Chapter 11 - A Thief in Noble's Clothing

Lord Kensly and his son stood before all the people gathered in the banquet all, Jaron kneeling before his father. Matthew was enthralled by the ceremony. The two had just exchanged well rehearsed words. Lord Kensly confronted Jaron with numerous questions and Jaron answered them, vowing to live his life in a way that would show respect to every person living in Garlin, as well as any he may come across elsewhere, meeting their needs in any way he could. It was something that Matthew had not expected to hear a noble’s son vow.


Lord Kensly now stood holding a sword that from what Matthew could tell, was expertly crafted. He knelt down, eye level with his son and presented the sword to him.

“It is with this blade that I ask you to protect,” Lord Kensly said in a voice that filled the room and quieted everything, “I ask you to protect those that you love. I ask you to protect those that need protection. The weak and the oppressed. Though remember that this blade is only metal, there are some battles that it will not be a useful tool. It is in those battles that you must use your wit, and your intelligence to win,” Jaron took the sword from his father and stood, leaving his father kneeling before him.

“I shall use this sword to defend those that need defending, regardless of the cost to myself. I will use the knowledge and wisdom gained throughout my time lived to help those that are in need of help,” Jaron’s voice was solid as he made his vow, never wavering, “I promise this to you, my father, as well as to all who have gathered here this day.”

Lord Kensly rose, and the two embraced one another as a cheer went up from those gathered. The two stepped away from one another as Jaron belted the sword to his waist before giving a bow to his father, who returned the act with a bow of his own. Matthew continued to watch even as the two returned to their seats.

People began to rise from their tables, the meal over, and head to the two empty areas in the room. Musicians began to play an upbeat tune as still others rose to speak with Lord Kensly and his family. Matthew relaxed when Alexander stood and went off in the direction of the head table. It was not that he disliked the man, it was just that he had trouble trusting anyone who would be more likely to throw him in a cell than let him survive on the streets.

Eventually Miktan left the table, as well as the young couple that had spent the majority of their evening with them. Miktan went to the musicians, speaking to one of the men before beginning to sing along with what they were playing. The couple went to the dance floor. With nothing to keep him at the table but Matthew, Telan left too, off in search of the information that he seemed to hold so dear.
Matthew sat alone at the empty table. He watched as numerous couples spun along the dance floor. He could not understand what it was about dancing that appealed to people. As far as he could tell dancing served no purpose. Matthew saw a number of girls glancing in his direction as if to will him to ask them to dance. During the meal, Miktan had pointed out any young woman, and some more than ten years older than Matthew, that eyed him curiously. Miktan claimed that they were evaluating him, and probably wished that when the meal was over Matthew would ask them to dance.

In his watching the dance floor, Matthew didn’t notice as someone approached him from his left, “Excuse me,” a voice said and Matthew spun to look in the direction the voice came from, fighting the urge to stand and run.

When Matthew noticed who was standing there, he stood anyway. In all her beauty, Celes Debeart stood, an eyebrow raised at Matthew’s reaction. The want to run strengthened. He was not sure how to handle the situation. He wished Miktan were there, he would know what to say at a time like this.
“L, Lady Celes, it is an honor,” Matthew managed to stutter out.

She covered her mouth as she laughed quietly, “Please, call me Celes, you are Matthew, correct? Master Miktan’s young friend?”

“Ye, yes, I am. Is there anything I can do for you?” Matthew hoped that there was nothing. He hoped that it was just merely some prank that she and the other young women were playing on him. A prank to watch him bumble his way through a conversation with a lady of Celes Debeart’s caliber.

“I was curious if you would be willing to join me for a walk through the courtyard?” She motioned to one of the doors opposite from the main entrance of the hall.

Matthew stood, stunned. He hoped that his mouth was not hanging open, but couldn’t be sure. His head swam, looking for an excuse to get away, any reason.

“He would be honored to,” a voice said from behind him.

