Thief (9781451689112) by Landsem Stephanie

Author:Landsem, Stephanie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Chapter 19

NISSA CURLED INTO the farthest corner of Amit’s stall, her arms wrapped around her drawn-up knees, her head burrowed in her cloak. The morning horns sounded the call to prayer. Even if she did call on the Lord now, if she could form words to ask for his protection, it was too late. He wouldn’t forgive this sin; it was too big, too much.

She’d changed from her disguise, stumbled home, and hid in the corner of the lean-to. Through the evening, every step sounding outside their gate had paralyzed her with fear, and every voice made her heart jump, sure as she was that the temple guards were coming for her.

Cedron had found her as darkness fell. She’d claimed illness, her stomach knotting in guilt as he knelt beside her, concern on his brow. “I’ll be better tomorrow.” But she wasn’t better; she’d never be better.

Amit nuzzled her hair, his fuzzy lips nipping at her cheek. Her lips were cracked and dry and her throat swollen from unshed tears.

Cedron stirred in the courtyard, calling her name. She answered back. Whatever she said must have satisfied him because she heard the gate close behind him. Amit nuzzled her more urgently. His water trough was empty, and he hadn’t been fed.

“I know. I’m sorry, Amit.”

She picked up the water jar and left the safety of the courtyard, wrapping her head covering tight around her hair. She shuffled down the dusty street. Cedron wouldn’t be back until afternoon, she knew. He’d be looking for the thieves. A shiver ran down her back, even as the sun heated the stones around her. Now Cedron had even more reason to find Mouse. But he wouldn’t because Mouse would never steal again.

She climbed the steps up to the shimmering water. She wouldn’t bathe today. No amount of water, no matter how pristine, would wash away her guilt. No almsgiving would atone for her sin.

At the edges of the pool, the clusters of women talked of the priest killed by a dark-haired Greek and a boy-thief—and in the holy temple. The reward for them was a king’s treasure.

Nissa’s hands shook as she dipped her jar into the water. Surely someone would point to her. They would say, “She did it,” and she couldn’t deny it. She held her breath and raised her eyes, but no one was looking at her. No one knew the boy-thief was a woman—a desperate woman who only wanted to take enough to pay the rent.

With her jar full and heavy, she hurried down the steps. She avoided looking at the wall where she and Dismas made the subtle mark to signal each other. Never again.

She turned into the deserted streets of the tannery district. The silver coins Dismas had given her weighed heavy in her belt. She’d use them, but that was all. She’d starve on the streets or beg at the temple before she’d steal another brass coin. Somehow she and Cedron would find a way.

A shadow darkened the cobbled stones in front of her.

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