Chapter One
The sun rose slowly, its light creeping out over the horizon and across the dunes of sand until, at last, it touched the great walls of the city of Kalale and the brilliant blue sea beyond. Awash in the morning light, the city appeared to glow gold, its fabled bazaars and streets coming to life. The scents of cardamom and other exotic spices filled the air, giving the area a rich perfume all its own.
Down at the docks, ships sailed in, their hulls full of
treasures from the far reaches of the world. Captains shouted orders to the sailors as they prepared the boats going out to sea, carrying with them all the riches Kalale had to offer. Above, seabirds circled, their calls as constant as the water lapping on the shore.
In the market, vendors opened their stalls, filling boxes with bright fruits and vegetables, silks and satins, and other exotic treasures they would haggle over and sell when the market opened.
Musicians toting instruments took their places throughout the market, in the shade cast by the large palace that loomed over the entire city. They would soon fill the streets with delightful sounds and, when the day turned to night, bring the citizens of the city out to get lost in the dances and trances of the Arabian night.
It was a magical place. A place where it seemed anything was possible and where the streets were full of adventure. But it wasn’t an easy place to make a living. Not for those who called the streets their home. While the palace of Kalale reflected the region’s riches, its streets reflected its reality. To make it, you had to be quick on your feet and with your wit.
Remus stared out at the marketplace. It was quickly growing busy as servants and merchants and townsfolk began to go about their daily business, haggling over prices, looking for the freshest fruit or a special silk. Half a dozen different languages filtered through the air, creating a symphony of sound that was oddly soothing.
For him, the sounds, the people, and the hubbub of the marketplace were as familiar as the back of his own hand. Kalale had been his home for every day of his twenty years. Born a street rat, he had remained a street rat; the corridors and stalls and alleyways had been his playground, his school.
The market was where he had honed his skills at “borrowing” what he needed, when he needed it. He knew that most of those who lived like him had given up hope long ago. They were resigned to a life of just getting by. But not Remus. Lifting his eyes to the palace beyond, he felt the same familiar rush he felt every time he took in its towers and caught a hint of the lush gardens beyond.
He knew—or rather, he believed—there was more to life. He was going to be somebody—even if that meant just being the best street rat in Kalale. Shaking his head, Remus began to move through the market. Now was not the time to get lost in daydreams. He had more pressing and real issues like finding breakfast.
As his growling stomach was now reminding him, it had been a day since he had eaten anything and he was in the mood for something sweet. A pomegranate, or maybe a spiced bun from Saja’s stall. She always made the best pastries. Just thinking about it made his mouth water.
Heading in that direction, he continued planning his day. One thing his less-than-ordinary life required was a plan and a backup plan to that plan. That morning, he would head to the docks to spot what new goods had arrived in Kalale with the dawn tide. They would end up in the market the following day, and any street rat worth his salt knew it was best to know what to go after, before anyone else got their hands on it.
On his shoulder, his best friend, a monkey named Moony, chattered away. Nodding absently in reply as the monkey let out a particularly shrill set of screeches, Remus nearly bumped into a woman. Startled, he took a step back. But then a large smile spread across his face as he took in the brilliant—and clearly very expensive—jewel at his throat.
“What’s your monkey’s name?” the woman asked.
“Moony,” Remus said. In response, Moony tipped the small fez he wore on his head and scampered from Remus' shoulder to the woman’s arm.
The woman let out a delighted laugh. “He’s a lovely monkey,” she said, cooing to Moony as he weaved around her shoulders.
Remus shot the monkey a look. Moony nodded and
continued to scamper, faster and faster. Then, turning his attention back to the woman, Remus nodded at her neck.
“And that’s a lovely necklace,” he pointed out.
Reaching a hand to her throat, the woman touched the bright jewel hanging off the thick chain around his neck. Remus' eyes followed her fingers, but his ears stayed tuned to the noises around him.
He had been on the streets long enough to know when he was being conned. And beautiful, beguiling women didn’t just walk up to young street rats without some intention—and it was usually not a good intention. Sure enough, he heard a rustle and then felt the slightest of tugs on the bag he carried over his shoulder.
Quick as a wink, Remus reached over his shoulder, grabbing a thin, smooth hand just as it reached into his bag. Pulling the hand forward, he found himself face-to-face with another young woman, clearly the accomplice. He knew this routine. Distract and snatch.
“Hello,” he said, flashing one of his most charming smiles, which lit up his face and made him still more handsome. “I think that belongs to me. Should’ve gone for the pocket, but you had to go for the bag. Greed…it’ll get you every time.”
The woman who had initially caught Remus' attention shrugged. “Didn’t have anything worth stealing anyway,” she said. Turning, the two slunk off into the crowds of the market. Remus could hear them grumbling and knew they were already looking for their next mark. After all, that was what he would have been doing.
Quickly, Remus shimmied up the rough wall of a nearby building. Jumping over onto the roof, he waited for Moony to join him. “How’d we do?” he asked the monkey.
In answer, Moony ran up onto Remus' shoulder and
held out his tiny hand. Clutched in it was the necklace the woman had been wearing.
“Good monkey,” Remus said, pleased. He knew that he looked the part of an easy con. He was anything but. Lifting the necklace so it caught the sun and sparkled enticingly, he smiled more broadly. And now he was a street rat who was that much richer.