11

If you wrongly accused me with your looks and your gestures is my fault that Ilyada's disappearance!

- All right! All right! I remembered now! Forgive me my lord! I beg your forgiveness! - I respond with my heart beating violently fast. For two seconds I thought he was going to beat me right there. My soul and my spirit were in a complete state of alert, that man would not hesitate to hit me if he wanted to. I lowered my hands and my gaze in an attempt to disguise my fear and dread.

- Thanks for the obvious... we'll reach the Muddy Port in a few hours... - Cael spoke calming down- You must to stay as close as possible to me, in that port there are many porne smugglers. If they see you unaccompanied they will kidnap you to make some profit in the Red Market.

- Yes...

- Good... because it would be a waste for the low price they'd sell you.

Of all the insults I've ever heard in my life, those words were by far the worst of them all. I know it's not worth much, if I were important enough my father wouldn't have sold me to a man like that.

Maybe I even deserve to live like this, with men like him at least he's handsome. As I confessed to myself during my hunger delusions the day before at least he is very handsome.

My eyes were tired and too heavy. Perhaps because of the gentle repetitive movement of the carriage or because of my bad night on the couch of that little inn I couldn't control the long winks of my eyelids which became heavier and heavier with the passing of the seconds in which we remained seated on the padded sofas inside the large ornate box that would lead us to the muddy Port.

- Kris... - Cael's steady voice suddenly awakened me from my slumber - We get to por.

I waked up with Cael's voice and I opened my eyes to see to world outside the carriage. My body was covered by a big coat.

Feliph opened the door that was next to Cael as if it were a silent request for us to go out in order to explore the city around us. Cael got the message and jumped out helping me out right away. Almost instantly the sunlight and the glare of the sea dazzled in the eyes.

The Muddy Port was an important and imposing port city of the Empire. All deals were closed there. Selling property, jewelry, imports and exports... the money came to life in that city. Gradually my vision was returning and adapting the light emanated in that city.

As expected the port was immense and full of life. Constructions decored with gray and black. The streets of polished black stone were constantly invaded by rats, cats and dogs that walked from one side to the other turning the garbage or running from some merchant for stealing some bread or meat. The snow was constantly piled up by the alleys and corners of the city. The shops, banks and taverns divided their narrow and disorganized spaces with brothels and massage parlors that advertise their services as high as they could go.

- Sir, your ship is waiting for you - Feliph warned while he was joyful for the city's life contrasting with the blue of the sea that merged with the sky and the horizon.

- Okay Filiph! Thanks- Cael replied politely- Please return my car to the main house and you can use the money that it's under my bank to pay for your accommodation and food expenses.

- Yes sir! I'll go now, my lord!

Filiph bowed to Cael in the form of respect and leaved our presence. Soon afterwards, he took the Cael's carriage and two big black horses that pulled it.

Cael held my hand and we marched together towards the pier and the great ships of wood that was anchored there.

Old and young man, of appearance thin, tall, fat, short and with all kinds of hair, noses and eyes wandered in our way and around us in all directions. Some man going into dark alleys, others in taverns, some man coming out of massage parlors, brothels, buying fruit and getting up drunk from stinking gutters.

- Sir, would you like a flower to give to your beautiful First Lady? - A young man dressed in old clothes, a worn hat and holding a large basket of roses approached Cael and me.

The poor salesman with a flat nose, fair skin and curly hair seemed to be content with his life and his craft despite the precarious situation he was in.

- No thanks! We're in a hurry and she doesn't need that kind of thing!

- But sir... she will surely be pleased with a beautiful rose there is nothing more gracious than to give an unsuspecting gift to a woman we love! - Philosophized the smiling young man in our pursuit.

- I have already said that she does not need it! - Cael replied coldly squeezing the fingers of my hand harder.

you wrongly accused me with your looks and your gestures is my fault that Ilyada's disappearance!

- All right! All right! I remembered now! Forgive me my lord! I beg your forgiveness! - I respond with my heart beating violently fast. For two seconds I thought he was going to beat me right there. My soul and my spirit were in a complete state of alert, that man would not hesitate to hit me if he wanted to. I lowered my hands and my gaze in an attempt to disguise my fear and dread.

- Thanks for the obvious... we'll reach the Muddy Port in a few hours... - Cael spoke calming down- You must to stay as close as possible to me, in that port there are many porne smugglers. If they see you unaccompanied they will kidnap you to make some profit in the Red Market.

- Yes...

- Good... because it would be a waste for the low price they'd sell you.

Of all the insults I've ever heard in my life, those words were by far the worst of them all. I know it's not worth much, if I were important enough my father wouldn't have sold me to a man like that.

Maybe I even deserve to live like this, with men like him at least he's handsome. As I confessed to myself during my hunger delusions the day before at least he is very handsome.

My eyes were tired and too heavy. Perhaps because of the gentle repetitive movement of the carriage or because of my bad night on the couch of that little inn I couldn't control the long winks of my eyelids which became heavier and heavier with the passing of the seconds in which we remained seated on the padded sofas inside the large ornate box that would lead us to the muddy Port.

- Kris... - Cael's steady voice suddenly awakened me from my slumber - We get to por.

I waked up with Cael's voice and I opened my eyes to see to world outside the carriage. My body was covered by a big coat.

Feliph opened the door that was next to Cael as if it were a silent request for us to go out in order to explore the city around us. Cael got the message and jumped out helping me out right away. Almost instantly the sunlight and the glare of the sea dazzled in the eyes.

The Muddy Port was an important and imposing port city of the Empire. All deals were closed there. Selling property, jewelry, imports and exports... the money came to life in that city. Gradually my vision was returning and adapting the light emanated in that city.

As expected the port was immense and full of life. Constructions decored with gray and black. The streets of polished black stone were constantly invaded by rats, cats and dogs that walked from one side to the other turning the garbage or running from some merchant for stealing some bread or meat. The snow was constantly piled up by the alleys and corners of the city. The shops, banks and taverns divided their narrow and disorganized spaces with brothels and massage parlors that advertise their services as high as they could go.

- Sir, your ship is waiting for you - Feliph warned while he was joyful for the city's life contrasting with the blue of the sea that merged with the sky and the horizon.

- Okay Filiph! Thanks- Cael replied politely- Please return my car to the main house and you can use the money that it's under my bank to pay for your accommodation and food expenses.

- Yes sir! I'll go now, my lord!

Filiph bowed to Cael in the form of respect and leaved our presence. Soon afterwards, he took the Cael's carriage and two big black horses that pulled it.

Cael held my hand and we marched together towards the pier and the great ships of wood that was anchored there.

Old and young man, of appearance thin, tall, fat, short and with all kinds of hair, noses and eyes wandered in our way and around us in all directions. Some man going into dark alleys, others in taverns, some man coming out of massage parlors, brothels, buying fruit and getting up drunk from stinking gutters.

- Sir, would you like a flower to give to your beautiful First Lady? - A young man dressed in old clothes, a worn hat and holding a large basket of roses approached Cael and me.

The poor salesman with a flat nose, fair skin and curly hair seemed to be content with his life and his craft despite the precarious situation he was in.

- No thanks! We're in a hurry and she doesn't need that kind of thing!