Chapter 120: Gangs and Guilds

Chapter 120: Gangs and Guilds

Stella barely had time to think before the boy was dragging her out of the valley. The blisters on her feet burned like fire, but she didn't dare stop. Faint shouts from the men drifted from behind them, spurring her to run faster.

They dashed into the woods, weaving through the thick trees. The boy knew the terrain like the back of his hand, pulling Stella this way and that, leaping over a shallow ditch, crawling through a thicket, and finally stopping behind a massive old oak tree.

Both of them were doubled over, gasping for air.

Stella leaned against the trunk, feeling like her lungs were about to burst. A metallic taste rose in her throat, and her vision went dark at the edges.

The boy recovered faster than she did. He crouched down and listened carefully for a moment, then let out a long breath.

"They're not following."

Then he studied Stella, his gaze lingering on her face briefly before looking away awkwardly, then dropping to her feet. When he saw her boots, a look of obvious envy spread across his dirty little face.

"Thank you for saving me, miss." He extended a hand toward Stella, then, noticing the dirt on it, wiped it on his clothes and held it out again.

Stella hesitated, then took his small hand. It was just as dirty after the wipe as before.

"I'm Conrad—Conrad of Starfall City. What's your name?"

"Starfall City?" Stella repeated the name. "That's far from here. How did a little kid like you end up all the way out here?"

Conrad put his hands on his hips, tilted his chin up, and said proudly: "I used to run things on the streets of Starfall City. Later, things got too hot, so I brought my crew out here to make a living. Don't underestimate me!"

Running the streets? Brothers? This ten-year-old talked like he'd been in a gang for eighteen years... Stella was confused.

"And who are you, miss?" Conrad asked.

Stella's lips parted, but she didn't know how to answer.

She was the princess of Moltalia, daughter of the king and queen, the most beautiful pearl of the Northern Kingdoms—but that was all in the past. How was she supposed to introduce herself to a child now?

After hesitating for a moment, she said quietly, "My name is Stella. I... I'm from Starfall City, just like you."

In Moltalia, Stella was a very common name. The boy probably wouldn't catch on that she was a princess.

"Oh! You must be a refugee!" Conrad said, sounding sure of himself. "I've seen quite a few refugees like you lately."

The mention of refugees reminded Stella of the checkpoint she'd seen earlier, and the soldiers capturing dark-haired girls. She still needed to find a way around it.

"I can't stay here long," she said.

"You're right—those men might find our trail," Conrad said.

"That's not what I meant... So who were those men?"

Conrad's face twisted into an expression like he'd just smelled something foul. "They've been hanging around this area recently. Heard they're deserters from some lord's army, they set up camp nearby. Cornelis told me to stay away from them, but this time they came after us."

Stella wanted to ask who Cornelis was, but she glanced at the sun and knew she couldn't delay any longer.

"I really must go," she said. "Goodbye, Conrad. Don't let bad people get you again."

"You're trying to get around the checkpoint by going over the mountain, aren't you?" Conrad asked suddenly.

Stella froze. How did the boy figure that out? Was she that obvious?

"Oh, come on—I'm young, not stupid." Conrad pouted. "You're a refugee from Starfall City, all prim and proper, not taking the main road but wandering through the wilderness—you must be hiding from soldiers!"

"I'm not some delicate lady..." Stella said weakly in protest.

"Oh, come on, I'm not blind!" Conrad waved a hand, looking exasperated. "Just look at your boots! You can tell a lot about someone by their boots! These are so fine, even Ingrid might not have a pair like that."

Stella looked down at her feet. Days of travel had caked the boots with mud, nearly obscuring their original appearance, but even so, they were far more refined and sturdy than the pair the boy had fought so hard to get. Stella thought she understood a little why Conrad valued his prize so much.

"Going around via the mountain won't work," Conrad said. "Even on the mountain paths, you have to cross the Evrel River, and the only bridge is being guarded by those soldiers."

"Oh no... What am I going to do..."

Stella had been wandering through the wilderness with the little mouse as her guide these past days, with no idea where she'd ended up. So she'd ended up near the Evrel River without realizing it...

Her tutors at the palace had taught her the kingdom's geography. The Evrel River ran across the middle of the realm, the longest river in Moltalia. It originated in the mountains of White Spring Valley in the south, carrying snowmelt northward until it emptied into the Northern Sea. Only a few bridges crossed it; if she couldn't cross here, she'd have to go hundreds of miles up or downstream, or find a boatman willing to take a chance...

Seeing the look on Stella's face, Conrad suddenly broke into a smug grin.

"Don't worry, I've got this covered. You saved my life, so it's only fair I repay you. I, Conrad, am a man of honor!"

A kid talking like a gangster... Stella thought, exasperated.

"You can help me get across the river?"

