Hidaji did not open his eyes when he woke up but kept them closed while his ears took in everything around him carefully and with the utmost care to even the most minor and seemingly insignificant of details. If a mouse was hiding in his room the small creature was doing a good job of masking itself from his keen hearing and as his hearing drew in the world it picked up a hushed conversation in the hallway. Remaining motionless the Arabian stallion took in their words carefully, dissecting them piece by piece until he was certain the two were not focused on him. Having recognized the voices helped but one could never be too careful under his circumstances, a hefty bounty had sat on his head for over two decades and on his predecessors as well.

The bounty would make a poor stallion rich but it would be incredibly hard to claim considering no one knew who to look for unless he personally confessed or they were prodigy of lady luck. His bounty, like his mentor before him had been passed down through the decades from one to the next without anyone having ever known the title of leadership to the thieves guild had been passed on. Yet, the bounty remained and there were always those who sought to get rich quick by capturing the master of the Alzamard thieves guild. Many had made it their life's work to unravel the never ending ball of string that cloaked him in secrecy and safety like so many before him but a few had nearly left a bloody mark on the history of the thieves guild.

Without turning his head and slowly opening his eyes Hidaji looked at the window first and waited for shadows to move ever so slightly indicating a spectator, when none were forthcoming his attention shifted around the room carefully before settling on the narrow door. The bar was still locked neatly in place not that a dedicated assassin or bounty hunter could not figure out a way around the problem. He knew, he had done it himself. Many a locked room had he pilfered of their gilded, jeweled and ornate bounties long ago despite their numerous layers of locks, traps and security bars.

Catch was his own security measures were a fraction of what the nobility employed to keep would be thieves away but thus was the price of blending in with the locals; and keeping ones head attached. Showing too much wealth along with a desire to keep it and others would immediately suspect him of being less than a genuinely poor laborer, which would start a chain of events that would require him to fade from existence for months or years until they grew bored again. It was better to employ smaller methods of detection than anything flashy though, as not only was it cheaper but usually more effective. It was the little details that most failed to notice when hunting or thieving.

Leaning over the side of his bed to take a quick glance for anything left behind by an unwanted visitor Hidaji blinked slowly in satisfaction before lifting himself from his bed. Standing upright and stretching a little his ears continued to pick up every sound they were capable of before the morning ritual began. Part of him knew this was mostly paranoia but as things grew steadily out of hand a healthy dose of paranoia was good for the heart in the long run. Long did he yearn for three decades ago when he did not go to these lengths but times had changed and not for the better.

Glancing around at the various alarm systems, Hidaji carefully picked his way across the room with the dexterity of a cat, moving around the broken pottery, baubles and a few cups full of noise making fragments should anything disturb them. From the outside his little room looked like the king of slobs lived there with things thrown in all directions till one would have a hard time guessing where one was supposed to tread. That was the purpose however, only he knew where to step day by day and as he rounded a bend in the piles of castoffs the master thief avoided a particular patch of the floor.

From the outside it looked perfectly normal and like a halfway decent place to tread after entering the room. Enough junk covered the floor that one would not guess that by stepping on that one spot would cause them to fall through the floor and into the storage room below, it was both an escape route in the event guards caught him at the door or in the event they charged inside. Working his way around it and to the door before bending low the thieves eye's followed the door hinges carefully down and to a small object inserted into the frame. Held firmly in place by the shut door the tiny sliver of wood meant the door had not been opened for any act of trying to open the door no matter how slight would have allowed the wood to fall away freely.

Today, it was still in place. As it had been every day before then for years but he was unwilling to take any chances. Over two decades ago a well to do thief had made a slight err on caution in such matters and the result of this oversight had led to their capture. Unfortunately for the thief a much younger Fareed had taken not only their hands but eyes as well before turning them loose onto the streets again. While it was a point of some pride that the thieves guild did not generally abandon their own save the especially foolish or those who broke the rules, this one was not left to die. That however did not stop infection from seizing him and claiming his life one inch at a time as the fever set in.

Since then every thief who had witnessed their death had taken greater care in their activities but he knew the truth: Fareed had merely made one more example. All the same it meant taking more care in their activities as it was also the sultans way of telling them that he did not want to see or hear about them and if they made too much noise...

