Chapter 1: Of Thieves and Tales (Part 2/7)

“Right behind you, Cal!” Mae, small and quick, was darting through the crowd with ease, her long, choppy black hair pulled loosely into two uneven braids bouncing as she weaved between startled townsfolk. The edges of her loaf peeked out from beneath her cloak, clutched close to her chest. Though her brown eyes scanned for trouble, there was an unmistakable spark of mischief in them, in addition to the grin that played on her lips.

“Catch us if you can!” She muttered under her breath, ducking beneath a merchant’s arm with a laugh.

Callen’s longer strides kept him ahead, but he could hear Mae’s steady footsteps behind him, moving with effortless grace of someone who spent their whole life evading capture. The two of them tore through the market square, weaving between startled townsfolk. Some merchants and fishers tried to grab their cloaks, recognizing the mischievous faces.