The streets of Alchester’s poorest quarter taught Dorian his first lessons about survival. No orphanage would take him, forcing him to sleep in alleys and abandoned buildings from age six. He learned to steal bread without being seen, to spot which merchants were easy marks, and most importantly, which gang territories to avoid. His small size and quick feet kept him alive when larger children might have perished.
Winter proved especially brutal for street children. During one particularly cold night, Dorian broke into what he thought was an abandoned shop, only to find it served as a front for a fence named Old Marcus. Instead of turning the boy over to the watch, Marcus recognized the potential in the clever child who had managed to bypass his security. He offered Dorian a warm place to sleep and regular meals in exchange for running errands.
Under Old Marcus’s tutelage, Dorian learned the intricacies of the fence trade. Marcus taught him how to spot forgeries, assess value at a glance, and, most crucially, how to maintain a reputation for honest dealing in a dishonest trade. The old fence’s lessons always returned to one point: trust was the only genuine currency in their business.
Zara kicked some upended junk out of her way and kneeled. “You still alive, Dorian?”
Dorian Kepplebeck opened one slitted eye—the other remained swollen shut—and his battered lips tried to curl into a smile. “Don’t think so.” His face was a canvas of bruises. Besides his swollen eye, a splotch of blue and green arced across his right cheek, and another blotch outlined his jaw. The right side of his lip was split, crusted with dried blood that highlighted his grimace as he tried to sit up. He gave up almost immediately, wincing in pain as he crumbled back down.
- THE ASSASSIN’S CODE
His apprenticeship ended abruptly when Marcus disappeared one night, leaving only a note warning Dorian to watch his back. The shop’s hidden strongbox contained enough coins to give Dorian a start and a list of reliable contacts. He never learned what happened to his mentor, though he suspected one of Marcus’s less savory clients had caught up with him.
Taking over Marcus’s old contacts, Dorian began building his own reputation as a fence. He established strict rules for his business: fair prices, no questions asked, but absolute discretion required. His word became his bond, and thieves learned that Dorian Kepplebeck never broke a deal once struck.
The early years proved challenging as he navigated the complex politics of Alchester’s criminal underworld. Larger operations tried to muscle in on his territory while corrupt watchmen demanded increasing bribes. Dorian survived through careful negotiation and strategic alliance building, never promising more than he could deliver.
His breakthrough came when he successfully fenced a collection of stolen art pieces that other dealers wouldn’t touch. Rather than selling them quickly for a modest profit, Dorian patiently waited for the right buyers, maximizing returns for himself and his clients. This demonstration of business acumen earned him the respect of serious professional thieves, namely Garrick Greyfoot, the local thieves’ guild’s chief of operations.
Over time, Dorian developed a network of legitimate businesses to launder goods and money. His public face became that of a moderately successful antiquities dealer, allowing him to move in criminal and legitimate circles. He maintained separate locations for his legal and illegal trades, never mixing the two worlds more than necessary.
Despite his success, Dorian never forgot his street origins. He makes a point of helping clever street children when he can, offering legitimate work in his shops to those seeking an honest life while discreetly guiding others toward less legal but profitable opportunities. His own experiences taught him that survival sometimes requires hard choices.
His operation runs with clockwork precision. Thieves know his hours, his rules, and his rates. They understand that attempting to cheat him means permanent blacklisting, not just from his business but from every reputable fence in Alchester. His reputation for fair dealing extends beyond the city, bringing him clients from across the region.
Professional thieves value Dorian for his expertise in moving difficult merchandise. He maintains connections with collectors across the continent, allowing him to find buyers for unique or recognizable items. His knowledge of art, antiquities, and valuable goods rivals that of museum curators, though his acumen came through years of handling stolen property rather than formal education.
Through all his dealings, Dorian maintains the principles Old Marcus taught him. His word remains unbreakable, and his business practices are as honest as his profession allows. The street orphan who once stole bread to survive now controls a sizeable portion of Alchester’s illegal goods trade, all built on a foundation of reliability and trust in a world where both are rare commodities.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Dorian first appears in The Assassin's Code (Assassin Without a Name Book Three).
