Wings of Serpents

Chapter 5

...

The sea breeze tickled the Serpent's throat, the boats had a way of catching the sun-light every bit as much as the wind. Even with no sun-light on Kalypso, she imagined it catching every time. The Serpent arrived back from her two day voyage with a hefty winning, she awaited to see Moira, hoping that her winnings may mend their relationship. "Money will solve everything, she will see."

The large sail boat made out of mahogany parted from the sea, and washed against the shore. The Serpent whispered her sweet goodbyes to the sea, and pulled over her hood. Before stepping out, she turned to the three men in a row, their hands and feet bound together with fishing wires. "Pleasure doing business with you all." She saluted them. The Serpent called it a business transaction- many would say otherwise. She ushered the bulky man behind her to follow her, he wobbled down the port with a large package of illicit goods in his arms.

They arrived at the Ports, the market place was not too far, but the Serpent longed for more than just coin. She stopped suddenly, and spun around to face the man. "Keep it close," she said, shaking a bag of coins in his face. "There'll be a reward for you, but-" She drew close, her intense dark eyes seeping into his soul. "-if anything were to happen to my packages, let's just say something would happen to yours." She made eye contact with his 'package' and then, travelled back up to his face.

He took a big gulp, and said. "Will be no problem. Better than being tied up like those fools."

The Serpent smiled wide beneath her hood. "That is exactly why you were chosen. I'll be back shortly, business calls once again."

The market place screamed of herbs and spices of all kinds. Yellow, orange, and red hues of spice lined on racks ready to be sold. Herbs tied and stringed together on the canopies of the market stalls. Life went on, even when tragedy strikes, no belter cared for the lives taken by the Reguim, they cared that it was not their own life, and thanked whoever they needed to thank for that. Because living as a belter was a better fate than ending up at the mercy of the Yorks.

The wonderful scents of the market, concealed the stench of blood, a disguise so clever, even Lady Eden could not see past it. Her face brightened, she could hardly contain herself, she was brimming with light, hues of sapphire glistening off of her skin under her cloak. Lady Eden kept well hidden, and quiet. Though, it was pointless, no one knew what she actually looked like. She dressed like a commoner, and she would be seen as one.

There was a stand for fine silks and cloths of indigo blues, ruby reds, and emerald greens. They were of high quality, she traced her hand along the silks, and gushed at the comfort they gave. They reminded her of home. Eden was not the only one gushing over the finest of silks she ever was blessed to touch, a young man too, with an ethereal look to him; a performer of sorts- She assumed. No one ever looked so stunning, there was a rawness to him. And at that moment, she decided she liked Kalypso.

The vendor addressed the performer. "Back for more?" The elder smiled.

"You know me well."

"I have some of the newer selection around the back, would you care for a look?"

He beamed with excitement, his smile travelling from cheek to check. "Oh, yes!" He quickly followed the elder to the back of the stand.

Eden carried on, hoping to indulge in everything Kalypso had to offer. The market place exceeded her expectations, the vibrancy, the people, a wonderful camouflage of its true colours. She stumbled upon the square, it was meek in comparison to the Market. Children pulled carts of goods, and tired faces knelt on the ground, holding out an old cup in their wrinkled hands. Elders of Kalypso were too weak to continue working on the belt, they'd retire and try to make a living as vendors. If it did not work out, they were condemned to beg for food. Eden never witnessed anything like it, Kalypso is wealthy- her father would tell her. No one could or would want for anything. But what she saw told her otherwise. They were in need.