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Ree looked towards the ground, his feet naturally taking him to the market place instead of the castle. "I mean how did you know that the contract was bad? Work is work really... its not suppose to be good or bad its... work." |
he shook his head. "what you two were negotiating is not work it is slavery, the size of his ship? the condition of the rigging? the condition and cut of his clothes? the cargo he is carrying and the destination? all of those things tell you how much profit is made, i may not have done any negotiations out side of my father's chambers but even i know he could afford more than what he was offering and what he was offering was next to nothing. he lied about what he could give and what the labor is worth in silver as well. i am sure you did not read the contract? there were several contradictory catches and clauses and details. if he had tried something like that under my father's eye he would lose his papers to sail...." he stopped walking as he remembered what they were supposed to be doing, "i have to go home today"
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Ree blinked embarrassed he failed, and felt like he had been put in this spot so many times before. "I can not read, much... and you are right...... but the medicine does not stay in the market long, I am sorry Kais, I will only delay this for an hour longer."
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he nodded relieved, he hadn't realized it before but he didn't want to go home, not yet. silently he followed behind the other
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He kicked a stray stone out of his pathway as they walked towards the market. Ree had been rehearsing asking Kais to teach him how to read. But the long walk soon fell into a comfortable silence. The came to the market, a bustling area of covered caravans, stands and opened door shops. Majority of it seemed to be covered wall to wall in shoppers and Ree and Kais were soon jostled into the crowds. |
he made sure to stay as close to the other as he could manage, even going as far as grabbing the boy's shirt to keep him tethered. as he was pushed and jostled a broad hand wrapped around his wrist and pulled him forward. he nearly cried out before he realized it was ree's. he closed the distance until they were standing side by side before twisting the hold so that he could clench the the fingers in his own. stiffly he turned his head though he kept his eyes mostly forward. "there are more people here than all but the most crowded lectures of university and the noise and smell!"
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The others excitement made him happy. It reminded him of a child pointing at everything. “It is a good thing you do not have a purse.” He said swimming through the pushing crowds. “Your skin makes you a prime target it stands out to much, and you look as though you do not know what you are doing.” Ree gave the other an ironic smile full of teeth .”Take it from a thief.” At last they reached a space where the streets were clear for large transports to travel. They crossed quickly into another area of crowds. He finally found the shop he was looking for. It was full of others looking for remedies like himself. “We need a powder mother can mix into tea and soup.” |
he said nothing else until the streets had cleared enough that he was no longer being touched on every side. he loosened his grip and relaxed his shoulders, "you keep mentioning medicine, what sort of medicine are you looking to find?"
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His body rose and fell in a shrug. “something for colds and oranges. Most of the little ones are catching fevers. So mostly something to sooth the cough and lower the fever.” He drifted to one side of the store hoping to find some one that could tell him what each of the remedies did. He turned to Kais “Can you tell what they do?” |
he shook his head quickly. "we are a family of war makers and law-men, not apothecaries and healers, i know nothing about healing fevers"
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his face dropped a little and he waved over one of the free clerks. He began drilling the man with questions In the end he left with a few pounds of various remedies that he was sure would work. Ree tucked it all away In his satchel. “Are you hungry?” He said licking his own chops. The small slices of bread were already churned in his stomach. He knew of a tavern where one of mothers former daughters work. She always feed Ree the scraps and give him left over bread for the house. |
he was but he knew enough not to eat anything sold by venders "not really but do not let me discourage you from getting something for yourself." absentmindedly he played with the fingers still in his grip
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In the small area were they were safe from the crowds, Ree studied the boy. He realized the low brow food the was used too was not good for the royal. His stomach most likely could not handle it. He laughed. “It is nothing I can not save for later.” He said pulling the other once more in to the crowded fray. This time he let the silence stretch, he realized he could not expect the other to be a magical problem solver, nor to stay with him for the rest of his life. This time he would not detour. Once leaving the market place Ree began to tread towards the castle. . |
when the other fell to silence he did too and by the time the sun was high in the sky he could see his home looming tall and straight in the distance. he wanted to tell the other to stop, to turn around, to say that his one day of freedom was not enough but he could not, all he could do was walk a little slower and say nothing at all
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Ree noticed the other was falling further and further behind and slowed his step to match the boys. He still could not bring himself to say anything even as they neared the gates. Finally he spoke. “Kais... “ He grew nervous the closer they were to the castle with in sight of the guards. |
he turned at his name, "what is it ree?"
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