Satisfied that everything was in place Hidaji ran everything he needed to do through his mind one more time before clothing himself carefully and checking to make certain everything was tucked away in the correct hidden pockets. Satisfied he began wrapping a dirty, worn and sweat stained turban around his head before finally unbarring the door and stepping outside. Walking down the hallway and to the stairwell he passed the whispering duo and barely glanced as them, both were still quite busy coming up with a new scheme for out maneuvering one of the local gambling sharks. Their ideas were half baked and would get them nowhere since the game shark was on the take with the thieves guild. He was permitted to operate in exchange for a small amount of his proceeds and in exchange a minor degree of protection had been extended.

Not that it meant much in Alzamard, more that he was part of the lookout network in that if the guards came for him the shark would be given fair warning to move on before they got there. It was either pay or be fed to the jackals as they swept through every once in a while and thus the deal was part extortion and part honest protection, as much could or would be given. Take too much and the deal was off as an angry mob would be the death of them all and was counter productive to the guild but take too little and ones dues could not be paid.

Stealing from the poor was against the guild rules but then again if someone had enough coin to gamble then it was their own fault for loosing it. A fine line had been written down long ago on the matter and it had always stood that so long as the other was foolish enough to gamble then it stood to reason they could afford to loose. That did not stop some from trying to set up rackets where they would allow others to go into debt gambling and then try and force them to give up everything to pay it off. The guild did not allow this, when one had run out of coin to gamble they were forced to leave, but within the walls of the city a few organizations had sprung up that were more than happy to gamble ones foals or family away.

All of them had the same roots that bore arms while marching the streets and failure to pay resulted in swift punishment.

Stepping onto the narrow street Hidaji made a sharp right turn and walked quickly towards the main road that cut through the area he had come to inhabit. Bending and weaving his way through the crowds that hurried about as they scurried to beg or fight to make their daily bread his own thoughts returned to his own lack of coin. It was most unwise to keep coin stashed anywhere others might find it and visiting one of his stashes was possible but not always wise. Sometimes it was better to leave it for a rainy day and considering what was about to happen his sacks of coin were better left where they were.

"The Royal Assembly..."

Hidaji hated those words more than any others as they were what Fareed's family had called the annual gathering of dignitaries so they could "discuss" trade and politics in a "civilized" manner. In a short time the number of soldiers on the street would triple till it drove the thieves into hiding and any local that dared to poke his or her head out where one of the illustrious visitors could see them, would have it ruthlessly hacked off. Everything would be scrubbed down till it sparkled and the biggest charade would take place because everyone knew what Alzamard was really like any other month of the year. His "mightiness" was actually just proving to the world that he could clamp down if he so desired and flaunt power when needed, he just did not care too. Or did he?

Passing under two buildings that had a third built over top of both the thief winced as a strong wind shook the building higher up causing dust to fall. Everything was ready to collapse and one good push or fire is all it would take and parts of the city would go up in flames. If the earth shook most of the buildings in the area would collapse immediately including his own domicile.

Entering the main street and working his way towards the trade road Hidaji quietly slipped a basket away from a discarded pile and continued to walk for a distance before slinging it over his shoulder. Many around him were carrying similar baskets for various purposes but to a casual observer they all looked the same: dirty laborers on their way to work with the hopes of returning with a few pieces of food tucked away in their basket.

Hidaji's eyes narrowed as he neared the main trade road and watched an unusually well guarded convoy of wagons pass that bore large sacks and jars of foodstuffs or amphora of wine. Most eyes however traced to the middle wagon which was swarmed with Xerin's mercenaries, anyone who would dare go near that wagon would be killed, and then again maybe they would be just for having the impertinence to cast eyes upon it.

"Fareed's donations to his most honored guests..."

Every amenity was being brought in to service the foreign visitors and that included one of the most important of all: servants. Not just any servants though but slaves who would flesh out the palace staff by offering other services to any who so desired them. Some would be dancers brought in from Piemro or Buhen, their only purpose being to dance and entertain. The truly unfortunate were on wagons such as this where they were prevented from walking in case they should accidentally have their delicate features marred. This wagon bore sex slaves so that the appetites of those visiting could be sated no matter the age they wished to indulge in.

