The crew, Captain Joe, and Vin set from the ship as soon as it had reached shallow enough waters and into the rowboat. Though his bonds had been released and he had been fed, he was not given a weapon. Not surprising, and not something that he would even have to think about previously, in a different life (he liked to imagine it being lovely and peaceful), but something that was very much a necessity here.
He looked at the people around him, at Oik and Ick (if those were their real names), at Dan- the large body-lumper, the woman who he still didn't know the name of, Johnny, Rory the axe guy, Joe the captain, the quiet Charlie and another unknown guy.
Not that he was going to ask. What he knew about them, he had overheard. Them not wanting to kill him was a very recent thing, and he would like to keep it that way.
The rowboat serenely continued towards the bright and noisy land they had decided to alight on.
Rory was cleaning his axe with a cloth, the fabric cleaning the dust lodged in between the elaborate engravings on the handle. There were figures of all kinds drawn there-camels, people, and was it sand dunes? It was beautiful.
"My people. Camels are sacred to us, out in the desert. Very useful." He fluttered his fingers over the engravings as he spoke.
He looked over at Vin, and at his weak answering smile, returned back contently to his task.
"He is a Kurahi." Ick supplied from where he was rowing the boat. Oik elbowed him from beside him.
"What? He had been with us the whole day!" Oik didn't answer as he looked suspiciously at Vin and grumbled, going back to his rowing.
Vin wanted to ask more about what a Korahi was, but kept his mouth shut. Instead, he focused back on their destination, unaware of the eyes of the Captain trained on him.
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When they reached land, he was ushered out of the boat along with Johnny and Charlie, while being handled the bundles they had brought along from the ship. After most of the luggage was out, Joe stepped out from the boat along with Rory and the woman carrying a few more behind him.
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The three of them stepped around the crew and continued walking to where all the lights and crowds could be seen.
"Hey! New guy!"
He swiftly turned towards where Oik was waiting with the next bundle in his arms, scowling at having to wait.
Vin took the baggage from his arms, and set it down on the ground next to him.
Soon enough the boat was empty and they were carrying the items to the city. The night had grown dark, and the lights and occasional fireworks beckoned to them as Ick sidled up to him, carrying his own luggage.
"It's the Choril, the city of no king, and so no laws" He explained, "We come here to sell our stuff."
And it really was the city of no laws. There were people lying passed out on the way to the marketplace, some drunk some otherwise. The few people that were on the streets travelled in groups, with their weapons in their hands and suspiciously eyeing the people entering the city.
"You filthy-looking crocodile! Have I not told you that the East side is mine! Only I will sell my fruits there! How DARE you come in my territory and steal my customers?!!" The unkempt man was frothing at the mouth as he hid behind an overturned table (likely from the market if the scattered fruits were anything to go by) with a few other people equally shaggy.
Few chickens and goats in the vicinity continued eating, not paying the encounter any mind.
A hand on his chest stopped him from moving further. It was Charlie, taking in the scene suspiciously.
"Your territory? Don't make me laugh, you rotting rodent! My mother-in-law lives in the East and so, it is as much mine as it is yours! I will sell fruits their all I wish! And, " yelled an equally pissed voice from the other side, where six more were hiding behind a few carts, carrying produce, "not only fruits, I will start selling my vegetables there too!" He finished.
In their hands they had several bowls and cabbages, and soon they were throwing them to the other side, watching them hit the mark with sounds of pain and jeering in response.
The attacked side also responded with coconuts and fruits and their own utensils-mainly large spoons. They celebrated loudly when their enemy howled at the damage.
Soon enough, both sides got out from behind their barricades and attacked each other with fists, yelling curses and insults
The leaders- crocodile and rodent- had bananas and bruises and rotting vegetables stuck to their hair and clothes.
Some of the chickens clucked and fled the scene disapprovingly.
Charlie looking exasperatedly at the scene before him as the crowd of people fought with all they could find-small crates, barrels, and eggs.
"Come on." He stated, and heaved his bundle higher on his shoulder as he shoved the fighting men to the side and cut right through the middle.
Soon enough all seven of them had crossed over, and no one had stopped their tusseling.
"Nice!" Johnny cheered to Ick and Oik, who had emerged on the other side with various fruits and eggs in their hands which they shared with the kid.
On this side, there were several people who were selling their stuff, all within a few feet from the fighting men, unbothered.
They moved forward and soon they reached the place they had been looking for.