Society of the Kuvek

Chapter 9

    "What happened?" I ask and look to Dujuik, who shrugs hopelessly.

    "It was only a few years ago," he says.

    "The Ferse work fast," I tell him, and he nods.     "Let's walk around and see if we can find somewhere to buy some food," Dujuik suggests and because I have no better idea, I nod and we walk through the filthy alleyways in silence. I walk behind Dujuik, trying to determine whether we've been walking in circles when Dujuik stops. I look around and see about twenty feet away, two people walking out of what is probably the most cared for building I've seen in this part so far; they shut a worn door and walk away talking. To the side if the door is a tattered sign with painted and broken letters spelling Tavern.

    "I remember this place," Dujuik says.

    "Then let's go in," I say and he nods, heading for the door.

     "Just be careful, don't get in any fights," Dujuik warns as he walks to the door and I wonder why he thought the need to tell me to not get in any fights. We go inside and are surrounded by the smells of bread rolls and alcohol; there are many tables placed in seemingly random patterns. They all have more chairs than they should have and the people sitting in them are loud and drunk, talking and cussing. We walk through the room silently, avoiding people and trying to find a place to sit; we find an empty table off to the side, the second most secluded place, next to a small table with only one person sitting in it; we sit down across from each other.

    "So, what do we do?" I ask Dujuik as he plays with the coin.

    "Well, we only have one silver coin, no food, five people waiting for us and I haven't been here in years and barely remember anything," he says.

"You just summed up our entire situation, not provided a plan of action; we could ask someone for directions," I suggest but Dujuik just shakes his head.

    "This is a prison state, asking someone you don't know for anything might not end well, I just wish Wequ would have come with us," he says and I remember him saying something about her having lived here.

    "Then why didn't she come?" I ask.

    "I don't know," he says, "she never talks about her life here." Oh.

    "We could wander around hopelessly until we find something," I suggest.

    "Or," drawls a voice from behind me and I look at Dujuik in surprise, but it is clear from the look on his face that he didn't notice anyone eavesdropping either.

    "You could actually ask for directions. Because, despite what you may believe, the worst that will happen is that they'll ignore you or be too drunk to think properly," they say and I turn around to look at the speaker. They are sitting down and turning around to face us and wearing a worn, brown coat with the hood pulled over their face; I can't see what they look like and the coat is so big, I can't tell from the body if they are male or female. Their voice is high, though muffled from the hood so if I were to guess I would say they are female or a young boy.

    "Not that it would matter anyway, your money's useless here," they continue.

    "What?" Dujuik asks, clearly confused, as I am.

    "The silver piece is Ferse regulated money, it should have value in every province," I respond.

    "And if you ask the Ferse they'll tell you that that is correct, but you still won't be able to buy anything with it, follow me," they command and stand up. They grab a bag from under the table and I notice a skirt about two inches longer than her long jacket; I watch as she walks to the bar and talks to the man in charge and then walks to the door without looking back; Dujuik and I glance at each other and then follow her out.