Stopping with the rest to watch the wagon grind past the master thief noted most eyes were completely glued to the wagon either in sickness, sorrow or desire as the delicious fur covered cargo it contained. Hand picked by mercenary captains and brothel matrons who had been sent far and wide to hunt down the best of the best even at the point of a sword, snatched from their mothers arms or cut from if need be; the cargo was the finest crop one could offer. And afterwords? He knew the answer to that as well. Most would be resold at the market as used property while those who caught the eyes of various matrons or patriarchs would be damned to a life in a brothel till they dropped dead or were used up and discarded in the street. This wagon was probably the last load to be delivered as many had already passed in the weeks before, it was slow and laborious process to gather them all and Fareed probably wasted no time in having them trained even if the others had not yet arrived.

It was not his problem though, the guild had more than enough problems and stealing slaves was not only highly dangerous but in no way lucrative. He cared though, it was a miserable existence and their fates would be horrific in the weeks, months or years to come but it was beyond anyone's control. The guild did not make a habit of sticking their neck out unless they could get something in return and the most any of the mares, stallions or foal's on that wagon could offer would be their body.

They were not interested.

One looked after their own first, that was the prime rule of the guild and now that Fareed would be stepping up his measures to bring pain and agony to those who would interrupt his festivities and showboating, meant securing their own place in the darkest shadows and far from sight or mind.

Falling into the shuffling step of the masses again Hidaji slogged down the trade road and followed the herd through the first gate and into the next city district. His eyes traced over those around him carefully before settling on the distant gate that allowed the well to do and nobility to come and go from their secluded prison of safety from the general masses.

"Whom shall it be..."

A larger take was needed so that meant nipping the pouch of someone more well to do, this was beneath his station but practice prevented the senses and ones skills from being dulled from inactivity. Scanning his possible targets one at a time Hidaji took in their faces, forms, clothing, stance and every detail he could make out.

The average guard was a poor target not because they were a little challenging but because they never carried anything worthwhile. Shifting to the guard in charge as they got closer he took the older mare in from mane to hoof with her worn, stained and dirty garb. A warning sprung to mind though as he watched her keen eyes watching anyone who got close, her back was to the wall with a fellow guard to her side. It was a ruse, this one was an old hand at catching cut-purses as her own was invisible, no doubt tucked away somewhere hard to get. Giving up on the current selection he caught sight of a few mercenaries marching down the road before halting near the gatehouse, they too had various levels of garb based on rank but his eyes quickly fell on one who was pretending.

What gave the ranking officer away was having paid extra for protection of his cannons, chain and plate had been attached to protect himself along with extra extensions for the knees which set him apart from the rest. From head to foot they all looked the same but wealth and power came with privileges. Most mercenary officers stood out considerably from the average rank and file so he could only guess this group mandated one common set of armor for all to save money, practicality or both.

All were bad targets though as few had pouches in sight and all were staying close together in a tight formation. Passing them the thief's eyes finally settled on a target that was not only well dressed but had a servant with them, a prime candidate for robbing. Most likely a merchant or wealthy local out on business but all that mattered was where there were fancy clothes and personal servants coin soon followed. Shifting in behind them slowly till he could make out if they had anything worth stealing Hidaji studied them for a short time and distance. A coin purse was tightly tied off on the belt while the servant held something tightly to their chest as if their life depended on it.

Hidaji held back a smile knowing what it was: a lock-box. The key was probably hidden on the master but that was never an issue, a few seconds was all it would take to pop the lock and take the contents. Still, they were traveling without guard and that raised suspicion. Examining those around him carefully his eyes settled on a mare walking nearly in step with the stallion but dressed plainly, the personal guard was blending in a little too well for comfort though. Was it a trap? Why? Who? Or was the guard merely given greater leeway and knew how to handle the situation by staying back till needed?

Most would hug their employer tightly and scare others off but this one had taken a different approach by being close enough to snatch anyone who tried anything but far enough that a fool might try. Maybe they were trying to entice someone else today? It was not worth the risk to find out. Backing off a bit from the target Hidaji had worked his way down to pilfering one of the slave merchants when a military officer caught his eye. She was incredibly well dressed and traveling alone, no doubt on her way to the palace but having decided to take a long detour rather than the direct route.

"You will do."

