55 Trisha 2

Chapter 55.

Trisha and Eliya walked along alleys, Trisha really didn't want to be seen by guards as curfew was in effect after midnight. Curfew started at midnight until sunrise, Trisha thought it was a stupid rule, the army had made the law after the news of the war. The punishment was severe, Getting caught could result in a night on the stockade.

She heard second offenders got two nights on the stockades. Trisha was not envious of those unfortunate people. she thought that Two days of getting hit by rotten fruit and tied to a post was a bad time. These unfortunate people were not allowed to eat or drink until set free.

Trisha had decided tonight was a good night as The moonlight was just bright enough in the alleys not to trip over things. Trisha and Eliya waited in the merchants quarter alleys until the midnight bell rang, curfew was now in effect, this made walking through alleys much better but also much more dangerous for them. Trisha gripped her sword hilt as she walked, this helped calm her nerves, but also keep the scabbard from hitting her leg.

They passed several buildings, Trisha looked at the lights inside hoping no one looked out. Trisha and Eliya walked behind an empty wagon in front of a tailor shop looking down the street. Trisha heard clanking and quickly pushed Eliya behind a cart. After a moment she could see light from a torch, three soldiers in armour rounded the corner.

Trisha was lucky they were so loud, the front soldier could be heard from down the street. He said, "can you believe it, the stuck up brat had his entire ear bitten off, a shorter guard in the back said," I don't believe you." the first guard replied, "no I'm serious, I have seen it, the boy even tried to get it put back on."

Trisha stayed as still as possible, the guards were deep in conversation And walked right past the wagon. Trisha wondered why there was so much gossip about someone losing an ear, it was probably a noble, she smiled. Once the payroll passed around the corner she waited until the light completely faded.

Trisha said, "let's go we need to hurry the guards will be back in about ten minutes." Trisha ran across the street and followed shortly by Eliya. Trisha got down on her knees in front of the door and pulled out her lockpicks.

Trisha felt around and said, "crap, there are two locks, not one." Eliya said, " sorry I couldn't see that well from the street." Trisha replied, " it's fine I hope the locks aren't too complicated, watch for the next patrol." Trisha fumbled with the lock pick, she inserted the wrench and put pressure on the handle, She put in the pick, She held her breath slowly feeling for the pins of the lock.

Trisha slowly added pressure to each of the 4 pins in the lock and was able to turn the lock after only a minute causing the lock to audibly click. She said," one down one to go" Trisha stood up and crouched so she had a good angle before inserting the wrench in the lock. She inserted the pick and started feeling for teeth.

she could feel 3 pins with her pick which should be easier than the first, trisha quickly put pressure on each pin until they all were held up, the lock failed to turn. She kept the pressure on the wrench and slowly went over each pin, she must have missed one.

Trisha felt sweat trickle down her neck, time was slowly passing, she felt along the bottom of the lock, and found the problem. The lock had two pins on the bottom, she tried to press them and had to let off pressure in the wrench to properly press the pins down. After properly pressing down the bottom pins first she started on the top pins, Eliya whispered "hurry I can see torchlight on the corner."

Trisha carefully pressed each top pin and felt the wrench turn, SHe twisted the lock and felt the door start to open. Trisha quickly opened the door and stepped in the dark entrance, she waited until Eliya to enter before slowly shutting the door. Trisha leaned against the wall breathing heavily listening for any sound.

She counted to 100, counting out the numbers in her head, She wanted to make sure they hadn't been caught. Trisha could hear the guards walking past, they were as loud as the last time, the sound of the guards soon past and she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Trisha turned and leaned against the door, she waited for a few minutes for her heart to stop racing. She said," I'm good let's go, much too close for comfort."

Trisha and Eliya walked through the big room looking for side doors. The first door that Trisha tried was unlocked, she could hardly see in the dark building. Trisha quickly felt around finding her flint and a small makeshift torch. She used her flint to light the small torch, The room immediately brightened up exposing that the room was a cleaning closet.

Trisha walked to the next door quietly testing the door, When the door was locked she wasn't too upset, she had come prepared. Trisha was going to pick the lock when she noticed that each door had a sign, well She thought that's convenient. She looked at the door and cringed, the door said sleeping quarters, She had almost opened the door to someone's room.

