Take a Thief
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Take a Thief: A Novel of Valdemar is a 2001 novel by Mercedes Lackey.
The novel is about Skif the pickpocket, who appears in later Valdemar book Arrows of the Queen. Skif lives with his horrible uncle, and gets little to eat.
[edit] Plot summary
One day, after dressing up like a page and stealing food from Lord Orthallen's table, he hides in the laundry room. There he finds a fellow and more experienced thief, and begs him to train him in the art. The boy gives in, and Skif finds himself living permantly with him, other boys and Bazie: their teacher.
Eventually Skif becomes a master at the trade, and is glad for good food and clothes. One night, after a successful theft, Skif comes home to find his house in flames and his comrades dead. In need of money and a home, Skif steals a beautiful white horse, only to find out she is a Companion and he is her chosen! Skif figures that being a herald is better than nothing, and travels with his new Companion Cymry to the Herald's Collegium. There things go from good to great, and Skif gets friends, books, a comfortable bed and good education. Only one thing is missing from his life: revenge for the lives of his friends and mentor Bazie. In the end Skif helps Herald Alberich take the criminal down, and earns his name as a hero of Valdemar.
