bustling port in wonderment. Everything was moving at once, ships, people, and objects. It was a hive of commotion and noise. It seemed pleasant and jovial, but the closer she looked the more grime and depression became noticeable. A stray cat, mostly fur and bone, curled its self into a coil of rope and anxiously licked its fur. A dog weaved through the crowds, head down, sleek as a cat, but also bone thin and weary. It was sad to look at.
Next, a woman wrapped in a thin blanket appeared from behind a large stack of crates shortly followed by a man tucking his shirt into his trousers. Olivia gasped. The woman and man went their separate ways, and Olivia turned to look at Willy. The boy paid no mind, but Mr. Timms was frowning.
“ Willy, will you fetch the sketch book you made me please?”
“ Certainly.” He hurried from the deck.
Olivia approached Mr. Timms. “Is he exposed to such indecency so often, Mr. Timms, that the sight of a prostitute has no effect on him?” She tried not to sound accusing, not that it was in any way Mr. Timms fault, but Willy was still a young boy, and innocence should not be treated so callously. Who was here to protect him?
“ Ay, my lady. I would guess from the day he was born that boy has seen more in his fourteen years than a man with a full life should. That is why the captain saved him.”
“ But he is still being exposed to such things.”
“ You cannot hide him from the rot in the world. How will he ever learn to see the beauty?”
Olivia pondered that. “But what of his innocence?”
“ I would believe you are far more innocent than he is. Fear not for him. He is strong in heart and mind. He is not the boy you think he is, but a young man growing under the influence of the good captain. While such sights shock you, they are commonplace to him now. We all have different views of the world.”
Olivia felt chastised, although she didn't understand why. Her heart told her to protect Willy , because he was just a child, but perhaps she was doing him a disservice. She nodded and turned back towards the railing. Willy appeared with her sketchpad, pencil, and a stool, and for the next hour, she sketched the sleeping cat. She was amazed that with all the hustle and bustle, that the cat never woke.
She returned to the cabin and picked a book to read from Colton's desk. The day wore on , and she struggled to keep herself occupied until Colton returned. As the sun began to sink into the ocean, her patience was rewarded.
Colton returned just after dusk to change his attire and share his lack of news about Devon, then left again. Olivia sighed in defeat. Again, she prayed that Devon would be found quickly and safely, but even miracles did not work that quickly, as far as she knew. The waiting was unbearable, but that's all she could do now.
***
Colton and Dirk sat in a tavern closer to the center of the city. The patrons were a mix of seedy criminals and nobility with seedy intentions. They both sipped their ales silently, looking for the right target that might cross paths with a man of Devon’s station. Colton had his suspicions about where to look, but many of the brothels of notoriety that Devon might seek were highly secretive, and only accessible if one were invited. Colton was posing as a wealthy aristocrat, dressed in his finest coat and trousers. Dirk sat to his right, and would nod to various people who they thought could be of use.
“ That's our man right there.” He nodded to a man in the corner by the fire. He wore a garish coat embroidered with bright flowers, and a top hat with a red feather.
“ How do you know?” Colton asked curiously.
“ The red feather. It's a mark of the trade. He searches for rich clientele to give invitations to.”
“ Why be so exclusive?” Colton eyed the man in the corner suspiciously.
“ The more exclusive, the more expensive. I've heard other things, too—exotic women, opium, strange things...”
Colton could only
Next, a woman wrapped in a thin blanket appeared from behind a large stack of crates shortly followed by a man tucking his shirt into his trousers. Olivia gasped. The woman and man went their separate ways, and Olivia turned to look at Willy. The boy paid no mind, but Mr. Timms was frowning.
“ Willy, will you fetch the sketch book you made me please?”
“ Certainly.” He hurried from the deck.
Olivia approached Mr. Timms. “Is he exposed to such indecency so often, Mr. Timms, that the sight of a prostitute has no effect on him?” She tried not to sound accusing, not that it was in any way Mr. Timms fault, but Willy was still a young boy, and innocence should not be treated so callously. Who was here to protect him?
“ Ay, my lady. I would guess from the day he was born that boy has seen more in his fourteen years than a man with a full life should. That is why the captain saved him.”
“ But he is still being exposed to such things.”
“ You cannot hide him from the rot in the world. How will he ever learn to see the beauty?”
Olivia pondered that. “But what of his innocence?”
“ I would believe you are far more innocent than he is. Fear not for him. He is strong in heart and mind. He is not the boy you think he is, but a young man growing under the influence of the good captain. While such sights shock you, they are commonplace to him now. We all have different views of the world.”
Olivia felt chastised, although she didn't understand why. Her heart told her to protect Willy , because he was just a child, but perhaps she was doing him a disservice. She nodded and turned back towards the railing. Willy appeared with her sketchpad, pencil, and a stool, and for the next hour, she sketched the sleeping cat. She was amazed that with all the hustle and bustle, that the cat never woke.
She returned to the cabin and picked a book to read from Colton's desk. The day wore on , and she struggled to keep herself occupied until Colton returned. As the sun began to sink into the ocean, her patience was rewarded.
Colton returned just after dusk to change his attire and share his lack of news about Devon, then left again. Olivia sighed in defeat. Again, she prayed that Devon would be found quickly and safely, but even miracles did not work that quickly, as far as she knew. The waiting was unbearable, but that's all she could do now.
***
Colton and Dirk sat in a tavern closer to the center of the city. The patrons were a mix of seedy criminals and nobility with seedy intentions. They both sipped their ales silently, looking for the right target that might cross paths with a man of Devon’s station. Colton had his suspicions about where to look, but many of the brothels of notoriety that Devon might seek were highly secretive, and only accessible if one were invited. Colton was posing as a wealthy aristocrat, dressed in his finest coat and trousers. Dirk sat to his right, and would nod to various people who they thought could be of use.
“ That's our man right there.” He nodded to a man in the corner by the fire. He wore a garish coat embroidered with bright flowers, and a top hat with a red feather.
“ How do you know?” Colton asked curiously.
“ The red feather. It's a mark of the trade. He searches for rich clientele to give invitations to.”
“ Why be so exclusive?” Colton eyed the man in the corner suspiciously.
“ The more exclusive, the more expensive. I've heard other things, too—exotic women, opium, strange things...”
Colton could only
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