run!

She watched, amused, as he pulled out the heavier crossbow.  She didn't know any of the guards well -- in fact, she could probably count the number whose names she knew on one hand.  It felt, momentarily, strange to think they may kill someone she knew...  A queasy feeling was nestled in her stomach, but, coolly, she pushed it away and scooped up the bow and arrows from the box.

"So, what you're saying, is they die either way."  She could always claim the guards had rescued her from the clutches of some wild man in the forest...

The bow had been made for a man, but, after a few experimental tugs, she felt confident enough to step up alongside him.  There were two men down there -- no, wait.  Three, she revised, spotting the first man Dekka had shot.  He was propped up against the first tree they had sheltered behind, the arrow in his shoulder and bloodstain apparent even from this height.

Dekka's string snapped, and Kathryn watched as the arrow struck its target below.  The first guard dropped, the quarrel in his chest.  Her arrow struck a second guard a moment later, parting the man's unprotected throat.

Perhaps it was because Kathryn never knew the unspoken rule amongst thieves-
you get their back, well, then I've got yours.

They were both on the same wave length as far as he was concerned-
two outlaws just running from the guards.
But he couldn't help but be a bit upset his place was found-
but no matter.
Two guards down, one more to go.

He aimed his cross bow at the last suffering man, sighed- because he never truly liked killing anyone, then released the final bow-


All three men were downed.

Rising off his knees, he began to disassemble the heavier cross bow and toss it into his trunk.
"Three guards down." he said, the cross bow now away as he rested a hand against the lid of the trunk and studied the young woman for a moment.
"And now I have to think of what to do with you." He smirked, eyeing the bow in her hand and gave a more appreciative, toothy smile to that. "It seems you're rather good at that. not many can boast to be able to shoot men with such.." he rubbed at his throat. "Accuracy from such a height."

He eyed her up, then gave a sniff and turned away, hands to his hips.
"You can call me, Dekka, by the way. Dekka Blade."

Some associated his name with his title, others just used his kingly name when they realized who he was. It didn't matter to him either way, but it seemed now he and she were floating int he same boat.

"So, do I want to ask what you stole from them?" he said. "A clever girl might not keep it on her person." He studied her curiously.

"I like to hunt, Dekka," Kathryn answered with a light shrug, pleased with his praise -- and the obvious fact he still had no idea who she really was.  If he knew, she thought, that would certainly change things, wouldn't it?

Once the bow was returned to the trunk as well, she turned to face him.  She leaned back against the tree trunk, enjoying the rare chance to relax her otherwise perfect posture.  Watching her now -- the slouch more-so than the murder she had just committed -- likely would have sent her mother into hysterics.

She had not, in fact, been intending to lie to the King of Thieves (well, tell him any more lies), but his assumptions -- justified, though they were -- made it easy.  With a brilliant smile, she answered, "Something sparkly, I'm sure."

"Well, you're either a thief or a murderer..." his lips twitched at the thought.
"Something sparkly indeed." he rubbed his chin, then glanced down at the carnage one last time before dropping to the ground and pulling out a bottle of fine wine from behind the chest.
Brushing off the dirt, he popped the cork and downed it. With a satisfying sigh, he passed over the drink to her.

"To a new friendship," he said, leering. He was quite fond of adventures, women, and drink.
Now was no exception.

Kathryn watched him for a moment, surprised by his change in attitude.  Why, just a few minutes ago, he was trying to shoo her away.  And a few minutes before that, he was trying to kill her.  She assumed his definition of friendship differed from hers -- or, in the very least, the definition held by most of society -- so it was the seeming acceptance that surprised her.

After a moment, she accepted the proffered bottle and settled down on the floor beside him with an expression of amusement.  She didn't intend to do more than politely sip -- and this was far from civilized -- but this, she thought, was much different than how she expected any of her so-called adventures to turn out.

She sipped the wine gently, surprised to find that it was, indeed, a good wine.  Mr. Dekka Blade was a thief of some taste, it seemed.

"Does this mean you won't try to kill me when I come back for those stories?"

Dekka raised his brow at the question and took another swig of wine.
"Nothing personal, but I don't exactly invite 'friends' to my home." he gave her a small smile, took another swig of wine then stared at the expanse of trees around them.
The area here was much different than being on the forest floor.
he always enjoyed it- being calm, peaceful...

And just over the horizon, a parting of trees..
some castles could be noted..
you could almost see over all of Connloath but...
it seemed to stretch on forever, from this birds eye view.

"I still have yet to figure out what to do with you." he eyed her up a moment, taking another drink before passing her the bottle.  "I can't exactly have you leave here and expect you to oblige my requests on good faith. Though I suppose it's about time I leave this valley, these mountains..."
He looked back out into the expansive world again. towards the horizon, to as far as the eye could see.
The sun would be setting soon, the shadows stretching towards the beyond.

"Yes, what to do with you.." He eyed her up again, and.. took some more wine.

"I did give you the chance to leave," she answered pointedly and truthfully.  After all, he didn't have to stay to protect her from the guardsmen.  "And, anyway, who am I going to tell?  The guards?  I think that would go over well, don't you?"

Rising to her feet restlessly, she peered out over the world below.  It was, indeed, beautiful here.  She could even see her father's home, the banners flapping in the breeze.  Honestly, she didn't think she would be coming back.  Not if her parents had sent guards out to retrieve her.  And her maid -- the girl who had been sent to Mass in her place -- would probably be killed for her role...  Still, she could pretend...

"At least tell me one story, Dekka."  She sounded resigned and sad, as though Dekka had already decided her fate, and she, in turn, had decided to give up rather than fight.  She glanced over her shoulder at him, then, her sadness replaced by an easy smirk.  "Tell me your favorite thing you've ever stolen."

