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A city this large had tiers of humanity. The highest levels were for the elite. Although, at first glance, I had to wonder just how special it was. What if someone surrounded it with an army at the base? There would be no escape from a window for those at the top.
The base was where Palla and I melted off to, leaving with barely a goodbye. No one in the caravan cared. No one had time for orphans. The streets of the city were full of them. We became two of the beggars, holding out a hand, pleading, “Please. I’m so hungry.”
Sometimes, we were lucky and someone would give us a coin, but I preferred food to feed ourselves since some of the shopkeepers would chase us away or steal our coin rather than let us buy anything. A few times we scored some hand-me-downs to wear. Not that we got rid of our rags for begging. We had to look the part. But when we weren’t trying to fill that gnawing hole in our bellies, we dressed, usually as boys, since we got less disturbing stares that way. Young girls didn’t last long on the streets. Boys fared slightly better if they were quick.
I was as rapid as they came and dressed like a young lad. It still wasn’t enough to save me.
A drunken trio cornered me coming back from the baker with a stale loaf under my arm. I also had a crumbled cookie in my pocket. A treasure.
The shortcut darkened as someone stepped across the other end. I knew better than to draw attention and ducked my head as I hugged the wall nearing them. The stench of wine hit me as I got in range.
“What have we here? A little bit of sport I think?” The man with the rounded belly and nonexistent chin stepped forward, and I halted. I’d go around.
I whirled to see the other end of the alley also blocked by two men. Not good. I knew what could happen. Palla had recently dealt with an assault. I didn’t have the same kind of courage or strength she did.
“I have nothing,” I quickly exclaimed. “Just some stale bread. But you can have it.” I held it out as an offering. I didn’t want to give it up, but I wouldn’t die for it.
“Why would I want that dry thing when I could have something young and tasty?” The leer tugging the drunk’s lips sank my stomach.
I knew what he intended. It brought bile to burn my throat. If only I could fight. A grubby urchin on the street didn’t stand a chance against grown men. The one closest lunged, and I avoided, ducking under the grab and then bolting.
I might have escaped, too, if my foot hadn’t slipped on something slick. I lost my balance and hit a wall, dropping my loaf of bread while exhaling the breath knocked from me. Before I could recover, a fist tangled in my hair. It wasn’t just the pain of it that made me scream.
How could I have survived monster lizards, the death of my family, the desert, only to be brought down like this?
“Feisty, I like it.” The drunk’s fetid reply as I thrashed and screamed in his grip.
His friends neared, one of them cupping his groin. “Undress him. It’s my turn to go first.”
I did my best to fight as they ripped my clothes from my body. Which was how they discovered I wasn’t a boy.
“Make her bleed,” the one holding my left arm suggested.
“Think she’s still pure?” said the one to my right.
“She won’t be after tonight,” leered the one holding himself.
Where are you, goddess?I prayed for a miracle, knowing I would die. I closed my eyes. I wouldn’t watch what they did next.
Nothing, as it turned out, because someone interrupted.
“Well, hello there, boys.” The feminine drawl startled.
I opened my eyes to see a woman in the alley with us. Veiled head to toe and yet utterly feminine. The scent of her perfume overpowered that of the wine. I sniffed it and relaxed.
So did the one gripping my hair.
“What do you want?” asked the guy to my left while my almost-rapist tucked himself away.
“I appear to be lost. I don’t suppose you could escort me.” Only her eyes showed, and yet they fluttered with true distress.
For a second, I thought I might go free. But the one who’d been about to go first shook his head. “Sorry. As you can see, we’re busy.”
The woman’s head cocked. “Busy terrorizing a child when you could have a woman of experience?”
“Mind your business,” retorted the fellow closest to the veiled stranger.
She stepped closer and pointed her finger in his face, flashing a ring. “I don’t like your attitude.”
