Tao of the Broken

Chapter Eleven

Eleven

            All the apprehension Sorrel had been feeling as they waited to enter the town had been washed away when she passed through its large wooden gates.  She’d never seen anything so busy and full of people in her life.  She’d never even imagined there could be so many bodies so close together.  The market in her small village had always felt too crowded, but it was miniscule compared to this bustling port.

            “There is so much happening!”  She exclaimed, spinning in place to try to take it all in.  There were stalls lining both sides of the small road selling everything from fruits to fish to clothing and incense.  There were sounds of a blacksmith’s workshop and the smell of horses and baked goods in the air.

            Eiji smiled at her.  He’d never seen her so excited about anything before.  She was wide eyed as she took in everything there was to see.  She hadn’t hid her face or even noticed there were people staring at her.  He wondered if it was the first time she’d ever been so comfortable in herself she didn’t even notice the people around her.  If this was the way his new Sorrel would behave, Eiji would embrace it with all his might.

            “We need to find a pub, or something similar.”  Eiji told her, slipping his fingers around her arm.  “There’ll be lots to hear and I’m sure we can find some information.  Hopefully they won’t expect us to buy it out of them.”

            Sorrel nodded and let him take the lead.  Eiji was grateful that she didn’t pull her arm free of his grasp.  He wanted her to look around and enjoy being someplace other than their small home, but he had a mission.  Finding his brother would be the last thing he would have to do before following Sorrel on her crazy journey.  He wasn’t sure if this step would be any better than meeting her mother.  A churning had begun in his stomach since they’d seen the town and hadn’t gone away.  He tried not to let Sorrel see his trepidation but he knew she would notice it soon if she hadn’t already.  He could feel the tightness in his muscles and his clenched jaw but he couldn’t relax.

            They wound through the narrow streets, making their way closer to the water.  Eiji knew that if his brother was indeed a fisherman then a pub on the docks would likely be the one he frequented.  The town seemed large though, he hoped there wouldn’t be too many to visit.

            Sailors and dockworkers were becoming a more common sight the longer they walked and Eiji didn’t like the way their eyes tarried on Sorrel.  He knew she wouldn’t let any touch her if they were drunk or stupid enough to try, but he felt uneasy nonetheless.  Even Ako seemed agitated.  He kept his slightly curled tail straight out behind him and his head low.  Eiji could see him watching everyone that they passed, alert to any danger.

            When they could finally see the masts of ships and fishing vessels Eiji slowed his pace.  The streets were wider here but still just as crowded.  The air was thick with the smell of salt and something more rancid that Eiji could only imagine was too many unwashed bodies.

            He felt Sorrel tug at his arm and he turned to her.  “What is it?”  He asked.  She pulled him closer to one of the narrow alleyways and he peered down, hoping they weren’t disturbing any street dweller’s resting place.

            “I know I said I wanted to find my birth mother.  That I would tell you the other part of my quest if I decided to do it later.  Well now that we’re here, I wonder if maybe this place could have some answers about that too.  I won’t go into too much out here on the street, but I want to know more about these children who are sold as slaves.  Maybe we can keep an ear out for any information?”  She kept her voice low and her eyes watched anyone who walked close by.