He didn't think she was being serious, wanting to hear a story and all.
"Heh." he gave a shrug, smiling at the bottle as he looked at it, then to her.

"Favorite thing I ever stole?" he reclined back, looking at the remnants of the tree line over head, his eyes drifting as far away as the passing clouds.  He raised a had up, eyes tracing over the rings upon his fingers before he closed his hands into a fist.
Turning to her, he smirked.

"I've stolen all sorts of fancy things," he informed.  "Fancy rings, relics, money.." he shrugged, thinking about all of the glorious tales he could spin, but somehow, none came to mind- they all seemed suddenly grey, rather than vibrant and full of colors.  He looked at his rings again, smirking, then showed her his pinky finger.

"My favorite and least favorite," he said. The ring was bland, just a simple band of gold. It appeared a size too small fo rhis finger, but there it was.  "Wedged on my hand now really," he said with a sigh, smirking at it before setting his hand down and looking over towards the sky.
"One of my more, well, famous tales the locals embellish. A ring for a woman from another man, I intercepted, there might have been a little fling along the way and then.." he stared over at the horizon, his eyes fixating upon a distant castle.
"Then she was gone."

He snickered, took some wine and layed on his back, the tail of his braid settling beside him as he looked up at the clouds again.
"Now the damn thing is stuck on my finger. I can't get the fucking thing off." he tried again, made a noise, but  it remained, and he sighed, put his hand down and settled to cloud watching once more.

"Then there was the other rings but.." he observed them, smirking. "Some from kings, others from petty thieves, liars, cheats... " he smirked again. "Women."  His eyes slid to her.
"What about you? You got any interesting stories?" he wasn't sure how much he really wanted to tell her. Most people made up their own stories about him-
maybe half were true.

The other half- embellished.


Sometimes, even just plain made up. Not that he didn't fancy all of the attention it gave him. He did like his fanfare when on duty- despite stealth being the most viable option for a thief...

"I couldn't telly ou how many times, when captured, I had gotten out of jail." he rubbed a hand across his mouth in thought.  "Or how many more times there are to come." he added, with asmile.

"You cared for her," Kathryn interpreted, her smile softening.  She was, after all, still a woman -- and she dreamed of a good, kind husband who would love her.  And she expected reality to be different and cruel when it came to that...

"No," she offered sadly.  "At least, I doubt you would find any interesting.  What seems like a grand adventure to me must be so dull for you."  She paused.  "Though, I met this man once.  I wouldn't say he was a good man, but he protected me when he should have run."  She grinned at him, teasing.  "There may or may not have been a fling."  She winked impishly.  "I can't say where he is now, but it was fun.  And, even if he won't admit it, I think he thinks so too."

Dekka turned to her with a smirk.
"I think I've heard that one too many times before," he said, lifting his bottle to her with a nod fof his head.
"But who would believe a fuckin' thing about.." he paused a moment, realized he was letting his language slip and gave her a smirk before he sat up.
"Perhaps now's not the time for fucking stories, eh? It's going to get dark soon." he eyed her, doing a once over. "I suppose you have a shack to be getting to? And I'd also hate to be fuckin' caught here in the dark if more of those guards decide to show up."

He closed up the bottle and put it away.
"I suppose it's time we head back down to solid ground?"

Kathryn nodded slightly.  It would be dark soon...and, well, her parents were going to be livid enough as it stood.  They would be beside themselves if she waltzed in after dark...

"I suppose so," she answered mildly.  "Is the way down as interesting as the way up?"  She hoped -- a bit -- that it was.  After all, jumping from tree to tree was a lot different than just climbing down a ladder!

Dekka was already working at the same contraption as before, assembling it with a few clinks on his wrist. He stretched his arm out, wriggling his fingers before clenching it into a fist and jerking on the belts, making sure it was secure.
Turning to her, he smiled broadly and put an arm around her.
"I don't think I'd have it any other fucking way." and he said it so charmingly.

Then the hook shot exploded, the claw racing towards the ground, and pelted it, clinging to a root and giving a good tug to make sure it was secure, he carried the woman with him as the rope began to retract...

and swiftly they flew, their bodies rushing through the air, following the feed of rope until Dekka shifted himself, boots well forward, women secured at his side, wind fluttering through their hair as they made a landing, crouched into his place as he set her gently upon the ground.

He then moved forward, placed a boot upon the root, and with a strong heft, unhooked his devise and began putting the thing away.
"You look a little flush, darling, did you like the ride?" he teased, giving her a smirk as he made quick work to dissemble the equipment-
His movements over it were so quick and natural, considering all devices on him he had used so many times that the actions were as fluid as breathing.

"So," he paused now, studying her from where he stood. "Amy.." he thought the name over before turning away from her and looking towards the forests. It was more evident the world was growing dark.  "So which way would be home?" He turned back to her, raising a brow as he smirked.
"I can't very fucking well have you just traipse on out of here unless I know precisely where you're going." His eyes remained hooked upon her as solid as his hook shot, arms folded over his chest. "You know, I've got a reputation, and location, to protect. Perhaps if you just tell me where you're going, I can make this a bit easier on us both."
His grin widened a bit more devilishly. She might be another thief, but she'd be a fool if she'd think he'd just let her walk out of here as simply as she had walked in.

"The ride, the wine..."  She answered, laughing at his observation.  It would certainly be a night to remember!

She watched him pull in the line, intrigued and wondering where the man had come by such a contraption.  Of course, she had no idea if it was a common item for the working class...  Perhaps it had a use other than fleeing local guards?