Her ears were alert, form ready for a fight but there would be no assault, no assassin hidden in the crowd. Hidaji moved closer to her knowing that all her training would not save her from what was about to happen. Head to hoof the mare was well armed and ready to kill anyone who dared waylay her but the streets were a chaotic place and she was trained to fend off an assassin, not a cut-purse. Every once in a while the crowd would have to shuffle aside for a wagon and that meant the equines would pack in for a few moments. Reaching up he scratched his eyebrow before rubbing it and continued on his way.

Waiting for the correct moment he got close enough but stayed out of reach, head hung like the rest as they clopped along the road, as the crowd compacted the mare's ears turned and she became more alert. Moving away so that others could not get so close as to touch, not that they dared, Hidaji waited for her to relax as everyone moved away again. While the masses opened ranks again he slipped closer and as most eyes were now on the next wagon and waiting to be crushed in by the crowd he swiftly moved his hands and cut the coin purse away from the owner before making a quick movement of the hands before ducking into the nearest shop.

It did not take but a second for the officer to realize what had happened, but the master thief had the lead required to duck out of sight and after entering the shop just as quickly struck up a conversation with the owner.

Giving him a glance they waved their hands quickly and in alarm. "No work, no work, leave."

"Please, even one-"

Hidaji was cut off as an arm grabbed him and he was violently spun around to face the infuriated mare, but instead of panicking he put on his best fake look of surprise as she snarled down at him sword drawn and ready to skewer him on the spot.

"Where is it!?"

"Where is what?"

"My coin purse!"

"Not have a coin purse! Wish I did..."

"Liar!" Sword still drawn she violently patted him down and without any luck at finding the missing purse before putting the tip to his throat. "Where did you throw it!?"

"Not throw anything! Here for work!"

Watching from the side the shop owner had his hands up. "I tell you many time now, no work! Go away!"

Hidaji made a fake, forced smile of worry at the officer. "Maybe work for you?"

"I do not want a worker, I want my purse back!"

"Not have purse! See?" Hidaji patted himself down which made her even more furious.

"How long has this one been in here?"

Hands still up the shop owner shook their head. "Too long. Long before you get here. Make him go away please."

Listening to the mare curse to herself at having grabbed the wrong one Hidaji waited quietly as she sheathed her sword before grabbing him and escorting him out of the shop and giving him a hard shove into the street.

"On your way!"

Not saying a word the thief hurried on his way to another shop across the street where the owner made a gesture to the back. Passing by and into the back room Hidaji removed his outer clothes quickly leaving only his under clothes and shifted his hidden tools from the old set to the new. The mare had come dangerously close but he had guessed right: noble officers made horrible street officers. They were used to dealing with bureaucrats, armies and the more civilized aspects of life, not the dirt and filth that everyone else lived in. Still, it was incredibly unusual to see her in particular out and about, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. After all, it was her own fault for traveling without guards and leaving her purse where everyone could see it rather than tucked away as she normally did.

Washing his face, arms and cannons down rapidly before towling off Hidaji looked in the small cracked mirror at his new fur color now that the soot and mud had been removed. Combing his mane out a little before throwing on a better set of clothes that put him a few stations above the poverty he had been in the stallion left the rest behind and stepped out after tying a new turban on.

The shop owner watched him carefully with one eye on the street. "Done?"

"Yes and you will get your share."

"Just make certain your new lot dont get sticky fingers around my shop!"

"You pay us to make certain that does not happen. Good day."

Hidaji walked back into the street and continued on his way with a marked degree of mild amusement as guards tore the previous shop apart looking for the missing coin pouch. They were pulling everything out of the barrels and jars that might hide the missing object but it was nowhere to be found, he could only hope that the heavy object he liberated was worth it. Some of the merchants paid protection money to be left alone but it was a rare offer, the rarest ever given. Of the handful that operated with the guild only a tiny few had any blood relation with the guild but those that did were usually established by the guild as a front.

One of said shops was now under assault and the owner would have to be paid for having to put up with their end of the bargain: they act as a temporary safe house and excuse but in exchange they get a percentage. Pawnshops were excellent fences and while many things that were being sold there were stolen the guards wouldn't know the difference, they were too focused on finding a single coin purse while their superior glowered over them in rage while more guards began searching others in the street.

Pulling the flap of his turban over his muzzle Hidaji walked away and down a side street with ever more shops present. These were not the grandiose ones of the merchants quarter that dealt with imports and exports but the shops for day to day living for the locals. Little shops meant for fast meals, nick nacks, cups, bowls, worn clothes and other necessities of daily life. These streets were also full of those who had spent the morning begging outside of the wealthy areas and were now trying to buy old, stale bread or a mouthful of slop in order to keep going for just one more day.

