The carriages were not as quiet as they had been when heading to the cetery.
Three wagons, three dium sized ones with cloth coverings, were all rolling in a line along the city street. There were ten won per wagon, and they were all noisy now. They were talking, although with somber voices. At least they were noisy. I couldn't understand them, of course, but the way they all pointed out the wagon at the buildings and people we passed told that their friend's funeral had gone well.
Even Glanny, who had sobbed so much at the funeral that I feared for her, was now laughing.
Leaning over to Brandy, who sat with on the front of the carriage's seat, I whispered to get her attention. "Think we could stop sowhere? To let them eat or sothing?" I asked her.
"Sorry Renn, but this many of them would draw far too much attention," Brandy said. She didn't whisper, but I knew it was because there was no point. The girls didn't speak our language.
"I see," I nodded. I had expected as much, but it was too bad.
Brandy and I were on the wagon in the center. Vim was guiding the first wagon, alone, and behind us were Brom and Reatti in the third.
Surprisingly, Lawrence and Wynn had been at the cetery waiting for us. They had helped in the burying and rites of the girl... and had done a very good job. They had known so of the traditions that these eastern girls had expected, and perford them properly. It had surprised to hear Lawrence talk to them in their language. But at the sa ti, maybe not. He seed... old. Like Vim.
Those two hadn't rejoined us on the trip back, however.
"Was hoping to make it back in ti to go to the embassy after we got back, but oh well," Brandy sighed.
"Hm..." I nodded. The sky was growing dark, and quickly. Another storm was nearing.
Lamp poked her head out from the cloth curtain, and said sothing to Brandy. She spoke in a happy tone, and I watched as Lamp glanced at and smiled as she spoke.
Smiling back at her, I listened to Brandy's response. It had been a short one.
Lamp said sothing, and then went back into the wagon to relay whatever had been said.
"She asked if we'd let them all hold a eulogy for the girl, and all the others they lost," Brandy inford .
"Eulogy?" I asked.
"Just sothing they do for the deceased. They'll probably spend the night singing songs in their honor, or telling stories. She's basically asking for permission for them to be noisy throughout the night," Brandy said.
"Ah... why would we say no to that?" I asked.
"Most would, Renn. Different religions usually don't mix well," she said.
"Oh. I see," I nodded as I understood what Brandy was actually trying to say.
"They might even sacrifice sothing in tribute... maybe I should get them a goat?" Brandy wondered.
"A goat...?" I asked.
"So cultures do that. Never t a pagan before?" she asked.
"Is that what they are?" I asked. They hadn't seed like it.
"Basically. They'll eat it though, so don't worry about it going to waste. It's more of a ritual of symbolic nature. Or does it disturb you?" Brandy asked.
I noticed the way she studied . This was one of her questions that had importance. "It's odd, but if it doesn't harm anyone I think it's fine," I said.
She smiled at and nodded in a way that told she liked what I had said.
"Would Vim be okay with it?" I asked.
"Vim doesn't tell anyone no," she sighed.
"He doesn't like a lot of things though?"
She shrugged and pulled the rains a little. To slow the horse, since Vim had slowed his wagon as well. I couldn't see the reason, but based off the sounds and how busy the streets were becoming it was simply because of traffic.
We weren't too far from the guild building after all. From what I could rember, just a few turns from here and we'd be entering the depot.
"To be honest with you Renn, I'm surprised none of them have tried to run away," she said.
"Huh?" I glanced at Brandy.
"The girls. I expected so of them to run. Maybe even all of them," she said with a shrug.
Glancing at the cloth behind , which hid the ten won who were all talking amongst themselves... I wondered how serious Brandy was being.
"Is it that surprising?" I asked her.
"Very. We've been kind to them, especially you, but this is still... well... They haven't had a happy experience, that's for sure. For none of them to even try makes wonder if maybe Vim had saved one of them or sothing," she said.
"What do you an by that?" I asked, now a little more interested.
"When a man saves a woman, especially when she's going through such turmoil... well, they beco very cordial. I an really, Renn isn't it obvious?" Brandy smirked at .
"Lamp does seem to think highly of him..." I complained.
"Who wouldn't in their position? Though don't worry about it. They like you too. They find your efforts adorable," Brandy said.
"Oh?" they had talked to Brandy about ? Or had Brandy been the one to ask them? Maybe she had asked to make sure I was taking care of them properly.
Soone walked up close to our wagon, and I turned to quickly see who it was. I cald down at the sight of Brom. He stepped up near us, walking alongside our slowly moving cart. "I'll go ahead and make sure that they make room for us in the depot," he told us.