Her smirk was smug as she turned her back on him to approach the soldier she had shot.  He had fallen on his back, and his eyes now stared sightlessly at the canopy overhead.  Crouching down beside him, she was somewhat relieved to find she didn't recognize him.  She still felt, just a bit, guilty...but, then, that was an emotion she would reserve for later.

Fishing out her knife, she sliced off a button.  The ornate, bronze button fell into her hand, and she studied the crest on it a moment before rising to her feet.  It was a mark of his loyalty -- her father's crest.  It would join the other button in the bottom of her drawer when she got home...

"It isn't far," she said, then whistled softly.  Her horse answered obediently, trotting over from his place by the stream.  He would be well-rested now, giving her the ability to race back to her clothes...  Turning to him again, she added with a grin.  "But I'm not going to tell you where it is.  I won't have people whispering about the strange men I've invited into my room.  That sort of thing could damage a girl's reputation."

"Ah, but you see, you're not the only one with a reputation." his smiled a bit darker as he approached her.
"Now, we can do this two civil ways in our parting. Either you let me lead you somewhere blind folded, and you fumble back to your own where abouts on your lonesome, or..." Dekka's smile widened across his face.
"I bound you up like a fucking pig and drag you back to where you ought to be with no further questions on the matter. You see, I don't particularly like when my territory is found out.  You have no idea what it will cost me in the end so.."
here, he untied a clothe kerchief from around his neck and held it out between them.

"Consider wearing this and I'll escort you to some place, far.. far away from here on more pleasant terms. Or.."
Here, he planted a hand firmly on his belt, the light just catching the intricate buttons and brass holsters adorning it.
"Well, I'd rather not have us end this night on a sour note, but.." He shrugged, his eyes sparkling, never leaving hers.  "It's all part of the fucking game. A thief is a thief, after all."

Kathryn laughed -- that full, rich laugh of hers again -- and she plucked the handkerchief neatly from his hand.  "In the stories, it's always the women who give the men their handkerchiefs as a favor.  Not the other way around."

With the grace of an experienced rider, she swung herself up onto the bay's back.  She looked down at him with a smirk, and then he disappeared from her view as she dropped the blindfold over her eyes.  Once it was snugly tied, she said, "I'll keep this on for a little while if it makes you feel better.  Don't forget to cover up my trail -- and that of the guards, if you don't want to be found."

She lifted up the corner of the kerchief and winked at him.  "But I think I'll show myself home."

The horse lurched forward suddenly, breaking into the wild gallop almost immediately.  Kathryn's laugh was lost in the thunder of hooves -- doing this blindfolded was something she had never done before...

Dekka was smiling as smug as a kitten who got into the cream...
He always liked those that followed his rules...

Until she broke it.

His face fell as the horse tore off into the woods, anger poisoning him as he spewed out every curse word he knew at her..
but as her form disappeared through the woods, he couldn't help but laugh himself, his own laughter echoing through the woods around him.

So was this the sort of game they'd play? Well then, he'd have to pay her back next time, (if there ever was a next time) with the elusive 'Amy'.




----------------



Several weeks had past, and rain had made the forests undesirable for travel. With swampy trails and flooded grass plains, it was soggy at beast to keep traveling on foot.  Though he had been running for a while now, with no real direction than to keep the guards hot off his trail, Dekka traveled further and further into the more remote areas of the forest until he felt the guardsman have long abandoned pursuit; or were more notably lost.


He couldn't help it this time. The target was far too easy, and as he paused beneath the canopy of a tall tree, he stared down at the ring that was stolen.  It held a familiar crest, then he recalled why it felt familiar to him.

That girl..
those guards.
he smirked at the memory, then noticed something off in the distance.
A fog was rolling in, and nearly shrouded the small, abandoned shack beneath it's milky white depths.  But he had keener eyes than most, and smirked as he advanced. His eyes were quick to survey the area.  He made extra checks around the place, and when feeling it was sufficiently safe, he moved to open the door and stepped inside.


Rain was pouring in from a gaping hole in the ceiling, flooding the floor, even some gushed out when the door was opened.

"So much for keeping dry," he commented to himself and peered inside. It looked even worse for wear than his own home- one he had to pick clean because a certain woman had shown up. This one...
he thought over taking up this new location as he studied the area...
then noticed a smell... neared the stove and opened the iron bars to reveal...
the smoldering coals within.

Someone had been here. And they had been here recently.


OOC: Added to my last post to transition the thread forward, time wise :3

Let me know if this works, vries!

Kathryn had been surprised to learn that her father hadn't sent the guardsmen after her -- nor had her mother, the captain of the guard, or anyone else that she could identify without blatantly asking and giving herself away.  It was a near miss, and it left her nervous.  Besides, she had had enough adventure to keep her satisfied for a short while.

For several weeks, she behaved as a proper young lady.  She attended Mass regularly.  She spent her free time with her needles.  But, as always, the calling to leave, to explore and find trouble, soon was back.

With no way to determine how her plan had been compromised the last time she had gone into the forest, Kathryn took a few extra precautions.  By the time she reached the shack, clouds had rolled in to hide the sun.  She felt confident, however, that she could go for a short ride and make it back before the storm set in.

She was wrong.

The fine mist -- which, in truth, she had enjoyed -- soon turned into a icy rain that chilled the young noblewoman to her very bones.  The makeshift stable -- really, more of a dilapidated lean-to -- was dry enough to house her horse.  The bay went immediately to the small cache of dried hay, while Kathryn turned her attention to the house.

Maybe the stove would still be lit...

With that warming thought, she very nearly missed the muddy boot print just inside the front door.  Maybe, she thought, it would be some traveler searching -- innocently enough -- for shelter.  Nevertheless, she moved silently down the narrow hall to peer into the one room that made up the entire shack...

