It was already late at night and people who weren't drunk were starting to leave and go home, although the bars weren't empty yet and that was the case with the one Grige and Lyaria were in.

"We have to find a ship to take us to the islands." The food on Lyaria's plate, already cold, was untouched.

"If we find a boat, we'll be lucky. Trade by sea is dead, it has been for years. Only the baron has a ship and it is the one who take the boy.” Grige isn't much of an appetite either, but he takes a few bites of the loaves on the table anyway.

"There has to be one, it's a port! Floating is enough!” She raises her voice surprising Grige, she rarely lost control of her emotions.

“That's the problem, it doesn't just have to float. It's several days of travel and the sea is already beginning to freeze. Also, the sea is disgustingly stormy.”

“We can't wait until spring or we'll lose him, it's now or never.”

“I know, I know... How much money do you have left?”

"Eleven silver and a couple of coppers. Will be enough?” Lyaria fleetingly counts her bag, noting the massive expenditure of money in so few days.

"Barely, that's not counting the expenses on the island…" Grige's head ached just thinking about all that he had to prepare.

"I don't have any more money to pay you, but rest assured I will."

"We'll discuss it when the time comes. Now it is very late, before the sun rises, we will meet at the port.” Grige gets up taking the last bread that was on the table with his hand. "Do you have a place to stay?"

“Yes, a lady rented me a spare room a few blocks from here. See you at the port.” Lyaria dismiss Grige, although she continues to sit at the table drinking a good amount of alcohol until late at night lost in thought.

Early in the morning one could still see some columns of smoke resulting from the previous day's riot, despite everything, many people continue with their lives and try to earn it on this new day.

Lyaria thanks again the kind lady who rented her a room and goes down the street towards the port, she was wearing an opaque colored cloak and a hood that covered a large part of her face that was very common at this time of year, especially now snow was falling from the sky.

As much as people tried to resume their day-to-day life normally, the aftermath of events would not leave them alone so soon, a large number of soldiers could be seen in the streets and many times they stopped people by asking them a few brief questions.

She evades them when she can and, when unavoidable, answers their questions with false truths. The detours take her to the central square where a platform was erected that was used for public executions, on this, a man gave a speech to the twenty people gathered.

"...these individuals will have no forgiveness! Anyone with useful information on the attack, approach the garrison and be rewarded! Most of those responsible have already been caught and await judgment from our benevolent lord!”

“The majority? Only a few poor unfortunates were captured while the ringleaders made good use of our little distraction. To tell the truth, I didn't expect the different bands to make it bigger.” Grige approaches Lyaria without her noticing in the bustle of the city.

"Shouldn't we meet at the port?"

"You were taking so long and with so many soldiers... Well, I had to make sure."

“What happened yesterday exactly? How did a simple fire turn into a city-wide riot?”

“This happens sometimes, though not as bad as it is now. Before the arrival of winter, desperate people often steal food and there are those who take advantage of it.”

“Bait?”

“And more than that, hunger is one of the main reasons why there are more and more criminals, the gangs know this and act accordingly. No matter how many rats fall, there will always be someone to replace them next fall.” Grige only shrugs acknowledging a reality that he himself lived.

“So during the warehouse fire they took advantage and stole more than just food...”

“Exactly, and they did it to a very powerful merchant in the city. Not surprisingly, the baron is forced to act.” Having finished speaking, Grige motions for Lyaria to follow him and the two depart from the crowd that was slowly growing as the morning progressed.

Now Lyaria was beginning to understand the situation a little better. The soldiers conducted a cursory search, not going as far as the slums or entering houses. At first, she thought the baron couldn't afford to anger his populace, but according to Grige's words, he didn't care and if it weren't for the favor of his connections, he wouldn't hesitate to put more people on the gallows, innocent or not.

“In the past there was a similar case but much worse. People knew that a particularly harsh winter was coming. Just like now, preparations and a half-full stomach did the trick. Although the following year was the same and food was already scarce in summer, when winter came... it is said that even the nobility had to eat bread and water, but at least they had enough to eat. The beasts were also hungry and cornered the city with constant harassment, there were even some that pierced the walls with bloody claws and attacked people... it was in the middle of the night and by the time the guard found out...” Grige doesn't finish the sentence and Lyaria didn't need to ask either.

The port was already in sight and the cold air ripped the cheeks of both, the gray of the sea and the white of the snow created a desolate contrast, or beautiful, this perception depended on the person who was observing it.

"Hunger is a force that can make one forget the fear of death..." Lyaria knew that the conversation brought Grige melancholy and as much as she wanted to ask, she shouldn't as they were just strangers with similar goals.

"You're right…" After a short pause, Grige decides to change the subject and focus on his task. “There are plenty of fishing boats, but what we're looking for in a ship capable of crossing the sea even in a storm, and trust me, it's going to be a bumpy ride.”

"Have you ever been to the islands?"

“Twice. We planned to expand our business, but we were too small fish to swim in those waters.”

"And the ship you used?"

"Disappeared, at the bottom of the sea. As well as all our money... it was a terrible loss.”

“So? Any ideas?”

"Just one and it will be difficult." Grige guides Lyaria across the shore until they can go no farther past the city wall that looms in front of them.