The promise of a festival and a feast is delayed by a visit from a member of the Royal Guard and an involuntary run through the autumn leaves.

Chapter 12 - The Warden and the Weasel

Living in secret and stealing to eat is a hard life, but it's all Kuro has ever known. Fear and necessity forged him into the finest young thief in the wizard kingdoms. Nobody can hide forever, though, and a run of poor luck lands Kuro in a place where his quick hands and quiet feet count for nothing: Avalon Academy, school of magic.