...And, immediately, she freed her knife.

"Hello again, Dekka.  Change your mind about those stories?"

His hand had just sealed around the handle of a cooking pan, and the moment he heard creeping foot steps behind him-

Well, he *would* have spun around, but she was quick to speak..
And that voice..

Spinning around, and knowing she'd have a knife, he pointed the dangerous cooking pan at her.
"You should be careful. I might have the fucking nerve to beat your head in with this pan."
His smile widened, twitching almost upon his lips as he eyed her up-
Both were sopping wet, the rain having made their hair frizzy and disagreeable, his own making rivulets down his face and body and having plastered his clothing against his skin.

He eyed her knife, then the rest of her body, before his eyes met to hers again.

"Stories? Or shall we duel with blades? Or in my case, how long do you think it'd fucking take me to disarm you and cook you up on your stove?"

Yes, he'd be cautious with this one.. after all..

"You do realize the offense you've pulled against me." He put out his hand. "I want my fucking handkerchief back." And gestured. "And you to drop your knife." he said, keeping himself armored with the pan as he twirled it. "You don't know just who you're messing with." And his eyes were filled with mirth.


Who else would he expect to find himself lost in the rain with but her?

Oh, how fate was twisted indeed!

His grin was infectious.  While she would still be cautious, she had already survived an encounter with this man once -- in part thanks to him -- and so she could only laugh at his threat.  "I have a better idea, fire mage.  Why don't you heat up the stove, and we'll cook this rabbit up instead."  Lifting up the small sack she carried, she tossed it neatly across the floor.  It landed at his feet neatly, and she smirked at him.

"Sadly, I no longer have your handkerchief."  At least, she had it nowhere she could fetch it for him.  It was safely tucked away in her drawer, with the rest of her mementos.  "You should know I kept it on for at least five minutes.  I did tell you I would."

Gesturing to the man with her knife, she said, "Now, are you going to stand there all day, or do you want something to eat?"

Dekka's lips twitched, then he lowered the pan.
"Well, I suppose after we wait out the rain, we can go get it." he stated simply, eyed her up again then finally set the pan aside.  He stared down at the rabbit and had to chuckle, then up at the hole in the ceiling.

"Nice place you got here." he looked around, then back to her as he retrieved the rabbit from the floor. He opened the sack and shook his head, looking at her then down at the rabbit.

"A woman of skills, I like that." he moved over to the stove, snapped his fingers and it began to glow with the heat of fire. He moved his hand back, shaking it as the fire went out before stepping back and watched the fire crackle and come to life. "You know we'll need some more kindling that isn't wet." He searched the area, then looked back to her.

"So, I suppose it's your turn to share some stories, eh?" He got to his knees, eyes still to her as he drew out a knife, and began preparing the rabbit.

"I'll go get some," she promised, watching him a moment as he set to work.  She usually didn't have company for these little meals...  It was nice to have someone else to do the work for her...which was a bit odd, considering most ladies of her rank wouldn't know where to begin preparing a rabbit.  Still, after a moment, she disappeared outside and returned a moment later with a small pile of wood from the barn.  It wasn't much, but it would serve.

"I told you," she said with a slight smile as she dumped the wood next to the stove.  "I don't really have any stories."  She glanced skyward.  "And I did tell you, too, that my roof leaked."  Flooded was maybe a better term.  Well, that side of the shack was pretty much uninhabitable anyway.  She opened up the stove door, beginning to stack the wood inside.

"You know, I haven't told anyone about you or where you live.  So why are you here instead of cozy and dry in front of your own fire?"  She closed the door with a smirk.  "Not that I mind the company."

"One of us has to do some thieving," he remarked, smiling up at her as he cut up the rabbit.
"So we roasting it whole or do you want to fry up some pieces," he said, licking at the sticky blood on his thumb nail as he looked at her.

"And sure you've got a story to tell." he flashed her his pearly whites. "We've all got a fucking story now, don't we?" He looked down at the bloodied rabbit. "I'm sure you've even got one wrapped up inside your little head about how you out ran this rabbit to catch it."
He kept his lips and smile smart, his eyes glowing subtly as he stared at her before raising himself off the ground.
He wiped at a scratch on his forehead, his damned hair and the rain had been tickling it, and the back of his hand was the only thing not coated in the sticky blood.

"And whose to say I trust you didn't tell your fucking horse all about me?" he said, gesturing towards where the horse was probably parked outside in the rain.

"Nothing that impressive," she shared with a laugh.  "I always fry it.  That's what the pan is for you've taken a liking to."  Kathryn indicated the pan with a grin, then turned to go to the other side of the room.  She neatly avoided the leak -- mostly -- then returned a small bunch of wild onions and carrots.  "Here," she said, offering the garnishes out to him expectantly.  For some reason, this was more entertaining than watching servants do the work...

"My horse would have been more interested if you'd had some apples to share with him, I think," she answered, scooting backwards to sit on the counter, where she could watch him work.  A story...  She really didn't have much in the way of stories that she could share.  She had the same problem when talking to her so-called friends -- daughters of dukes and nobles themselves.

"I suppose I could tell you about the time I killed a great beast..."  She began, teasing.  "It had two heads and scales, and it walked on two legs like a man.  It even had a sword.  But it was no match for me."

Dekka looked down at the pan, smirked and flipped it a few times before setting it ontop of the stove.  It would heat up in on time, and he took this moment to slice up the rabbit, tossing slivers onto the pan, then worked at the onions and carrots while listening to her over his shoulder.

