One of the traders stepped back as his companions surged forward. They were both large men in their prime with bulging muscles that spoke of years with experience in beating others up. Alibaba rushed up to meet them, wanting to put some distance between him and Vito.
He slid to the ground to duck a sword aiming for his head and kicked at the man's ankle. The man cursed as he faltered and Alibaba wasted no time springing back up and twisting around the other man to stop him his tracks.
Steel clashed and Alibaba dug his heels in while twisting the sword to the side to push the blade away and nimbly jump back a step into his ready stance. Behind him, Vito cursed as another pick broke. Alibaba couldn't dwell on that for long because the two men were at it again.
Alibaba was twisting, turning, and sometimes twirling as he danced between the two swords. Every time one would go to take a step closer to Vito Alibaba was there to block him, dagger out and ready to attack. The men had more strength between them but Alibaba was quick on his feet and was able to get a few good slashes in. Nothing life-threatening, just enough to slow them down. He didn't want to kill them.
"Quit screwing around and kill the little bastard!" The keyholder then joined in with a fury and Alibaba was on the defensive. He gritted his teeth as one sword nicked his arm and another his leg. He was stuck blocking the leader's sword from disemboweling him. Alibaba huffed and twisted his heel to get a better grip and pushed. It didn't move the man far but it was enough for him to dart back and attack the two others before they could get to Vito.
The three vs one fight went on for much longer than Alibaba should have been able to handle. He was barely hanging on, several slashes on his torso, legs, and arms. Only a few were deep enough to scar but he was running out of energy fast.
If this went on much longer he'd be killed. Alibaba couldn't call on Amon's powers. He didn't have a fine enough control for such close quarters. It was frustrating for him as he was losing the battle. He could defeat these men if he could go all out, he knew that for a fact. He couldn't though. Not without risking hurting the others on the ship.
While Alibaba was trying to form a plan he was forced to block an overhead strike. While his arms were raised in the block a foot struck out and kicked him in the unprotected diaphragm. Bile and saliva were coughed out as Alibaba was knocked backward by the force of the kick. He fell back into the bars of the cage next to Vito, his head hitting the metal with a loud bang.
Chest heaving Alibaba looked at Vito. The man was frozen, eyes hard and hands empty. "I'm out of lockpicks." Vito took one look at Alibaba and the men attacking before launching himself at them with two daggers in his hand and another two already flying into a pair of legs.
"You okay kid?" There was a rough tap on his back between the bars. Alibaba looked behind him. Lo'lo had walked up to the bars and had, he guessed, 'lightly' nudged him with his foot. His head was cocked to the side, and an odd look in his eyes. Alibaba breathed deeply and gave a sharp nod. He rose back onto unsteady feet and pulled his shoulders back. As good as Vito was he would need help against all three of the men. There was no option now but to defeat them and take the keys. Alibaba looked back at Lo'lo and the others. He had to win. There was no other option.
"I swear on my life you will be free by the end of this." The promise was said with a steel in his voice Alibaba didn't know he could possess. Lo'lo blinked, and the other slaves all visibly faltered and shifted on their feet.
Alibaba then went back into the fight. Vito and he worked together to push the men back, working in tandem like they had fought together for years. Alibaba's legs and arms screamed at him but he didn't care. He couldn't lose here.
Power thrummed within him, churning within his chest and flowing into his arms. Amon heated in his hands, steam rippling from the blade's surface. Alibaba breathed deeply and focused. One mistake could set the whole ship on fire. Vito side-stepped, blocking an attack from the right, left foot kicking out to knock down the man from the center. That left Alibaba to take care of the man on the left. He darted in and rose his dagger in defense against the blow aimed for Vito's back. He gathered a small amount of his magoi and released with a growl, pushing back against the stronger opponent.
Steel melted and the man fell on his behind with a shocked expression, sword melted in half. Alibaba called back his magoi and fought to stay upright. His younger body was not as stable as his older one. His stamina was low, as was his pain tolerance. Any second now he'll drop.
Still, he pushed on. The leader had gotten back up. Alibaba let Vito deal with the other lackey and rushed forward. He needed those keys. The man was spitting mad as they fought, making his moves sloppy and easy to read. Alibaba knew when to count his blessings. He ducked under a slash that would have decapitated him, memories flashing to a different battle in a different time for an instant, and he lunged. One hand thrust up into the man's stomach with Amon's hilt, the other snatching the keyring. The man gasped in pain as Alibaba darted out of his sword length, keys ripped from the belt.
"Fucking hell!" The leader snarled up at the Alibaba and raised his sword into the air. Alibaba's eyes widened as a magic seal began to glow on the blade's surface. They had a magic tool!
"Get back!" It was said too late. The sword illuminated a bright white and the man threw it at Alibaba and Vito's feet. Alibaba covered his face as it exploded, tiny slivers of steel flying in the air and scratching his arm to pieces. Vito and Alibaba were blown back and knocked to the ground by the blast. Vito's head hit the metal bars at the nape of his neck and he was sent unconscious. Alibaba was sprawled at the edge of the last cage, body trembling and hands empty. He had dropped the keys and lost his grip on Amon from the explosion.
