The Rayala seemed bittersweet about the Tent City. Many of whom had lived there would also feel the same. The fragile balance and mix of distrust and brotherhood in the Tent City often yielded both happy and terrible memories in tandem. They were lucky to have known their beloved Grandmother Anna for so long. She seemed to tie the place together with her unspoken kindness towards everyone, stranger or not. The young woman seemed to embody the spirit of the Tent City, and as they walked, Autumn seemed to enjoy her new friend even more. It pained her to say this, but Autumn waited for Rayala to finish before she broke the bad news. "I didn't see Grisham anywhere near the docks when we were escaping. I'm not sure if he got out." Lily seemed to be listening to her heart now, as she had a smile on her face of empathy towards Rayala after hearing her talk a bit about her life. Autumn turned and gave her a reassuring smile, and Lily looked up at Autumn and motioned to Rayala. Autumn gave a reassuring nod. "I'm sorry about your friend Grisham. I lived in the Seaside quarter of Sunberth, not the Tent City, so I wouldn't know him. I'm sure he'll find his way to Zeltiva!" Lily said reassuringly. "My father was a businessman of sorts, but I never really knew what he traded, and that's probably a good thing because the money he was making was much more than a man whom trades in flour. A stocky, well built man, but intelligent moreso than a brawler. My mother was a herbalist and philterer, and a skilled one at that. She made a great deal of money trading in medicinal potions tailor-made for her clients and saved a lot of lives in doing so. We were a rich family, my father owned two slaves that were my father's bodyguards. My mother's shop was at home, so she barely even needed their services. They were good to my sister and I, not to the point of spoiling us, but they were good to us. I really miss them..." Her heart faded as she fell from daydream to reality and realized once again that she was separated from her parents. "That's okay Lily, we'll see them soon. I know it." Autumn said with a warm smile. They were approaching the gates of the city, they seemed very old and very strong, and between the two walls could be seen the bosom of the city. Already it seemed crowded, and some of the buildings seemed very elaborately made. Autumn couldn't wait to see what was in store for all of them as they approached the city. |