Summer 5: Oror

Beloved Zann,

I went down to Kayar’s to see if there was anyone there who might know where Wande was. Or, really, to see if Kayar’s was still there. I had to duck into an alley to let a patrol go by, but they took no notice of me.

Kayar’s was still there, although the front wall had scorch marks all over it. I went in. People were in here, eating and drinking, but not in a relaxed or celebratory way. They were all frightened. A couple of families sat in the back corner, their children sleeping on their laps, bags at their feet.

Oror was behind the bar. I greeted him. He said nothing.

“I’m looking for Wande,” I told him. “Have you seen her in here recently?”

He still didn’t say anything.

“Oror? I really need–“

“I haven’t seen anybody,” he said.

So he wasn’t going to tell me anything. Probably had a good reason for it. I let it go, and looked around again. None of Quoon, Ostavon, or Fafafa was here either. But I was hungry. I still hadn’t had a full meal since waking up, although there had been several small ones.

“Sorry,” I said. “Could I just get a cheese-fry? I–“

“We’re out of food,” he said, as he collected a tray of food from the kitchen and brought it out to some other people. “Try somewheres else.”

I couldn’t tell what I had done wrong, but I felt guilty for it all the same. I gave the families at the back a couple of silver cups each and left Kayar’s.

Next I tried Ostavon’s roost. But I could see that the building had been burned out, probably some days ago. From there I went to Quoon’s. Quoon’s building was still there, but when I went up to his roost, the door was standing open and the place was empty.

I didn’t have the heart to try Fafafa’s roost.

But I wasn’t sure what to do next.

Love,

Ybel