"Oh, c'mon Estelle!"

"No."

"But this could fun, though."

"Yea, stealing a couple of big and naturally skittish creatures from a grumpy, old wizard. Tons of fun." I say rolling my eyes.

Finnigan pouts. "Please, I'll even split the reward with you. It's just one job. Fiel posted this job on the notice board for a reason."

I cross my arms and glare at him. "Fiel can get another King's thief to do it. Not you, nor I. Besides the guys a total loon anyways." I let out a frustrated huff. "Wanting to add Unicorns to his trading stock, feh. Is he nuts?"

I push myself up onto the castle's cobblestoned outer wall so I'm looking down at Finnigan. Some of the Nem knights can be seen just a few feet away by the gates having a sparring match while some of King Rowan's nursemaids titter about, here and there, attending to their daily chores. "Why did you even accept this request in the first place? I mean, you usually take on some pretty odd ones, but Fiel's? You usually stay away from his requests." I place my hand on my chin. "Everyone does, really," I mutter.

Finnigan merely smirks and leans against the wall. "Well, the reward is pretty sweet. A bag full of the finest chocolate from Draconia," he said.

I shake my head. "For sweets, of course. I should have known."

Finnigan grinned. "So does that mean you'll help me do this job?"

A resigned sigh passes my lips and I hop down from the wall. "Fine,"

Finnigan's grin widens and he pumps his fist a few times in excitement. "Yes! Thank you, Estelle.

"Uh, huh. Sure."

***

"Remind me to never go on a job with you ever again!" I yell to Finnigan as I urge the snowy- white unicorn I'm currently clinging on to, to gallop faster through the grassy fields as I try to dodge the onslaught of magic blasts from the wizard.

I hear Finnigan let out a laugh as he passes me on his own unicorn. Gently directing her by her crystalline horn as he rides. "C'mon Estelle, isn't this thrilling?"

"Get back here with my prized horses, you Nem brats!" The Wizard yells at us as he continues to chase us down on his thunder cloud. Not relenting for a single second as he casts yet, another spell.

I duck and press my head further into the unicorn's soft mane as another lightning bolt comes my way. "No! it's not! Fiel better as hell give you at least two or three pounds of that chocolate for these two!"

Finnigan merely snickers in response as he veers to left, dodging an oncoming plasma blast. "So, since this was your brilliant idea to take this job, any ideas how to get across this field, back to Nem, and avoid Mr. 'wand up his butt'?"

For a moment I don't hear anything from Finnigan, then I hear him shout out. "Do you trust me?"

I furrow my brow in confusion. "Why kind of question is that?" I shout back.

"Just answer me, Estelle."

I sigh. "Fine, yes."

"Then stop your horse on the count of three!" I hear him shout.

My eyes widen in shock. "You want me to do what!"

Finnigan lets out a sigh. "Just do it, Estelle."

"Fine," I grumble.

Another lightning bolt comes shooting down, nearly missing me by an inch.

"One!"

He's gone completely nuts.

"Two!"

He might get us killed even.

"Three!"

I pull on the mane of my Unicorn making her come to a complete stop. Next thing I know, I hear a loud popping sound and Finnigan and I are suddenly surrounded by a large cloud of green smoke. Everything disappears around me, the smoke clears, and we are not riding away from the mad wizard, but standing right in front of Fiel's stall with the two Unicorns beside us.

"What the—" I shout stumbling back in surprise. "Finnigan! What the hell happened?"

He just grins like a cat who caught the canary. "Xoom powder," he says simply.

"Xoom powder?" I ask.

"Ah Finnigan, Estelle! You've brought me the Unicorns yes? Great job, yes great. And to answer your question dear Estelle, Xoom powder. My own invention. You in a pinch? Throw a pinch of Xoom down, and poof! You back where you need to be. Safe from harm indeed."

I send a glare Finnigan's way. "You had that all this time? You couldn't have used it sooner?"

Finnigan just shrugs. "Eh, I wanted to ride the Unicorns."

I let out a sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. Turning back to Fiel I cross my arms. "Well, we brought the Unicorns like you asked. Where's the reward?"

He smiles widely and pulls out two bags. One larger than the other. "Yes, yes. Here it is. One for you, my dear boy. And one for the lovely lady as you requested."

I give a surprised look as Finnigan takes both bags and hands one to me. "Two bags?" I ask.

He smirks and motions for me to open the smaller bag. "Open it," he says as he pops a chocolate into his mouth.

I open the bag and let out a gasp. There in all its glory, was a small snow globe containing a  replica of my little mountain village. Down to the tiniest detail, it was all there. I smile. "I thought these were all destroyed."

Finnigan lets out a laugh and gives me a hug. "Yea, but I saw that Fiel had one. So before he traded it to someone else, or worse—it gets stolen, I thought, hey, the perfect gift for my adorable partner in crime, so there you go."

"Thanks, Finnigan. I really appreciate it." I say with a grin.

He laughs. "No problem, anything for my partner in crime."

I let out a chuckle and continue to gaze in wonder at the snow globe. Partners in crime indeed.