Once a Thief: Part Six

     "What would you like to eat, Jesqe?" Elrique asked as he guided her to a seat in the grand hall.

     "Anything. I haven't had a good meal in a while." She smiled. Elrique shot Ingilaug a look of disapproval, and this point she could not help but roll her eyes. She could do nothing right.

     A Peophin servant arrived to escort Jesqe to her room. "Rest, my dear." Elrique stroked her head as she was led away to her chamber.

     He retreated to his office with Ingilaug during a time when he normally needed to be alone in order to inspect the progress of the faction members. Currently no one was back in Qasala except for Vaughn, Carson, and Nabile. Four had gone to the Haunted Woods, six were banding together to take on Terror Mountain, many were scattered around in Meridell, Brightvale, and Tyrannia, and a few made the arduous trip to the treacherous Krawk Island itself, all for the sake of stealing.

     "Don't you think they should be back soon?" Ingilaug asked him and caused him to snap out of his deep thought.

     "Yes, but I believe that will be all right."

     "What will happen if they don't return soon?"

     "Then I'll find them myself," Elrique answered briskly.

     "There's no way..." Saraoka and Willia were not capable of taking out the likes of Elrique's faction on their own, Ingilaug grimly thought to herself.

     "Ingilaug... what are you talking about?" Elrique caught Ingilaug speaking out her thoughts. He would not let it go unheard, and with every ounce of strength, Ingilaug came clean.

     "I freed Saraoka and Willa."

     "You did what?"

     "While you were with Jesqe I took the keys and gave them to the girls. I just wanted them to escape from the Defenders, all right? I got them captured and I didn't want to be the one responsible for my most trusted faction members-"

     "Enough with your nonsense! Do you realize what you've done?!"

     "If you're suggesting that they're in a struggle with everyone, I really don't think they could take on Vaughn and the others by themselves."

     "They could have very well freed the others! That Grarrl and Grundo didn't look too pleasant! And Nabile... she's a thief, not a fighter!"

     The Tyrannian Kougra finally acknowledged her grave mistake

     "I would lock you away in an instant, but you're the only one here. All of my faction members besides the three of them are across Neopia at work. You're the last person I want help from, but I need it."

     Elrique pushed past Ingilaug and stumbled into the hallway. "You!" Elrique bellowed at an Aisha servant cleaning the stain glass windows. "Make sure the Blumaroo in the upstairs wing is taken care of, understood?"

     "Yes sir."

     He turned to Ingilaug. "Let's go."

     ***

     From the outside the Defenders post looked peaceful except for the door that Vaughn had broken down. Elrique pressed his back to the left side of the door and Ingilaug copied his stance on the right.

     "No matter what's going on in there, find Nabile," he whispered.

     They entered to the sight of the Pteri and Moehog still bound together on the floor. The two wanted so desperately to be angry at them for taking away an inmate, but they looked rather relieved to see them.

     "Where is everyone?" Ingilaug asked them. Her question was answered as Vaughn and the Grundo emerged from the other room in hand-to-hand combat.

     Elrique withdrew his sword from its sheath just as the Grarrl lunged at him. Ingilaug slipped by them as she was desperate to heed Elrique's advice in finding Nabile. The only place left to look was the basement, and she rushed there to find Saraoka and Willa looming over the Xweetok in the first cell. Ingilaug cringed at the sight of Nabile clutching her leg in her shredded cloak. How would she explain that injury to anyone, especially Jazan?

     "Get away from her!" Ingilaug screamed. Saraoka and Willa's attention diverted to the sudden outburst. Initially ready to attack, they backed down when they realized it was Ingilaug.

     "She swiped at me!" Willa protested. The Ogrin flashed her arm to Ingilaug to show a deep wound that extended from her wrist to her elbow. "So what we did to her was a little payback."

     "Just get away from her, yeah?" Ingilaug demanded of her faction members. The Ogrins slowly rose and left the cell but locked it from outside with the set of keys they still had.

     "Yes, yes. She wasn't much of a fight anyways." Saraoka glanced back at the half awake Xweetok.

     Ingilaug's brows furrowed. "Why did you free those other two inmates?"

     Willa shrugged. "We grew to be friends with them. The better question is, who was the Krawk and how did he know Jesqe? And where is she?"

     "There is a time and place to discuss these matters and this is definitely not one of them. The Grarrl and Grundo need to be stopped and you two should be on my side for that."

     Willa disapprovingly shook her head. "We won't hurt them! They're actually very sweet."

     "Unbelievable." Ingilaug waved a dagger in Nabile's direction. "Go near her again and you'll regret it."

     "We were going to leave anyways. Come with us and we can rescue Jesqe... if she needs rescuing," said Saraoka.

     "She doesn't."

     "And you?" remarked Willa. "You looked like you were being held against your will when you were with that Krawk."

     "I wasn't."

     "Whatever you say. This is your last chance to come with us." Saraoka's eyes narrowed.

     Ingilaug sighed. "I can't do that."