The two other men who got caught in the blast were bleeding heavily but moving. What was that man thinking to set that thing off? What kind of tool was that?
"What a mess." The man complained. He slowly got up and dusted his clothes off. "Kaki told me not to buy knock-offs like that but it did come in a pinch." He walked to Alibaba and leaned over him with a scowl. Alibaba coughed up bile as the man kicked him in the stomach and chest.
"Damn brat. You're probably ten years old from how short you are." Alibaba shakily lifted a hand and grabbed the man's ankle. He couldn't stop. He couldn't afford to lose. His arm was kicked away and another volley of hits to his body was sent. "Doesn't know when to quit." Alibaba couldn't think as the man continued to kick him. The man turned to the slaves with a sneer.
"Did you guys really think that this brat would free you?" He asked with a mocking laughter. "Don't get so cocky. You're less than cattle. Don't think otherwise!" Alibaba struggled onto his knees at the pause in the man's beating. He shakily grabbed Amon, the dagger had landed just out of his reach earlier and forced himself to stand. His face wrappings were coming loose, covering only the lower half of his face now. He could feel a trickle of blood from a cut on his face.
"He's wrong." Alibaba's words were heavy, and his chest heaved with the amount of effort it took to stand. "You are worth no more or less than anyone else. We are all human. You deserve to be free!" Alibaba held Amon up to his chest in an unsteady ready stance.
"Balbadd is a country free from the slave trade, and I will not forgive anyone who brings it into her waters or land!" The words flew from his mouth like fire, heating his resolve and bolster his last remaining reserves. He had plenty of magoi, and Alibaba was tired, worn, and angry. A small but steadily growing part of him was starting to think that setting the boat ablaze just might be a good idea after all. Amon hummed in his hand, and a sense of approval, yet disagreement, washed through him. Amon understood, but reminded Alibaba of his roots. Destroying the ship would strand these people out for sea predators and storms. They'd die. Not to mention those you might be harmed above deck. Tirdad's own people. Alibaba's friends. No, starting a fire wasn't the answer. No matter how tempting.
"No slaves huh?" Alibaba and the man both turned at the cackling laughter from the cage. Lo'lo's cuffs were gone, lying open on the floor. The key ring was dangling in his hand, tinkling as his laughter bellowed. "Sounds like my kind of place!" He dropped the keys and walked to the bars, taking one in each hand and yanking outward. The metal groaned as it bent under his strength. The slave trader backed away slowly as Lo'lo forced an opening in the cage. The man's face paled, arms shaking. He tripped on the down figures of his companions. Lo'lo stepped out with a manic grin, eyes narrowed at the traders.
They tried to run away. It was useless in the face of a pissed off Fanalis. Lo'lo dashed forward, grabbing two by the back of their shirts and kicking the leader in the back. The man cried out as he hit the ground. Lo'lo carried the other two into another cell. He ignored their begging whines, rolling his eyes in the process.
Alibaba relaxed his shoulders when he didn't do anything more. Lo'lo threw the last one in the cage, the man landing on top of his comrades, locking them inside without care. Alibaba sheathed Amon and knelt beside Vito. The man was out cold. He pulled an arm around his shoulders and heaved, grunting with Vito's added weight.
"Lo'lo, I know it may be too much to ask, but can you help cover us up to the top deck? There might be others that Tirdad had missed." Alibaba worried that Lo'lo might have been insulted at the request, but there was no need. Lo'lo grunted with a shrug, fingers flexing as if preparing for the possible fights. Alibaba thanked him and slowly led the remaining slaves to the above deck.
Luckily there wasn't much resistance. What enemies were left had been easily taken care of by Lo'lo. The man knocked the slave traders aside like rag dolls, uncaring of how much damage was done. It made Alibaba wince, but he didn't say anything.
Alibaba limped through the doorway to the top deck and was relieved to see that Tirdad had the rest of the Summer's Eve's crew tied up and their weapons tossed to the side. Tirdad and some of his men were standing around the crew with their swords to the prisoners' necks to keep them from trying anything funny. Kassim was with them, Morgiana nowhere in sight.
Tirdad and Kassim both looked over when Alibaba walked onto the deck with the group of ex-slaves trailing behind him. Tirdad's face was tight and his mouth was pulled into a sharp frown. He took one glance at Vito and the look turned even sourer.
"Ali!" Kassim ran forward and grabbed Vito's other side. He looked over at the cuts and burns on Alibaba's arms worriedly. Alibaba ignored his friend's silent fussing and looked to Tirdad. Something had happened.
"I don't want to know." Tirdad stated tersely, snapping an arm out in a silent gesture for his men to board the Freeway. Tirdad then pointed a sword to the east. Alibaba looked and paled at what he saw. In the distance, moving at a rapid pace, were four ships bearing pirate flags. They ran out of time.
