Faye returned to the Gooseberry Inn after noon. When she walked in, she was greeted by Cahrel, who expressed his approval over her new clothes.
"About time you wore something other than that grungy armor. I was starting to worry you might have to peel it off."
Faye smiled and sat at the bar. She asked for a water and sat chatting with Cahrel until the regular afternoon crowd began to file in. It didn't take long.
She headed back out, in order to meet with the boy she often met with around this time. She bought his piece of honeyed bread and sat beside the road with him as he ate. After spending so much time with him, she was able to learn his name was Henrick. His mom slept most of the day and didn't want him at home bothering her. At night, she worked at one of the houses of pleasure in this district....
Of course, Henrick hadn't actually told her that, he'd mentioned where she worked and Faye had inquired about it. It turned out, his mother wasn't the most fit of parents and didn't have much to do with Henrick, except giving him a place to stay when the weather wouldn't permit him to be out. She didn't bother with making sure he was fed more than once a day, so the boy had taken to relying on some older boys that also ran the streets.
These young gangs were often common in these types of districts within the city. Faye didn't have the means to take care of the child, but she tried to make sure he was fed at least a bit more, and she tried talking to him about the rights and wrongs of the world. It might sound silly, but many street kids just didn't have anyone to tell them what was ok and what wasn't. Those were the ones that grew up to become the worst types of people. It was good the boy was able to find others to connect with, even if they weren't the best influences. Too many times, Faye had come across a child who didn't understand simple rights and wrongs in the world because all they'd ever been shown were wrongs. It was good to have someone that you looked up to, and that kept you from going too far.
Of course, Faye couldn't be sure these older boys were the right types, but the way the boy spoke of them, it seemed they were. They seemed tough and rough, but compassionate in their own ways. Hopefully, they wouldn't try to enter the world of adults before they were ready. That was another thing that caused really messed up people, when children were forced to enter into the adult world too soon.
A child could be taught anything is right. If no one told a kid that killing for money was wrong, then they would do it. It sounded strange to those that didn't grow up in such environments, but it was the truth. The worst murderers were never taught a code. Codes weren't thought of as important by those that never had to live by them. A thirteen year old boy has no code, unless you teach it to him. It was the same with all children, it was just more prominent in those growing up in the streets because they had no guidance, except the streets.
When you had really bad people doing and teaching the worst of the worst, that bred worse and worse people. It was as if each generation was trying to out do the last with how evil they could be.
Faye wasn't sure what Henrick would grow up to do, but she hoped her sitting here, being with him, would help shape him into a respectable man in the future. At the very least, she hoped he'd be an honorable thug....
Finally, she said goodbye to Henrick, who waved goodbye, the childish charm still shown through his actions. It was good to see. It wasn't right for children to grow up too fast.
Slowly, she made her way back to the Inn. The bar was loud, like it often was at this time of day.
A quick glance around told her Ryder wasn't there yet. She pushed her way through the crowded lobby and made her way back to her room. The noise still seeped into the room from the floor below, but the level was much lower.
Faye sighed as she took off her pack and sat upon her bed.
After taking a moment, she pulled a familiar silver figurine from her pack. She'd decided that maybe the figurine needed a rest before being used again? She wasn't entire sure, but she wanted to give it another try.
The silver figurine was cool in her hands. She focused her mind and imagined as hard as she could, picturing that same silver raven she'd seen before. Finally, with her concentration at it's peek, she spoke the word from before that allowed it to come to life.
Startled, she dropped the figurine as it began to heat up. Her eyes shot open in shock as the smoke billowing from the figurine dissipated and there, in it's place, stood a very animated, very alive, silver raven.
She almost jumped in joy, clapping her hands like a child! The figurine worked! It still worked!
The relief she felt knowing the figurine wasn't broken was immense. This time, having time to sit and learn more about the bird, she did just that. She sat and petted the bird, giving it a piece of bread occasionally and laughing at it's antics.
Before she knew it, night had long fallen.
Glancing out the window, Faye saw the darkness and began to wonder where Ryder was. He had said he'd meet her today. Right? She wasn't wrong about that?
Once again, unease began to overtake Faye. Just as she was beginning to wonder if Ryder had tricked her, she remembered back to that night, when they were traveling together. She'd thought the worst of him at that time, thought he'd left her to die. If he wasn't willing to screw her over for his own life, why would he do it for a little over a dozen gold?
She pushed aside her doubt in her friend and told herself to just be patient.
It wasn't long after that, there was a knock at her door.
Faye smiled as the silver raven flitted up, landing gently on her shoulder. If it wasn't for the thick fabric of her new clothes, she might have been uncomfortable due to the birds claws. As it was, she could barely feel it standing there.
Opening the door, Faye's smile faded and her expression turned confused. There, on the other side of the door was a man she did not recognize.