I went home. The lower city seemed both familiar and foreign. Nothing had changed—the streets were still dirty and dark, the buildings were shabby and small. It was the city I had lived in my whole life, but somehow it was different. As if being surrounded by wealth had made me see just how little we really had.

I kept to streets I knew so well I could walk them with my eyes closed, and managed to avoid drawing any attention to myself. My mind wandered, from the Order's unique black buildings, to the delicious food I had enjoyed, to the many lies I had told to stay there. I didn't let my thoughts settle on Tannix. I wasn't ready for that.

My room looked untouched. Baisan knew where it was, and it surprised me a little that he hadn't raided it during my absence. I untied both cloaks and tossed them to the ground before kneeling beside the pile of clothing and digging out my wooden chest. I had never noticed how old it looked, with its worn sides and rusty hinges. I unlocked it and looked down at my siyas. The pile of coins was pitiful compared to what someone like Tannix would own, but it was everything I had. I picked up a couple of the coppers and started fiddling with them while I tried to figure out what to do. 

I'd been gone for about a week and a half, not long enough that I'd have been forgotten, but I would probably have to claw my way back up to the top of the thieves' shaky hierarchy. Everyone would expect me to have something impressive to show off after being gone.

While I dropped the coins back into the chest, the ring caught my eye and I stared at it for a moment. I had gotten used to it being there, but now it didn't seem right. I pulled it off my thumb and held it in my palm like I had that first day. I still didn't want to sell it, but it wouldn't be safe to wear it in plain sight. I glanced at the key on its chain and suddenly realized what to do. After locking the chest, I slipped the ring onto the chain so that it hung down next to the key. I tucked the chain back under my tunic, and buried the chest under the clothes. Then I left, another idea taking form in my mind.

Baisan and his group of children lived in a ruined, abandoned building pressed up against the dividing wall. They had moved a few times over the years, but I always paid attention to where they were. Baisan was someone to keep an eye on, and I liked the idea of having a potential ally, just in case I ever needed one.

Baisan had blocked off most of the entrances to their building. It was a good idea, and would make it harder for another group to chase them out. It also meant that I couldn't simply sneak in as I had planned. I went to the door instead, and had hardly taken a step in when I was met by Baisan.

"Finn," he said my name simply, as a greeting.

"Baisan," I replied. "I'm back."

"You're not going to tell me where you've been," Baisan said. "So why are you here?" He leaned against the frame of the doorway, blocking my way in. It would be easy to push him out of the way, but I was in his place and I decided to show a bit of respect.

"I want to see Ninavi," I explained.

"Why?"

"You know we grew up together," I said. "I'm not trying to take her from you." 

Despite our usually amicable interactions, Baisan had always been slightly concerned a day would come when I would try to take over his little family. There was nothing I wanted less. Joining his family, on the other hand, suddenly seemed like a good idea.

Baisan narrowed his eyes and eyed the red bundle in my hands. After a moment he turned to shout into the darkness of his ruined building. "Castin! Is Ninavi awake?"

"She is now," came the sarcastic reply.

Baisan sighed. "All right, Finn. You can come in and see her." He walked down the little hallway, and I trailed after him. The hallway windows had been blocked off, so it was dark—another one of Baisan's defenses, I assumed. The room we walked into had a small fire burning in the middle of it. Its window had been blocked too, but only with a piece of wood that they could move if needed. 

All three of Baisan's thieves were home. Castin, who had never exchanged more than two words with me, was sitting by the fire and sharpening a small knife on a stone. The other girl—Stria—was creating four even piles of food. Ninavi was curled up on a makeshift bed against the wall.

Baisan started explaining why I was there, as I walked across the room towards her. I knelt beside the bed. "Ninavi?"

"What?" she asked sleepily. She sat up slowly and looked at me in confusion. "Finn?"

I nodded and smiled. "Ninavi, it's been a while, hasn't it? I heard you got hurt."

This time she nodded. "It isn't too bad. That huge man just got my leg with his knife. It hurts when I try to walk, but Baisan says it'll heal fine." She glanced over my shoulder at him for confirmation. "Did you come to check on me?" She turned her gaze back on me.

I smiled and nodded. "Of course. Why else would I want to put up with Baisan? I have something for you."

