Kai Custance

Kai sounds like someone who should've had it all. Two (living!) parents with a happy marriage and decent jobs at a human-run castle, a safe environment to grow up in, a good education and eventually a good, stable job just like her family. Her family's position at the castle protected her from most of the bullying by agemates. Kai knew fine well how fortunate her fate was. And yet, she kept yearning for something more, something behind that horizon perpetually out of reach…

The temptations started small, as all things do. She was only a child when she met a guy who introduced himself as an information broker and asked her to bring an innocent letter to the castellan's assistant in return for a shiny gold coin. Then to deliver the assistant’s reply to someone else at the market square. Then sneak into so-and-so'd living quarters to check if they've got anything of worth or other interest lying around. For the latter, Kai was slightly spooked but otherwise unfazed when she heard someone had broken into said quarters a few days later. She liked the thrill after all. Slowly but surely she branched out from innocent 'snooping around' to full-fledged theft, spying and smuggling goods on and off of the castle grounds.

Her criminal activities became even more plentiful when she was appointed the castellan's personal messenger. She gained a reason to be in most places of the castle at any time and even travelled to different settlements to deliver important news – and nobody would question her, as long as she didn't make a mistake.

Maybe someday she will leave her 'side job' behind. But if it were up to her, that won't be anytime soon…