"Please do," Brandy said.
Brom nodded and hurried away. I noticed he paused to talk to Vim before running ahead of us.
"Good lad, Brom. I'm sure you've realized it by now, but if anything ever happened and Vim isn't around go to him. He's proven himself. He'll not cower when it cos to it," Brandy told .
"I figured," I said. I had the bruises that proved that fact. Though... I also had bruises because he did cower, in a way. He panicked when I put him in a dangerous position. He'd toss onto my back whenever I got too close to hurting him, instinctively.
The wagons turned to the right, and then we ca to a stop on the new road. I recognized the buildings we stopped near, and I knew that we were now waiting in line to enter the depot.
We were close enough that honestly we should just let them out of the wagons and walk in... but I knew Brandy and the rest wouldn't allow it. They didn't want anyone thinking the Animalia Guild dealt with slaves.
And they, thirty won of foreign descent all looking the way they did... well...
That looked like slavery, from a distance.
Although they were all cleaned up, and in fresh clothes that actual fit... They still had bruises. They still looked malnourished. They still had haunted looks in their eyes. And now, of course, they probably also looked as if they had all just been sobbing for hours... because they had been.
"They are very docile," I whispered as I stared in front of us. One of the girls was peering at us from behind the cloth cover of the wagon. I couldn't tell who it was, but she was smiling at us.
"They know they're safe with us. But yes... as I said, I'm surprised," Brandy said.
The wagons slowly started moving again, and I watched the city slowly pass us by.
Most of the buildings in this area were warehouses, or businesses. And most of the buildings were huge... with little room between them and the next. The few alleys we passed were dark, and full of stuff. Boxes, crates, and other junk.
Yet every so often... I saw people within them.
People wearing cloaks. People that looked like they didn't belong. People without any colors or insignia's to mark them, and let people know what company they worked for.
"Is the city dangerous Brandy?" I asked her.
"Yes. Sadly it is. These girls are proof of that, Renn," Brandy said.
"I see..." I stared at the alleys we passed, and wondered if the people hiding in them were so of those dangerous things.
"It's as you said before... we're lucky. We don't need to worry over certain things. Though that's not all of us, Renn... so are weak. So aren't blessed with our strength," Brandy said.
I nodded. I knew that. I had noticed several who struggled with the heavy tal doors of the Society.
"I heard you sent a letter to Twin Hills?" Brandy then asked.
"Oh...? I thought stuff like that was private?" I asked.
"It is. I just happen to be the one Gerald asked to handle it, which is why I found out," she smiled at as she told how she knew.
"Hm... It's for Lomi. A young fox girl who Vim took to live there, about the ti I joined," I said.
"I know her story, though I don't know her," Brandy said, and then she had to tug on the reigns to stop the horse. Vim's wagon ca to a stop again.
Leaning over, I stared at the scene in front of us. Vim had hopped off the carriage in front of us, and Brom was now hoping up to take over.
"What's going on?" Brandy asked.
"Brom swapped with Vim," I said.
"Oh?"
Vim then said sothing to Brom and then turned took at .
He smiled at , and I couldn't help but smile back at him.
"What happened?" Brandy asked. I blinked as I realized she had been staring at , since she couldn't see him she was looking at instead.
"Nothing..." I said as I sat back up and straight.
Brandy chuckled, and I knew she had a very good idea of what had happened.
Jeez...
Still...
Leaning over little, I peered around the wagon in front of us to see Vim again.
Watching Vim as he spoke to one of the won in the wagon in front of us, he made her laugh as he pointed at Brom. Vim smirked, and then waved as the wagon in front of us lurched forward.
"Finally," Brandy sighed, and with a snap she sent this wagon forward too.
We rolled forward, and I stared at Vim as we drew closer to him. He stood still in the middle of the street, watching us pass.
"What are you doing?" I asked him as we passed.
"My job. What are you doing?" he asked.
"My... job?" I wondered if I was.
"Don't have such a huge smile then, it's weird," Vim said as we rolled past him. I couldn't say anything in response, since we left him behind.
Brandy snickered as we slowly rolled along.
A small part of wanted to hop off the wagon, to join him... but I knew better than to leave Brandy alone to deal with the won on her own. She'd be fine, of course, but it wasn't fair.
"Makes wonder what happened for you to look so lovingly at him already. You just yesterday broke his nose," Brandy teased .
"I didn't break it," I argued.
"You tried to."
I had... but... Could I even if I wanted to? He hadn't even flinched at my attack...
Brandy directed the wagon into the depot, behind the wagon in front of us. I noticed that although people were in the depot, working hard, there weren't any other wagons or carts in the other lane at the mont.
