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Rispah ran out into the street, glancing all around her. It was five seconds. Five seconds. That kid couldn’t stay put for more than five seconds. She stepped to the side as an owl flew right at her face. Honestly, today was not going her way. The job interview at the shop had fallen through, and that darn
kid would literally be the death of her. Her aunt would actually kill her if anything happened to little Leo, and if she was honest with herself, Rispah would probably just take it.
The alleys were quick. Fastpaced. If she were alone, Rispah would be weaving in and out amongst the crowd—gossiping, buying a quick snack, chatting up that cute boy loitering on the corner—but that was a normal day. Not today. Today she had gone and lost her younger cousin in this current of people. She ran to the side of a building where a pile of crates was stacked almost higher than her head. Rispah generally disliked physical exertion (she was a witch after all) but quickly scrambled to the top, hoping for a better vantage point.
From above, the alleys were still chaotic, but Rispah could see the swirls and eddies of human movement. The queue snaking around the corner full of people waiting for fresh mince pies, the languid energy of half empty stalls, and the absolute insanity of five people running after what looked like a hastily-spelled cart rolling berserk through the middle of the crowd. Wizards and witches not quick enough to draw their wands hastily jumped out of the way. The cart was like a giant bludger, going out of its way to run into every person on the street.
“Watcha lookin’ for?”
Rispah almost toppled from the stack, but Marek Swiftknife grabbed her before she could fall. Swatting him on the shoulder, Rispah righted herself and continued scanning the crowd.
“Leo ran. He was there, I look away for five seconds and he just runs off! I’m supposed to be babysitting him!”
Marek frowned. “You’re babysitting him and you brought him here? You know how the kid is. Regular little mischief maker.”
Rispah sighed. “I do know. But I had a job interview today. I really wanted a more…stable income. Now that I’m of age, I can’t just be relying on Aunt Elaine.” Marek’s face cleared into commiseration.
“Aye, I know how that is. But the important thing now is finding the rascal, right?”
Rispah gave a longsuffering laugh. “That’s right. I’ve missed the interview now anyway. Alright. I say we follow the chaos. Leo’s most likely right there in the middle of it.”
[LHLHLHLHLH]
Leo was, in fact, right in the middle of it. He was having the time of his life running in the streets, following two kids who were tossing a trio of small balls between them.
It was boring and really hot in the alleys. There were lots of people but Leo was so bored. Cousin Rispah had told him to stay close to her, but she was going into a really boring store to talk to some adult, and Leo really really didn’t want to wait around while his cousin tried to be all grown up. So when he saw those kids run by, he followed.
It turned out they were juggling those small balls, and once Leo finally caught up to them behind a fruit stall, they had eagerly shown him the trick of it. The three of them laughed and tried to steal the balls the others were juggling, and soon they were off again, dodging shop patrons and cats and one crazy owl that also tried to make off with the juggling balls. The children clambered up a ladder to a low roof, and then continued their hectic race across the rooftops.
There was a shout in the street down below and the clanging of cart wheels on cobblestones. Startled, Leo misplaced his foot and slipped on a loose shingle.
Leo didn’t think much while falling. He could feel his magic whirling about him, laughing and dancing with the wind. In a faraway part of his brain, a voice that sounded like his mother’s clearly scolded him for not having better balance. The stone and brick of the wall blurred in front of his eyes before Leo was jolted to awareness by the soft and sturdy arms arresting his movement. Leo tilted his head to stare at the blond hair and dark eyes staring back down at him. With all the charm he could muster, and recalling the hours he had pestered cousin Rispah into making faces with him, he beamed up at the man.
“Hi!”
The dark eyes were calm and faintly amused, with one almost invisible eyebrow lifted up, almost of its own accord.
“Hello, there.”
Not daring to look away, Leo widened his eyes as innocently as possible. It never worked on Mum or Rispah, but he was sure he could win over this stranger.
“Could ya put me down please?” No response. “Sir?”
“Oh, lad, I’m definitely not a sir.” The man deposited Leo onto the ground. “You can call me Piper.”
Leo turned back to look at the man, Piper. He was dressed simply, with a grey tunic over dark pants. But at his hip, hanging from a belt, was what looked to Leo like a knife. And it was awesome.
“Is that a knife?!” Leo’s hand reached out to touch the hilt which was covered in brown leather and weathered from constant use. Before his fingers got anywhere close, however, they were intercepted by the hands that had just placed him safely on the ground.
“Woah there, laddie. Aye, it’s a knife, but you look a mite young to be playin’ with it.”
Leo pouted. “My da lets me help out cutting ingredients when he’s brewing. I can use a knife. I’m eight, so I’m not a child.”
For a brief moment Piper just stared silently down at the fearsome expression in the boy’s hazel eyes. Then, he chuckled.
“Alright, then. Eight. Of course that’s definitely old enough. Though this knife,” he pulled said weapon from its sheath and began twirling it his fingers, “is a bit different from the ones I’m sure your da uses for his potions.” His fingers paused for a moment. “Also, I’m not sure your da would think you playing around with a stranger you met in the Alleys is a very good idea.”
