Coal, she was covered in black marks from hauling it across the city. Stormwind was a vast and unwelcoming setting compared to the comforts of Gnomeregan’s whirling gears and blasting alarms. Ciera dodged past the armored patrols that roamed the late-night streets in search of thieves such as her. Homeless children were especially at risk, she’d be thrown back into that orphanage, back into the world of strange tall mothers and mocking human children.

A light post, the deadly enemy stood in her path. The gnome shouldered the bag of coal and pulled her black hood to cover every strand of pink hair. A guard stood just under the post. Light and guards, enemies.

She would wait until the woman’s back was turned and sprint past as soundless as a cat. That was decided now to w—

Jingling, the sound of a heavily weighted coin-purse caught Ciera’s attention. She peeked around the corner, body pressed flat against the stones.

Armor, clean and pristine, no marks of battle and a sword hilt that seemed to gleam as if just from the weapon-smith; an easy target. Her eyes wandered to find the location of the purse; it hung loosely from the guard’s plate belt.

She set the bag of coal down and stepped around the corner, tossing her hood aside. The guard turned towards the noise of her steps. Ciera’s eyes watered and the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

The woman kneeled down, removing her helm and smiling at the little gnome. “There, there…are you lost, little one?”

Brown hair and green eyes, a standard human woman, nothing overly remarkable about her features. No scars. She wasn’t a fighter. Ciera took this all in as she reached a hand up to rub her eyes. “Y-y-yeees!” She sniffed.

The woman reached out towards her, pulling the gnome close to offer comfort. It was all a quick move. Ciera’s free hand went to her concealed dagger as her hair was being stroked. She hesitated a second, but only that and drove the blade under the woman’s armor into her abdomen.

A choking sound followed the blade’s stab. Ciera grabbed the purse as the lady fell back, stunned and bleeding. Ciera ripped out her dagger and sheathed it, moving back beyond whatever reach the woman might still retain. “You might not die.”

“So…cold. So…little. I…wanted…to help…you.” The woman pressed a hand to her wound.

Ciera walked over to her bag of coal and her hood, retrieving them both. “Everyone wants to help. You just did.” She held up the heavy pouch of coins and tucked it deep inside the bag of coals.

The woman sounded an alarm with the loudest shout she could manage, but Ciera was already gone without a trace of which direction she had taken. The guards would be there soon and she didn’t want to stick around.

She reappeared in a dark basement lit only by a single candle. She set the bag of coals down on the floor and retrieved her prize, but it was swiped from her grasp before she could conceal it beneath her clothes.

“What’s this, girl?” The older human looked down on her, though, she could only see his outline. He wore black to meld with the shadows of the room.

Ciera bowed her head, murmuring. “Pouch…from…”

“A guard. I know. Saw the whole thing.”

She looked up at him; head tilted as she wondered if this was masked praise from her master. The blow to the side of her face told her all she needed to know.

“What did I tell ya, girl? Don’t EVER let ‘em see your face. EVER! They’ll have those damn wanted posters all over the city. Ya think they care if they hang a little girl like you? They don’t give any more a damn than I do. Get that? We’re all in the same business. Only difference is...they murder for “just” causes and we murder for whatever the fel it is we want.”

“Yes, Master.” Ciera didn’t make a move to touch the bruise on her cheek, she remained motionless and submissive. “I won’t make the same mistake again.”

He nodded. “Best ya don’t, girl, or I’ll kill ya myself. I can find plenty other hopeless children out there with double the talent you have to teach. You’re lucky I haven’t gotten tired of ya yet. Now get those damn coals on the fire. It’s freezing in here.”

Ciera moved towards the fireplace, the only area lit by the candle and started putting the coals in. “Master…what is freezing?”

The man turned, his expression couldn’t be seen in the dim light. “Stop asking stupid questions and get the damned fire going!”