The boy rubbed his nose. "Uh, not me, exactly. But I've got connections around here—finding someone to help you is a piece of cake! Follow me!"

He gestured for her to follow and headed downhill.

Stella watched the boy walk away, then looked at the setting sun. Gritting her teeth, she pushed through the pain in her feet and followed. The little mouse poked its head out of her sleeve, sniffed the air, then went back inside.

They passed through the woods, and smoke from cooking fires rose in the dimming sky ahead, a sign they were approaching a settlement. A small town? Or a city?

Stella tried to remember her geography lessons. She cursed herself for not paying more attention in class. If she'd known this day would come, she would never have daydreamed in class—she'd have memorized the entire kingdom's map. If only she'd known then...

Seeing Stella actually following him, Conrad seemed surprised.

"Miss, aren't you afraid I might sell you?"

"S-sell me?" Stella's eyes widened. "I don't have anything valuable on me—just these clothes and boots. Everything else was taken." She was lying, of course.

"Who said only clothes can be sold? People can be sold too. Hair, teeth, skin, and... women sell for a good price, and men too. Not just bodies—what's inside your head can be sold, and for even more! Bottom line: everyone can be sold!"

Conrad looked pleased with himself, like he'd just said something brilliant.

Stella's face turned red. All this talk of selling this and that...

"Where did you learn all this nonsense?"

"Cornelis and Ingrid told me. Gotta say, living longer really does give you more wisdom."

Conrad said, sounding impressed.

"Anyway, you just followed me without a second thought? Tsk, city ladies really don't know the dangers of the world."

Stella thought of the woman at the camp who'd invited her to warm herself by the fire, only to steal her boots in the night. She'd assumed a mother wouldn't do such a thing, yet she'd almost been robbed. So maybe kids could be bad too?

But if Conrad meant to deceive her, he wouldn't have been so upfront about it.

"Oh? So you're saying I should turn around and run right now?"

"What I'm saying is, you got lucky running into me—Conrad of the Rat Gang. If you'd run into someone bad, you'd be in trouble. Better stay sharp from now on!"

"Rat Gang?"

"My gang!" Conrad said proudly. "Back in the day, we were living large in Starfall City. Too bad... ah, a real hero doesn't brag about the good old days!"

He shoved his hands in his pockets, his walk turning into a full-on swagger.

Stella couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Conrad talked like a grumpy old man even though he was just a kid—it was utterly ridiculous. Then she wondered, could this kid actually be a real gang member?

In the pulp novels she'd read, there were often stories of righteous bandits and chivalrous thieves. They robbed the rich to help the poor, rescued maidens forced into marriage, struck down nobles who oppressed the people, and ultimately became heroes admired by all. Aster said it was all fiction—that real gangs committed every evil imaginable, were nothing but parasites on society, and every last one of them should be hanged.

Conrad led Stella down the mountain, the path transitioning from a mountain trail to a packed, flat dirt road. As the sun was about to dip below the horizon, the outline of a small city appeared on the horizon.

Stella saw a signpost painted with seven candles and realized they had arrived at Seven Candles City. Though its towering walls couldn't compare to Starfall City's, they offered at least some protection. If they entered the city, there might be inspections by Duke Cold Mountain's men. Stella would rather stay outside.

"Boss!" A dozen small figures suddenly jumped out from the bushes lining the road.

Stella was startled and about to turn and run, but she was stunned to see they were just a bunch of scruffy kids. The oldest was about Conrad's age, the youngest only three or four years old—all skinny and dirty.

The bigger kids held the little ones' hands, circling around Conrad. Conrad straightened his back, trying to puff himself up.

"Little ones, look what I've brought you!" He proudly held up the boots he'd fought so hard to protect. "I risked my neck fighting a guy twice my size to get these!"

"Wow!" The kids all gasped, eyes shining.

Conrad handed the boots to a girl slightly shorter than him. "Misha, these are for you!"

"Thank you, boss!" The girl named Misha grabbed the boots, over the moon. "Boss, you ain't gonna wear 'em?"

Conrad was still barefoot himself.

"Me? My feet are made of steel! When I walk, it's not the stones grinding my feet—it's me stomping the earth! Now, I said put 'em on, so put 'em on. Don't argue!"

"Hey, boss is playing favorites!" The other children whined.

"Remember how Misha took care of you when you were sick last time? This is her reward!" Conrad said solemnly. "As long as you contribute to the gang, I'll reward you handsomely too. Listen to me obediently, and everyone gets food, everyone gets shoes!"

"Oh!" The children didn't quite understand his words, but they all nodded like little bobbleheads.

Conrad told the girl, Misha, to take the other kids away, then turned to Stella and gestured for her to follow.

"They are...?" Stella asked.

"My gang members! I told you, I run the Rat Gang."

"Oh..." Stella couldn't help feeling sorry for this gang's future.