Trisha walked along checking doors until she got to the one marked clothes. Trisha smiled, this made it much easier than just searching every room until finding the one they were searching for.

Trisha tested the door, of course, she thought someone didn't even lock the room to the clothing, She shook her head and slowly opened the door, Trisha was taken aback when she entered, clothes scattered the floor, uniforms were randomly placed everywhere. The room looked like someone else had already robbed it, Trisha shrugged her shoulders and entered.

She found a lamp and lit the expensive item, she was envious, Trisha admired the steel lamp, this thing was a work of art, the glass sides and oil in the center allowed it to shine bright but not burn you while you were holding the handle. Trisha put out her makeshift torch and held up the lamp by the handle, the item had a piece of cotton inside and somehow could burn for hours if you didn't put it out.

Trisha was so focused on the new lamp that she hadn't been paying attention to Eliya at all, Her friend was somehow already dressed in a slightly oversized uniform. Eliya said, "Hurry we don't want to take too many chances by being here too long." Eliya took the lamp by the handle, Trisha found a uniform, she selected one of the uniforms and then another, each one was too big, she walked around the room until she found a uniform that might fit.

The uniform was too big but was for someone who was tall and thin soo it should work. She slipped the uniform over her clothing, she traded her belt with one that fit perfectly through the belt loops. Trisha looped her belt through her scabbard and clasped it together, she smiled, the uniform felt good, she felt dressed and secure in the uniform, which reminded her of her armour.

Trisha looked over at Eliya and nodded towards the lamp, Eliya blew out the lantern, Trisha carried the lantern in one hand, she was just making sure it didn't go missing. She followed Eliya over to the front door, Trisha said," let's wait until the patrol walks past," Eliya said," yes, that's a good idea, I wasn't even thinking about that."

Trisha heard the guard walking past the door, Once the guards passed Trisha opened the door, she looked to each side of the empty street before stepping into the open. Trisha walked down the front steps and walked quickly across the street towards an alley." She turned and waited to watch as Eliya slowly walked across, " Excuse me," said a deep voice, Trisha jumped and turned around, she looked straight at a huge hooded figure.

The man wasn't well lit, but she could see the drawn sword that was much too close for comfort, he was close and could easily strike her before she drew her weapon. The man said," hurry over here we don't want to get caught by the guards now do we?." Once they were in the alley Trisha and Eliya followed him and entered a small building with a window facing the Messengers guildhall. The man lit a lamp shut the blinds over the window and stood at one wall, while the two women stood at the other wall. Trisha asked," who are you.?"

He said," don't worry about who I am, I want to know why you two are robbing the Messengers guild.?" The man was calm like he didn't have a care in the world. Trisha said," You're obviously not a city guard with that dark cloak and hiding your appearance, If you must know we were getting a disguise so we could enter the upper city." The man said," that's a lot of risks just to get into the upper city, Why would two gutter rats need to go there?"

Eliya blurted," to get a job with the inquisition now piss off," Trisha got ready to draw her sword but the man only chuckled, he said," The inquisition, Why didn't you just say soo, The man no longer held his sword in front of him he simply held it at his side. He said, "I have been posted here by the inquisition for days."

Trisha stammered," wait! the inquisition, can you give us a recommendation to the inquisitor?" The man leaned casually against the wall, he said," I suppose I could do that, but what is in it for me? and why would he be interested in you two." Eliya said," We are not going to do anything sick, you pervert!." The man said," Woah I didn't mean that, I'm just a guy who hates being on house sitting duty.

If you must know I meant money and keep your voice down or we will get caught.? Trisha looked from her aggressive friend to the startled man, She sighed," we can use magic, that is why the church might want us," The man sighed, Trisha could see the man smile. He rubbed his bearded chin and said," I have a condition, I will recommend you If you two mages pay my wage to guard you." Trisha hesitantly said," How much do you charge?"

the man said," why I'm glad you asked, I'm sure 30 silvers a month should cover my pay," with a twirl of his sword the man said," I'm worth every single silver." Trisha's head spun at the ridiculous amount, She said," we will give you that much if we manage to get 60 a month from the inquisitor, the man immediately held out his forearm in a cross, He said, "Swear to me on the goddess of war Lytheria and we have a deal, If you go back on a promise, I will make sure you regret it." Trisha saluted crossing her forearm with his, Trisha said, " I so swear on the goddess of war."