Matthew spun again, suddenly realizing how much he had let his guard down. He saw Miktan standing there, a large grin on his face that Matthew knew to be trouble. It was the same grin he had given Matthew when he had accepted Miktan’s offer to accompany him to this accursed banquet. It was not until that moment he realized there were no words accompanying the music that filled the hall.

“I do not believe we have had the honor of being properly introduced, I am Miktan Lonstrat,” the older man said fluidly.

“Yes of course, I am Lady Celes Debeart, daughter of Lord Wilrich Debeart. I must say that I enjoyed your singing, it was a pleasure to hear your wonderful voice,” she said, finally offering her hand which Miktan took and placed a light kiss on her knuckles.

“The pleasure was all mine. Now Matthew,” Miktan turned to look at him, “I do believe that the young lady asked you to accompany her through the gardens.”

Matthew glared at the old man, hoping that his look had softened as he turned to look at Celes, “It’d… It would be my honor,” he said offering his arm to Celes.

Gooseflesh raced across his arm as her hand lightly touched it. He was certain that never again in his life would he see a woman as beautiful as Celes Debeart. As they started off for the door, Matthew concentrated on his walking. He felt uncoordinated next to her, as if he were tripping over his own feet. Celes however seemed to glide across the floor, her feet not even touching the ground as they walked.

Matthew could feel the eyes of most of the young men and women follow them across the room. He was sure that the men were angered at the fact that Celes was on his arm, and he wasn’t sure what the girls were watching. Perhaps this is still part of their prank, Matthew thought as they neared the door.

All that he had learned from Miktan and Jonson over the last couple days left him. He could not remember a thing they had told him. Matthew searched his mind for anything that he was suppose to do. As they were a few steps from the door, Matthew remembered that he should open it, allowing her through the door completely before following.

He forced himself to part from her, feeling as if he lost something as her touch left him. He took two quick steps and pulled the door open. He gave a slight inclination of his head and motioned her through with his arm. Miktan and Jonson had not taught him that, but he had seen nobles in the city do the same and figured that it was appropriate.

She walked past him, the scent of her filling his nose. She smelled of jasmine and something else that he could not place. Once she was through, he stepped through the doorway, leaving the door to close behind him. She walked over to the railing, paying him no mind. He followed, like an obedient hound.

“They are amazing, are they not?” She asked.

Matthew was confused until he noticed that she was staring at the stars, “Uh, yes. Yes they are.”

“It Beldin, the sky is so full of smoke from all the industry buildings that you can not see nearly half of the stars you can see here in Garlin,” she continued to look at the sky as she spoke, but Matthew was fixed on her face in the moonlight.

Celes turned to look at him, their eyes meeting. Her eyes gleamed. It was as if they captured the stars and shone back through them. She smiled and Matthew felt as if he would melt if she commanded it.

“Do you know why it is that I asked you to accompany me out here rather than some other?” She asked, her every word hypnotizing him.

He shook his head and she continued, “It is because unlike every other man in that room, you were one of the few that did not approach me, and from what I can gather, you were the only one that did not approach me that was not already married or promised to another,” she paused a moment before continuing, “though there were a few that approached me all the same.”

Matthew continued to watch her, dumbstruck. She smiled again and Matthew thought that he could lose himself in her deep, blue eyes. They seemed to stand there looking at each other for an eternity, and Matthew was more than happy to do so.

“You are an enigma to me,” she said, breaking the silence and looking away. Matthew felt as if he had just earned all the gold in Garlin and that it had been stolen away from him.

“Why is that?” He asked, finally speaking, though he still watched her face.

“I have been attending the gatherings here in Garlin since I arrived nearly a month ago, yet I have not seen your face once,” again she turned to look at him, this time a look of confusion on her face, “how is that?”

“That would be because this is the first event in Garlin I have attended,” Matthew said before thinking the rest, as a guest at least.

“I see,” she said, an eyebrow raising in suspicion, “did you just arrive in Garlin? From Ugana perhaps?”

