That\u2019s odd. Obviously, this note is useless without the book. I toss it aside. I pocket the letter and make my way through a maze of tunnels I know all too well until I reach my destination, a place we call The Gallows, the underground city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Down a corridor lies an iron door. I knock once, then twice, then once, and wait a second before knocking three more times. The narrow sliding window shoots open. \u201cOh, it’s you, Little Sparrow, the tinkerer’s daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sliding little window closes, and the door opens to the sight of a large, bald elf with pointy ears that have grown past his head. He\u2019s got a gruff, long, black beard with a mustache to match. His arms are as thick as sewage pipes. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you\u2019ve got more junk to haggle with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot junk, valuable treasure,\u201d I say with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJunk,\u201d Balbys grumbles as he lets me through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomeone\u2019s junk is another one\u2019s treasure,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can paint a sandstone gold, but it\u2019s still junk,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I only shrug and skip by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gallows is not the safest place in town, but it\u2019s by far the only place you can sell stolen goods. It\u2019s the city below the city within a huge open corridor that runs for at least a few elvish miles. There\u2019s only one actual street down the middle with both sides packed with shacks, makeshift hob shops, run-down bars, stalls, and lots of shady alleys. This place makes Tent City look like a haven to live in which is laughable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I make my way through the merchants, if you can call them that, and weave through my fellow thieves of all sorts. Everything from simple cutpurses to the most cunning burglars. And you can\u2019t forget about the assassins, gangs, mercenary sell swords, and other shady people. Not just elves, either. Some dwarves and humans here and there. I even see an orc and one of the cat people called Kar. Someone\u2019s even trying to sell a jar of sand they claim is from the deep desert with healing properties. What\u2019s even crazier is that someone\u2019s dumb enough to buy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I walk into a rundown, shabby bar made of stacked crates, tarps, and rotted wood that rests up against the sewer walls like so many of the other shacks. Inside are a few tables that are also made out of crates that make for stools. Several men and women take up the seats. A game of dice takes up one of the tables. The men are all the same kind, thieves. Not the shadiest bunch; in fact, you could call them honorable thieves if there is such a kind. Of course, I wouldn\u2019t trust them with your coin purse, but they won\u2019t stab you in the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKid, haven\u2019t you learned anything yet?\u201d the owner of the shack of a bar asks. A woman named Lesvhis that few would cross. She\u2019s got some wrinkles on her copper-toned face, with unkempt, dark-black hair streaked with gray, and wears a constant scowl, but she\u2019s fair. Cross her and you\u2019ll find a dagger in your heart, but she\u2019ll have your back if you show her proper respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come on, Lesvhis. You know this is the only way in the lower sects to make a decent coin. My family\u2019s got to eat,\u201d I say with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAin\u2019t that the truth! I swear, thieves are becoming younger and younger. Or maybe it\u2019s just that I\u2019m getting older and older. I don\u2019t know anymore. Just don\u2019t sink too deep. You got that?\u201d She waves her finger at me with that constant scowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nod. \u201cI\u2019ll try. If only there were other ways to find work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou sure got that right. The city is too crowded with too many mouths to feed and not enough food and work to go around,\u201d she says, blowing a string of her dark gray hair out of her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt don\u2019t help with the council continuing to lay down all these harsh laws. Why did the King abandon us? He\u2019s the one who led us to succession from the Woodland Realm and he left us in this desert to starve,\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, my dear child, it was the king who paid the ultimate price for our freedom from the Woodland Realm with his beloved wife. After she died in the war, he lost himself. But there are those of us still loyal to the rightful king. King Volodar will return someday when he finds himself. Mark my words. That or his children will finally gain the strength to take down the council,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nod. \u201cWe can all hope, but in the meantime, I got some stuff to sell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust make sure you know when to walk away, child,\u201d she says as she lets me behind the bar counter and into a back room where there lies another enormous iron door hidden in the sewer wall. She opens it, and I head down the stairs into the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the bottom is a light that leads into a big open corridor with several smaller rooms attached. The corridor itself is lined with crates, barrels, and boxes. A big open square is set in the middle with battered couches and chairs. Several men and women lounge around. Some playing dice, while others tell stories and barter over what little they have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I walk down into the lounge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, look who it is, our Little Sparrow,\u201d Larongar says. An older elf with gray, frizzled hair, a shadow of a beard on his face, and plenty of scars. One prominent scar trails from one ear across his nose to the other. He\u2019s never said what caused it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScarface, pleasant to see you too,\u201d I say with an exaggerated smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haerzis, a bald, dark-chocolate skinned half-elf, snorts a laugh. \u201cI\u2019ll never tire of you, girl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Larongar shrugs. \u201cShe tells it like it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olaurae slams a cup on the table of crates and smirks at Filarion before he lifts the cup to reveal a pair of dice with snake eyes. \u201cLooks like I win again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Filarion stabs his knife into the crate, splintering it. \u201cDamn you, Olaurae, you cheated. I know it! Let me see those dice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the love of the King, Filarion, I told you to stop doing that!