"Monsters are afraid of fire, you know," he told her nonchalantly. "Well, at least most are from my experience.  Many things run from it.  Monsters.... guardsman," he turned to peer over his shoulder. "....Women who don't know their place."

"Too bad you don't have magic of your own."

Or did she? Though, why all the fuss over his talents from earlier?

"Oh," she said, grinning in response.  "I think I get the picture.  Too bad you're stuck with me, isn't it?"  She settled back against the wall, comfortable, in spite of her soaked clothes and questionable company.

"Mm," she murmured thoughtfully.  "That would be something, wouldn't it?"  What would she do with magic if she had it?  She could name a few things...

...Of course, she'd probably be killed shortly after...

"How did you find out you had magic?"

"You might as well ask me how I found out I had a dick," he smirked over at her and pondered over the question. "You're a woman. How did you know when you became a woman? I'm sure blood between your legs didn't seem normal when it happened."

He continued to poke at the meat, flipping it once the bottom side began turning a golden brown as he tossed about the vegetables in the bubbling fat as they sizzled and popped and filled the air with sweet aromas.

"I suppose it's not as simple as that to those... without it," Dekka shrugged. "Fire is wild, hot and quick to spread. I think I found my first sparks either out of anger or love." He kept his smile, knife poking at the vegetables and meat.  "The power and emotions seem to go hand in hand in raw occasions." He peered over at her, studying her.  "I can't say the same for other magics. If i have them, I wouldn't know. But if you need to start a fire.."
He cupped a hand towards her, a flame brewing in the palm.

Kathryn's face turned crimson at the statement.  That was...incredibly insensitive.  And vivid.  She struggled to keep a straight face, although her hands curled around the edges of the counter.  Really!  Of all the things to say!

Choosing not to respond to him -- on that account, at least -- she offered him a smile.  "I see."  Quite the story.  Quite the comparison.  And she was still blushing!

Willing her cheeks to return to their usual pale color, she jumped down from the counter and paced a few meters away from him.  To give herself something else to think about, she began to unpin her hair, then shake out the braids.  "Do you always cook dinner for people who steal from you?" she wondered curiously, risking a glance over her shoulder as she tried to lighten the mood again.

He closed his fist around the flame, it extinguishing as he turned back to the meat, prodding it with his knife before he licked at the grease on his fingers.
"Only on rare occasion," Dekka answered. "Do you like your rabbit rare?" he asked, turning to her and offering her a piece of juicy, steaming rabbit meat at the end of his cooking blade.  "I tend to like a little blood in mine, but I know others that like it dry as bone."

"I'm sure that's fine," she answered, relieved he wasn't pressing the point home.  She took a minute more to shake out her hair.  It was a shade darker now that it was wet than it normally would be, but, even in this dim lighting, the strawberry hue was apparent.

"Thank you," Kathryn said with an angelic smile, accepted the proffered plate.  "I wish I had some wine to offer you."  She glanced around the small room.  "Or even a table and chairs..."  Well, this was a bit embarrassing...  She was, apparently, a terrible hostess...

With a light shrug, she sat down on the floor, near enough to the stove so that she hoped her hair -- and clothes -- would dry out a bit.  "So, why were you in my neck of the woods anyway?"

"Thieving." he said simply, eating the rest of the food from the pan- not that he had a choice, there was only a solitaire plate in the place and a dirty cup. He looked down at it, blew out the spider web and set it out int he rain where it began to collect water.

"No need, the water will come to us." he smirked, gesturing to the cup. "Magic." he teased. "But too bad I don't have the power to turn water into wine." He rubbed his chin at the thought.
Shaking the thought away, he eyed her up, liking the looks of her with wild, untamed hair. His own, at least, was only wild about this face, in frayed, frizzled, curling bangs that hung down to his chin.  He wore the rest of his hair in a braid, particularly for this reason. It kept his hair nice. It wasn't in the way. It was acceptable.

And he looked damned fucking good with it.

He remained standing beside the stove, since the place was mostly flooded, except a few dry spots- 'Amy' having found one of them.

"I suppose you're going to ask me 'what' I thieved?" he asked, then shoved some carrots and rabbit into his mouth, chewing with hi mouth full and smacking his lips as he licked and sucked the juices off his fingers.  Forks- who needed them?

Kathryn smirked at him.  "And I suppose you want to brag.  Well, go on, then."  She gestured for him to go on as she helped herself to the meal.  She had only one set of utensils as well, something she had purchased from a traveling merchant some time ago -- she had no desire to get her hands all greasy or burn herself.

In reality, she was curious to learn what he had stolen.  "Amy" was rather familiar with this neck of the woods -- and with the people who lived her.  She supposed she should be concerned, but there simply wasn't much here to steal!

He wouldn't lie that he liked to brag, but there was also the sense that she just wanted to hear it. She seemed.. rather.... eager about a lot of things, which got him thinking.

Then He gave her the middle finger-

But he wasn't flipping her off..
His finger had the ring on it.
The ring with the crest from her duchy.

His hand,(and both hands at that), but the one he showed to her now was adorned with many rings. At least one on each finger, but for the most part, there was more than that- and the middle finger- it  held three. The top went barely crested his knuckle as he turned to her and smirked.

"The crest of Highheart," he said, his lips widened as turned around.  "Just another trinket I was meant to steal today. Was hoping for more but," he gave a shrug. "I've got resource out there. I know I can get some more." He removed it from his finger, letting it rest in his hand as he studied it.
"It ought to fetch a fine price," he slipped it back onto his hand and admired it up against the dim light from the stove's fire. "Or I could just wear it as another fucking trophy." he added with a single, dry laugh.