"Don't diss us just 'cause we're kids! Ever heard the saying, 'Great heroes come from young blood'? Today we might not be famous, but in ten years, you can brag to everyone that you know Conrad of the Rat Gang. They'll all be so jealous!"

"...Yeah, sounds like a real thrill."

Conrad rubbed his nose. "Come on, let's go see Cornelis and Ingrid."

"Who exactly are they?"

"Well, they're not as impressive as me, but they're still stand-up guys in the underworld." Conrad said, chin held high. "They're with the Thieves' Guild."

*

On the outskirts of Seven Candles City stood a few inns and taverns. The inns inside the city were pricey, so folks short on cash picked the cheaper places farther out. Others who got locked out of the city had no choice but to spend the night outside.

A tavern called "The Rusty Anchor" had a creaky sign swinging out front, with a beer mug, a bed, dice, and a wash tub painted on it.

Conrad swaggered through the door. The smell of booze and a wall of noise hit them. The place had low ceilings and was dimly lit, with a few tables and three to five people huddled around each one, mostly men. Playing cards and dice were scattered across the tables. One guy cursed, slammed a card on the table, then pulled a dagger from his belt and stabbed it into the deck. The others hooted and hollered, telling him to fork over his coin purse.

"Well, look who it is—Conrad!" A man recognized the Rat Gang's leader. "Who's this you got with you? Jesus, kids in gambling halls, women in whorehouses—the world's gone to hell!"

Stella figured she'd walked into the wrong joint. This didn't look like any legit inn. She was about to bolt, but when she turned around, she realized with a sinking feeling that the door was already shut...

"Shut your damn trap!" A sharp female voice rang out from upstairs.

A woman with flaxen hair in a low-cut dress came stomping down the stairs. She pointed at the man and cursed, "This is a respectable inn! Your house is the brothel! Your dad's a gigolo, your mom's a john! You've been peddling your ass since you were in diapers!"

The whole place burst out laughing. Conrad asked, "Shouldn't it be the other way 'round?"

"Oh honey, 'cause the other way just doesn't hit as hard!" The flaxen-haired woman said with a smile, cupping Conrad's face and giving it a squeeze. "People don't get scared by stuff they've heard a million times, sweetheart."

Conrad dodged her hand and said to Stella, "She's Ingrid. Ingrid, this is Stella from Starfall City."

Ingrid flashed a smile. "Welcome to Seven Candles City! What can I do for you, sweetheart? A bed? A meal? Or... something special?"

Stella felt uncomfortable under that stare. Conrad asked, "Where's Cornelis?"

Ingrid's enthusiasm instantly faded. She pointed to the backyard with a bored expression. Conrad dragged Stella through the back door of the inn.

In the small backyard was a tiny stable where two skinny, old horses were grazing. A young man who looked almost identical to Ingrid sat on a wooden barrel, legs crossed, a pipe dangling from his lips.

Seeing Conrad bounce over, the man stopped puffing and looked surprised.

"Conrad!" He called out. "You little brat, where have you been? Misha came crying to me saying you'd gone missing. If you hadn't come back soon, I was about to send people to look for you!"

"I went corpse-hunting. And you know what? I found something good." Conrad said casually. "Let me introduce you. Lady Stella, this is Cornelis. Cornelis, this is Lady Stella from Starfall City."

"Lady Stella from Starfall City." Cornelis stared at Stella, repeating her name. His gaze sharpened for a moment. Stella shrank back nervously, but the next second, Cornelis returned to his lazy demeanor.

Conrad said, "Lady Stella saved my life. I was corpse-hunting at the time..."

He embellished the story of their meeting, inventing details of a fight with the man that never happened, greatly exaggerating his own bravery, giving modest praise to Stella's contribution, and heavily mocking the man's villainy. Stella thought he had real potential as a politician.

"Anyway, Lady Stella wants to cross the river. You must have a way, right?"

"You wish to cross to the other side?" Cornelis pressed. "Are you heading south or north?"

"To the west coast," Stella said. "I need to take a ship to the colonies."

"A wise choice." Cornelis murmured. "Then I assume you have sufficient funds? We're not saints—we don't work for free."

Stella almost instinctively reached for the pouch of gems hidden in her clothes, but she stopped herself.

"I have money," she said.

Conrad was shocked. "You told me everything had been stolen!"

Cornelis looked at the boy with pity. "Use that heavy ball on your neck, child. If this lady had been robbed by bandits, would they have taken only her money?"

Realization dawned on Conrad, and he muttered, "Living longer really does have its perks." Stella grew wary. Conrad was a child—if he turned hostile, she could handle him. But Cornelis was a grown man; she couldn't overpower him. And this was his turf. What if he killed her for her goods...

"Don't worry, Lady Stella of Starfall City." Cornelis smiled, as if reading her thoughts. "I'm a true-blue Moltalian. I believe in fairness and courage. My fairness applies to my dealings with others. My courage isn't for bullying a damsel in distress."