They had stopped the other carts and wagons from entering so we could unload the girls without drawing attention.
That must have been what Brom had hurried ahead to do.
Magdalena approached the two horses which were pulling our wagon, and had them stop. "Welco back," she greeted us.
"Thanks," Brandy said as I went to hop off the wagon.
As I did Brandy stuck her head into the wagon to tell Lamp and the rest to disembark.
The cloth flapped open as they all hurried to hop off the wagon. As they did, the third wagon behind us guided by Reatti entered the depot.
Vim spoke to Reatti as he guided the horses of their wagon into the depot.
Lamp said sothing to as she patted on the shoulder. Whatever she said sounded happy, so I just smile and nodded at her.
While the three wagons beca empty, I watched as all the won who had been separated for the last two hours went to talking with one another.
Doing a headcount, I quickly counted the thirty won. They were all still here.
I hadn't even thought about any of them trying to escape, or run away. Honestly it's not like we'd really stop them... but I hoped none tried or did so.
Unable to speak the language here, there was a good chance they'd only end up suffering again if they left us.
As I studied them all, I noticed that the won were quickly gathering around Vim. He was now talking to Lamp, and I noted the... happy smile on her face. He said sothing, then she said sothing back and the whole group laughed.
Although... jealous, that I couldn't understand what they were saying, I still found myself smiling and enjoying it all the sa.
I liked how, even though he didn't truly care for them... he was still gentle and kind to them. Even though he didn't have to be.
Then Lamp said sothing and pointed over at . I shifted as most of the won looked at , and then several spoke up. Very quickly I heard my na co from most of them, as they told Vim all about whatever they were talking about.
"Uh..." I glanced around for Brandy, hoping for a translation. Especially since Vim had one of his amused smiles on his face. He was enjoying whatever they were saying, which ant he'd probably not tell . Just because it was funny to him.
Brandy was over with Magdalena, talking. Not paying attention to us at all.
Great.
Then one of the girls walked over and grabbed by the arm. She pulled , kindly, to the center of the group. Lamp gestured for to co up next to her, who stood next to Vim.
I obliged, and felt a little... silly, as they all talked in their odd language all around . So of them were taller than , so it made feel a little out of place amongst them.
They were all blonde. Pretty. Young. And their happy smiles and deanor made them all the more beautiful.
"They want to tell you sothing, Renn," Vim then said to .
"Oh?" I nodded, wondering what they wanted.
Lamp said sothing, then so did another. Very quickly they all said the sa thing to ... with only minor variations.
"Thank you for your kindness... basically," Vim translated for .
Oh.
My eyes grew watery as I nodded. "Thank you," I said.
Vim said sothing to them, with much more words than a simple translation of my own words would have been.
They all laughed at , and suddenly I was wrapped in a hug. Startled, I watched Vim's face as I was wrapped in another hug, and then another.
Accepting a hug from each one of them, I smiled and nodded as each one said sothing to as they did so.
What were they all thanking for anyway? For letting them bury their friend?
I hadn't been the one to make it happen. Brandy and Vim had...
"Alright! Stop smothering her!" Brandy approached, and then started yelling at them in their language. They all released and turned to listen to her.
I watched as they all smiled at her, and then Brandy finished her speech. They all nodded, and begun chatting amongst themselves excitedly.
"Renn," Lamp patted my shoulder, and I turned to watch her then reach over and tap Vim to get his attention. She said sothing to him, all while holding my arm.
Vim said sothing to her, and then gestured to Lamp. "She's inviting you to their wake. The uh... celebration, of their friend's death. Brandy just gave them permission to do it on the roof tonight, she's even going to get them a lamb I guess," Vim said.
"Oh..." I glanced at Lamp who was smiling eagerly at . "Should I say yes Vim?" I asked him. I wanted to, to see what this supposed celebration was... but...
"It'd be fine. They're just going to sacrifice the lamb in her na. They won't even kill it. The eastern people sacrifice by claiming the animal holy. They make a promise to their gods that they'll not kill the beast for food or resources, until it dies of old age. So they'll just have a ceremony, maybe sing so songs, all while being together and having fun. It's a mont of joy," Vim described it to .
"Then yes, I'd be happy to join them," I said.
Vim told her, and Lamp happily nodded and gave a quick hug. As she did, I noticed that like most... she felt skinny. Too skinny. More bones than not.
They had a long way to go.
"I'll take them back," Brandy said as she waved for the won to follow her as she began shouting in their language.
Lamp said one last thing to , and then she reached over and kissed on the forehead. I stood there, a little dumbstruck, as she gave a happy smile and then stepped away to join the rest of her friends.
