The Beauty of Death

Horse Thief

Ryn chuckled to herself as she stared down at her reflection in the stream. She had dyed her hair red and using the tiniest bit of power, had changed her eye color from green to black. She had also neatened up her haircut and bound what little chest she had. She had been traveling hard for two weeks. Now the lack of food and constant movement had worn on her body. She had lost fifteen pounds that had left her slight five foot three frame much too thin. The changes to her face had been the most noticeable. Her cheekbones were more prominent and her eyes had hardened somehow. As a girl her appearance would have been unnerving for ladies weren't supposed to look so ragged. As a boy though, there only seemed to be a disconcerting look about her appearance. People had left her alone and those who would have attempted to do her harm as a female traveling alone had left her alone as a boy. Those who still found it necessary to attempt to rob a small boy had hastily changed their minds as soon as they saw how well she handled her knives. She knew that none of the clan from the Gontruran would be able to recognize her. She had been thinking of Thorn ironically when she changed her name to Briar. She had set up camp here last night and decided to stay here for the rest of the day. Rin sighed as she looked down at the blisters on her foot and resolved to steal a horse when the opportunity came her way.

She got up and started her daily practice. Throwing knives at four different locations she was gradually working her way up to thirty knives under a minute when she heard hooves, moving quickly. She snatched up her knives from the different targets and hid them in the different sheaths on her body. She cursed quietly to herself as two unkempt men, one with a mustache and the other bald came riding up leading a third horse behind them.

"Well what do we have here?" The smaller man with the mustache asked. The bigger one grunted and then leered at the small boy in front of them. "I don't know, but he looks a little young to be out all alone, all by himself." He said it with a sneer.

The smaller man giggled. It was the giggle that unnerved Ryn the most. The man was clearly unstable and judging how the big man looked at him for approval, he was also in charge. She took a deep breath. "Can I help you gentlemen?" the bigger man snickered and the smaller man smirked and then said, "Well, from your appearance you have no valuables, but you have to pay toll still. We'll take whatever's in that bag." The horse that the men were leading began to put up a fuss. The smaller man cursed and told the big man to shut the horse up. Ryn looked a bit closer at the horse. It was in far better condition than the horses that they were riding. It had no saddle, but the bridle that they were leading it by was in good condition. At first glance it was nothing spectacular to look at. A muddy brown color and rather small. But its legs were long and it had no major flaws that Ryn could see. She had made up her mind. She picked up her bag and started to walk towards them. The big man had dismounted and stupidly let go of the reins to clap a hand over the horses nose. The mare began to rear as Ryn darted past the small man and grabbed the reins. "Hey thanks" the big man said as she moved closer to the mare. The small man smiled. "I'll be taking that bag now lad." He said as he reached for it. Ryn smiled politely before leaping onto the mares back and digging her heels into the mare's sides. "GO!" she yelled as the big man leaped to catch her. The mare took off as the smaller man franticly tried to get his horse to chase after them. Ryn had stumbled while she was grabbing the mares reins and brushed against the mans saddle. It had given her enough time to loosen the girth without the man noticing. Now in his effort to come after her, the girth came undone with a snap as the saddle fell to the side with the little man clinging to it yelling at his partner to help him. Ryn laughed to herself. The opportunity to steal a horse had come sooner then she expected.

The man who the horse had been stolen from originally chuckled as he watched the scene below him. He would let the boy have the horse. He could get another. But first he would teach those two a lesson, he thought as he unsheathed his sword.

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So, here's your update! Hope you liked! I actually have a couple chapters prepared, but I thought I'd see what you guys think of it first.. how is it? and any ideas as to whats gonna happen? :D I'll update some more soon! Also, expect to see another chapter to Western Heartbreak soon!