They would all disappear within the hour though to go back to begging or find some shady hole to lay down in and either way for starvation, deprivation, plague, disease or one of the city guards or mercenaries to do them in. It was a fertile ground for information as these equines had nothing better to do with their life than spy on everyone around them and a piece of bread could buy the entire conversation between guard officers on a good day. On a bad day it could be purchased with a copper or two.

Fighting through them and into a small side shop for a breather he waited quietly before reaching up and thrumming on a beam with his thumb. Hand held slightly out a pouch was stuffed into it by an unseen individual and turning just as quickly the master thief was on his way again. Slipping the pouch inside his robe and into a much more secure inner pocket he made his way to a less than savory part of the cities underbelly.

Every whore was on display and trying to grab passerby, a number bore shackles but many did not which was a perfect contrast between those who sold their body and soul for coin versus those who still tried to hang onto some degree of dignity. The majority that he passed however were bound up in display widows or cages with eyes that were so dead they may as well have been solid white. None of it disturbed him, he like so many others in the area had grown up around them at some point and were perfectly used to things. Indeed a great number of those who inhabited the immediate area were bastards of this unique industry, the unwanted progeny of some passing stallion that was looking for a bit of quick pleasure that others were happy to provide be it willing or otherwise; so long as they could afford it that was.

Most of the unlucky bastard foals were dumped immediately onto the street from birth as caring for a foal took time away from whoring and as times got harder the number who tried to save the newborns grew fewer and fewer. Fortunately for him, his mentor was one of the few who took pity on these castaways and picked up just one, him. He had given him a name, home, training, food, clothing and a family when no one else would or could.

It had not always been this way however. Perhaps only thirty or forty years ago things had begun to take a turn for the worse but it was a gradual change, slow, painful, but ever present. When he had been picked up off the street these brothels were nearly non-existent within the city, they had existed for longer than anyone could remember but nothing like they did now. Everything had changed when the mercenaries arrived though, because with them came great appetites and vast sums of wealth that ground the long forgotten and rusty gears forward at a faster and faster rate of speed. As the number of mercenaries continued to exponentially increase so to did the brothels but the inevitable consequence was an endless tide of unwanted bastard foals.

At first it was more cost effective to just keep them rather than throw them onto the street so they could be raised and then finally sell them off to the slavers, but now the supply of slaves in general exceeded the demand. Now it was cost prohibitive to keep the bastards unless they were female and even then it was hit or miss for the unfortunate newborn. The gears must continue to grind and it is very hard to do so when part of your staff is dedicated to raising an ever growing herd of foals. Therefor the herd was culled with great care so that those with the most exotic features at birth would be kept, their mothers features weighed and then the axe would fall or be stayed.

A cold worming feeling ran down his spine as the guild master continued to walk and think over how things had changed in such a short time. To an outsider it appeared that things happened overnight and could be blamed entirely on Fareed but he knew that was far from the truth. There was no planning nor plotting here, just a by product of something else far more sinister that had come to inhabit Alzamard.

It was as if some dark mass had welled up beneath the city and then some three decades ago slithered from its hole stretching out tendrils from one side of the city to the other. He would swear on his life that this was true because just passing by these places and a few others always brought about a very unique feeling. One that was not felt because he knew what was happening but something more, primitive, feral. A feeling that came deep from within ones soul and it screamed if one approached where these invisible tendrils reached out from the depths of hell. No one could see them however, the tendrils were invisible but one could always feel them if the sense of danger was not ignored.

Remembering back he could recall trying to find the source once out of morbid curiosity but he had stopped almost immediately. A lesson had been learned in only a few hours of searching: one did not want to find the centers where this evil reached out. An act so simple as seeking them out had brought unseen eyes upon him in an instant and the feeling of utter terror had screamed throughout his body even though it had been an "ordinary" street.

He had decided to continue surviving and thus fled the area immediately, without ever giving a second thought as to going back. There were places, at least one, where this feeling was utterly devoid: the ancient temple on the other side of the river. For some reason there was a great void on that side, as if the tendrils would not or could not touch that one area and whenever he needed time to think quietly without feeling that other presence it was his favorite spot to hide. First because the soldiers and mercenaries seemed to be terrified of the temple but secondly because there was a peace about it, despite the temple being so utterly run down.