\u201d Zaos says with a glare. The silver-haired elf with a big, fluffy beard is normally even-tempered but can snap when you push him far enough. \u201cThis is the fifth crate you\u2019ve sliced open in the last two days. Go replace it and stop ruining our tables.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, tell Olaurae to stop cheating. I don\u2019t know how he does it, but there\u2019s no way he can win five games in a row without cheating,\u201d Filarion grumbles as he gets up, and grabs the crate, tossing it over with the rest of the crates with holes in them and grabbing another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a point, Olaurae, you do cheat. That\u2019s why I\u2019ll never play with you,\u201d Larongar says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou never complained before. As I recall, you\u2019ve made quite a bit of coin betting on me to win,\u201d Olaurae says with a grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Larongar shrugs. \u201cI\u2019d be a fool not to. But that\u2019s against those foolish sell swords. No one here is stupid enough to bet against you, besides maybe Filarion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Filarion scowls. He\u2019s a bit younger than Zaos, Olaurae, Larongar, and even Haerzis. But the scruff on his face makes him look older than he really is. Although he\u2019s much older than me. Of course, age is a complicated issue. The elves who use magic are nearly ageless, but us lowlife sewer rats that aren\u2019t allowed to use it or lack the ability age at a much faster rate. I\u2019ve even heard some elves are over a thousand cycles old. That blows my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The iron door opens and a bunch of boots clap their way down as Lethvelion, Minpireth, Renna, Valindra, Aimar, Akkar, Elas, Dakath, Haryk, Kesefeon, and a man that makes my stomach curdle, Phraan all walk in. Saevel, Erolith, and Delmuth nearly stumble down the stairs carrying three large chests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that was one hell of a grab,\u201d Haryk says as he collapses on the couch next to Haerzis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose uppity pompous arses didn\u2019t see it coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry Little Sparrow, I\u2019ll tell ya all the details if you come by my bed later,\u201d Phraan says as his eyes travel down my body and make me want to take a bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEww, gross,\u201d Renna says as she and Valindra both pretend to throw up. \u201cPhraan, the girl is young enough to be your granddaughter, ya perv.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Renna wraps her arm around my shoulder and steers me away from that gross man as she and Valindra head over to another couch and plop down. Minpireth sits on the armrest next to Renna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t listen to that perv, and if he tries anything, let me know and I\u2019ll cut his hands off,\u201d she says with a wink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll cut his cock off,\u201d Valindra says. Her eyes stab daggers into Phraan as she uses her hands to demonstrate. \u201cSnip, snip.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBetter be careful, Phraan. The girl is my niece,\u201d Lethvelion says, making Phraan stiffen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was only joking,\u201d Phraan says as his eyes travel over to me with a look that betrays his words. I shudder in disgust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMark my words, Phraan. Make more jokes like that and I\u2019ll cut your tongue out. You may have the inside scoop with the dock schedules, but that won\u2019t stop me from cutting your heart out if you even think about touching my niece,\u201d my uncle says. My father may not like me hanging out with him, but I know he wouldn\u2019t let anything happen to me. I don\u2019t know what caused the rift between the two of them, but my father won\u2019t even talk to Lethvelion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would never,\u201d Phraan says, running a hand through his greasy, long, brown hair. One ear has the tip sliced off. A scar runs down his cheek and runs into his beard, leaving the skin bare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lethvelion gives him an icy stare before he turns away and brings his attention to the chests they brought down. My uncle has long, graying-brown hair with a beard to cover his face below the nose. His face is made hard, like many people down here. But there’re crows\u2019 feet at the corner of his eyes from the genuine smiles he occasionally gives. Especially to me. He always knows how to get a laugh out of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Valindra braids my hair as my uncle opens the chests to reveal more gold than I\u2019ve ever seen in my entire life. Some gemstones bigger than my fist are scattered amongst the gold coins along with silver chalices, beautiful golden gem necklaces, and other gorgeous trinkets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did I tell you?