The Thief's Gambit

In order to avoid the sure to be emotional goodbye, Nitendae had shared a private embrace with Bastien the previous evening. Humans wore their emotions far too close to the surface for his comfort.
Slipping out into the crisp pre-dawn air, the half-elven rogue heads off to find Nom Pariel's Queen of Thieves.
Wealthy as he now is, he could live like a high-born noble for the rest of his long life...
Except, he still has a few debts to settle.
The sun is just breaking  over the rooves of the eastern buildings, when he slips past the beggar; Blind Ali. She tilts her head but assumes the far too stealthy Nitendae is merely an errant gust of wind blowing down the alleyway and past her wooden crate home.
At the secret entrance behind the 'Queen's gambit' tavern, the half-elf deftly picks the robust but intricate lock and lets himself in.
He knows this was pointless.
He knows that the door is always monitored.
He knows that, even at this time, the secret underground building will be full of the city's worst denizens.
...
Especially at this time!
As he pads silently down the steps, he comes face to face with a burly guard blocking his progress.
Nitendae smiles.
"Hi Nelson."
The lithe Half-elf and the thick-necked, human sadist have met several times before. The first time while he was partnered with Stab-hands Stevi, shaking down Rosey for her 'protection money'.
"Ello Nite. Valois 'az bin expectin' you."
Escorted through a crowded, smoke filled bar to the back room, a velvet curtain is drawn aside and Nitendae ushered inside.
A beautiful, dark haired woman in her early thirties is sprawled across a large leather chair. She's wearing an elegant, wide brimmed hat upon her head and her thigh-high boots are up on the expensive looking desk between them.
Behind her, an unblinking black raven squats threateningly, perched atop a bookcase.
 Casually looking him up and down, Valois exhales a long stream of cigar smoke...
"Got those boots I hired you to find?"