Sherehe was larger then any of them had anticipated. Fox had told him all things were traded but he had expected it to be little more then a collection of stalls and a single Inn for road weary travelers.
Instead, it was a small town unto itself with what they assumed were smugglers and traders mingling in the streets. Nero and Maua watch from the back of the cart as they pass what Atlas knew was an slave auction.
"Are they selling those people, Prince?" questions Nero. Atlas nods in the affirmative and Nero stares in confusion. "But that's wrong! Shouldn't we stop them?" Illia sighs heavily and shakes her head.
"No, Nero," Illia tells the boy. "There are some battles in this world that cannot be won. Trying to stop that slaver will only put us in danger. Stay close here, Nero. If they believe you're alone, they may try to take you." The boy thief jumps up in the back of the cart.
"Just let them try!" challenges Nero. "I'll give them a fight they'll never forget! Because I'm gonna be as good as the Prince someday!" Illia, Nizel, Fox, Atlas and even Kale all laugh at his boasting.
"You've certainly got the attitude," teases Illia. "All you need now are the skills..."
- - -
After handing off their horses to a stable hand they separated. Nero and Maua kept close to Atlas's side as they walked the streets. They had been given something of a break from the irritating sand and instead now walked on cracked, sun baked earth.
"Wow," speaks Nero. "This place seems to have everything, huh, Prince?" Atlas nods in agreement, amber eyes constantly scanning the crowd.
They pass a man dressed in fine clothes and Atlas relieves him of his coin-purse with ease. The apparent noble was none the wiser as they walk away from him.
"Did you see that, Nero?" asks Atlas. The boy thief looks over and Atlas produces the coin purse. "You want to learn? Picking pockets is the first step on the path. Now, I want YOU to try."
"Even I can do that, Prince. Can't you teach me to do something else? How about teaching me to move like you?"
"In time, Nero. Just be patient. I don't believe I could even reach above my head with left arm to teach you how to move as I do. When I heal, you have my word that I will teach you what I know. But until then, we'll work on the skills we can." Nero sighs a bit heavily and then nods in understanding. "Good. Rather then risk your life by practicing on anyone here. We'll use me instead."
"How is that fair?" demands Nero. "You'll catch me every time!" Atlas empties the contents of the stolen coin-purse into his palm, counting out ten of the thirty gold coins and handing them to the boy thief. "What's this?"
"Each one of those coins represents one chance you have to steal this coin purse by sundown. I've given you ten chances. I'll take a coin every time you fail to take the coin purse, understand, Nero?"
"What happens if I don't steal it by sundown?"
"Nothing. However if you succeed then you got all the coins in the purse as well as what I've given you. But if you lose then I keep all the gold. You can be safe and hang on to the ten gold coins I've given you to keep or you can chance trying to take the rest. This will give me an idea of just how skilled you are."
"And if I don't want to do this?"
"Then don't, Nero. But I won't be teaching you until I get an understanding of just where you need improvement." Nero groans in frustration and Atlas chuckles, patting him on the head. "We'll do five instead. You can keep the other five coins for yourself. Is that fair?"
"I don't care about the money, Prince. It bothers me that you're stacking the odds against me." Atlas smiles softly...Nero would say it was a rather fatherly smile. "What?"
"Shouldn't you be happy? You get to test your skills against mine...then you get to learn them."
"Yeah! Alright!" Nero pauses for a moment and looks up at Atlas. "Is there...are there any rules, Prince?"
"Well, not exactly. But there are two simple rules I adhere to personally. If you expect to learn from me then you'll have to understand and obey them. The first rule, it is very simple and you WILL obey this rule so long as you wish to work with me, Nero. Am I clear?" Nero nods quickly. "As thieves we steal from our victims...we do not kill them."
"Why not?"
"The guards generally get rather upset when dead bodies start turning up on the streets. It's simply too much trouble, Nero. The second rule is more based on your personal preference then anything. I, personally, prefer not to steal from the young, the elderly, the sick or the poor. There's no honor or skill involved in it."
"I understand, Prince..."
- - -
Night had fallen across the smugglers town, bringing with it drinking and laughter from the taverns and inns for those who remained through the night.
Occupying a small table near the corner of the tavern was Kale, Fox, Nero and Atlas all enjoying the music and singing of what they assumed to be songs sang through-out Aer as none were familiar with them.
"How does your shoulder feel?" questions Kale, watching as he finishes the last of his tea. "I imagine you must be feeling good if you're giving lessons." Atlas smirks and sets the cup down.
"If I continue to drink this awful tea it should be better by the time we reach Aer," replies Atlas. A grin splits his face, stretching from ear to ear as he stares at the two of them.
"Sitting with you two reminds me of Solis." Fox raises his flagon and drinks deeply.
"Ah! Aye, just like Solis," agrees Fox. "And I have something that may make it seem even more like that." Fox produces from the satchel at his hip a deck of playing cards.
"Who's up for a game? It'll give me a chance to win some of my gold back from you, Prince." Both Kale and Atlas nod, looking rather amused.
"That's what you said the last time," teases Kale, adjusting his spectacles. "If I recall correctly, Atlas took all of your gold and you had to barter your way back to Aer, Fox."
"They made him walk the whole way!" taunts Atlas, both himself, Kale and Nero breaking out into laughter moments later.
"It was one long walk," adds Fox, dealing the cards while they all continue to laugh. Fox pauses when he comes to Nero. "How about it, lad? Are you going to play with us?"
"No, he's not," Atlas speaks quickly.
"I know how to play, Prince," counters Nero. That was all Fox needed to hear to get the game started. Though the game started out as just them, after several hands Kale and Nero had both dropped out and other tavern patrons took their place, plying their luck against Fox and Atlas' skill. It wasn't long after that before even Fox stepped back to watch Atlas play against another man.
"Impressive!" applauds the man, watching as Atlas takes the last bit of his coin. He dumps all his winnings into Nero's satchel, handing it to the boy standing by his side.
