A while later, they arrived at Venus city. One out of the two big cities in Mulgard.
"This city looks more beautiful each time we come here." Kiyan said looking at the city from the carriage.
Venus city was nothing like the village the boys lived in. It was far larger, bustling with people. The houses were more properly built. The smallest houses reached as high as two-storeys and though, their village had a few nobles, a lot of them lived here. The quality of the porticos of each house they rode by was top tier, beautifully designed with flowers.
It soon got more quiet as Edward took a turn to one of the shady parts of Venus. Fewer buildings could be seen.
Shadows cast over them as they made their way through two buildings with a pathway in-between them. Edward made a stop in front of the round building at the end of the pathway behind the large buildings. Two well-built men putting on black overcoats stood guard at the entrance. Both boys stepped out of the carriage and thanked Edward who looked at them with concern.
"This will be the last time." Kiyan smiled at him and walked towards the building with his brother beside him. Seeing the brothers, the men quickly let them in.
"Second floor, third room to the left." One of the men spoke and they nodded.
The door was shut behind them as they walked in. Inside the building was a bit dark and crowded, as usual. Every person who would come here, either had something valuable to trade or try to become partners with someone else. Every business made here was kept away from the ears and eyes of the public.
Only people of certain agenda were allowed in, Kiyan and Raten were exceptional.
Maxwell Keave was the owner of this place and the man they were about to meet. Going where they were told to, they arrived in Maxwell's room. Giving the door a soft knock twice, it was opened for them and shut as soon as they entered.
There was a large, round table in the center of the room. It had three seats on each side with one in the middle. A large man could be seen on the seat in the middle. He had a beer belly and wore a monocle on his left eye. He seemed to be in the middle of sorting the gold coins that were on the table.
"You're finally here, come have a seat." He spoke, his eyes still fixed on the money in front of him.
The brothers took the seats to his left and remained quiet. They had learnt to never disturb him when there was money in sight.
"Were you able to get it ?" He asked in his usual throaty tone when he was finally done.
"Yes, we were." Raten replied, taking the pouch out of the bag and placing it on the table. He pushed it slightly so it slid to Maxwell who caught it and opened it up.
He poured out what was contained in it.
"Just like you asked, we got the five gold rings, two diamond encrusted necklaces and a single gold necklace." Raten spoke once more while Maxwell smiled.
He then gave a signal to one of the men who stood behind him. A small pouch, almost similar to what the boys had was thrown over to them. Picking it up, it felt light. Raten immediately furrowed his eyebrows.
"Ten gold coins." Maxwell spoke.
"We agreed you would pay what the jewelries cost and all of those cost at least fifty!" Kiyan argued.
"We will not be tricked again like last time, so save your story." Raten said stopping Maxwell from speaking just as he was about to. "Just pay us, so we'll leave." He said calmly.
"Haaahahahaha! Fifty gold coins, aren't you the greedy ones." Maxwell laughed in his ever annoying voice. "You should appreciate what you're given."
"You should pay us what we agreed on." Raten spat, anger evident in his eyes.
"The eleven year olds have become quite demanding, don't you think ?" He waved his hands at one of his men who stood behind him to get rid of them. He did this almost everytime they worked for him, just so they would have a reason to come back.
As the man neared, he was sent back crashing into the walls and Raten could be seen with his hand held out. The same trick pulled on the people in the village was used again. Quickly getting up, he and the other men were about to act, but Maxwell stopped them.
"Are you looking for a fight, young boy? You won't get out of it alive." He said.
"We only want what you promised." Raten replied placing his hand down.
"You kids have been nothing but a bother. Here's your money." Maxwell yawned throwing three more pouches at them. Kiyan counted them all and it amounted to fifty gold coins.
"Satisfied?" He asked.
"We'll be taking our leave now." Raten said getting up from his seat.
"It was nice doing business with you." Maxwell spoke as they were about to leave.
"The only nice part, is us not having to return here ever again." Kiyan said as they walked through the door.
Seeing them come out of the building in one piece, Edward heaved a sigh of relief. He had seen them come out badly beaten and bruised most times and would even help them clean up the wounds before taking them back to their village.
"Never again?" He asked when they neared.
Kiyan nodded with a smile and got in the carriage. Hurriedly, Edward headed back to the village.
It was night time when they arrived, the moon could be seen glowing in the starry sky. The streets were almost empty as they slowly rode by. Alighting the carriage, the brothers thanked Edward once more.
"I'm just doing my job." Edward stated. He was paid by Maxwell to be a private transport to Kiyan and Raten whenever he sent them on what he usually called 'errands'.
Deciding to stay in an inn for the night and leaving for Venus the next day, Edward bid both boys farewell.
"Stay out of trouble lads." He said and rode away.
"Do have a good night Sir!" They replied.
Walking as fast they could, almost jogging, Kiyan and Raten headed home. Arriving home, they walked in to find their father seated on the carved mahogany chair by the window constantly tapping on the cane he held in his hands. The only source of light was the lamp in the center of the room.
A creaking sound was heard as they shut the door.
"As much as I want to believe my boys were out stargazing, they weren't." He spoke in a low tone, shaking his head slightly. "Stop staying out till late. How may times must I say it! Are you trying to get yourselves killed!!" He turned to look at them. His gaze sent chills down their spine.
"We're sorry." They said in unison, their heads hung low.
The sound of the cane hitting the floor was heard as he moved closer. Afraid of getting hit, Raten yelled, "We promise father, we won't do it again."
"Yes father, this is the last time." Kiyan pleaded.
"I heard Mr. Cunningham's jewels were stolen today." Now standing directly in front of them, he spoke ignoring their plea.
Hearing his words, the boys shook in fear. Their father was the only one who knew they were the village's notorious thieves. They moved back wanting to create a distance between them and their father.
"Why so silent ?" He asked. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Slowly, they lifted their heads and faced their father who crouched a bit to their level. His large body casted a shadow over them. His dark hair falling over his shoulders, his blue eyes staring deep into their souls, he asked
"Why did you steal from him ? I remember you both had promised you'll never do that again. What exactly did you need those jewels for ?!" His voice, though calm, was filled with rage.
"W-we need, we needed s-some money..." Raten stuttered trying to explain but felt a strong hit to his side pushing him to the door. His father had hit him with his cane and his brother as well.
"Aarghhh!" They cried out as he hit them once more.
"You needed money. That's why you stole ?!" He yelled. "Am I not doing my best to provide ?" He gasped for air, falling back as he held his chest.
"We, we did it for you!" Kiyan cried. "Yes, you are doing your best, we just want to help."
"I don't need your help. I am fine and will work to help the family." He fell back on the chair. "You don't need to do anything for me."
"You are not fine." Raten spoke this time. "You'll work, you keep saying. But everyone denies you work. Even when you get something, you don't get a decent pay. We are not proud of what we did to Mr. Cunningham, but we had to. You are ill father." A tear rolled down his cheek as he said the last sentence.
"He always claimed to be your friend. But did nothing to help, when you needed it. No one did!" He continued.
"We just wanted to afford a healer." Said Kiyan.
"Still, you shouldn't go about stealing." Their father spoke. He could tell his sons cared for him, but doing dishonest things, he would never approve of.
"We won't do it again father." They promised.