After witnessing what she did yesterday, he decided to know more about her. So he went around asking people of who she was. Nobody had an answer. So entered the Bazar busy streets of vendors and customers making a bargain for a piece of bread or a small fruit. The customers are nothing more than mere workers those who havent had the luxury of even clean food, all they could get was nothing mpre than rejects from the castle or mass produced belly fillers which taste like crap and still had little ti no value to the nobles
he went through the Bazar searching for an extra job and also enquiring about her to those he met, he still got no response, so he wondered how to get to know about her and why she decided to jump, he said to himself-
Mari-"She couldn't have done that for no reason, either way why though, i mean she is a maid at the royal castle?"
He heard a street vendor talking about the mysterious girl who was with the prince. Hearing the commotion he moved closer to him to know more.
Mari-"Hey what do you know about the girl who was with the prince?"
Vendor-"What do you wanna know about? What ever it is i will talk if you buy from me 5 apples, otherwise I don't have time for you "
Mari-"I will, so go-ahead and tell me what you know"
Vendor-"Fine mister, her name is Mea"
Mari-(in awe)" Mea, what a beautiful name"
Vendor-"Did you get on clouds already? Haha. Mmh anyway she was a former peasant the prince elevated her to commoner satuts meaning she is above your range. Either way she is now a maid at the royal castle and that's all I know. Alright here is your apples.
Mari-"About that i don't have any money"
Vendor-"You said you would buy from me. You information thief!"
Their conversation would be cutshort by someone shouting from the crowd
"That is the thief who stole my apples"
Mari looked back to see a rich man pointing at the Vendor before him.
Mari-"You are a thief and you call me a thief?"
Vendor-with a smile"A mans got to make a living"
He said as he placed the apples at the hands of Mari and ran. After this he went to the mines and worked. All day long he thought of Mea either dreaming or wondering what bothered her so, that she decided to end it all.
Yesterday night the royal palace-:
Mea-" What is the meaning of this life everywhere, everyone, all the time it's the same for me. If my destiny is to rot like this i would rather die"
She decided to end it all and moved to the balcony. She looked at the sky, the moon shined beautifully illuminating the sky. But to her it was all meaningless, for what beauty will a soul who has decided to end their own life see in anything once their mind has decided to end it all with death. She slowly climbed out and before she let go she said-:
Mea-"The gods have abandoned me,why would they even bother about someone like me i am just another smudge of dirt in this world. It's high time I end it all. Good bye."
"Heeey. Don't jump"
A voice came from below to her it felt like the gods telling her to wait just a little longer that the angel is on his way.
She climbed back up and looked down the man below, who saved her life was gone. Only a couple of guards remained.
Mea-"Maybe, maybe it was an angel. Oh god forgive me for doubting you .
I, I simply could not see any other option than to end it all / sob / sob/ please god save me, save me from this hell. I cant take it any more please."
Present day -
While walking through the streets after work he saw the kings chariot their she was, her face still worried, he wanted to go and talk but he couldn't bring himself to do it, the guard wouldn't let him close.
Mari-"I need to be quick, if not I might loose her forever"
Now what is the next move? This question plagued the mind of Mari.
As he wondered what to do, through the corner of his eyes he saw the thief disguised as the vendor he talked to earlier and guards tying him down to wooden pole where he will be put in display while he received 100 whipping. This level of sever punishment made clear to Mari that he was not just a mere apple thief, and that he was a pretty infamous thief.
That's when it springed to his mind
Mari-"Well a little wrong for the greater good will never be bad, right. Father please forgive if i am wrong but I have to save her."
At night he decided to go meet him when no one will be present, if he didnt want to get caught that is the way to go. He went to his hut and thought whether this is the right moment or not, he waited patiently till night came and then he prepared himself. Before leaving he rummaged through his bag and then picked out an amulet and wore it around his neck. He entered the Bazar street. Three wasnt a single soul. The night sky gave him cover and he moved slowly not to wake up the drunken guards. There he spotted him the thief. He took a deep breath and mistered all the courage he could and went to the thief who is still tied up. He is made to stand, his entire body had been whipped over and over. Numerous cuts and bruises all over. He looks like he could die any moment now.
"I will free you, but in return I have a request"
The thief lifted his head slowly and sized Mari up and with a grin on his face, said straining his voice.
"I didn't take you for one with balls but seems like you have grown a pair. Mmh let me see, you're gonna have to distract the guards and then cut me loose without both of us being seen. Do you think you got what it takes."
Mari thought for a minute but, didn't reply and he went back. And with shaky knife and carefulness he slowly without making a sound pulled out a knife from the sleeping guards hilt.
The thief saw as he went into darkness and grunted low
"None of you have guts! Pathetic"
the thief struggled trying to loose the knot on his wrist but failed his weakend body didn't have the strength to untue himself as he struggled a figure appeared and cut the thief loose.
"Hahahah"
With a low sly laugh the thief said-
"Well I'll be damned, seems like the gods have given you more brains than just guts"
Once cut loose the thief faced Mari and said
"what do you want from me, mmh let me guess the priced possession of the prince itself, Mea"
"Will you help me?"
The thief smiled and then slowly without making a sound they walked to the tavern nearby. On thier way the thief asked
"Why though she is taken, by the prince. What is it that got you so obsessed about her, enquiring around the Bazar and even this. Why?"
"She doesn't like that life. That's why"
Mari replied witha soft voice.
The thief chuckled and in an amused look
"How do you know that, did you talk to her?"
Maris voice got tense as he heard the thiefs word and looked at him
"I saw her trying to jump of the balcony last night. I want to know why and I want to save her."
"I see. So you want to be her knight in shining armour. Any way we need to get out of here, someone might see us. Let's go."
As they reached the tavern they both slowly enrerd the worn down place
The lamps flickered, people still came and went by drinking and eating or to spend a night. The noise of the jugs clanging as the customers cheered and sang and laughed telling stories and boasting about each other. Some could be seen complaining raising their voice. While the scent of beer and roasted meat filled the air. Those who made an extra buck bought meat and those who didnt, took a glass of cheap beer and beans.
To the people of the slum, this was their place of rest after a days toiling work.
They sat down not wanting to grab attention
"This place is safe, here noone cares who you are. Now listen carefully I will get you inside the castle but tahst all.the rest I dont know and I dont care. But for that I need a 50ft rope and a hook. You go get those I will prepare a plan and take a look at my wounds"
The thief said as he strained himself with a pained groan and looked and felt around his own body examining his wounds in pain.
Mari proceeded to secure the needed things he went to the mine for the rope and hook, which he took from the crane used for moving the earth. Returning from the mine on his way back Mari thought-
"I have become a thief and probably a fugitive but I did it all for the sake of rescuing Mea. I cannot fail. I cannot afford to fail not after all this. Just wait for me Mea i will save you"
Inside the prince's chambers-:
Mea cries as she prays to the gods-
"Please save me god, please save me I can't handle this any longer"
The tavern-:
Thief-"Took you long enough come sit. I have prepared a plan-
We will scale the outer walls from the east using the rope and the hook, afterwards it's the courtyard, we will go low and once we hit the main castle we will move to the south block that's where she is. After that it's all on you. I dont know you and you dont know me. Clear?"
Mari-"Yes."
Thief-"Let's go."