\u201d Kesefeon says as he claps my uncle on the shoulder. \u201cI knew the Golden Trading Company would bring in several shipments of gold from their sales with the slave shipments from Chillshore. This is only one of many. And all we had to do was row out to the ship and sneak on to grab a few chests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were right, my friend. I\u2019ll give ya that. You get the first pick of it. Then the rest of you lot can take your share and the rest of it will be put in the coffers. This is cause for a little celebration. Let\u2019s crack open that barrel of wine we stole from that greedy chairman\u2026 The one that looks like a weasel. What was his name again?\u201d My uncle asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEldaerenth Heiris. The weasel face,\u201d Zaos says with a laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s him. Weasel’s face. We\u2019re going to have to get another barrel. The weasel knows excellent wine,\u201d my uncle says with a smirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat he does. I think he gets it from that human town. What\u2019s it called?\u201d Zaos says, scratching his beard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWasn\u2019t it\u2026 Lagan berries?\u201d Kesefeon asks, running a hand through his auburn hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Lagoonbury,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d Kasefeon asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI read it in a book,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can read?\u201d Larongar asks, getting a laugh from the rest. I stick my tongue out at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course, she can read, my brother used to be a scholar before\u2026 Well before it all changed. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s still got some books hidden away,\u201d my uncle says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Tinkerer was a scholar?\u201d Filarion asks, scratching his head. \u201cI didn\u2019t know that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know a lot of things, especially how to play dice,\u201d Zaos says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know how to play dice just fine, Olaurie just cheats,\u201d Filarion says with a glare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olaurie only shrugs. \u201cAnd yet you\u2019re the fool who still plays me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t even deny it,\u201d Filarion says with a huff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, did you have luck today, Little Sparrow?\u201d Renna asks as she sharpens her long dagger. She and Valindra are by far the most beautiful elves I\u2019ve ever seen. Both sisters with dark brown hair. Renna has one side braided while the other side hangs loose. Her eyes are as blue as they can get with a dim glow to them. Valindra shares the same eyes and hair color but keeps her hair short. Both have delicate ivory skin. If they didn\u2019t dress like scoundrels with tight bridges, boots that come up to their knees, and dark brown hair, you\u2019d mistake them for nobles or high-born with their smooth, ivory skin, unlike my copper tone. I may have golden hair that most women desire, but my skin is far too dark to get away with being a noble. But I do have vibrantly glowing blue eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s what most women dream of, having a fair complexion with pure golden hair and glowing blue eyes that show how much magical potential you have. Of course, having potential is far different from being able to afford a permit to practice magic. But some with deep glowing eyes who are as poor as a sewer rat have been lucky enough to find benefactors willing to pay for their training and permit. Of course, that usually comes at an enormous cost with strings attached. Those poor bastards end up as servants for their benefactors. I probably could find one myself with my deep, glowing blue eyes, but I would never accept being a servant for some snobby noble or high-born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I empty my pockets onto the crate, everything except the coins, the ring on my finger, and that vial. Valindra\u2019s eyes light up. \u201cOoh, I\u2019ll give you five silver for that delicate pearl necklace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeven and a couple coppers and you got yourself a deal,\u201d I say with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou make a hard bargain, but I\u2019ll take it,\u201d Valindra says as she pulls out her coin and hands the agreed-upon amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t get much,\u201d Haerzis says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuality is always better than quantity,\u201d Renna says as she eyes my loot. \u201cNevertheless, that ruby is a little small, but you made out with that pearl bracelet. I wouldn\u2019t have paid that much for it.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPffft!\u201d Valindra huffs as she holds up her hand, eyeing the bracelet. \u201cYou can\u2019t put a price on something so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn that case, I should\u2019ve asked for more,\u201d I say, and that gets a few good laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYa think?\u201d Larongar snorts out a laugh. \u201cIf someone is willing to accept after your first offer, your offer was too low.