“No, I live here in Garlin,” the thought of why he was being so open with her crossed his mind, but he paid it no attention.

“With Master Miktan?” she asked.

“No, Miktan is just a friend that tricked me into coming to this thing,” the thought came again, and this time he caught it. By the weave, what am I thinking telling her this. If she finds out the truth… frayed, I need to find a way out of this.

Celes’ eyebrows furrowed, “Then where do you live?”

“I,” Matthew halted. I almost told her everything. Burn my thread this woman is trouble, He thought carefully before continuing, “I do not think you would believe me if I told you.”

Celes face softened and she smile, “You may be surprised Matthew.”

Any hesitation he had vanished when facing that smile, “I’m a street-thief. I was orphaned when I was very young. When I couldn’t find any work after the orphanage released me, I was taken in by an old friend. He taught me how to steal and survive on the streets. I’ve been doing that ever since.”

Matthew’s mind reeled when he realized what he had said. He was not sure what had just happened. He never trusted anyone outside the crew, besides Miktan, with that information. Now he just blurted it all out to some girl he had only met. He took a couple steps back as he pressed fingers to his temples. His head throbbed as if he had just been struck.

“Interesting,” Celes said blankly, turning from him to look at the sky again.

“Interesting,” Matthwe said sarcastically, looking at her, but with a finger still rubbing at his left temple, “I am willing to bet that anyone else in that room besides Miktan would be shocked at the least to have heard what I just said. There would be some that would probably be more than willing to hand me over to the guard that very moment. And you just think that it’s interesting?”

“I can understand your confusion Matthew, but you know nothing about me, about why I was sent to live with my uncle here in Garlin,” Celes’ face held a pained expression, but she stared at the stars, “I had a habit, back in Beldin, that my father was ashamed of. Mine is a young family, new to the high houses, and my father did not want my habit to tarnish our already fragile reputation.”

Matthew was not sure, but he thought he saw tears in Celes’ blue eyes, “The story everyone is told was that I was sent here to live with my Uncle, to learn the ways of Garlin government and how the houses fit into it. That is barely a part of the truth. In Beldin I had a habit of sneaking out of the keep and passing myself off as one of the commoners.”

Matthew thought that was impossible, that someone as beautiful as Celes could ever be mistaken as a simple commoner, but he did not interrupt, “My father saw little merit in my behavior, thinking as he did of those that were not noble born. The irony is that he himself is not noble born, it is my mother that is. When they married, he used her power to make a name for himself, and through less than righteous means, he weaseled his way in among the high houses. Eventually he was named a High Lord of Beldin.

“When my excursions from the keep came to his attention, he tried to imprison me. Me, his own daughter, locked in a room in the keep. However, I continued to find ways out. Finally my father sent me here to live with my Uncle, the brother of my mother. He hopes that my Uncle will be able to force me into being the dutiful noble’s daughter he truly wishes me to be.”

It was now Matthew’s turn to be confused, and he was, “How is living with your Uncle suppose to change you behavior?”

“My Uncle is a rather harsh individual. I would rather not go into the details of how, but he gave me options of which there was one that was clearly what was safe for me,” tears streamed from Celes’ eyes now as she told her story.

Matthew was about to go to her, to try and offer her some comfort as the door to the banquet hall burst open and someone stormed through. Matthew could not see who it was with the bright light of the hall to his back, and the sudden introduction of the light blurred Matthew’s vision.

He looked to Celes, who’s tears had seemed to vanish as quickly as the person had entered the courtyard. She stood, beautiful in her light blue dress, looking at the stars. As Matthew’s eyes adjusted he could make out the sword on the man’s hip and some of his face.

“Lord Jaron?” Celes spoke, putting words to Matthew’s thoughts and having turned to look at the young man.

“What?” he said, spinning on her, “Oh, Lady Celes, I am sorry, I hope that I did not frighten you.”
Matthew had tightened when Jaron had turned on Celes, but they relaxed as Celes spoke, “It was no trouble, is everything all right?”