Leo furrowed his brows, thinking. “Well, I don’t think my da knows I’m here…but my ma says there’s lots of good people in the alleys…” his expression brightened. “And you saved my life aaand introduced yourself, so now you’re my friend!”
“Well, I guess I can’t quite argue with that logic. Fine. First rule of throwing knives is holding it correctly. Look. You see how I’m almost pinching the handle like this? Then you just can aim and throw, like a stick.” Piper demonstrated as he explained, and the knife flew smoothly from his hand, twirling point over butt, before embedding itself in the grooves of a wall. Leo gasped and dropped his jaw.
“That was the coolest thing ever! Let me try! I wanna try!”
Piper wordlessly summoned the knife back to them.
“Alright. Be careful. Aim for…” he glanced around the deserted alley, saw nothing, and conjured up a small target. “Aim for the target. Don’t throw too hard or it can bounce back and hit us, understand?”
Leo nodded and took the knife reverently from Piper’s hand. He squared his small shoulders and glared at his target before raising his arm…and throwing the knife.
It sailed through the air, completely bypassing the target that was now bouncing in agitation.
“Ahhhhhh!”
Thunk.
[RCRCRCRCRC]
Rispah bid Marek farewell and followed the group of people running after the runaway cart from earlier. She had no proof, but her intuition and many, many years of following that rascal around told her that even if Leo was not currently on that runaway cart he probably soon would be.
Ahead of her, the cart took a sharp turn around the Dancing Dragon, and the small crowd following it soon disappeared after it. Rispah tried to picture the street the cart would now be on. Taking a quick detour into an alley, she ran to try and head it off before letting out a cry as a knife almost hits her square in the face.
Someone’s magic (not Rispah’s) pulled her out of the way just in time for the knife to bury itself in the slim groove between two bricks…several feet away from what Rispah recognized as a practice target.
A laugh caught her off-guard and she spun to see a blond-haired man doubled over laughing. Leo stood next to him, smug and self-satisfied as a cat.
“See, Piper, told ya I could do it!”
The man, Piper, nodded in agreement.
“Aye, that you can. I bet you’ll be right handy with a knife if the future.” He glanced over to Rispah, quirking an eyebrow. “And who might you be?”
She had never run into the man in person, since her family tried to keep her away from the political side of the Alleys as much as possible, but even without hearing his name she had been sure this was the Rogue. With a somewhat halfhearted bow, she replied, “Rispah, your highness. Rispah Cooper. His older cousin.” She gestured to Leo who had raced over to retrieve the knife.
Piper’s face melted into a suave grin. “Pleasure to meet you, Lady Rispah. What brings you and the lad to the Alleys today?”
“Babysitting and what I hoped would be a job.” She sighed. “Thank you for looking out for Leo. I apologize if he caused you any trouble.”
Behind her, Rispah heard the laughs of a gaggle of children, and spun once more to see Leo sprint off again. He quickly caught up to the group, eyes shining bright and mischievous, before slamming into the side of the runaway cart which had returned to the mouth of the side alley.
The sudden impact toppled the cart which finally came to a rest, dumping its contents of fruit onto the street. Rispah raced over, dragging Leo out from under the toppled cart. Her hands encircled his whole arms as she plopped him upright on the cobblestones and began checking him over for injuries. Behind them, Piper let out another laugh.
“He seems to be causing you more trouble than he caused me!” Another set of hands set to work, and the three of them righted and began to repack the cart. The fruit was mostly whole, only a little bruised, and Rispah pretended not to notice as Leo snuck a small apple into his pocket.
A few minutes later, the owner of the cart appeared, thanking Piper profusely and promising it wouldn’t happen again. The Rogue smiled and waved it off, before turning back to his temporary companions. Leo stood wide-eyed, staring at Piper like he’d never really looked at him before. He looked to the knife, the wand, and back up to the man himself, and Rispah saw the moment awe sharpened to determination. A small part of her mind began whispering repeated, frenzied “no’s”, but Rispah would ignore that…for now.
“Hey, kid.” Leo continued to stare. “Leo! It’s time to go home.”
Leo turned to his cousin, full of purpose. “Can we come back again?” Rispah looked at her young, determined cousin, then to the Rogue who returned a knowing smile and nod. She briefly closed her eyes and uttered a quick prayer to the Trickster God she had never prayed to before. Taking Leo’s hand, she replied.
"Sure, kid. But I’m not letting you go until we reach home. You wouldn’t want me to tell your ma about your escape today, would you?"
“Rispaaaahhh!!!” Leo whined, trying to remove his hand from his cousin’s. They had just reached the turn to Kyprioth Court when Piper called out behind them.
“Lady Rispah, if you’re still looking for a job, come back to the Dancing Dragon tomorrow around noon. I think I have a position for you.” Rispah looked back to give her thanks and paused when she saw Leo’s mischievous grin on the Rogue’s face. “And bring the kid.”