Kathryn shot him a bland, unamused expression at the rude gesture -- until he pointed out his trophy.  Her food was, almost immediately, forgotten, as she rose to her feet and leaned in close to his hand to look at the ring.

It was, indeed, the Crest of Highheart.  "Where'd you get it?" she asked, unable to hold back her sense of dread.  Few people were privileged enough to wear such a ring, after all: only the most trusted and highest-placed servants, and, of course, the Duke himself.

Dekka's grin widened.
He closed his fist and kept his hand against his side and brushed his bangs away from his face.
"Now, now, if I told you all of my secrets where would the fun be in that?" he offered her another smile.  "Perhaps that story is best left for another time."


OOC: Epic shorty :D

Now, this was a game she didn't quite like!  Kathryn's look turned petulant as she regarded him, weighing her options.  The ring obviously belonged to someone -- and whoever that was could no longer be helped, be he alive or dead.  And she obviously couldn't bring it back to her father, even if she wanted to.

Indignantly, she sniffed softly, lifted her chin, and settled back down on the floor to eat.

"What else have you stolen from them?"

"Maybe it's none of your fuckin' concern," he told her, another dry laugh as he stretched his arms above his head and studied the place.
Rain was pouring through the roof, the rains seeming endless as he watched them, then studied all of the pooling streams collecting on the floor.  The floor boards felt rotted- he wondered how much longer this place would hold? but perhaps it didn't matter.

"It's been raining for nearly three fucking days," he griped, his eyes going back to studying the rain.  "I wager most of the rivers are flooded and the flood plains." he wrinkled his nose, calculating something.  "Rain can always be a nuisance," he said, his fingers suddenly lapping with flames as he held his bangs over it, the water steaming away.
"Everything sticks to you, you get water in places and you prune like an old fuckin' fart," he knew he was in the presence of a woman, but his clothing was chaffing him.  He wasn't sure if he'd get the chance to dry any of his clothe elsewhere, and because he was getting cozy with her, enjoying some food, he worked at his clothing, slipped his shirt off to reveal a nicely sculpted body..
with scars, of course, a few tattoos here and there, none of any significance, as he had gotten them painted into his flesh when he was young.

He moved about, hanging his green tunic and white under shirt above the fire, adjusted it a bit before turning back to 'Amy'.
He eyed her up once as he went for his belt.

"How offended would you be if I took off my pants?"

He had to get them dry some way or another..

Kathryn frowned at him, but she couldn't really push the topic, could she?  She couldn't explain to him that it was her father who governed Highheart -- not unless she wanted to be (probably) held for ransom or something...

When he started to strip, she caught herself staring and quickly averted her eyes with another blush.  Really, she had done some stupid things -- and some of those stupid things had been done in the nude -- but she had never had to watch a man strip...

Still, her eyes wandered back in his direction...

"You're going to take off your pants?" she blurted out, almost choking on her own tongue.  "You're making yourself right at home here, aren't you?"  How on earth was she going to slip out of here when it finally stopped raining?

His hands left his belt as he raised his brows at her but couldn't help but smile.
Then his hands went to his belt again as he began to unbuckle.
"What's wrong with that?" Dekka hung the belt aside. "You seemed right at home in my little neck of the woods." He began unlacing and unbutton his pants.
"And you have *no* idea how it fucking feels to have your balls crammed inside a pair of soaking wet pants that stick to your skin and try to rub 'em raw."

he was moving to push them down, but paused, hesitating..

Wait- was this girl some sort of virgin?

"Well," she murmured, "I certainly wasn't stripping in front of a complete stranger."  Picking up her plate and the pan, she moved them towards the dripping water.  She could clean them later, but at least, this way, nature would start the job for her.

"Anyway, what, exactly, are you going to do once you are completely naked?" she asked reasonably.  "Except just stand there."  Risking a peek at him, she added, "I'm certainly not going to share the fire with you.  You can stand there and freeze for all I care."  The corner of her mouth quirked upwards, and she added, "And I'm certainly not taking my clothes off for you."

Really, she wasn't that much of a prude!  ...Well, so maybe she was!  Just thinking about it seemed...so awkward...

Dekka stared at her.

And just stared.


"You know I have under pants on, right?"
Though he gave a laugh, removed his pants and hooked them over the fire.
"I shared my fire with you, the least you can do is share yours with me."
He folded his arms over his chest, standing, mostly naked and glorious, inside her shack before leaning against the wall.
His boots were left beside the stove, pants over it, a tunic draped here.. the under shirt there...

Yep, all that's left on him were his wet socks and under garments, which he scratched at since they were itchy and wet.

"And I never asked you to take off your clothes. But it's fine by me if you want to share in my good idea," he jested, grinning over at her from where he leaned in the shadows.

Kathryn gave him a skeptical look, deciding to turn her attention to the problem of her hair.  It was, indeed, frizzy and all over the place.  She tilted her head slightly as she ran her fingers through the thick locks, enjoying the smell of her soaps wafting into the damp air.  It was one of her favorite things about putting her hair down -- that sudden wave of sweetness...

...What she wouldn't give for a hot bath...  Unfortunately, to get there from here...  She eyed the intruder again, wondering what she could do or say to get him to go.

"You spend a lot of time alone, don't you?"  The question seemed to come out of the blue, but Kathryn had a reason for asking.  He seemed very lonely, somehow, standing against the wall like that...  That, and he had no manners whatsoever...