How much longer would it last? How long would it be until those tendrils merely reached out and snatched the city away? What would happen on that day? Hidaji did know one thing above all else and that was if it happened many would die and he would be amongst the first to flee while shuffling whatever survivors he had left in the guild out of the city with him.

Hidaji was snapped from his thoughts quickly as he passed a brothel mistress offering up a pregnant mare to those passing by but he felt nothing for her, she did not bear shackles like others and was free to sell herself. Who he did feel pity and remorse for was the unborn that would most likely die because of her and not from deprivation, but the death of their soul as it was ground to dust. Some would say she was doing what she had to do in order to survive but that was not true at all, most others in the city suffered the likes of which she could never imagine to live another day. Then again, maybe she did know and chose this alternative, sell ones soul and dignity for a mouth of gruel with the hopes of becoming matron if she spread her legs well enough.

What was ones soul worth? Ones pride, dignity and honor. Survival means nothing if all that is stripped away to be replaced by the illusion of "living" which was nothing more than a mask. Life had to be worth living, not something you merely survived. Try as he might though it was getting harder and harder to keep that up within the guild. There was a powerful camaraderie amongst the thieves who relied on each other not just for survival but also as a family and yet as time wore on so to were their temperaments.

Winding his way out of the street and past a small gaggle of armed malcontents but also certain no one was following him, Hidaji spent an hour making a large loop back to whence he had come. Buying a quick meal at a street stall he shuffled on and back through the gates to the section of the city that housed one of the many hidden thieves guild hideouts and offices. Each one self contained and largely unaware of the others in the event someone was captured and tortured for information. The guard might be able to round up the immediate group if they were exceptionally quick about it but even so their take would be nothing compared to the whole.

The thieves guild in Alzamard was a bustling organization that often worked with the smugglers at moving things of exceptional value but at the same time it was starving to death. Targets were becoming harder to find and better guarded making it hard for the initiates to get their hoof in the door without dying which was a very real danger.

"A fellow thief must never travel alone..."

Guild doctrine for safety during operations but today was prophetic, had the other thief not responded things might have been a great deal more difficult but there were always a few watching key areas. It was how they had survived through these trying times: organization, speed and coordination; impeccable timing also helped.

A cut of the take was to be passed along to them as well but nowadays it might mean being able to feed themselves for one more day. Long ago his mentor had told him how the guild was able to do well enough that some were able to live normal if not simple lives outside of the guild. As time wore on this changed till now their efforts were focused on making certain every mouth was fed at the end of the day. Sometimes they would pull off a heist that lined their pockets but in the long term it never worked out, they were thieves both in heart and mind but impoverished ones.

Hidaji walked to one of many worn out buildings and the lookout above gave a nod as he motioned to them, entering the structure he picked his way past the nearly homeless before stopping in a corner. The door slid open and after entering the furniture was moved around and mats pulled away allowing him to go down the hatch and into the tunnels below. Above everything was put back including the dust filling part of the tunnel with a choking haze.

Winding his way through the small tunnels hunched over Hidaji made a bend and was allowed through two small rooms where fellow thieves whispered back and forth. Sending too many thieves into an area was not only bad for the trade but also brought undue attention. Said attention would then draw guards in great numbers but nowadays it would bring swarms of well organized mercenaries who were getting better and better at what and whom to look for. Disguise was part of the trade but never before had they the need to employ it so heavily until Xerin had taken an interest in toying with them. Sliding into the small underground office Hidaji took stock of things before sitting across from a mare who was counting out coin and other baubles.

"Nimja."

"Morning Master."

"You look particularly worn out."

"It was a very long night." Hidaji remained quiet waiting on her to continue as she yawned and rubbed her face. "Seven were captured and hauled away, all new and young. Bad luck, their mark was an easy one but some of the mercenaries happened by and the lookout panicked then ran away without warning them."

Hidaji narrowed his eyes at Nimja who leaned back into her impromptu cushion chair.

"And?"

"She too was captured with the rest. All were tortured but not nearly as much as usual, Xerin had them hung from the South Gate as a warning but it is having the opposite effect with our younger ones. They want revenge or at least to pilfer the guards of their coin, a few want to raid their barracks but I put them off the idea."

