Well, in that case, read on, gentle traveller. The following gives away a teeny bit of the story, but no introduction can hope to introduce without making things ever so slightly more familiar.
Rubel is a thief, who has been away at sea for a few years.
He is still a boy, but a very special one. Earlier, he had become the princess's thief, and swore powerful oaths to her that only a true thief can swear. He has returned to his home city only to have many difficulties befall him. That's all I can say without getting too close to giving things away.