Jaron threw his hands in the air in frustration, “All right? Of course they are, why wouldn’t they be? I am the son of a High Lord. Heir to his estate. And now? Now I should be free to do what I like but I am still a prisoner to this life!”

Matthew flinched as Jaron shouted the last to the sky. He wanted to stand by Celes, to protect her if she should need it, but instinct told him to stay in the shadows where it seemed he had not yet been seen.

“Is there trouble my lord?” Celes asked, placing a hand on Jaron’s shoulder.

Matthew felt a pang of jealousy as Jaron turned his head to look into Celes’ eyes, “No, no trouble,” Jaron said, his voice much calmer than before, “I just wish that I could live the life I choose. I wish that I could live outside this manor, among the people. Instead I have everything handed to me. Anything I could ask for is brought to me. Why do I deserve to be pampered? What is it that set me apart from any other man in this city? My family? My father? My blood? Burn it all.”

Matthew stood confused at Jaron’s words. That one such as he, one that lived in comfort. One that had the choice to forsake all he had could be envious of those that fought to survive. Matthew felt anger bubble up in him. Anger at the boy’s naiveté.

“A life beyond these walls, that it what I want. A life in which I can accomplish something, where I can see the fruits of my labor,” Jaron’s head hung.

Matthew finally stepped from the shadows, “You know nothing of what you wish,” Jaron’s head spun to look at him, “Life out there isn’t nearly as glamorous as you seem to think it is. Day after day people have to do things they wish they didn’t, to do things they’re not proud of, all because they aren’t born into a life you have. We have to lie, cheat and steal our way through life while you sit in your beautiful manor, have your banquets and whine about what you have while my friends and I live out there wondering if we’ll eat tomorrow,”

Matthew realized that he had shifted to including himself in those he spoke of, but in his anger he didn’t care, “You are right when you say that you are apart from the world beyond this place, that you don’t live a life like we do. Be happy that you can. You aren’t happy with your life here? You think that living out there will change anything? You are poorly mistaken, my Lord,” Matthew’s voice dripped contempt on those words, “You know what you do have? You have power. You have power to change things, to change the way things are out there. To make people’s lives better. Instead you wish to leave this place, the place that would allow you to do something, and trade it for a life of misery.”

Matthew stared at the two noble’s before him, sure his face was red in anger. Finally everything he had just said hit him like a club. Panic set in. I just yelled at a Lord, fray, not just a lord, a High Lord. He turned to the door and quickly made his way back inside the hall, leaving Celes and Jaron standing in the courtyard with dumbstruck expressions on their faces.

He felt exposed, completely naked as he entered the massive room. He looked to the massive doors on the other side of the hall that would open to his freedom. All that stood between them and him were hundreds of nobles and dozens of guards. He started his way across the room.

He could hear that Miktan was singing along with the band now, but it was a dim thought as he focused on the two large doors. He was nearly a quarter of the way there when he felt eyes on his back. Instinctively he cut into the crowds, looking back to see Jaron and Celes standing just inside the door, scanning the room.

Looking for me, Matthew thought, By the weave, what was I thinking? He continued across the room, weaving through the crowd. It slowed him, but it also hid him. When he reached the edge he saw that he had maybe thirty paces to the stairs. Thirty paces with no cover. A large guard stood to one side of the stairs talking with someone. Matthew recognized the man talking with the guard as Alexander.
Thinking his luck could not get any worse, he started. He walked casually, at least as casually as he could manage with his skin crawling and his mind screaming at him to run. He tried to swallow his fear.

Then steps from the first stair Matthew noticed the guard look up. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that he wasn’t looking at him, but out into the hall. Five steps away and the guard stood in front of him, hand on his sword, though it remained sheathed. Alexander stood next to the man looking at Matthew curiously.

“If you will excuse me, I really need to be going,” Matthew said, looking up at the much larger man, hoping that he would step aside.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you leave just yet,” the man said with a blank look on his face.