Watching the thirty won follow Brandy into the building, I reached up to touch my forehead. Where she had kissed .
"Don't tell you fell for her or sothing," Vim said.
"Maybe," I said as I rubbed my forehead. It tingled for so reason.
Vim shifted, looking at oddly.
"What?" I asked as I smiled at him. He looked jealous.
"You did spend years with a woman, didn't you," he mumbled.
"Nory. Yes. I loved her too," I said with a nod.
Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and sighed.
Laughing at him, I glanced back at the crowd of won entering the building. They were forming a line as to pass through the large doors.
As they left soone walked over and then hoped up onto one of the wagon that Vim had been on earlier. It was a worker I didn't recognize. "Where do they put them?" I asked Vim as he flipped the reigns and made the horses start moving.
Another man ca over, and with a small nod to us he climbed up onto the second the wagon. I stepped back alongside Vim to get out of the way as they went to moving the wagons. "There's a warehouse across the street that has our carts and a stable for the horses," Vim said.
"Why aren't they stored in the building?" I asked.
"Why should they be?"
"To make sure nothing happens to them...?" I suggested.
"That warehouse is guarded too. It's fine," he waved the concern off easily.
"Hm... Brandy said this town can be dangerous," I said.
"It can be."
Glancing at Vim, I wondered what to say. I was running out of common conversations...
He and I hadn't actually had a real conversation since I had hit him. A few here and there, like last night when Glanny's sister had died... And this morning, when we had been preparing for the burial. But mostly our conversations have been of work, or rather... not about what had happened.
Vim had said that what had happened was a little spat. As he called it.
Yet I hadn't apologized yet. And even though he seed more than willing to laugh it off, and wasn't bothered by it...
I felt that I should say sothing. That I should properly apologize and...
"Your painting is almost done, by the way," I whispered.
Vim stopped watching the wagons roll away and looked back at . "Oh?"
I nodded. "I'm sorry. I've been... busy," I gestured at the door that was now closed. They were out of sight now.
"Yea... that's mostly my fault, so I'll forgive you there," he said.
"Oh? So you admit you made a mistake?" I asked him.
"Damn right I did. I should have tossed them overboard when I found them," he said.
"Please don't say that," I said, unhappy to hear him say so.
"Hm... I guess you're right. I'd not have done so. Let rephrase it... I wish they would have tried to kill or escape, so I could have done that justifiably," he nodded as he spoke, as if proud of his reasoning.
I sighed at him, and wondered if he'd actually kill them all if he could.
"Would you Vim?" I asked, unable to not.
Vim shifted, and then pointed at the large gate we had just co from. "It'll take them awhile to start their tribute. Not until sundown. Willing to accompany until then?" he asked.
"Oh! Yes," I nodded quickly. Too quickly. He smirked at , and I knew my reaction had been... too much. I blushed a little as he turned and I went to follow him out of the depot.
Reatti and Brom waved at us as we left, they were walking back into the building too. Why had they waited so long...?
Watching the way they whispered to each other, I realized that they had been watching . Or well, with Vim.
While we left the depot, the warehouse started to get back to work. People began to whistle and guiding the next wagons in.
Walking behind Vim, I followed him across the street and then we took a left. To head away from the port.
Wonder where we were going. Was he hungry? Thirsty? Maybe he'd take sowhere he liked, like that ti in Telmik.
We hadn't eaten together in... well...
Since the day we got here.
"I'm surprised you got Brom and Reatti to help us. They hadn't really wanted to help before," I said.
"You just need to know how to ask," Vim said. He turned a little, and stepped towards the side of the sidewalk. He wanted to walk up to his right, to walk beside him.
I picked up my pace a little as he slowed his, and I took my place to his right. "In other words you strong-ard them?" I asked.
"You think soone like would ever do that?" he asked back.
"Oh definitely not," I said with a smile.
Vim had us take another left, and suddenly we were heading towards the center of the city. Towards the massive castle not too far away.
As we walked I glanced at the alleyways we passed. I didn't see anyone within them... but...
"What have you been looking for, Renn?" Vim asked.
"Huh?"
"You've been staring into the alleys for awhile now, what caught your eye?" he asked.
"Oh. I've seen people in them. I'm just wondering if they're..." I stopped talking as soone walked out from a building's door in front of us. They ignored us as we passed them, and they locked the door they had left from.
"Most are workers. The few who aren't are either the holess or people up to no good. Just leave them be," he spoke a little callously, as if he didn't care.
"You really don't care much for anything other than our Society, do you?" I asked him.