He hopped off the barrel. "Come, Stella. You need to eat, bathe, and get a good night's sleep. Don't worry about crossing the river. As long as you have money," he paused with a smile, "even if you were the king traveling incognito, I'd find a way through the blockade to get you to the other side."

*

Stella was given a room on the second floor of the inn. By inn standards, it might score an eight out of a hundred. But when Stella lay down on the bed with its clean sheets, she nearly wept with gratitude. It was the most comfortable place she'd slept in days.

Ingrid brought her dinner. Stella didn't dare eat what they gave her. The little mouse slipped out of her sleeve, sniffed at the bread, cheese, and sausage, took a few bites of each before Stella felt safe enough to eat.

There was a bathhouse in the basement of the inn, but Stella didn't dare go there, so she washed up with a basin of water. She felt she needed to buy a change of clothes; days of travel had left her smelling bad. If any of her old noble lady friends got a whiff of her, they'd pass out cold and need smelling salts to wake up.

"Cornelis, Ingrid, the Thieves' Guild..." Stella murmured.

It was all too unreal, like something out of a novel suddenly coming to life. Could she trust them? Even her own cousin had betrayed her; now she was supposed to trust two strangers...

She felt she shouldn't fall asleep unguarded, but the second her head hit the pillow, she was out cold. When she opened her eyes again, it was already dawn.

She'd eaten just the night before, but come morning, her stomach was already growling. She went to the inn's lobby to find something to eat and noticed that the guests had changed—the tough-looking crew who'd been playing cards and rolling dice the night before was gone, replaced by ordinary-looking travelers.

Conrad was there too. He told Stella that those tough characters were members of the Thieves' Guild, who were nocturnal, active at night and sleeping during the day.

Every month, the thieves would bring in their loot to split up, and if disputes arose, Cornelis would arbitrate. If any member got hurt by an outsider, Cornelis would lead the crew to teach them a lesson.

The young man had become Chief because he'd gone to a church school and could do math. But the Rusty Anchor also ran a legit business, offering beds and meals to travelers passing through. ("It's called camouflage," Cornelis explained seriously. "And since the inn pays taxes, the magistrate turns a blind eye.")

Members of the Rat Gang sometimes did work for the Thieves' Guild. Stella figured Cornelis would train them to do petty thievery, but instead they helped Ingrid wash sheets, gather firewood, and clean up. Ingrid gave them two bowls of watery porridge a day. ("Such wonderful cheap labor," the beautiful proprietress said dreamily.)

Getting ready to cross the river would take a few days, so Stella settled in at the inn. The little girl named Misha from the Rat Gang ran errands for her, going into town to buy her a change of clothes and travel necessities. ("With decent boots on, those shopkeepers treated me with more respect," Misha said happily.)

Stella also learned from the Rat Gang how to start a fire with a flint, how to cook food, and how to catch fish with just a hook. ("What, you don't even know that, and you managed to walk all the way from Starfall City to here?! Are you playing dumb and messing with me 'cause I'm a kid?" Conrad was shocked.)

The Rat Gang kids were on average only half Stella's age, yet they knew far more about survival than she did. She learned that the Rat Gang was not really a gang, but a group of street children. Some had lost their parents and had to beg; some were abandoned because their families couldn't feed them; some ran away from abusive masters they were apprenticed to; and some had been sold but managed to escape.

They wandered from place to place, coming from Starfall City to Seven Lamps City, taken in by the Cornelis siblings, doing odd jobs for the Thieves' Guild in exchange for meals.

"We may be young, but we are many. Even a small rat, when it bands together in a pack, can make an elephant afraid." That was the origin of the Rat Gang's name.

Stella stayed at the inn for five days. On the morning of the sixth day, she was awakened by a chaotic noise of voices.

At first, she thought the Cornelis siblings had finally shown their true colors and come to rob her, but she quickly found the room empty and her gems still pressed against her chest untouched. The noise came from outside the inn.

She threw on her cloak and pushed open the wooden window, only to see a crowd of people in the courtyard below surrounding a man on horseback, chattering incessantly. Stella strained to listen but could not make out what they were saying.

Before long, the rider pushed his way out of the crowd and galloped toward Seven Lamps City. Whether it was her imagination or not, everyone's face seemed to bear an expression of despair.

"Lady Stella, may I come in?" Cornelis called from outside the door.

Stella closed the window. "Please, come in."

The innkeeper and head of the Thieves' Guild pushed the door open. Stella assumed he had come to bring her breakfast, but she saw his hands were empty.

"What's going on?" she asked uneasily.

"A messenger just rode in from White Spring Valley with news for the whole kingdom." Cornelis paused, his expression turning deeply sorrowful. "Prince Aster has fallen in battle."