Carmine

This city's buildings raised high and notched under the spread-out rock's roof. I always heard of those cities. They were a hard-living to adjust to. Hard that it may be, it was a wondrous sight.

Tall spires, connecting ledges above the narrow streets, all of them were emblazoned with burning lights that all added to the masterful craftsmanship that blossomed in this gracious city. The buildings were made of metal with precious bright gold borders and linings, giving it a luster that truly emphasized the steep might of Tiam. Above that were metal barristers lining from the center of the roof contained within, a long drawn tight white textile.

Something swirled within it, something moved in it. I squirmed at the sight.

Around these huge metal poles were buildings fitted in and around on the roof, I saw balloons floating in their midst. They were hung down with cup-like basins under them.

We got out of the sewers and made our way down to the lower caves. My face was heavily obscured by the robe's overlapping hood.

Valor and I wore gloves, thin dresses ending at our ankles with long socks and cloth boots. A kerchief covered mine and Valor's face as we stepped through following Janilla and Five who wore no dresses and any of these clothing, they had their typical bland robes

Five and Janilla looked the part, Valor and I did not, hence why we changed our clothing. I was not a pure Shyia which was a bad omen in Tiam.

Sandream had no such problem, as I found out she changed her skin tone to a typical Shyia. Her body allowed her the ability to change its composition on command. If she wanted blue skin, with the snap of a finger, it was done.

We navigated our way through the caves and came out to see the light. Far, we did not get, for two men stopped us. They were not guards more so than they looked like typical working-class men with their shabby clothes and dusty faces.

“Oy, what are you doing here?” he asked.

Do not kill, act natural and get us out of this predicament, Five. I lamented.

I got a better idea. This is a service tunnel, so really, we should not be in here. But it is common for slaves to be smuggled through here. Tell them you are moving property. You might have to pay them. Sandream said in our heads.

Good that we had her knowledge of Tiam with us at this time. Five spoke, “My name is Rendibal Forsynth, this is my wife, the rest—are my property. We are making some delicate transactions. Cannot be too late to the market, now can I?”

The men turned to each other and made facial shrugs. “What delicate transactions?”

Janilla was about to step forward.

Hold your tongue, the man speaks, the woman remains silent. Sandream interrupted Janilla's actions.

Five took out a cloth bag and asked cheekily, “Do I know you?”

The men stared dumbfounded. One took the bag, shook it, heard the jingling coins. They smirked and nodded pertly. “No, do not think we do.”

They went around us quite happily. Once they were gone and we were inside the city, I noted the people walking around silently in their drab robes like a dead river.

Five led us to our destination. A series of small square wooden houses linger on the east side of the town. It was completely different from the tall buildings combed with many sectioned-off flats within.

At the far east were tall silo-like towers, lined with metal fittings made for climbing. The top shined with a bright beam that advanced outward.

Around us darkened with little light here. There were more working people loaming on the streets. Our soft shoes found the heavily textured cobbled roads an aching experience.

Five stopped in between the narrow paths of the houses. It was dark, with no overhead lights beyond the silos. One behind the other we ambled through the tight darkness, with Sandream coming in last.

The house is close. Five's voice reminded.

Five took the left and Valor cut down straight. I fidgeted in confusion until Sandream pushed me left, while Janilla followed Valor.

We kept moving. Five motioned at us. We looked up. The houses were not that tall, just over it we saw the top of somebody’s head moving into the perpendicular path.

We waited until that person left, for we walked speedily down that way and made numerous turns until we stood at the side of one wooden house.

Distantly, we heard clashing plates. Sandream grabbed a vine hanging off a knot and pulled herself up onto the side. I wanted to speak, but Five held his finger up and laid it on his lips. Right, quiet, I composed myself and looked around.

Easier to see, I picked up the slight movements of others through open windows. Little privacy existed in those houses, but peasants needed no privacy, for they had nothing to hide.

Was that Valor’s voice? It sounded—deciphering it emphasized the failure of my hearing. Sandream, I saw no more of her. Waiting, a thud emanated. Some words, sounds, I waited. A sharp, but short shriek blew out. Five moved around the corner. I followed while he threw himself into the room through the window.

By the time I reached Five, Five stepped back due to what laid before him, which was a shaking little girl. Her braided hair minced out into tiny bounded strands and gripped the floor for dear life. A man was being held down by Sandream, while Valor was pushing down a woman’s face hard on a ruffled-up sack on the wooden floor.

There were so many people, no one mentioned this.