Saltend is known for the gang fights and outlaws– far worse than Lomere. Even though the Eldranveil's navy base is situated in Saltend, and heavy police force is established here, the fights and conflicts still held their head high.
Even without any reason a fight would break-out if two outlaws under scarlet- thew and salt-rats saw eye to eye.
Scarlet- thew is known for their violence–raping women, abducting children and beating up almost everyone if they didn't give money as they demand.
Salt-rats on the other hand are more like thieves. They steal whatever they can from the tourists and the ones living here. Also there is a rumour going around saying they work with pirates and if anyone who peeks around them will be gone missing by an hour…never to be seen again.
And I'm in a cart– on my way to the said evil land to meet the said evil people with a crying child to save her mother.
My hands trembled at the thought of what they might do to me – violence, rape or even kill.
'Honestly, being killed is much better than being raped by a bunch of musclemen.'
As I was wondering what the hell I'm even doing, I heard a low stomach growl from my side– Lali. I sighed slightly as I understood that the child must be hungry. With some hesitation I tore a small piece from the bread and gave it to her.
Lali didn't bother to thank me or even look at my face before she started chewing off of the bread.
'Has she never eaten proper bread before ?' I was genuinely concerned by the way she was eating. Almost looking like a frog that ate too much.
"Saltend! Saltend!" The coachmen announced to the passengers inside the cart. There were many people inside besides me and Lali as this was a 'public cart'.
A private cart would cost me more than a silver to get to saltend but by this one, it will only be two bronze. Still expensive though– especially when I have to carry bread and a child.
Only God knows how many of those bastards tried to steal my bread and this girl.
We got off and I dipped my hat as a show of respect to the horses. In turn, they offered me their dung.
"..." I looked at the fresh manure droplet that splashed to the side of my new but not-so-new shoe.
From the distance I heard the waves and shore kissing each other as they enjoyed their never ending relationship. How envious…
I couldn't ignore the worry of the sun as it peeked at me over the clouds. A soft smile pushed my cheeks away as I held Lali's hand.
The crowd here felt quite different from other places in Varaden to me. People walked on either side of the streets and were a little less noisy. Police men and guards patrolled the streets while carts and carts with insignias ran down the cobblestones.
Lali's grip tightened as she pointed her index finger at two bald men with red unbuttoned shirts– Scarlet-thew members.
They were conversing with a man wearing a police uniform. I quickly drew her arm back, "Don't point at them." I whispered as I avoided looking at the thugs.
But it was a second too late before they saw her, "What do you want brat?" Thug A asked. Since they looked almost similar I didn't manage to get enough unique characteristics from them.
"I'm sorry sir, please forgive my daughter." I laughed wryly as I held Lali closer to me, hiding her from thugs A and B as best as I could.
"Keep moving, asshole, before we decide to feed her to rats!" Thugs A or B retorted.
I didn't say anything as I pulled Lali to walk away from them. My held up breath in my lungs escaped bit by bit as the distance between us increased.
We walked in silence, different types of people came from different sides of the streets wearing odd and beautiful clothes that only some of the people from Lomere can only dream of.
We stopped near the stone wall that separated the sea from land. I picked up Lali and had her sit on top of the stone wall.
Her eyes were still puffy from weeping. As if soothing her, the wind ruffled her brown hair. However, that didn't put a smile on her face.
I watched as the waves hit the stones below and ships floating in the water far away as seagulls soared the skies above it.
"Do you think I can see my mama again?" Lali finally broke her silence, but instead of asking what's that foam hitting the rocks, she asked me something even a god won't be able to answer.
I was speechless for a second before I shook my head, "I don't know." I said without looking at the child, "But I said I would get you to your mother, so let's try our best to find her."
"..." Lali only gave me a shallow nod.
What am I even doing? I let my hands carry the weight of my head as I arched my back and rested my head on my arms.
I don't know how much time passed when my ears picked up the sound of hurried horse carts. I turned around just in time to see the horse carts hurriedly running after the other.
And on one of them, there was the crest of police and a scarlet- thew inside it as he was trying to humiliate a woman.
I stood there as my eyes widened, watching him ripping the clothes off of that woman as they sped away. I turned to look at the sobbing child, I don't know what to tell her but a soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips, "Come on, Lali. Let's get going." I said as I held her hand and followed the police cart.
"Where are we going?" Lali asked amidst her sobs.
"To ask someone for help to find your mother." I smiled as I gently patted her head.
We walked at a moderate pace but I made sure no one stole my bread nor Lali. We turned once. Twice. And as we followed behind the cart the amount of people intensified, voices louder, streets filled with wastes and air full of fish rot.
The cart had also slowed down because of the crowd, giving us a tiny chance to catch up. I held Lali and waited a few feet away from the cart so as to avoid attention.
After some shouts, the carts moved again but the one with the police crest turned to the right and stopped in front of a building. The thug from Scarlet-thew and a woman who covered herself with a black and white checkered coat, got off the cart and entered the building.
I knelt down in front of Lali and tied her already tied shoelaces – acting casual as if not watching them. Two more men wearing checkered uniforms got out of the cart and stood guard before the door.
'These guys are the pimps now? No wonder women in Lomere lost customers.' I couldn't hold back my laughter as I thought about what other things the police might have done.
I looked at the child's year flowing eyes as I wiped it with a smile, "Do as I say." I said. Lali didn't answer but gave me an innocent nod.
I looked around me to find a place for Lali to stay when she held my hand with her small trembling hands, "Don't abandon me." She muttered slightly enough for me to hear.
My mouth stayed open, no words came out, ".... Alright." I said after a couple of seconds passed, "But you have to do what I tell you to, alright?" I asked her again.
"Yes."
My face relaxed gradually as her face brightened.
I once again took a glance at the scene behind me– two guards outside a two-story building. Inside one of those rooms is the thug I need.
'What to do? The guards must be seasoned fighters or worse they might have a gun. And there might also be more numbers inside.' My thoughts ran as I calculated what's the best way to get inside.
My first plan was to climb up the pipe lines or ask the guards to kindly let me in, but both of them had one challenge – they would shoot me down.
My thoughts were running seamlessly as I couldn't find a plan that allowed me one hundred percent survival chance. I looked at my surroundings in hope to find a lost gun or even a knife but the only things around me were shoes, papers, walking legs and Lali eating my bread.
My thoughts stopped the moment I saw Lali, my eyes widened as my lips grinned to show my teeth. The voice of my inner thoughts died down as a much more perfect plan started to formulate in my brain.
I can use her!