Chapter 190: Myth in the Making (2/2)
”Fortune, as opposed to Fate and Destiny, huh?” Mike asked sarcastically.
”Fate? Don't know anything about that, but Destiny is the plan created by the gods, while Fortune or Luck, as it's called through the system, is the force that mucks about with the gods' plans. It's something separate is all I can really tell you.” She replied with a shrug.
[I guess Fate, as the moderator of the multiverse isn't known here, or at the very least isn't commonly known. Which seems fair, since before I reincarnated, I just thought of it as a cop out trope used primarily in literature.]
”So, you were saying something about a magical rabbit?”
”Right,” She continued with a sigh, ”Supposedly, this rabbit blessed the young bandit with three instances of extraordinary luck, which when combined with the man's natural cunning, allowed him to accomplish all kinds of impossible things. I'll skip the details, since they don't particularly matter, but the climax of the story focuses on the confrontation between Hargulf and the young bandit. By this point, our protagonist had amassed a small fortune, and was in command of a large bandit force, who specialized in robbing the warlord's tax collectors.”
[So, more or less a Robin Hood type.]
”Let me guess, he gave away most of it to the poor and impoverished, right?”
”No, why would he do that? Nah, he did spend a good chunk of his earnings buying food, clothing, and tools before distributing them out to the people of the land to buy their loyalty, but that was mostly a means to ensure they wouldn't be betrayed.” Selene gave him a pitying look, as if questioning his sanity.
”Anyway, I assume this story has some kind of conclusion?”
”Yeah, supposedly Hargul got so fed up with all of his taxes being stolen, that he ordered his army to clear out the bandits and their supporters, once and for all. However, the young bandit heard about them coming, and using his last blessing of luck, led his band around the army and to Hargulf's fortress while they were ransacking his stronghold. Supposedly, they climbed the walls in the middle of the night, and captured the castle before the defenders knew what was happening. While they eventually executed Hargulf for his crimes, the bandit was able to seize control of the territory without shedding a single drop of blood, or so the story goes.”
”I take it this is where he starts being called a king.”
”Stop ruining the story, but yes, since he had effectively stolen a kingdom, the bandit came to be called the King of Thieves.”
”While I can see why it might be a popular legend, I don't understand why they are so excited about it.”
”Well, that's just the beginning of the legend.” She answered excitedly. ”See, according to legend, the King of Thieves established a stable government that was capable of ruling in his absence, and after a few years, he abandoned his duties and started adventuring around the Inland Sea, getting into all kinds of adventures, and acquiring all kinds of treasure through a combination of wit, good fortune, and a loose interpretation of the concept of ownership. Supposedly, when he got close to the end of his life, he embarked on one last great adventure. An attempt to cross what is now known as the Shimmering Desert in search of the lost city of Haliputra. Before he left, he passed on a message to his most loyal followers.”
She paused, pitching her voice into a low and gravelly tone, ”I go now to seek the limits of my fortune, so I will not ask you to wait for me. In time, my successor will rise, one who proves worthy of the title King of Thieves. He shall inherit my legacy.” Coughing once, she continued. ”And with that, he disappeared into the shifting sands, with only a white rabbit for company, never to be seen again. Some say he died in the desert, but others say he found the city, plumbed its unknown depths, and stole the very essence of divinity itself, becoming an Ascendant Mortal, or perhaps even a god.”
”Ah, so I'm guessing it's pretty common for young gang members to day dream about becoming the next King of Thieves. Is that perhaps why you know this story so well?” Mike asked with a sly grin.
Selene blushed, while folding her arms defensively. ”Hey! I was a young street urchin not too long ago. The idea of inheriting a whole bunch of wealth and power seemed pretty cool.”
He chuckled, ”What about his name? You never explained that.”
Looking excited, Selene answered, ”Supposedly, the King of Thieves was so good, he even managed to steal his own name from the history books, ensuring that his legacy would live on past the confines of his own mortality.” A moment of silence followed as her boss stared at her.
Shaking his head, Mike decided to let that one go. ”Anyway, how does one go about proving themselves worthy? It didn't sound like he left any guidance on that.”
”It's believed that you have to find out for yourself how to acquire the title. However, most seem to think that, if you are an infamous enough thief, it will simply come to you one day. There have been several people who claimed to be the new King of Thieves, but so far none of them have been validated.”
”How would they even know?” Mike asked between bites of pastry. He'd finally given into temptation, although he did make sure to get one for each of his familiars.
”Thanks,” Selene answered while receiving the offered treat. ”Have you heard of the Liar's Chair?”
He shook his head while chewing.
”In the forest to the southwest, there is an old ruin dating back to the beginning of the Third Age. In its depths is a seat carved into the trunk of a massive, petrified tree. It's said that this was once the throne of the King of Thieves, and somehow served as the gateway to his power and wealth. When a worthy successor sits upon the Liar's Chair, they finally inherit the legacy of the King.” She finished before taking a bite as well. ”Hm, not bad, but it could use a little more honey.”
[Seems pretty straightforward, I guess. Still, I have a hard time imagining Brenden taking up the mantle of a legendary trickster. Seems a bit contrary to his nature.] Mike thought back to what he knew about his friend, the little bits and pieces of his past the beastman had let slip. [Then again, perhaps it would be a good fit.]
”So all of this fuss about Brenden being the next King of Thieves…”
”Pretty much just bluster on the part of the Hunter's Paw, as far as I can tell. One of the first gangs they absorbed started calling him that, and the name has stuck.”
[It feels like there is more at play here, but I'll need to know more before I can determine what exactly.]
”In any event, it doesn't look like he's in any danger for the moment. Still, keep an eye on him for the time being, and let me know if that changes.” With that, Mike turned and started moving back through the streets. He had a meeting to attend soon, and couldn't afford to be late.