A few moments after Hannah and Leira were back on board, the ship lifted off of the water. They were greeted by Conna and Astra who guarded the prisoners in the loading area. The man Leira had shot laid on the deck where Hope was tending to his wounds. The mermaid couldn't even look at him. Instead, her eyes settled on the other survivors. While she had intended to ask questions, she was far too angry to get more than a few sputtered noises out.
"Care to explain what the fuck happened?" Hannah asked, making a guess of the question Leira wanted to ask.
Liddy came down the stairs and sat on the steps, "I would also like to know what happened."
"Well," one of the men spoke up. "So, nobody was told Leira was being sold off. So there was a big fight over it. Lots of people got killed. At least, they died eventually. That man denied any involvement just so he wouldn't have to spend money on doctors. Once we found out, though, people got really angry. I didn't lose family, but we were all really close. Should have been settled quickly with all of us against him, but he shot some folk who tried to turn him in."
"With so much suffering, there was nobody to go fishing to bring in money. People were getting desperate and trying to leave. They didn't get far with the wounded, and they didn't want to leave them behind. Things seemed to settle down after that. Those who were left tried to carry on. The first catch of fish went upstream into town to sell, but they never came back. He thought they had fled with the food. Ordered everything to be locked in the hall so nobody else could steal any."
"People didn't want to go without, so they started turning on each other to get on his good side. There was a big fight and lots more died. Only this time they didn't stay dead. They would get up, no matter how hard you hit them or what you stuck them with. We sent runners to nearby villages as well as the town upstream for aid. Never knew if they made it or what, but a while later we heard a lot of screaming as people were being torn apart by those things. Some more time passed and we heard another fight. This one people actually made it to the hall with supplies and weapons. Their first group weren't prepared. Even so, only three men and their Emberborn made it in."
"They stuck it out with us until we heard all the gunfire when you all got here. They wanted to signal or make a run for it. He wouldn't let them, so he shot them. That's when they stood up and that thing formed out of one of them. Then you got there."
His story, poorly delivered due to his own personal trauma, left everyone silent. Months of pain, suffering, and death created the monster and its walking corpses. All because someone thought a living person was something that could be sold.
****
"Listen, you shit-guzzling pig!" Ving yelled loudly into the radio. "I don't give a damn what you have been told to tell me! Find the person who told you to tell me, and tell them to talk to me for you! You follow me?"
The radio was silent for a moment as Mari walked in. "So that sounded diplomatic and entirely straightforward."
"Don't tell me to calm down," Ving grumbled.
"Seriously? When have I ever been the voice of reason? You're banging the girl who usually tells me to settle down or whatever. Try threatening to rip off his dick and shove it up his ass. That's a classic."
"Done and done, and already moved on to new material. I wonder if..."
"Hail, inbound merchant vessel," a new voice on the radio spoke.
"Receiving your hail. A pleasure to be receiving you," Ving answered in a kind and polite tone she reserved for clients.
"I understand there is some kind of misunderstanding with my controller?"
"Oh, yes, he was most dreadfully rude. Entirely failed to clear my ship for landing."
"Ah well, you see the city is closed to any traffic in or out for the time being. Security is quite important to us."
"Well, I would be happy to accommodate any measures that would allow us to land. Surely your underling has made the name of our vessel and the nature of our services clear to you. I would greatly enjoy any... appropriate compensation you felt befitting a man of your stature."
Mari cocked an eyebrow at Ving who shrugged in response as they waited.
"The nature of your services... would they involve an extended stay here at the capitol?"
"Most likely, a week at the very least."
"Then please make a low altitude approach."
"For you, sir, I will practically be on my knees."
A startled cough came over the radio before, "Understood, Landing Control out."
"So, do you feel better or worse?" Mari asked Ving as she returned to the controls.
"Ask me afterwards. I'd feel better if I wasn't imagining the last controller being who I get on my knees for."