     "Suit yourself. We'll be out of here in no time. It was great working with you for all these years, Ingilaug," Willa replied. She stuffed the keys in her pocket and motioned to Saraoka to follow her up the stairs.

     "You better hope that King Jazan doesn't find you two," Ingilaug called out after them. "That Xweetok is Queen Nabile in disguise."

     The Ogrins froze. "There's no way..." Saraoka's voice trailed off.

     "Don't believe me, see if I care. But don't cross her path in the future. And don't even think about crossing Jazan's."

     They glanced at each other in horror and fled just as Elrique came down.

     "We need your help up there," he ordered. "They're stronger than they look."

     "Got a weapon for me?" She flashed a smile. She savored the look of annoyance on Elrique's face as he tossed her his dagger.

     "Nabile..." Elrique brushed by Ingilaug and went to the locked cell. "Can you get up?"

     "I can't. My leg..." she winced. Nabile was unable to defend herself and in the present situation she was in incredible danger, which is why Elrique reached into his cloak and pulled out a small vial.

     "Drink this," he ordered.

     The Xweetok tried to open her eyes but could only squint. "The reversal potion? Jazan will sense that-"

     "Jazan is the only one that can help us right now," Elrique persisted.

     Nabile wearily examined the vial filled with a dark green liquid. She did not know how her husband would react to the situation if he was to come find her, but there was no other option.

     Elrique uncorked the vial and through the cell bars put it to Nabile's lips, who drank it all.

     "Will Jazan know to come here?" Ingilaug inquired.

     "That's what I'm hoping. For now, let's hold them off."

     ***

     Jazan laid in his bed and stared at the ceiling. He had not left his chamber all day, even at the insistence of Nightsteed. He could not when he was in such terrible grief.

     Suddenly his heart began to ache. They were the same signs he felt if Nabile was in trouble.

     "Nabile..."

     Jazan shot out of bed and flew out of his room, skidding to a stop as he reached the end of the hallway. The Nightsteed was already up and heard Jazan rush out in a fury.

     "What's wrong?" he questioned as Jazan climbed on his back.

     "Nabile is in trouble!"

     "Déjà vu..." The Nightsteed remarked and headed outside. "Where is she?"

     "Stop at the Qasalan Defenders post to call for help. They can cover all of Neopia much more quickly than myself."

      "Absolutely," he replied as he galloped into the night. They eventually arrived at the small torn-down post.

     "Are they that low on funds that they can't afford a door anymore?" Jazan remarked.

     "Look, there's commotion inside." The Nightsteed said.

     "Nonsense..." Jazan's voice trailed off. The post was not known to contain much activity. He slid off of the Nightsteed and approached the entrance

     "What is going on here?" a booming voice shook the Defender's post. The fighting seized at the sight of King Jazan looming in the doorway with the menacing Nightsteed behind him.

     "Oh, King Jazan, you have come to stop this madness!" Amelia whined. Leo and her were still tied up and could only watch as the chaos went on.

     Jazan was about to speak, but as he inspected the lobby, something caught his eye. He suddenly raised a finger in the direction of the Grarrl and Grundo who backed into a corner, wielding broken pieces of furniture and using them to deflect Elrique and his crew's attacks.

     "You two thieves tried to break into my home a week ago. And now you have escaped from your cells? Do you crave a more dire punishment?"

     Before either could respond, a fiery blast sent the two flying and crashing into the wall behind them. They fell into an unconscious state as the already crumbling walls toppled on top of them.

     Jazan turned his attention towards the familiar Moehog and Pteri, his face becoming much more solemn at the sight of the tenured workers. "Leo and Amelia, if you would kindly explain what is happening here, I would appreciate it."

     "These cloak-wearing thieves released the prisoners here and have been destroying this Defenders post for the past hour!" protested Leo.

     "King Jazan," Ingilaug spoke up much to the displeasure of Elrique. "Pardon me for talking out of turn, but Nabile is here!"

     Jazan became alarmed. So Nabile was never in Shenkuu... but what was she possibly doing at the Defender's post? "She's here? Where?"

     "I'll bring you to her."

     "Make sure no one leaves," Jazan instructed the waiting Nightsteed as he followed Ingilaug out of the lobby and to the basement. "And will someone untie Leo and Amelia?" he called out.

     "Here, your Highness." Ingilaug stopped in front of the first locked cell. Nabile was propped up in the corner for she had tried to stand, but her injured leg kept giving out.

     "This is not her. Are you trying to mock me?" Jazan roared at Ingilaug but stopped as he saw the familiar silver ring on her finger.

     "It's me, dear," Nabile croaked.

     He recognized the voice anywhere. Though the cell door was jammed shut, Jazan used his sorcery to burn the lock off and threw it open in one swift motion. He rushed to Nabile's side and gingerly cradled her in his arms.

     "Nabile, what is going on?" he whispered.

     "I'll tell you everything," she insisted. "Just please don't apprehend those that are wearing the same cloak as me."

     Jazan glared sternly at Ingilaug who slightly bowed and rushed back upstairs. An exhausted Vaughn and Carson were cutting Leo and Amelia loose, and Elrique stood near them. His worst fear was unfolding into reality.