"You didn't say anything about a gift."

I ignored Baisan's protest and shook out the red bundle so Ninavi could see what it was. Her eyes widened as she took the cloak and felt the expensive material.

"Where did it come from?" she whispered in awe.

"That huge man," I explained. "After you left, I followed him to his home and I took this from inside. He had so many, I doubt he'll notice. And you deserve a good prize after getting hurt."

"It's beautiful, Finn," Ninavi murmured. "Are you sure you want to give it to me? Imagine what you could sell it for!"

I shrugged. "You can sell it, if you want to."

"No, I won't." Ninavi hugged the bundled cloak to her chest. "It's beautiful. I'm going to keep it forever. Thank you."

"You deserve it," I told her again. I stood up and looked around the room. Baisan was still standing in the doorway, watching me warily. Stria was still dividing food. Castin had stopped sharpening his knife and was staring at me.

"Did the dagger come from the huge man too?" he asked. "Because I think that should be a gift as well. Seeing as we helped you."

"Castin," Baisan said. "We don't beg from fellow thieves. No matter how important they might think they are."

"I wasn't begging," Castin protested, but he went back to sharpening his own knife.

"It didn't come from him, anyway," I replied. "Baisan, I actually have another reason for being here."

"Of course you do."

I hesitated. My idea had come as a shock even to myself, and Baisan would be equally confused. It didn't sound like me. "Being away has made me realize how lonely my life used to be. I thought it might be nice if I could join you sometimes. While here, I'll respect your position of leader and follow your rules, and I will contribute to the group's wellbeing. But while I'm on my own I would like to be left alone."

He stared at me blankly. "What?"

"I know it's unexpected, but I've been through a lot and I would feel safer with a group. I don't know how long this will last, but I promise I will be helpful while I'm here."

Baisan glanced at Castin, who had been his second in command for as long as I'd known them. They exchanged some sort of silent conversation, and Baisan looked at me again.

"A trial period," he said. "And if you make any move to take over, we'll chase you out."

I nodded. "Sounds fair."

Baisan visibly relaxed. "Would you mind going out now, then? Without Ninavi, we've been having trouble getting enough food. People are more likely to give her things."

Girls always had an easier time of begging, people tended to pity them more. "Of course."

"Pickpocket or beg, I don't care what you do. Just try to get some food."

"Easy," I replied with a casual shrug. "I'll be back within the hour." I brushed past him to leave the room, and I heard him following me, probably to make sure I was actually leaving. I reached the door and was about to step out when a hand dropped onto my shoulder.

I yelped and flinched, expecting to see Malte looming over me, but it was a different large man. He started chuckling at my reaction.

"Finn, who knew you were so jumpy? And you're getting friendly with Baisan, are you?" Arow let go of me and turned to Baisan. "You haven't paid me yet, boy. Finn being here triples the price, because he owes me."

After everything that had happened, I really wasn't in the mood to deal with Arow. I crossed my arms. "I don't owe you anything."

"Yes you do," Arow growled. "Everyone pays me."

"I don't pay you. Neither does Baisan," I said. "Maybe you should start to steal things for yourself instead of taking them from us. Or are you afraid you'll get caught and hanged?"

"Finn," Baisan pleaded quietly. "Stop it. We'll pay him."

"No, we won't."

Arow was glaring at me, furious. It would have scared me before, but it was nothing compared to the way Malte had looked at me. He lunged, just like I'd expected, and I ducked out of the way. I whipped out my pretty dagger and held it backwards in a way that would have made Tannix cringe.

Arow looked concerned. "Finn learned to fight, did he?"

"I did," I replied coldly. I hoped he would take me at my word and not test my abilities, because if it came to it, he would win. He apparently decided that it was too risky to attack me. It helped that Castin had heard our conversation and appeared holding his own little knife. It was small, but I didn't doubt that he would be the bigger threat. Arow glanced between us, and without a word, ambled off.

Once he was out of sight, I put my dagger away. Baisan was staring at me, wide eyed. "I thought you didn't like conflict. Where did you learn to fight?"

"I didn't," I replied. "I just know how to hold a knife and pretend I know how to fight."

Baisan and Castin exchanged another quick glance.

"Thanks, Finn," Baisan said. "Um... forget about the trial period, right? Welcome home."