"Very wise. We both know what is coming soon and if any of them dare to go near Fareed's palace let alone lay a serious hand on his own, the visiting dignitaries or well to do there will be no end to his wrath."

"True, Fareed permits us to live and steal because it provides him with an excuse to scare the nobility, but if he ever managed to unravel our secrets our lives would be snuffed out in an instant. We are fortunate that he sees us as so little a threat that we do not merit the time of day to even consider our existence, best we keep it that way."

"Indeed. Though I have the feeling that some are not content despite your warnings."

"Yes, Jaji and one or two others but they are being watched."

"If you have nothing else..."

"Our takings were decent enough the past few days... Everyone will be fed but things will be particularly tight during Fareed's dick waving contest."

"They always are when he hosts his little soiree but that is just the way it is. Best to encourage out cut-purses to pick up the pace for the next two or three weeks, Fareed had a load of slaves delivered today and from the looks of them he is putting the last touches in place. It will not take his trainers forever to "prepare" them for their new "lives" within the palace so we still have some time. However, after that he will begin cracking down hard and we will have to curtail our operations... You do not approve."

"Of course not, we are thieves and to allow that pompous ass to control us like this is demeaning. We are called the criminals but we have never murdered nor-"

"I know Nimja but we are what we are." Hidaji looked at the numbers on the abacus provided and grimaced. "This is not good when we are so close to events."

"Whore houses, drunks, slavers and merchants only carry so much lately. Well the first is decent but they are getting better at locking things up. A few even hired some off duty mercenaries to protect the money chests!" The mare laughed a little.

"And the smugglers..."

Nimja went from laughing to straight faced.

"They are more than eager to move any cargo we can procure that is of value to both sides involved but most of that precious cargo is locked up in mansions or... A palace."

"The one place we do not touch."

"Have they contacted us with any contracts to fulfill?"

"Only one but that is a rumor, you will have to see my counterpart that hides in the harbor."

"Indeed I shall. I dont suppose you know what the rumor is?"

"A possible one, that is all."

"Good, he is being tight lipped but not tight enough..."

"Would you like the bad news now?"

Hidaji almost slumped as Nimja put on a big smile. "May as well, it was such a nice day today after all."

"No rotting foals in the gutters?"

"That is not funny."

"You need a sense of humor for dealing with these things or they will drive you insane."

"Speak."

"Whore houses have been on our list for quite some time along with the slavers for being excellent marks but we are getting push-back." Nimja studied Hidaji's face and eyebrows making certain she had his attention. "As I said the red light district though small has begun to employ mercenaries but that is not all of it. Gangs have formed in these areas and while not terribly present just yet their numbers are growing and a few of us fear they intend to make a go at us."

"If they can find us but that is not what worries you."

"No master, what worries me is who controls them."

"I do not need to guess."

Nimja nodded.

"So far only one of the smaller mercenary bands seems to be in on it and are using those not fit for their ranks as street thugs, but should their numbers continue to grow it could give them an edge."

"You mean an excuse for Fareed to get more involved."

"I do not know nor want to know what goes on inside his twisted head but if he nor Xerin clamp down on them then either they are turning a blind eye or are involved somehow."

"Maybe a bit of both... We have known for some time Fareed controls the bandits across the kingdom and quite a few that operate beyond these borders." Hidaji closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, I do not believe Fareed is behind this, he is not insane enough to bring that inside his cities walls. That would cause him no small amount of trouble and it could spiral out of control, we on the other hand are more..." He hated to say it. "Easily controlled and used to his advantage."

Nimja nodded but ground her teeth. "Yes but what should we do about it?"

"If we attack them it will start a gang war and we are not going to do that, we are thieves..." Hidaji smiled at Nimja. "So let us deal with them as thieves would."

"I am certain my subordinates can come up with no small list of things to put them out of business within the month."

"Ensure that it happens."

"The owners of the whore houses will swear they are giving their whores away for free or even paying others to take them before the end of the month and the thugs will be sleeping in the streets or in stables."

Hidaji took his coin purse out and up ended it on the table spilling its contents which brought a smile to both sides of the table, he waited on Nimja who gave him a blank stare before shaking her head.

"You do not need to cut purses master but it is good to see you have not lost your touch." She leaned over and counted out the gold and silver coins quickly before raising an eyebrow. "Who exactly did you steal this from?"

