Prologue:

Mapping out Gyfrin

The continent of Gyfrin was a huge landmass with a rich landscape that was separated into five countries.

 

To the north was the ring of huge mountains, the peaks of which hid the large Lumir Empire, once a power-hungry nation, now content to sit and peacefully make their way with other nations. The land there was often blanketed with snow, and home to many deadly creatures.

 

To the south were four other nations- Skraela, Rejenett, Vredal, and Veekah

 

Skraela was a vast desert country to the east, with scattered cities. However, what they lack in natural resources, they make up for it in craftsmanship and smithing- many kinds of furniture and weapons were made here, alongside a wide diversity of other objects. However, the desert is harsh, crawling with bandits and scorpions.

 

The wetlands of Rejenett were much friendlier, with a more habitable landscape and a much less scattered population. Hidden between trees and past swamps were many mines- gold, iron, silver, and many other metals were produced, refined, and sold there. Scattered amongst the many towns, were huge walled-off fortress-like cities, belonging to a humanoid, but lizardlike race of creatures known only as the skulfara, or Dragon-Kin. However, they were reclusive, and wary of outsiders, so very few have seen what lies within the walls…

 

West of Skraela and Rejenett lay Vredal, the third largest nation in the continent. The eastern portion was a vast plain, with many towns. Many farmers and animal herders made their way, providing meat, fruit, vegetables and hides that fed mouths all over the continent. The western part was made up of many forests, filled with wildlife and trees, where wood for fires and building was harvested, and many hunters resided. The nation was well-known as a negotiator between other nations, orchestrating in an era that was (mostly) peaceful for centuries.

 

South of Skraela, Rejenett and Vredal lay the smallest and youngest nation- Veekha. A costal country, lined with boats and fisheries…And greedy merchants as well. The country has a checkered history, and there are rumors of a large thieves’ guild, skulking around somewhere…

 

That in a nutshell, sets some backdrop for the events to happen in our story. A series of events filled with intrigue, excitement and adventure. Along with a fair bit of insanity as well, but most stories of this sort have that anyway.

 

 

Gyfrin is a based off of the Welsh word for secret, gyfrinach.

Lumir comes from the Estonian word for snow, lumi.

Vredal comes from the Dutch word for peace, vrede.

Rejenett comes from the Hungarian word for hidden, rejtett.

Skraela is a reference to a game I played a while back.

2: Chapter One: Heist

 

Silently, a figure dressed in a hooded grayish cloak with a cowl of sorts drawn over her mouth crouched in the shadows. Taking a moment to shoo away a small fairy sitting on her shoulder, she watched the imposing wall surrounding the castle, searching for a weak point. It was about thirty feet high, a difficult climb for any normal person, but this was no normal thief either. She studied every crack from where she lay in the brush, every loose brick and tiny crevice.

 

When one of the sentries had his back turned, she dashed forward, and with practiced skill, scaled the wall and hopped into the courtyard. Okay, she was past one hurdle. There was still the matter of finding a way inside the palace. The ground was dark, and there were plenty of places where she could hide in the shadows, so she had plenty of time at least…

 

Okay… she thought, grinning darkly to herself. Just find a way in, take a few valuable things and then just creep back out. Hopefully without anyone on my heels…

 

Darting silently about, she watched the guards, memorizing their routes and positions, skulking behind them to see if any carried a key or note that might have been of use. Finding none, she cursed darkly and then slipped towards the palace itself, searching for an easy way in.

 

Glancing upwards, she noticed a patch of ivy leading up to a window. Grinning, she clambered slowly, pausing to listen, or glance back to see if there was any danger of being noticed. When she arrived at the window, she levered it open with the dagger she carried at her side. It was small, barely wide enough to slip through. She wouldn’t be leaving that way, not if she found anything of value.

 

Her name was Isabella- if she had a last name, she didn’t know it. Once just any other street rat, now an expert pickpocket and burglar. Seven years, she had studied the way people protect things that were valuable to them. Seven years of learning the best tools to take with you when breaking into an “impenetrable” fortress. Speed, stealth, wit and charm were the weapons of her arsenal. Along with a wide set of lockpicks and ropes naturally…

 

Isabella carefully slithered through the corridors, always pausing to listen, always hesitating before she turned a corner. All the while she filled her pockets. Never too much at once, of course. A ring here, a gem there… decorations that would still keep her fed for quite a while.

 

Then, trouble. Isabella found herself between a locked door, and an oblivious guard. Oblivious until he came close at any rate…

 

Wasting no time, she slipped a lockpick set into the lock, and carefully listened as the tumblers fell into place… click….click….clack! The door was open, but her cover was blown. She dashed into the next room, only to crash headlong into another girl. They tumbled back in a whirl of black and white- Isabella’s cloak and the noble girl’s dress. Then she was free, stumbling upright and towards the window.

 

Suddenly she was sent to the ground as the girl she had crashed into tackled her at the waist as the guard’s voice boomed out: “Stop! Thief!”

 

Squirming about, Isabella managed to pull free of the blonde girl’s attack, and dashed to the window. She hesitated. A fall from this height could snap her legs like twigs. Instead, she went upwards, climbing the wall even higher, eventually making it to the tiled rooftop. She dashed towards the other side, to see a much nicer sight- from here; she could make a leap to a deep pond in the courtyard and if she was lucky, dash to the wall and get away scot-free.

 

Hopefully.

 

She backed up and then dashed forward, leaping from the roof. She unintentionally somersaulted in the air, and hit the water feet first, splashing loudly.

 

“Wall, dammit!” Isabella muttered to herself as she shot up onto the walltops.

 

“Halt!” One of the sentries, a tall man wielding a pike roared, brandishing the iron weapon menacingly. He found himself gesturing into the air as the thief girl practically ignored him even being there and leapt from the wall, dashing into a maze of streets, laughing to herself.

 

She had gotten away.

 

Back in the palace hallways, the girl who had tackled Isabella stared out the window the thief had disappeared.

 

“Don’t worry ma’am.” The guard said confidently. “Thieves always make mistakes at some point. We’ll catch him.”

 

“Her….” The blond girl mumbled distantly, almost to herself.

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Not him, her.” She explained, bouncing on the balls of her feet nervously.

 

The guard wisely refrained from asking how the white-dressed girl was so sure.

 

And that’s my first chapter. How’s this story sound so far? Good? Please say it’s decent. ^^;

At any rate, your feedback is appreciated. It’s one of the few things that keeps me alive, actually.

So please review or I might die! :D