****
The sight of arriving at the capitol was probably made more impressive by the low altitude approach they had taken. The tall buildings, only describable by the word 'skyscraper', shattered the perception of what was possible. Lights shone over all of them from the tops to the busy streets below. Some buildings were even massive enough to admit their ship right inside, had they the money for that kind of privilege. Instead, they were directed to dock low near some warehouses. Liddy wasn't happy about the location, but it was better than not being able to dock at all. She turned to everyone who had been on deck to observe their entry.
"Alright, everyone. Take some time for yourselves, go shopping or whatever. I'm going to try and get us a better location for working. A few things to make everyone aware of. Firstly, this is a big city, so stay safe. Nobody goes anywhere alone and watch for pickpockets. Next, whatever this lockdown was about is still going on, so don't mention how we just arrived. Lastly, brothels aren't illegal here so we actually have competition. Keep an eye out and see what we might need to do for attention. Go have fun, spend all that money you have been making, and be ready to work tomorrow."
With her speech over, the girls excitedly conversed as they went about getting into the city. The only one quiet was Leira, sitting on the bench on deck looking at her feet. Liddy sat down next to her.
"Alright?" she asked softly.
"I don't know," she replied. "I feel like I don't know how I should feel. Whatever I thought was the real story isn't really what happened. But parts of it were. I just feel like knowing the real story should have settled things, not messed them up."
"Give it time. Spend some of that thinking about it, and spend the rest thinking about other things. Deal with it in small bites. Don't try to get it all sorted at once."
"I guess. Is it alright if I stay on the ship?"
"Of course. Take as much time as you need."
Leira stood up and went to into the ship while Liddy waited with Ving for whomever she talked to on the radio.
*****
Hannah walked down the ramp to the docks, her bum stinging from the slap Ving delivered after their parting kiss. She was sure her tight leather skirt made it hurt more. Mari held her by the arm.
"So, she's changed more than a little bit," Mari happily whispered.
"Yeah, I think she's finally got her head in a better place."
"Between your legs?" Mari giggled.
"Yes... but also metaphorically. Whatever was bothering her seems less important than what's making her happy. It's fun to have her enthusiastic about life and not just doing whatever because she was told."
"Sad she has to stay at the docks and can't come with us?"
"Nah, she should enjoy herself settling the bribe she promised, and now we get to have some fun like the old days."
"It feels like forever. What should we do?"
"Let's check out one of the local brothels. See what makes them special."
"And hijack clients?"
"I said like old times. We are going to cause trouble." Hannah gave Mari a wicked smile as they trotted into the busy streets.
****
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather go with her?" Emma asked Easy as they watched Hannah and Mari disappear into the crowd.
"They need some friend-time," Easy explained. "Besides, if you two are learning magic stuff, I am totally going to come with. I'd be happy to get a book on flight or something."
"Well, none of us has time for lessons, so books are what we are going with as well," Vile commented as she flashed a bit of fire in between her fingers. "That's how I learned in the first place. I'm glad you are both here, though. I've never been in crowds like this before."
"None of us have, but I suppose being on the farm you wouldn't have much experience with a city." Emma wasn't sure she was much better suited since even her experiences were in much smaller cities.
"Where were you before that?" Easy asked.
"A village in the forest, kind of a refuge. Is it just me or are people staring at us?"
Easy had noticed, "A fairy and demon are walking down the street without collars. Sexy as fuck and not acting like slaves. Yeah, people are looking."
"What about me?" Emma asked in a huff and fake pout.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there, short-stuff," Easy retorted earning a stuck out tongue from the elf.
"Don't play that game with me, girl! Mine is longer and you know it." Easy stuck out her own tongue, not as much as she could, but enough to win the little game.
****
Both Ving and Liddy were left disappointed. Liddy didn't get a better docking assignment that would have helped business, and Ving had only started to unfasten the man's trousers before he covered her hands with his load.
"We need to start bribing more important people..." Liddy stated flatly.