"One of Fareed's officers, some mare... Cant think of her name and dont care to know it."

"Anyone who serves him is a mark and you certainly did the guild justice but I wonder why she was carrying this much on her."

"She is a noble and does not know any better, to them a hundred gold is a trifle but to us its a fortune."

"If only the merchants and nobles would carry their coin like this and not in those damn lock-boxes they keep under guard."

"Some learn, others never do."

"I doubt this mare will make the same mistake twice."

"She was arrogant enough to walk alone through the streets with a bulging coin purse, she should have known better."

"Maybe, but then again I doubt she expected to have you target her."

"Stop trying to flatter me."

"Gods forbid I say anything other than the truth."

Hidaji sorted out a few coins from the rest and tapped the piles.

"This pile goes to our fence on the corner leading to the market... This one to the one paying protection money across the street from him and this one goes to the thief who assisted me."

"I am certain they will be overjoyed."

"Not when they find out how long we will not be allowed to steal for because of Fareed, this will be gone within moments once all the mouths that we have are fed." Sliding a portion into his hand and pocketing it he pushed to rest to Nimja. "For the guilds continued operation, we will need it."

Moving to the exit the master thief made his way out and down the tunnel and to the trapdoor, waiting to make certain no one was above who was not supposed to be he rapped quietly then waited. Those above hurried to move things so he could depart and after climbing out he was on his way once more with about half of the daily business taken care of. Dusting himself down quickly and asking one of the thieves to look him over to make certain all traces of the dirt and dust had been removed Hidaji was on his way.

Rounding the bend of the narrow street the thieves guild office was hidden along he froze and listened carefully to some young stallions and mares talking. Eyes narrowing angrily and brow furrowing in disappointment Hidaji rushed around the corner and grabbed two of them by the ears and yanked hard.

"You will remove any thoughts you have of this utterly stupid and foolish plan of yours at once! If you even dare to go near those places not only will Fareed come down on you assuming you live long enough to escape, but he will come after all of us until there is not one thief left breathing in the city!"

Struggling against his iron grip one of the young mares let out a yelp. "But we not steal from Fareed! Steal from visiting- OW!"

"That will be even worse than stealing from Fareed! You will bring him shame and for that he will not just kill us he will kill EVERYONE who ever had anything to DO with us! He might even just kill everyone within twelve apartments just to make certain he gets the point across and that is if they are lucky!"

"Fareed kill our friends, you want us just-"

Jaji let out a yelp as Hidaji nearly lifted the young zebra off the ground by his ear.

"You are not the only one who has lost friends to Fareed but we are thieves and that means being smart and wise, not foolish! Grit your teeth and bear it like the rest of us because if you try and get revenge on him we will all die because of you! Not just a few of us, all of us." Hidaji loosened his grip on their ears and took a slow breath before sighing. "There are those who have power over us that you can not imagine, who could see us all exterminated with but a word. We survive because we know who they are and avoid them. Sometimes we just have to bear it and move on, you dont have to agree with it but if you value the lives of the friends you have left do not go seeking revenge on Fareed no matter how small! Do you understand?"

The small gaggle of equines nodded but the one young zebra had eyes that said otherwise. He was burning with anger, rage and an un-quenched desire for revenge that was probably stoked after seeing his friends hung from the city walls. There was nothing Hidaji could do but warn them and hope Nimja's spies kept a close eye on them but all the same he would pass word back to her on keeping a very close eye on this young zebra in particular. Taking a quick look at his tribal mark the master thief gave the two he was holding a small shove and sent them away to cool their heads but a part of him deep inside knew this was not the end of it.

Somewhere in the recesses of his soul a part of him was screaming in warning that the young zebra was going to do something very brave but also very stupid. And for it, he along with others would pay the price. Hidaji prayed hard that would not be the case however.

"I should visit the temple while I am out that way, that one needs all the watchful care he can get and a prayer would not hurt."

Author's Notes:

Havent written anything this long in a while and now I remember why: its a pain in the ass to write and edit. I hope you enjoy this chapter showing a new character and life through his eyes along with experience and if you enjoy this story please consider donating on my patreon, a dollar goes a long way! You can find the link under my fimfiction journal posting.

My god did this one take a long time to finish. Enjoy! You have met Hidaji, master of the thieves guild.