"I don't have the luxury of doing anything else. And why do you ask that now? Do you suddenly feel like saving everyone or sothing? You beco responsible for a few poor won and now you want to help everyone?" he asked .
"Huh? No... That wasn't what I was thinking at all. I was just trying to understand the city a little more... How co it's so wealthy, yet there seems to be such an issue. Telmik didn't have people in the alleys," I said.
"Yes it did. Just not near the church," Vim said flatly.
"Oh..." I didn't like that.
"But... you are correct. It's worse here. Probably the worst out of anywhere. It's because of the port. People hop onto the ships from all over and co here thinking they'll change their fate. Beco rich. Beco healthy or happy. They get here and nothing changes," Vim said.
"Why doesn't it? Aren't there lots of jobs here?" I asked.
"Says who? Haven't you noticed how hard the humans struggle to make sure they keep the jobs at the company? For every open position they have hundreds of applicants, Renn," Vim said.
"Oh..." I see. That made a lot of other things a lot more understandable.
Vim guided around a corner and we finally left the area of the Animalia company. Other symbols and nas started to pop up on the windows and signs as we walked down a smaller street. One for feet, not wheels and hooves.
"Have you walked around the city yet?" he asked .
"Hm? The only ti I left the building was with Reatti. To get painting supplies," I said.
"She was with you?" he asked.
I nodded. "She had been. We went to a place near the port. It was... interesting. It slled like the Sleepy Artist, but was small. They didn't really sell paintings, just the supplies," I said.
He nodded as if he knew the shop I spoke of.
"Is that what we're doing? Are we going to check the city out?" I asked, a little excited. I had thought he had already done this, since before he left the company. For him to have also invited to join him was...
"Just a single section of it. I want to see the stock... I an the booth market, and then I figured I'd take you out on a date to properly earn your forgiveness for what I did," Vim said coolly.
I stopped walking for a mont, but he didn't stop. He kept walking... even though he knew I had stopped.
I huffed as I hurried to catch up with him. "Date?" I asked him.
"Sothing a man and woman do... or well I guess any two people, really. A special mont to be alone, basically. Usually involves food, fun, entertainnt, flirting, and sotis a stabbing," he said.
"Stabbing?" I asked with a laugh. I knew what a date was, but I hadn't realized he'd actually use that word to describe our little outings.
"Those are the best kind of dates," he said with a nod.
"Jeez... I like the food and fun part. Reatti has told of so kind of underground pub that's here that she and the others go to..." She hadn't told the na of it yet, which was odd, but she had said it was near the castle.
"The Sunken Barrel. Yes. We're not going there," he said.
"Hm... she wants to go with her," I agreed.
"Plus it's just for drinking. She must not realize you're more of a food girl," he said.
"I am," I admitted.
He chuckled, and then gestured for to join him in crossing the street.
We crossed easily enough, thanks to there not being wagons or carts... but the street were on was now a little busy. There were more and more people walking around. Most were dressed nice, but there were also plenty who weren't... which told this wasn't a place only for the rich and powerful.
"By the way, why were you surprised I hadn't checked the city out already?" I asked him.
"Figured you would have wanted to. You like new things," he said.
I smiled at him, and wondered why he hadn't realized that what I enjoyed was experiencing those new things with him.
"Gerald didn't want to wander around on my own," I told him.
"Ah... I guess he is like that. He doesn't an any ill will by it, so don't get too upset with him," Vim said as we rounded a building, and went down one of the alleys I had been studying.
This alley though wasn't dark and dreary, but rather wide and well tendered. There was an actual brick path, and it was free of both refuse and junk. It looked as if it was intended to be frequented, instead of hidden away.
"They should make all their alleys like this," I said as I stared at the lush bushes along the sides of the buildings we were walking in-between.
"Too expensive."
I bet it was.
"What's a booth market by the way?" I asked.
"A place that lets a city know the current price trends of items. Stuff like materials, and goods. Useful for large companies, more than a smaller one. But traveling rchants find the most use of them," Vim said.
"Why are we going there? The guild has one," I said. I had seen that board, in Lawrence's office.
"It's not the prices I want to see," he said.
Oh. He wanted to see the people there. To see how people were acting, talking, and if there was tension in the air or not.
Vim glanced at as we reached the end of the alley, and he paused before we stepped out into the new road. He smiled at for a mont, and then held out his hand.
At first I wasn't entirely sure what he wanted, but I realized quick enough. I took his hand with my own, and felt a warmth fill as he nodded and squeezed my hand.
"So far so good," I told him.
"Good is good enough," he said, and we crossed the street to head for the market he wanted to examine.
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