Beyond the walls of the Orphanage, the city of Zeltiva was alive and bustling despite the chill. Syna has hidden by a wall of clouds, her rays failing to penetrate through the haze. Zulrav was active today, though, sending a wet breeze off of Matthews Bay into the the city center. His cloak rippled around his ankles, blowing back and forth like the water to which they were heading towards. His curls repeatedly fell across his eyes, only to be blown back just as often. His fists were clutching to the wool of his cloak, pulling it close around his thin frame in a weak attempt to stay warm; to his right, Mother Thea did the same with her own cloak.
This was how the pair made their way through the city, both shivering beneath their clothes, both brooding on their own thoughts. Adoros knew his own, but not of the woman beside him. He understood his own fears and worries, and could see that Thea had some of her own, too; the specifics, though, he hadn't a clue. Furthermore, he comprehended the situation and what it held for him, but did she? Did she understood that by giving Adoros away to the world, they hadn't saved him, only delayed his fate. After his grandmother had passed, Adoros would be doing then what he was doing now, begging for work. He would've died or lived, but at least he would've accepted the fate. By taking him in, though, they let him nurture a futile belief, let him convince himself that things would get better on their own. Before, if he had died, it would've been a sad story of a child lost to the struggles of this world.
Now, though, after having everything for a year and then been tossed aside like a lost cause . . . well, in that case, it was murder. Murder of a child after his saviors found it too difficult to keep him alive.
Alas, this was the curse of being a mute; his never ending silence allowed his mind to fabricate such complex and philosophical ideas that no child should ever have to bear. He should've been playing with other children, enjoying his childhood like others his age were allowed to do. Instead, he had been alone among the world, left to form his own ideas and beliefs. He over thought everything, understood barely anything, and was even given a voice to question it all.
Shaking his head slightly, half to get his hair out of his eyes and half to rid himself of such thoughts, he put his full attention to the scenes around him. The pair had come upon the fish market by now, with all its sights and smells. All around him, fishermen were crying out the catch of the day, a hundred voices mixing together to form a cacophony of noise that was music to Adoros ears. Regardless of the wariness he felt towards the ocean, it had always been his life. Many a day he had spent among these stalls, absorbing all of it like a sponge absorbs the water.
The smells of the market hit him the most, the scent of fish cooking over the fire. He hadn't eaten breakfast that morning; in fact, he had lost his appetite for food after the caretakers had given him the news. Now, though, his stomach growled at him, crying out for nourishment. Mother Thea made no move towards the stalls, though, her long strides carrying her further into the docks. Maybe she hadn't noticed Adoros perk up at the food, or maybe she just didn't care. Either way, Adoros quickened his own strides to keep up with her. And soon, the aroma of cooked fish disappeared, though the smell of the sea remained.
Adoros had expected Mother Thea to head directly for the ships, asking each and every captain to take young Adoros on until one agreed. Instead, though, Thea turned towards a large, ornate building that was built away from the docks. She led the child through the oaken doors into a small antechamber where a few individuals mingled. She turned right, knowing exactly where she was going; Adoros followed meekly, not even glancing to his left where the actual Guild Hall was. Seven doors were there, some closed, some open. All bore the same plaque in front of it, bearing the title of the position, but not the name who held it. Adoros believed that strange, though Mother Thea paid it no mind; she stepped through the first open door, announcing her presence with a simple "Good morning, sir."
Adoros merely inclined his head towards the man who sat behind the desk. He was small, with short black hair flecked with gray, and a nose that a hawk would envy. The man had been reading over a ledger, but marked it quickly with a strip of leather, and set it aside. Gesturing to the chairs across for him for Thea and Adoros to sit in, he spoke with a soft voice. "To you as well. What brings you to my office?"
"I seek an apprenticeship for the boy here. He's grown old enough to serve the city of Zeltiva and the Sailor's Guild."
"You must know I don't provide apprenticeships, only approve them."
"Yes, but I'm sure you know of the captains who are in need of apprentices. I'm sure there's someone out there who needs a cabin boy or rigger, and you can point me in the right direction."
"I will admit I know of a few ships who are in need of crew members, though these open roles require a little more experience than the boy here possesses."
Mother Thea leans forward, patting Adoros on the shoulder. "Adoros here can read and write, a skill somebody in this Guild should require. He can handle someone's books, tally their cargo. I know for a fact that the Guild enjoys extensive log books to pore over, and Adoros is the one to do so."
The Guild officer turned his blue eyes towards Adoros, looking at him for the first time. "Is this true, Adoros? If I were to show you this book here, you'd be able to read it out me?" To emphasize his words, he pushed the closed book towards him. Adoros flipped the book open at a random page, and began to read.
The words were written in a large hand, easy to read and comprehend. Yton's "wheat fleet" returned to the city on the 20th of this season, filled with foodstuffs and other supplies; his official ledger has been copied later in his journal. The merchant has since committed to send three of his ships north laden with stone and lumber for the Isle of Mura, as well as Sunberth. As of right now, we have more raw materials than his ships can carry, thus I suggest we attach a fourth ship to this fleet. Garom Forecastle's Encounter is currently docked with no foreseeable departure in sight. He has been asking around for an aide to handle his log books for him, though, so the Guild may need to find him one to carry the goods . . . Adoros cut off, looking first at the Guild officer, and then to Mother Rhea. He shut the book.
"Sir, Adoros cannot speak. I guarantee you that he understood all that he read, but he won't be reciting it back to you anytime soon."
The hawked-nose man intertwined his fingers on his desk, his shoulders shrugging.
"A mute, huh. That's someone a smuggler or pirate would like to have on his ship, someone who could follow orders and not tell others about the work; though, they usually prefer their mutes dumb as well, unable to read or write." The man retrieved the book from Adoros, who handed it over without protest. He stared at the boy and the boy stared back. His blue eyes narrowed and then he shook his head; Adoros' visage remained blank, though inside his mind was fast at work. Mother Thea had the right of it; this man wouldn't get the show he asked for, but Adoros understood all that he read. And now he had an answer.
Thus, when the Guild officer said, "I'm sad to say I don't have anyone to send the boy to," Adoros grinned. Mother Thea saw the boy's smile, no doubt thinking he was overjoyed to be spared the work. At this point, there was nothing else to say. The officer returned to his journal, the dismissal plain in his actions. Adoros rose first, followed closely by Mother Thea. She reached to grab his shoulder, a gesture both to comfort the boy for being denied and to prevent him from running off. "Come, Adoros. I'm sure one of these other officials will help us."
Adoros shook his head, and wormed away from the woman's hand. Before she could reach out and drag him down the hall to another office, Adoros tapped his temple with a single finger, as if telling the woman I know something. He gestured to his caretaker to follow, and then turned away to exit the building. The man had underestimated the boy, believing he had just been looking at the book. No, Adoros had read it, and furthermore, he understood it. And now, he knew of a man who needed the very same services that Adoros could provide.
Something about Adoros aura convinced Mother Thea; maybe it was the confidence in his eyes, or maybe she had thought differently about the boy's smile earlier. Either way, she followed the boy as he led her back to the docks, in a reversal of roles that brought a smile to the boy's face. |