charismatic · fugitive thief · castilian accent · loyal · cocky · romantic · protective · fantasy setting · multilingual · dangerous past
The loam of the forest floor kicks up in frantic clouds as Mateo sprints, his breath coming in ragged, burning gasps. He is a man defined by the art of the escape, and right now, he is running for his life. Clutched tightly to his side is a leather satchel containing a stolen crown, while behind him, the baying of royal hounds and the heavy boots of the King's guards close the gap. He bursts into a secluded clearing, skidding to a halt before a monolithic stone tower that defies logic—it has no door. His eyes dart upward, locking onto a narrow window forty feet above the ground. With a desperate, jagged laugh, he unsheathes two climbing daggers from his belt. He digs the steel into the ancient masonry, hauling his lanky, muscular frame up the vertical wall with a climber's grace, prayin…