S a l e t é I I

XIV - Mains - Six

Even in the remaining stretch that would lead them back to Klavdiya, the street still had more sights in its repertoire.

A woman who looked to be twenty or so - a Jouet - was looking over a nearby arrangement of goods that consisted of various tools, most of them in fairly good condition. It was yet another case of a physical feature drawing Cassia's attention, as this time it was the lady's left arm that ended at the elbow. The left sleeve of her coat - a grey, particularly worn article - had been cut short and stiched shut, preventing it from getting in the way.

Again, in spite of such damage, she appeared to just be getting on with things. She looked thoughtful, she smiled when she spoke to the man in charge of the things she was browsing, she carried herself in an ordinary way.

She might not have been looking their way, but Cassia still became mindful of how she was staring again, and so she swiftly looked aside.

The road they'd taken to get down to the old street for Klavdiya's sake was situated at the top end of the area, joining onto the old street itself - which continued in both directions. Cassia wasn't sure about directions by any means, but if they'd just come from the south, then that curving road would have led east, whilst the old street also stretched north. That presumably northern route soon gave way to a multitude of smaller paths, all of them leading into the zone containing the myriad of houses she'd observed from a distance before.

That whole area must have been like a gigantic maze... How did anyone find their way around? It must have been crowded too, and it sounded kind of noisy.

There were a fair few people appearing and disappearing via those countless paths, and sometimes someone would emerge from an area where Cassia hadn't even noticed there was a route through. The majority of people remained on the old street behind them, however. Whilst she was curious as to what the area ahead of them was like once one was deeper within it, she wasn't about to go wandering off. If Monet had offered to show her some of it, she would have been apprehensive.

For now, they re-joined Klavdiya as planned. She spotted them coming, the colour of Monet's dress serving to alert her to the girl's presence. A flicker of hope suddenly rose in Cassia's heart - what if she'd found something that she could use? Had she seen anyone helpful?

Before anyone said anything, Klavdiya made a point of smiling at Cassia, such an expression providing her with a tiny boost.

"Hiya." She simply said, sounding quite cheerful as the two arrived before her, and Monet was quick to ask a question.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"No, probably just five minutes. Look."

She didn't need prompting, and she removed her backpack now, doing so in a series of careful motions so that she didn't fall or lose balance. Cassia moved to unzip it once she was holding it, revealing the contents - five tins of food. From what she could see, each one appeared to be of a different variety. A single bottle of Honey was also present, a fine extra.

"I made sure to get a good mix. I tried to get six, but the guy I was trading with wasn't having it, even with the whole poor me kind of thing going on." Klavdiya explained.

"That's fine, you did well. I'd rather we have five than none."

A little glint appeared in Klavdiya's eye, the sort that only stemmed from a job well done, as well as from the ensuing praise that one received from it. Monet being the one doing the praising must have only bolstered that feeling.

With the three of them stood off to the side of the road as they shared their findings, that earlier state returned - all of the activity and noise carried on  down from where they now where, and yet Cassia was wholly focused on their discussion. Monet would occasionally glance off to one side, or at anyone who was drawing even slightly near as they walked by.