What's Yours Is Mine

By Shane Mitchell

Silas is a boy who had spent almost his entire life on the streets. But when the law catches up with him after a clumsy snatch and grab, he is busted out of jail by an organisation known only as the 'Thieves Guild' and recruited into their ranks. Silas soon finds out that they are participants in a rebellion against the country’s tyrant Queen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shane Mitchell
• Release date: Sep 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311272461

Book preview

What’s Yours Is Mine

Copyright 2014 Shane Mitchell

Cover art by Kaylen Rose

Published by Shane Mitchell at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter One- The Boy

The boy sat in the alleyway that he called home. He was seventeen years of age and had never known friendship or love, as the day to day struggle for survival made those impossible to obtain. His mother had died in childbirth and he had never known his father. His name was Silas. He was dressed in ragged and worn-out clothes. For him the streets were cruel and to the passer-by, he was just another face in the large homeless population of Palli, the capital of Janalia.

Palli was nicknamed by many as the capital of oppression, even though it was extremely risky to call it that out in the open. Everyone who so much as even made a peep that was even considered even slightly rebellious of the queen’s iron rule, were swiftly executed publicly. The queen had even ordered all elves within the borders to be killed because apparently ‘they polluted the world and the minds of our children.’ around ten years ago. The day that those orders were carried out still haunted him to this day. Screaming as Elves were dragged away and shot in the streets. The blood ran for a month before all the blood, bodies and burnt homes were finally cleaned up.

Silas was beginning to grow hungry and it would soon be time to do what he always has. It was time to steal. The alley that he called home was situated between a jeweller and a leatherworker. He had decided several years ago that it would be best for him to set up in the market district’s centre. He peered out into the markets and began to scan the bustle. The market centre was set up with large shops surrounding the stalls in the square, all being set up in every space available. After a while he decided that he wouldn’t get anywhere just by standing in the dark, so he dived into the crowds.

Over the years Silas had perfected a technique to move smoothly through crowds and it was definitely becoming an asset now. The stalls were stuffed with any manner of wares imaginable. From foodstuff to animals, weapons to jewellery, and even parts for airships. His mouth watered and his stomach growled as the smell of fresh bread met his nose. As much as he wanted to, it would be too risky to simply steal it from a stall.

Chapter Two- The Market

Thief, the word Silas had heard the most in his life, and he was certainly hearing it now, shouted at him from every direction, from every guard in the market as he ran. He was having his daily ‘misunderstanding’ with the law. Just because he had suddenly come into some money right after he bumped into that fat merchant, doesn’t mean he stole it. Besides he clearly would have not missed it.

Stop, thief! one of the guards bellowed who clearly spent too much time patrolling the food stalls, than chasing thieves.

Sorry, no time to chat, I’ve got places to go people to see, you know how it is! Silas shouted over his shoulder, turning back just in time to see himself barrel into a man carrying a crate of various oddities, ornate cogs and the like. When he recovered his wits he saw a watchmen reaching to grab his arm. In a moment of panic he threw the first thing within reach. It seemed to be one of the cogs, and threw it watching as it lodged itself into his left eye.

Leaving the man’s screams behind him he ran, looking for somewhere he could hide from the watch. Anything will do. A feeling of dread overcame Silas as he realized escape would be nearly impossible to achieve. He darted down an alley that led away from the market square. He vaulted over a large metal steam pipe that blocked his path. He turned around and saw that the watchmen were still in pursuit. He grabbed a sharp stone from the ground and repeatedly beat the steam pipe. Suddenly he manage to create a small pinhole leak that sprayed scolding hot steam in the path of the guards. He then turned around and continued running. He was a few meters down the path by a crossroad. He didn’t have much energy to run so he would have to find a place to hide. He darted left and ran down the road. The street was filled with various stores of different kinds. He darted into what seemed to be a tavern thinking it would be a good place to lay low for now. The tavern was lively and filled with joyous men and women, toasting and making merry. Silas approached the barman and placed several of the coins on the table. He ordered some bread and a small tip for not talking with the watch. He took a seat at an abandoned table on the corner and hastily consumed his food. It had been so long since he had eaten, almost a week he thought. Several minutes later a pair of guards opened the door to the tavern and approached the barman. Silas’ heart sank as he pointed to him.

Chapter Three- The Prisons

The chains on Silas’ legs connecting him to the back wall of his cobblestone cell were making his ankles very sore. This would be expected from spending almost a week in chains, at least he thought it had been a week, in the most infamous prison in Janalia. Blackhill prison. All he had to tell the time was the light coming from the small window crudely chiselled into the back wall of his cell. He heard footsteps approaching from the stairwell from beyond his cell and engaged a reflex he had gained from his time in the prisons. He moved to the corner of his cell by the scratching’s he had made on the wall to help him keep track of the time and stayed completely still as if he were asleep. Silas focused his hearing to try and estimate the time he would have to stay in this uncomfortable position. To his surprise he heard not only the familiar clanging of the guard’s chainmail, but also the faint sound of delicate footsteps. In a sudden overwhelming surge of curiosity the moved to the iron bars at the front of his cell.

Are you sure you want to pay this thieving scum’s bail? he heard the jail guard ask. Finally two people came into his view. A feminine figure clad in plain brown leather with a hood pulled over her head.

Don’t question how I spend my money sir, now let him out of this cage, she demanded of him. Silas felt a wave of relief wash over him as the chain that had hindered his escape for so long fell from his ankles and onto the ground with a loud clang. He felt gloved hands help him to his feet and half dragged him out of his cell.

When he had exited the prison with the woman, he could no longer let his question go unanswered.

Who are you and why did you pay my bail? he inquired. He saw a small smile break across the woman’s face as she lowered her hood to show her young face with purple eyes and white hair that was tied into a ponytail behind her head.

I am a representative of an organisation that requires new recruits with your particular… talents shall we say? I am here to extend a hand of invitation into our organisation and unfortunately we have very little time before he realises that the Joas I gave as your bail are fake, so do you accept? she unloaded on him in a torrent of rapid yet whispered speech. At first Silas was speechless as he processed what he had just been told though quickly he decided that he did owe this woman for getting him out of that hellhole.

Okay then, I suppose I should see what you and your people are all about he cautiously said while glancing back at the towering spire of the prisons. He turned back and was surprised