Dekka raised his brows slightly at the question, and turned away, rubbing a hand across his goatee.
"You could say that," he said. "This profession doesn't offer a lot of room for parties or anything. Stealth operations are much easier when you only have to rely on getting your own ass in and out of any impractical situation."
He gave a dry laugh, then looked over at her.
"I suppose you're just some novice thief yourself, then?" he studied her. "Or perhaps something else?" he moved away from the wall, adjusting his damp, hanging clothing then moved to open the door for the fire and tending to it as the flames glow flickered and lapped light and shadows that hugged and danced across the muscles of his bare chest and arms.

Kathryn caught herself staring, momentarily entranced by the network of scars and tattoos that covered his body -- and the patterns caused by the dancing shadows cast by the firelight.  With a bit of effort, she looked up to his face rather than averting her eyes once again.

"Something else?" she asked, amused at the notion.  "What do you think I am?"  He certainly would be nowhere near the truth of the matter...

"A prostitute, or whore," he replied, seriously, staring at her, before giving way to a smirk.
"I don't think I've figured it out yet, but you seem spoiled to me. Perhaps you've been lucky in your life so far and want to dabble in something else, I don't know."
He shrugged and remained beside the fire, studying it, as it was his element.
He thought back to her comment about him being alone... and frowned.
Yeah, so he chose to be fucking alone. What the hell did that matter?

"Maybe you're some sort of a clever witch, or naive farm girl who got lucky with a nobleman pitying you and your beauty who wants to take you far from here, only, well, you realize it wasn't ll fun and games at the reception. The wedding night.." he could go on, poking at the fire with a knife, the fire sparks and settled, but remained healthy.  "Perhaps you weren't expecting what you got." He smirked darkly at the thought.

"Or perhaps you're just out here to harass me." he shrugged again. "I'd buy into any of those ideas."

"This seems spoiled to you?"  The teenager stared at him, honestly taken aback by the statement.  The corner of her mouth lifted upwards, and then she laughed out loud.  "You are the strangest man I have ever met!"

Her usual grin was back and stronger than ever, accompanied by a light flush of her cheeks from the heat of the fire.  Or perhaps some of his insinuations...

"You're wrong on all accounts, by the way.  You may be a good thief, but you aren't very good at learning about people."

Her eyes fell to her hair, and she decided that it would be dry enough.  Carefully, with exaggerated weaves, she began to braid her hair up again.

Dekka took a look around the leaking shack.

"It's.. cozy," he said with a smile, studying her as she spoke.  "And perhaps you're just crazy, either way, you should look into another shack." he said, moving away from the fire, so as not to keep her from the heat and leaned again against the wall.  "You should at least fix the roof. I could steal you some supplies or something."

Wouldn't that be interesting?

"Though, I think this place is nearly rotted through," he commented, his boot trying the floor, the boards squeaking before he heard a crack..a nd his foot was suddenly inside the board.
"Good shacks are so hard to come by," he said with a blushed smile and a shrug and went back to studying the rings on his finger, more notably, the one he had just stolen this morning.

"Well," she answered, looking just a bit put-out he had just put a hole in her floor, "The only other shack I know of is occupied.  So unless you're asking me to move in..."

She flashed him a grin, letting her words die away as she concentrated on winding the braid back around her head.  She hoped it was straight; there was no mirror here for her to look into.  A tentative caress of the coiled hair seemed to verify that it would do.

He was looking at the ring again.  It was so irritating not to know whose hand the ring had come off of!  She exhaled and crossed the room to him, putting her hand out in front of him with her palm up.  "Can I see?  I still want to know how you got it..."

Dekka raised a brow at the comment of her moving in. He lips only tugged leftward, then he watched her move forward a hand out. He looked down at it, then at the ring, then back up at her before he rested his hands at his side.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I haven't broken it in yet," he said, removing the ring and holding it out towards her, but then drew it back, kissing the ring with a sly smile before sliding it back onto his finger to admire.  "And I got it because I stole it." he said simply. She could salivate over the details later. He was curious why *she* was so curious on the methods on how he procured it, and peered over at her.  Maybe she was just a thief wanna-be. She had a lot of learning to do if that were the case.  He also wondered, perhaps, if she wasn't from that duchy.  Perhaps she just wanted him to be more specific so she could get a better sense at why he'd gloat.

"But if I were to say better, the Duke's steward should keep a better tab on his rings." and he produced a third ring from his pocket, a much smaller one with a large emerald set upon it as he held it up, admiring the way the green shimmering in the fire's glow.
"But then again, so should the Duke's wife." and his grin widened, the emerald ring could only belong to the dainty finger of a duchess...


Kathryn's mother.


Dekka, for now, would leave out the details that a few of the rings he had acquired happened to be gathered all at once-
and were being taken off to be polished and cleaned.
A devilish mistake when there were thieves about...

The steward?  Kathryn blinked.  Like her father, he was a strict, unbending man -- but, unlike her father, he had, at least, always gone out of his way to be kind to her.  There were few enough such people in her life that she could pretend it was not simply the act of a servant trying to win favors from his superiors.  She had never known him to be a careless man -- and that made her wonder how, precisely, the infamous thief had come by the ring.

And then he brought out the second piece.  Kathryn recognized it immediately, of course; it was her mother's best ring, a piece commissioned by her father to celebrate his wife's birthday last year...and to flaunt how well their duchy was doing financially.  The emerald itself was huge and had cost a fortune, but it was surrounded by a series of smaller stones in the Highheart colors, and that, too, raised its value.

Kathryn paled visibly, then flushed with anger.  She didn't particularly care for her parents, it was true, but they were still her parents, and she had a duty to uphold.  Unfortunately, she could see no way to do that without getting herself, quite possibly, killed.  She set her jaw, as much to keep herself from speaking out of anger, then lifted her eyes to meet his.  "How?" she demanded.