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s right, I would\u2019ve paid a crown for this. These pearls are authentic. I can tell. I have an eye for these things,\u201d Valindra says with a smirk. \u201cYou have no idea the value of authentic pearls. Our city might border the shoreline of the deep Pirate Sea, but few will dive in to get pearls like these. Most creatures down there love to eat elves. And some even go after the creatures big enough to eat us. Nabu only knows what else is down there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe really does,\u201d Renna sighs. Nabu is the god of wisdom and magic. The ancient god that King Volodor followed when he succeeded from the Wood Elves. Of course, that\u2019s long before the Church of the Light moved in with their bizarre religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My uncle walks over, picks up the crumpled-up letter, and reads it. \u201cHmm, this is interesting. We might be able to use this. Looks like some noble lord is bribing the Golden arses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that so? Maybe we can blackmail them both,\u201d Larongar says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMight be worth a try,\u201d my uncle says with a smile. \u201cWe all know nobles always have something to hide. Bloody bastards. You want to know why nobles always stick their noses up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of us shrug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey walk around with sticks up their arses all day,\u201d my uncle says as he mimics a noble walking as if he has a stick up his arse with his nose up in the air. I snort out a laugh with everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The keg gets opened and they all gather for a drink. My uncle turns to me. \u201cLura, you should get home before your father decides to come after ya. He already blames me for enough things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come on. I still have to sell this ruby,\u201d I say. I hold it up and look around. \u201cAny takers?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My uncle tosses me a gold crown. \u201cThat\u2019s for the letter, too. Now get home before it gets dark out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nod with a smile, tossing him the little ruby as I flip up my new gold crown and pocket it with the rest of the coin. \u201cLater suckers. I\u2019ll be back with tomorrow\u2019s grab.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They all say their farewells. On my way out, I run into Saevel. He\u2019s probably just as young as I am with short brown hair and a smooth ivory baby face, but he\u2019s half a head shorter than me. \u201cHey, Lura!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I give him a smile that burns his face red. \u201cI just wanted to say hi. Uh… So\u2026 Uh\u2026 Hi! You look nice. I like the braid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, Saevel. That was nice of you to say. You look\u2026 Not as shabby as everyone else.\u201d I cringe at my own words. His smile doesn\u2019t even dull. He\u2019s nice, he really is, it\u2019s just. He\u2019s not my type. I wish he were. \u201cWell, I have to be off. It was nice seeing you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks. You too!\u201d he says with a wave as I turn to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hear him yelp as Delmuth punches him in the arm. \u201cSmooth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I snicker on my way up. As I walk into the bar, I flip a silver coin on the bar and say goodbye to Lesvhis, ducking out before she can try to give the coin back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I head out of the Gallows as Balbys opens the door for me. \u201cStill got your junk?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI sold my treasure for a good price,\u201d I say with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He only shrugs and shuts the door in my face, leaving me with a flat stare. The man has no social skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I head down the long sewer corridor as I hear someone else walk out of the Gallows. Paying no mind, I follow the passageway back to the Tent City through the maze of corridors and passageways as the footsteps continue to follow behind me. They seem to pick up speed, as do I. My heart races as I turn to look back, not seeing anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I rush through the sewer and trip over my feet as coins scatter everywhere. A curse escapes my mouth as I rush to pick them all up and stuff them back into my pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy, my, look what we have here,\u201d that all too familiar, creepy voice says. I look up to see someone I do not want to meet in a dark sewer like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phraan stands over me with a wicked smile. Half his face hides in darkness, making him look even more sinister. \u201cHello there, Little Sparrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I rush to my feet and run, but his arm wraps around my waist and forces me up against the wall. His breath is as foul as his rotten teeth and drains all the warmth from my face. \u201cLet me go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, why should I do that?\u201d He pins my hands above my head with one hand as the other travels down my stomach, making my skin crawl. \u201cI\u2019ve had my eye on you for a long time now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tears start to fall from my eyes. \u201cPlease let me go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh no, Little Sparrow. I think not. I\u2019m going to teach you a lesson on becoming a woman,\u201d he says as his fingers reach my pants. I try to squirm and struggle, but he\u2019s too strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, a shiny blade presses against his throat, and he stiffens. Slowly, he backs away, holding his hands up. \u201cI should slit your throat, you disgusting excuse of a man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Renna’s eyes burn with anger and revulsion. I slide down the wall into a sobbing mess on the floor. \u201cYou can\u2019t kill me. I have some powerful friends who\u2019ll turn you into a whore slave and make your life a living hell.\u201d says Phraan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think that\u2019ll stop me from gutting you like a fish? I swear to all the gods there are, if I ever see you down here again, I will kill you. And that\u2019ll be a mercy because Lethvelion will want to do much worse when he hears what you tried to do,\u201d she says, pressing the knife harder against his skin. A trickle of blood drips down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phraan takes another step back and Renna lowers her blade just a hair. The disgusting man puts his hand up against his neck. \u201cYou\u2019ll regret this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then turns heel and walks away. Renna doesn\u2019t put away her blade until the sound of Phraan\u2019s footsteps drifts into nothing. She sheaths her dagger and kneels down beside me and wraps me in her arms. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry. Are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wipe the tears from my eyes and nod. She sits down next to me with her arms around me and we just sit there for a while. After my tears have long dried up, she helps me up and walks with me out of the sewer. As we make it to Tent City, I turn to her and hug her. \u201cThank you, Renna.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course. You come to me if that bastard ever tries anything again. Okay?\u201d she says as she lifts my face up to hers. I nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood, now be careful out here. Don\u2019t take any unnecessary risks. You know just as well as all of us what they do to thieves they catch,\u201d she says, nestling her hand in my hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know. I\u2019m too good to be caught,\u201d I say with a half-hearted smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat arrogance will get you in trouble, Little Sparrow. Gods, you remind me so much of myself,\u201d she says as she eyes me wearily. It makes me smile widely. \u201cThat\u2019s not a good thing. I made so many mistakes. Now go home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I sigh, but I give her one more hug and head through the rows of tents before I get to my family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere have you been?\u201d my mother asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t tell me you\u2019ve been spending time with Lethvelion\u2019s little gang of thieves,\u201d my father says. I don\u2019t answer and just plop down on my cot. \u201cYou have, haven\u2019t you? Lura, I\u2019ve told you time and time again, that Lethvelion is trouble. He\u2019s no good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy do you hate him so much? He\u2019s your brother, after all,\u201d I ask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t hate him, I just\u2026 I don\u2019t approve of his lifestyle. How can I with his chosen line of work?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat would you want him to do? Give up and live like you? A poor, raggedy tinkerer? Life isn\u2019t supposed to be this way. We weren\u2019t put here to live in tents and beg for our food. Your brother agrees, and he decides to do something about it instead of sticking his head in the sand and pretending all is well!\u201d I snap at him. I might have crossed the line, but it\u2019s all true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, seeing the hurt in my father\u2019s eyes doesn\u2019t make me feel good about it. No. It makes me feel pretty awful. My father takes a deep breath. \u201cIs that what you think? That I have given up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nod. He takes a step closer. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you feel that way, but that is far from the truth. Just because I choose to stay on the right side of the law doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019ve given up. I will continue to help as many people as I can, fixing whatever they need because that is what I feel is the right thing to do. Yes, it might not make a big difference. It won\u2019t change how things are in this city, but it makes a difference in the lives of those I help, and in return, they help us and others. We can make change in this world if we choose to help others and not hurt them. If we decide to lend them our hand instead of taking what’s in their pocket, more people will also help. That is how we make the world a better place, not by thieving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut how can you change anything if the system we live in is broken? It doesn\u2019t matter what we do, we\u2019ll always be poor and segregated from the rest of the city. I admire you for being so kind and good-hearted, but I just don\u2019t agree with you. I just can\u2019t accept this way of life,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My father\u2019s eyes seem to grow tired. \u201cI hope you never have to learn the weight of the consequences of such actions. They will cost you everything, just like they did with my brother and me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI once walked the same path as Lethvelion\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were a thief, too?\u201d I ask as I feel a surge of anger. \u201cYou\u2019ve been telling me all this time to stay away from him yet you were a thief, too? You\u2019re such a hypocrite and a liar! I believed you were always this saint, but the truth is, you\u2019re just a quitter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLura, let me finish,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo! I\u2019m done listening to you,\u201d I say as I rush out of the tent. I run through the rows of tents all the way to the wall. I climb up my path of indents, holes, and gaps. Squeeze through the narrow path and then climb up the corner of bricks until I reach a ledge. Lifting myself on top of the ridge, I shimmy over to the overhang that\u2019s out of sight from the guards and sit there, watching the sunset over the shoreline of the Shifting Sands desert to the west between the deep blue sea and the tan shifting sand. Why do things have to be so tough? I hate it here. I hate this city. I hate the Council who rules it. I hate people like Phraan who think they can have whatever they want. I wish I could just leave. Run away and find someplace that I can truly call home. Life is just not fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This place is not a home, but a hell. I\u2019ve never felt at home here. I don\u2019t belong here, and I feel so incomplete. I don\u2019t know why, but I feel as if I\u2019m missing a part of myself somewhere and it can\u2019t be found in this shitty city. It\u2019s somewhere out there. I can feel it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I turn to the north and follow the shoreline with my eyes all the way until it’s lost from sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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