The setting sun cast long shadows over the poorest shacks of Troy's slums. The air reeked of fish, rot, and coarse salt. The shouts of dockworkers blended with the yelling of nearby drunks. Into this chaos came the clatter of hooves and a growing crowd. Like a stone tossed into muddy water. It startled wild dogs rooting through garbage. They snarled. Then slunk back into the shadows.
A sharp blade of light cut through the grimy cloth doorway. It drew a wavering line across the dark interior. Karik was kneeling by a straw pallet. He tended to his feverish mother, Puduhepa. The noise made him snap upright. His right hand flew to the small knife hidden in his tunic—his father's. His heart hammered. Like a trapped animal. Here, sudden noise usually meant trouble.
The cloth flap was thrown back. Figures stood silhouetted against the dying sun. Outlined in gold. Karik squinted against the glare. Before his eyes could adjust, a bright, joyful cry exploded.
"Talia! It's Talia! Talia's back!"
Skinny Mira darted from a corner like a sparrow. She rushed past Karik. Threw her arms around the girl stepping from the group. Their gold-brown hair tangled into a warm glow in the sunset light. Mira's rag-doll rabbit tumbled from the pallet. Lay forgotten in the dust.
Aeneas stepped over the threshold. His gaze swept the cramped space. A straw mat. A few clay pots. A broken pot in the corner gave off the bitter smell of herbs. His eyes landed on Karik. Surprise flickered across his usually cheerful face.
"Well now. The little fellow from this morning..." Aeneas blinked. His tone was light, conversational. "Small world, isn't it? It's a regular global village."
Euryalus peeked over his shoulder. Grinned slyly at Karik. Like a hound on a scent. "Master, isn't this the brat who stole your purse this morning? Should we..." He drew the words out. Tapped the hilt of his short sword. "...give him a little 'lesson in justice'?"
Aeneas raised a hand to stop him instantly. The movement was swift. Expected. His eyes moved from Karik's pale face to the sick woman on the pallet. To the medicine pot in the corner. Finally, to Mira's small, trembling shoulders as she clung to Talia. Dust motes danced in the sunbeam. Shone like countless tiny secrets.
"So that's it..." Aeneas sighed inwardly. "A desperate act for family? In a place like this... the boy's done well just to survive."
Karik stared blankly at the morning's 'victim' standing in his home. His mind went empty. The young noble he'd stolen from was right here. And he'd brought tough-looking guards. Achates kept a hand on his short sword. Nisus's deep green eyes scanned every corner like a hawk's. Karik's throat tightened. His grip on the little knife went slack.
Clatter. The iron knife hit the dirt floor. An abrupt full stop. Karik stood frozen. Only his eyes moved, darting nervously between the backlit figures and his cheering brother.
Aeneas watched Euryalus's eager posture. Shook his head slightly. His tone was mild. "Euryalus, none of that." It sounded like he was stopping a child from a prank. He turned to the others. A warm smile spread across his face. "Let's get them to the ship. Treating this lady at the estate comes first."
Achates, Nisus, and Euryalus responded in unison. "Yes, young master!" Their voices created a strange resonance in the tiny shack.
But Euryalus couldn't resist. Before turning to follow orders, he shot Karik an exaggerated face. Stuck out his tongue. Flapped his hands like dog ears by his head. The silly expression broke the remaining tension.
Just then, Arinna rushed over. Threw her arms around Karik. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "It's okay, Karik... We found good people..."
Her voice was choked. But it held a hope he'd never heard before. Mira's rag rabbit was squashed under their feet. No one cared. The four children clung together. Their long shadows in the sunset seemed to melt all their past suffering in that one embrace.
Aeneas knelt. Picked up the fallen knife. He placed it back into Karik's hand. His gaze was direct. Met the boy's confused eyes. "Courage to protect your family deserves respect. But let me teach you a better way."
Karik just stared at the noble. His mind was a storm. This man... Why isn't he punishing me? I stole from him. Yet he's... helping us? Can nobles be... good?
Aeneas stood up. His sunny smile seemed extra warm in the evening light. He winked playfully. "Besides, you already took an advance payment this morning! Starting today, you're one of my followers too!"
With that, Aeneas turned. Began directing everyone to prepare the sick woman for the move.
Achates was already inspecting how to make a makeshift stretcher from planks. Nisus had gone to find usable cloth. Euryalus still made faces at Karik. But his hands were busy. He started gathering their meager belongings.
Karik stared dumbly at Aeneas's retreating back. The knife in his hand felt different. Lighter. The blade that had meant survival and sin now held a new meaning. It was no longer just a tool for theft or live.
The setting sun dyed the slums orange-red. From the distant port, a dockworker's final call cut clear through the maze of shacks. It mixed strangely with the unprecedented bustle here.
Achates and Nisus carefully shifted the gravely ill Lady Puduhepa onto the stretcher.
"Gently," Achates murmured. His ever-watchful eyes were utterly focused. "She can't handle jostling."
Nisus nodded. His deep green eyes caught the gold of the sunset. He adjusted the stretcher's angle. Made it more comfortable.
"We decided against the poor, skinny horse," he explained to Aeneas as he approached. "The lady is too ill to ride."
Then Euryalus did something unexpected. The usually joking young man was strangely serious. He noticed little Mira anxiously watching her rag doll on the ground. He bent down. Picked it up. Gently brushed off the dust.
"Here, little one," he said. His voice was unusually soft. "Let him come to the new home too."
He carefully tucked the doll into the safest part of the pack. Winked at Mira. The small gesture finally drew a shy smile from the tense boy.
Karik watched. A strange warmth filled his chest. This man... maybe he's worth following? At least... he gave us hope. That light the gods seemed too stingy to give...
In another corner of the shack, Talia held Arinna's hand tightly. Her small face showed relief for the first time. Her wide, deer-like eyes held curiosity now, not fear. She watched the busy people around them. Arinna squeezed her sister's hand. "See? I told you it would be okay."
Aeneas stood in the shack's doorway. He looked over the poor, yet warm, home. He spoke softly to Achates, who had just secured the stretcher. "Let's move out. Get to the river quickly. We can still make it back to the manor for dinner."
Achates nodded. He and Nisus lifted the stretcher steadily. Euryalus scooped up Mira with one arm. Slung the pack holding the rabbit doll over his shoulder with the other. Arinna and Talia followed close behind, leading the weary, thin horse. Karik took one last look at the shack that held all their painful memories. Then he turned. Followed the group with firm steps.
The strange procession moved slowly along the slum's narrow path toward the river. Their long shadows stretched behind them in the setting sun. Growing smaller in the distance.