A prudent thief should never drink so much that he 
becomes bold.
Because a thief who boasts and brags will rarely live 
to grow old.
For silence is a thief's best bet and if he breaks this 
etiquette. 
Undoubtedly what he will get...will be more trouble 
than gold.

Consider Zhele a thief from Greel, who drank at the 
Swan and Grouse. 
He made himself quite popular by buying rounds for the 
house.
One night in drunken revelry, he made a bet with 
prideful glee, 
But later on he would agree...he never should've been 
soused. 

A thief's best friends are luck and speed, alertness, 
cunning and stealth. 
And ale can cause these all to flee and cheat a thief 
of his wealth. 
But add to this a drunken dare to steal a lock of the 
Empress' hair, 
Then even a fool should be aware...this may be bad for 
your health. 

So Zhele did stumble through the door in his most 
fearless state. 
He slipped in shadows past the guard and snuck through 
the palace gate. 
Then giggling he scaled the wall so drunk he thought he 
could not fall.
For wasn't he the best of all...and surely favored by 
Fate. 

As he climbed in he saw a girl who was dressed in cloth 
not fur. 
A palace maid? Perhaps a cook? T'was difficult to be 
sure. 
A homely lass she did appear, but anyone looks good 
through beer, 
So when she asked, "Why are you here?"...he said he was 
there for her. 

He showered her with compliments for flattery was his 
skill. 
And so they spent a pleasant time as any young couple 
will. 
But as the dawn lit their embrace, he recognized the 
lady's face 
From every golden coin it graced...and suddenly he felt 
ill. 

He'd heard that drink was dangerous and now he knew for 
a fact.
For theives caught in the palace were hanged or 
stretched upon a rack. 
But as this thief was kind and bold, the empress gifted 
him with gold. 
(Then the guard made sure that he'd been told...he'd be 
killed if he ever came back.) 

And so he was a thief no more for that was part of the 
deal. 
His bet was lost because she gave him what he went 
there to steal. 
So other thieves may scorn and mock his name and tale 
but still they flock 
For a drink and a look at the Empresses Lock... the 
finest tavern in Greel.