Dekka raised his brows again and couldn't help but smile. He moved away from her, repocketing all the treasures in question.
"My, my, aren't you a bit interested," he tilted his head to one side, examining her stern face. "Why are you so interested in how I got these, anyway?" He laughed a little. "Not that I'd fucking tell you, anyway."  He smiled and eased back into the corner, staring back up at the hole in her shack. Maybe she wanted that sort of money to buy herself a house. The Gods knew she could use it.

Kathryn stared after him, her expression flat and unamused.  "I..."  She what?  She couldn't tell him the truth.  And, she imagined, if he were as good a thief as he claimed to be, he already knew she was far too upset for it to be the fancy of a homeless girl in the woods.

She had to get a hold of herself!

The teenager took a deep breath, falling back on an old trick her nanny had once taught her as a very little girl.  She pictured her anger -- a piece of red paper -- and pictured herself crumpling it up with hard, near-punches.  It helped -- at least, it gave her a moment to collect herself, as it always did.

By the time she exhaled, she was calmer, and most of the angry tension had left her slim frame.  "I used to work in the palace.  They don't just leave their jewelry laying around.  It's guarded."

It was Dekka's turn to laugh.  And he continued to do so as he shook his head.

"Did you forget who you're talking to?" He laughed again.  "Guards, hidden treasure, locked boxes..." he waved the ideas off, still smiling.  "It's just another interesting step in the process of thieving. I wouldn't be called the King of Thieves for nothing, if a simple, royal treasure was unobtainable."

He was still smiling, but perhaps she was not as he turned to her, studying her.
"It seems you had connections at the palace." Used to work there? He wondered more about that. It seemed odd. If that was the case, what was she doing here now?

"I liked it there," she answered, trying to look nonchalant.  In reality, Kathryn looked like an animal that had just been cornered.  Her hand had, unconsciously, fallen back on the hilt of her dagger.  "People were nice.  I had a bed.  And three meals a day."

Maybe this hadn't been a good story to go with...

"But I messed it up.  So whatever you're thinking, I can't help you."  Why else would he be curious about her connections?

Dekka saw the fear in her eyes and had to wonder...
perhaps that's why she seemed like a prude. Maybe this little girl was a virgin.
Most nobles tended to take advantage of those who were as pretty as 'Amy', so she didn't have to explain. He could come to his own conclusions.

"The son got a bit frisky with you, did he?"  Of course he was insensitive enough to say out loud what he thought.
"Don't worry about it, I don't need your sort of connections. I got what I wanted for now." He smirked, eyeing her up then turned back to his clothing, prodding them to see how well they were drying. It seemed like they'd take an eternity, but the ends dangling closest to the fire seemed to be drying up rather quickly, so he readjusted, and hung the clothing the other way, so the other side could dry up faster.

Perhaps it was... rather rude of him to be standing there in his undergarments if her history was.. as he thought.

"So I suppose this was a more recent affair?" he questioned, still working at rehanging his clothes, back to her.

Kathryn made no reply to his inquiry.  After all, the Duke didn't have a son...but she could see no point in correcting him!  And, once upon a time, someone had tried to have his way with her -- and her mind went back there, unbidden.

"What about it?" she asked defensively.  He obviously wanted something...

Dekka tensed at her sudden reaction. So he hit the nail on the head. He gave a dry laugh and turned away from his clothes.

"I suppose it explains a lot," he said, his smile lightly worn on his lips.  "But don't worry about it, I don't plan on taking advantage of a poor girl stuck in the woods with me."
His lips cracked to a smile at the idea, but he decided to leave his next comment out.

The rains were unending, but the once deafening down pour from outside began to lighten up, as Dekka's eyes strayed from her over towards the broken window.  "Looks like the rain wants to let up."

It didn't really matter if Dekka had bought the story or not -- he was still, after all, a dangerous man...and her parents would still be waiting for her to return.

"I should go," she began, still watching him closely.  She didn't want to field any other questions from him...  She couldn't even begin to answer questions about how a lady's maid lived!  "While I have the chance.  Thanks for cooking up the rabbit."

Because there was no reason to be impolite!

At her words, he turned to her and nodded, bare arms crossing over his bare chest.
"I'm a man of many skills," he quipped at her comment about the cooking.  Though he still wore a smile, he hesitated as she stood there between her and looked back to his clothes.
"I suppose I should be doing the same."
His clothes, though still damp, were then plucked from where they hung as Dekka slipped them back over his body.  As he was fastening his belt, he turned to her, a foot slipping into his boots as he added, "It wouldn't be right for a gentleman to stay in a woman's home all by himself." He offered her a rare grin for his rare gentlemanly gesture and bent over, beginning to lace up his boots.
Once secured, he rose, staring at her for a moment before releasing a sigh.

"Well, I suppose it's been a pleasure," he said with a nod, even a slight bow before he fetched something form his pocket, then tossed her the emerald ring. "Here, use this to buy yourself a decent shack." he commented, then slipped out of the shack and into the rain.

Kathryn caught the ring with numb fingers, not daring to even look down at it until well after Dekka had gone.  He'd given her the ring.  But, why?  Her fingers moved over the green stone in the center, eyes studying the peculiar way the light bent around it, and then she looked towards the door.

He was a strange man.  A gentleman, in some ways, she thought.  Straining her ears, she could hear nothing from outside; she assumed it meant that the King of Thieves was well and truly gone.

But, he had taken pity on her.  And that was something, she already knew, was rare.

With a slight smile and shake of her head, she crossed over to the hearth.  The ancient stone fireplace had a loose stone that, from long practice, she easily found and pulled away to reveal a fine set of clothes.  It was time to go home -- but Dekka Blade had given her something to think over once again...

THREAD COMPLETE