     "Did Nabile..." Carson asked, and Ingilaug only nodded. They all waited until Jazan returned, carrying Nabile into the lobby. He appeared to be more relieved than angry, but everyone waited with batted breath for him to speak.

     "One of you will come to my palace in the morning with something that will change Nabile into her former self," he instructed.

     "Yes, King Jazan," replied Vaughn.

     "Call the Defenders on those home-invading thieves," Jazan told Amelia and Leo and motioned to the back of the lobby where the Grarrl and Grundo were still knocked out. "But let the others go."

     Amelia and Leo nodded and watched as Jazan carried his wife out of the Defenders post and into the dark to the waiting Nightsteed.

     "I... shouldn't have disabled the button." Carson feebly spoke up to break the solemn silence.

     "There's a backup button here," Amelia chuckled grimly. "This place may have been a dump to begin with, but it's well equipped for such things."

     "Well," Vaughn murmured. "None of us will be able to rest easy until we see Jazan and receive our punishment."

     "Tomorrow I will be going there by myself." Elrique spoke up. The look on his face was that of pain, the pain of seeing everything that he dedicated his life to building crash before his very eyes.

     ***

     The morning could not have come soon enough. Elrique could not remember the rest of the night, only acknowledging the fact that he was standing outside the bedroom of Jazan and Nabile.

     "I bring you the finest things in Neopia!" he heard Jazan protest.

     "I just wanted to relive my past."

     "You are a Queen. You cannot do this to your people."

     "I'm sorry."

     "Are you just going to stand there and eavesdrop?" The Nightsteed appeared next to Elrique, who jumped from being caught off guard. The Nightsteed had sent him upstairs to face Jazan, but the Krawk assumed that he stayed downstairs. "Knock."

     Elrique banged on the door and the talking immediately stopped. "It's Elrique," he announced.

     "Enter."

     Elrique opened the door, clutching a pink Ixi morphing potion in his claws. Nabile was lying in her bed as Jazan sat by her side, holding her hand. "Good morning. Queen Nabile, I trust you are feeling well?"

     "Better than before," Nabile murmured with a feeble smile.

     "I have this... for you, Nabile." Elrique glanced at Jazan to make sure it was safe to approach.

     "Bring it here," he ordered.

     Elrique made his way to Jazan and the Qasalan king snatched the potion from his grip. He uncorked it and helped keep it level so Nabile could drink it with ease. In seconds she turned into her pink Ixi self, which caused Jazan to smile.

     "As for you..." He turned to the Krawk. Elrique became incredibly tense. Jazan could either put him in jail or banish him from Qasala. "Despite the twisted circumstances of endangering my wife and despite your crimes against Neopia, you have made Nabile happy. Which is why I am going to give you ten seconds to leave my home and never return."

     Elrique could not believe what he was hearing. "I don't understand, King Jazan. Am I free to stay in Qasala? Will I be reprimanded?"

     "Seven seconds."

     Elrique took one last look at a solemn Nabile who mouthed a quick "thank you." He quickly exited before he could impulsively react to the gesture, and before Jazan reached zero.

     ***

     Elrique entered his office to the sight of Ingilaug lounging on the floor, playing with her Crystacat.

     "You like Valentina after all?" Elrique mused.

     Ingilaug sprang up at the sound of his voice. "How did it go?" she asked. The entire mansion was buzzing about what the King would say in response to the faction.

     "Better than expected, actually."

     "Jazan didn't expose you?" Her mouth went agape.

     "No. And he won't unless I cross the Qasalan royalty's path again."

     "That's crazy." She sighed with relief. "So... what does all this mean?"

     "It means that I will be staying to run the faction."

     The Kougra nodded. "Ah. I see."

     Silence.

     "And you will too."

     Ingilaug's eyes widened in disbelief at her brother's remark. "What?"

     "I've been thinking a lot and I've come to realize that Vaughn and Carson have reminded me of something. They reminded me of that time when we were little and I first taught you the right technique for using a paper sword."

     She grinned. "Yes, I do recall that. How did he remind you of such a thing?"

     "I was trying to train you to be a fighter, in case anyone crossed your path and needed to be taught a lesson. I was the brother looking out for the sister, and I still am. Which is why we will stay working together. What happened in Shenkuu... we may have needed that to realize the bigger picture. That blood is thicker than water."

     "Tell that to your faction members." She scoffed in reference to the fact that still no one knew that they were brother and sister.

     "The truth will be revealed soon enough... at the right time, dear sister. Let that scar serve as a reminder for the both of us the wound that was inflicted on our relationship."

     "A great pain, but a life lesson," Ingilaug flashed a smile. "I can live with that."

     "Shall we check on Jesqe together?" Elrique asked.

     She nodded. "We shall. But will Jesqe become one of us?"

     "She already is, I'm afraid." He grinned as they walked side by side out of his office and into the hallway of his great mansion. "And as a wise queen once said, once a thief, always a thief."

The End