Starlit Skies - The thieves masque

by The_Other_Khorne

Council

"Surprised, Magistratus Skies?" the Raven King inquired, his voice courteous, yet melancholic as the princepes bowed politely, only to be waved into their seats when they went to bow to him "There is no need to bow before me, Princepes, merely heading to your seats will suffice." with a collective nod they quickly dispersed and took their places, whilst Starlit felt himself being tugged towards the shallow pit. He noticed a faint purple glow behind one of the Princeps' seats. Evidently at least one of Luna's night guardsmen had accompanied her, as was usual. He opted to walk into the pit, and one Princeps spoke out

"Lord, may I inquire as to why her highness is gracing us with her presence?" he asked, his voice almost timid in comparison to the gentle chuckle that was the reply. Scarce seconds later the legendary thief had a straight face and had returned to his courteous tone

"I would explain the whole story, but it would take too many lifetimes to explain." he answered, leaning back and placing his hands in a steeple position above his chest "We'll leave it as 'she created the masquerade'." at this the young Magistrate's eyes opened, and the Raven continued on "But enough of that, now Magistratus, please explain how you knew of this... corruption." Starlit gulped, his eyes darting about the room before he faced the wall opposite him, not noticing the scribe stood in plain view between the two chairs in front of him

"Well sir, I was enjoying the last of my off days before I returned t my normal job as a servant here in the castle.... Needless to say I was taking the time to have a contemplation walk, when I stumbled across the Bark twins and Charger, harassing two of my friends while they were replacing the old slates on.... Cherry Blossoms' house. I went over to investigate, seeing as they were violating the Masquerade right there in broad daylight

"Thankfully the Park was empty, and when I went up to them they backed away, I asked which one was their leader, and they pointed out that Prenchman on dish washing duties - Chapardeur, I think. I asked why he was violating the Masquerade, and he told me he wasn't - he was following Princeps' Gearheart's orders, and I - couldn't control myself, sir." the Raven King began to lean forwards, and Starlit could barely make out the whites of his eyes

"You lashed out, Magistratus?" Starlit gulped again. There was more than an icy touch to the question, and he tried his best to not to show he was intimidated

"Yes, sir." he admitted, bowing his head in shame "I couldn't help it, sir. However, he did tell me that he was only following orders. I'm sorry sir, but that's all I can tell you." The master thief leant backwards again

"That is all that transpired, Magistratus?"

"Yes, sir." at this the sound of chuckling could be heard, and as Starlit look up, he found that the Raven King was laughing about something, before suddenly returning to a more serious state of mind. He went to open his mouth to say something when he was interrupted

"In many ways, Magistratus, you and I are very much alike... Now go, wait outside until we have thought about what to do with you." it was a plain and simple order, with next to no emotion in his words, Starlit nodded and hastily clambered out of the hole before departing.

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

Time passed quickly, and yet seemed to stand still, for Starlit. Dozens of thoughts went through his mind, had he done something wrong? He knew violence was worth a fine and some time behind bars when carried out, but had he done anything else wrong, other than what he, as a thief, was supposed to do? The door opened again, and he saw a member of princess Luna's Night Guard. Nodding he went back inside and returned into the shallow pit, at which point he noticed that the Princepes had disappeared from their seats. Her highness as well, and as he noticed this he also noticed that the Raven King was stood right in front of him

"Magistratus, it appears that I owe you my thanks." he informed him, stepping into the shadows in one corner of the pit and emerging sat in his chair, one leg resting on the other "Had it not been for you walking across the harassment of my eyes then this corruption would have gone unchecked and spread." he tapped one arm of his 'throne' - in truth just plush armchair - revealing a shaft of light that shone down into the pit. He gave a silent nod and Starlit took to the air, slowly ascending from the darkness and into the light.

The Raven himself merely sat there, waiting quietly before the light disappeared as Starlit managed to get out of the passage. He chuckled quietly to himself, to say a thief needed a plan to survive their career without being caught was an understatement. He had taken his career to the extreme, and that was the way he intended it to stay. He rose to his feet and tapped the arm again, the shaft of moonlight greeting him s an old friend as he took flight, wings propelling him towards the surface.

He had other matters to attend to, and thanks to give out before the dawn broke, in particular a unicorn and some friends amongst the guards.

-- -- -- -- -- --

"My people," Steam Gearheart called from the great stage within the Stalliongrad theatre, the crowd of various people of varying dispositions, from the cutpurses to the courtesans who resided in the bawdyhouses in the shadier districts "For too long we have been forced to reside under this so called 'Masquerade', but no longer. I will not have us under the watch of zealots, where our skills are labelled a danger to society, its time for us to be free of bondage to this tyrannical rule of a false goddess. Our time is now! Our liberty is nigh!" the crowd had taken an audible breath at the words 'false goddess', but they quickly began to cheer. Most of them cheered at the idea that wouldn't be charged with jail time or heavy fees to ply their trade, whereas Gearheart's men cheered simply out of loyalty.

None were aware of the two men stood on the balcony opposite the stage, clad in the same uniform of Gearheart's men until they had stepped into the shadows, the subdued red and blue flickers of their magic fizzling away in moments as they departed.

Author's Note:

I know the chapter's seem to get shorter, but at least the plot's going somewhere.

The subplot with how a pegasi manages to manipulate shadow's has been pushed back. I will, however, explain it alongside the relationship between the masquerade and Luna.

Also, the Gearheart plot makes a triumphant return.