As Lynness arrived, a flurry of movement rushed to greet her. The grand-dressed woman was helped out of her carriage as she trailed long flowing skirts behind her in waves.

That was their target, and the woman was here for a reason.

If you want to sell illegal wares, you go to Cireweald. It was something everyone knew, and it had nothing to do with the amount of people living there. In fact, in terms of the local population, the valley had barely enough people to be called a hamlet. Even the official market could only hold a maximum of fifteen stalls at one time, and the goods there were nothing special.

So, the only main draw was what happened in the shadows, and it was in the ideal location for that. Cireweald was positioned at a crossroads on two major trade routes. On normal days the number of people living out of wagons and inns was greater than the actual population of locals living in the town.

To accommodate them, the most usual businesses in Cireweald were inns and wagon repairs. Within the inns, there was the normal flare of traveling musicians or talent acts, gambling, and, in the back rooms, trade. That trade was exactly why Lynness was in town.

While she was trying to convince someone to buy a silver bowl, they were supposed to steal it. There was a time limit, though. Once the bowl was in possession of the market, it was protected by guild laws. So they simply had to get it before any deal could be made.

Valerlanta watched through her spyglass as Lynness was greeted by two people who bowed in respect. They turned and opened the doors to the grandest inn within the town; The Melted Leaf.

When she disappeared inside, Valerlanta should have climbed from her tree. They were on a time limit, but she could not help herself. The spyglass tipped upward and stilled on the topmost window.

No matter how complicated the organization was, they always tended to have a leader hidden at the top, and in this case, it was Askyel of house Lochsell. She could see him through the cloudy glass as he sat at his desk and worked on something there.

‘My own personal target that I can see but can’t go to.’

A pang of annoyance struck Valerlanta. She lowered the glass and swung from the tree with the grace of a cat.

“She entered the Leaf,” Valerlanta told the waiting group.

“So what is the plan?” A young bounced from foot-to-foot eagerly. She was small, and the youngest of the group, but was fierce beyond her years.

‘What was her name again?’ Valerlanta wondered as everyone looked to the leader of this mission, Dyleik. ‘Rue? No, that is not right. Ah, Ruwen.’

Ruwen stood beside her twin brother, Tifale, who was equally as freckled but less than half as fierce. He looked scared even now, and the mission had not started yet.

“Um...,” Dyleik said, licking his lips nervously as his eyes shot to Valerlanta, to the town, then back to her again.

This is how it had gone since the moment they left the mines. Dyelik would be given a choice to make, and would take an aggravating amount of time to answer. Yes, it was often the right answer, but the waiting drove her crazy.

Valerlanta sighed and rolled her eyes. “What am I doing here with children? Seriously.”

“You are on a mission.” Ruwen snapped. “So pay attention!”

Oh, so the kid had bite. Valerlanta had to admit she was a little impressed.

‘Let it go.’

But she couldn’t.

Her irritation writhed and surged for years, and now it was boiling over.

Valerlanta let her lips curl into a smirk. “Is that an order, little brat?”

Ruwen squared her shoulders and tried to raise herself taller. She was still a good head shorter than Valerlanta but balled her fingers into tight fists.

Tifale jumped between them and pushed his sister back.

Pity. At least a fight would have made things a little more interesting while she waited.

‘Stop taking it out on the kids.’

They had done nothing to deserve her anger and Valerlanta knew that, but the anger was almost blinding.

“Do not start any fights!” Tifale urged his sister, his voice soft. “We are supposed to be a team!”

“She is the one starting it! Do you see how she looks at us? She thinks we are useless.”

“Don’t take it personally, I don’t have a problem with you,” Valerlanta clarified, then tilted her head. “Well, for the most part. What really annoys me is this mission. It is pathetic. A distraction, a grab, and an escape. It is child's play!”

“So why are you here?” Ruwen hissed.

Yes, why was she here? To please her father?

Most likely. Valerlanta wanted that, even if no one thought she did. She wanted to become who he was training her to be, but there was a louder voice in her. A voice of greed and curiosity. It spoke of great adventures and mysterious puzzles. A life of freedom.

And it was winning.

Her eyes pulled back to the leaf and its topmost room.

“Good question,” Valerlanta said. “You all do not need me. This is a mission I could do solo. Clearly, three of you should be more than enough.”

That was no lie. This should be simple, even for the likes of them.

There was no reason for her to be here. She could do it. She could leave in search of something bigger, and leave this confining life behind.

The thought sent waves of goosebumps across her skin.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

Dyeleik opened his mouth to argue, but as usual, Ruwen spoke first. “You are right! You are less needed than a burr on my sock, but here you are.”

“Well, then, I will remove that burr and be on my way.”

Valerlanta knew she should stay. She should do her job, mentor these kids, and win back her fathers favor. And yet, as if in a trance, she felt her feet carrying her down the hill towards town.

It was as if disobeying her father was a drink she could not get enough of.

Valerlanta never used to be this way, she used to shadow her father faithfully. Lately, however, though she tried her best to make him happy, she found herself failing.

‘I am weak.’ Valerlanta thought as she weaved her way between parked carriages.

None of the three thieves tried to stop her. They simply watched her go in bitter silence, and she did not look back.