Tirdad led them onto the Freeway with a tense set on his shoulders. He was already ordering his men to start setting the sails and the prow board. The second everyone had left the merchant ship the last boarding plank was yanked away and thrown to the side. Alibaba was half leaning on Kassim as he watched the crew work as fast as they could. They had traded Vito off to his crewmates, and Kassim had then thrown one of Alibaba's arms over his shoulder without question. Alibaba was grateful, even if he didn't say it. His mind was elsewhere.
"Can we outrun them?" The Freeway was built for speed. Maybe, if they hurried, they could escape. Tirdad turned to the incoming ships and narrowed his eyes. He worried his lip for a second while thinking it over.
"No." He finally answered. Alibaba sagged. Tirdad looked Alibaba over and lingered on the numerous injuries that were showing. "Can you fight?" It was a baseless question. When the pirates reached them they would need every able person to fight. Besides, it was Alibaba's responsibility to take care of this situation. Alibaba touched Amon at his belt. He then looked back to the ships.
"We were only expecting one ship." He admitted morosely in place of an actual answer. Four ships were too many. The Freeway was small and fast, not built for battle. They had a fair good of numbers on their side with the ex-slaves but most of them were untrained and still in chains. And, in any case, the four ships could still overwhelm them in numbers if they all decide to board. He was better with Amon now, but that would only go so far.
He never thought that four pirate ships would come for the Summer's Eve. What was on the ship that was so important? Tirdad hummed and moved his eyes to Lo'lo. He was looking around the ship, his intimidating figure unnerving some of the crew.
"The only reason they would send in that many ships was if they knew the Summer's Eve had a Fanalis with them." That actually made sense, in a morbid way. Fanalis were rare and expensive. Not mention how powerful they could be. If the Barasi was able to another on their side, apart from the one that Morgiana had seen, then they would be terrifyingly powerful.
"In any case," Tirdad continued. "We knew the risk of raiding the ship. Now we get out alive." He narrowed his eyes at the enemy harshly and began to shout orders at his men. Alibaba frowned to himself. Tirdad's words were probably supposed to be inspiring but it only filled him with worry.
"I understand." No matter how weak he was after his fight on the Summer's Eve he would need to help. Alibaba needed to keep his word. Tirdad has his people start giving weapons to the passengers that could fight and send the ones who couldn't down below.
Morgiana ran up from below deck and Alibaba saw her visibly pause at the sight of the other Fanalis. She stared in open-mouthed wonder at the large man. Her stupor was quickly broken however and she made way to Alibaba and Kassim.
"You're hurt." Morgiana stared at Alibaba's injuries critically. Alibaba shrugged with a mental wince. Compared to some of his past battles this was nothing. Still, his small twelve-year-old body wasn't used to such pain.
"I'll be fine. We have bigger things to worry about." They had gained distance from the merchant ship, but it was to no avail. The Basari pirates didn't even bother stopping at the Summer's Eve. Instead, they bypassed the ship to chase after the Freeway.
"You've seen the ships?" She asked. Alibaba and Kassim nodded, both looking out to the approaching enemies. It was only a matter of time before they were attacked. Morgiana crossed her arms and began to tap her foot in agitation. Alibaba didn't blame her. It was nervewracking, the wait.
"We can't let them get within canon distance," Kassim stated, eyes on the crew who were setting up the canons and preparing the ammo. Alibaba looked to them and to the hastily armed ex-slaves. Kassim was right. Once within that distance, the Freeway was done for.
"We'll stick with the original plan." Alibaba stated, body tense. "Kassim you need to stay here to help Tirdad. Morgiana, how close do they need to be for you to jump there?" Morgiana looked at the waters carefully with a tilt of her head. After a beat, she shook her head with remorse.
"Too close." That wasn't ideal, but Alibaba had a backup plan.
"How close do they need to be for you to throw someone there?" Kassim blinked in shock as Morgiana once again judged the distance. Alibaba understood perfectly on what the other boy was thinking. It was an insane idea. Yet, it had worked once before. Or, it would have if not for the meddling Judal.
"Not much longer." Alibaba nodded. That was good. The ships were steadily getting closer, they had to hurry. Morgiana went to find the prime area for the launching point. Alibaba paused before following, grabbing Kassim's arm just as the boy went to help Tirdad.
"When it comes to it, leave without me." Alibaba ordered. Kassim opened his mouth to protest but Alibaba shook his head. "No. I mean it. When Tirdad gets an opening and you won't have time to wait, leave. We have to get these people to safety." Kassim frowned. Alibaba wouldn't be budged. His life wasn't worth the ones on their ship.
"You're not saying if." Kassim noted blankly. Alibaba didn't comment, keeping his words the same. There was no way he'd be able to get back to the Freeway before they needed to leave. This wasn't some battle they can win. It was a race for time, and Alibaba was just trying to buy them some more of it.
"Please." Kassim frowned but nodded jerkily. Good. Alibaba released him and smiled underneath his mask. He gave his friend a pat on the arm and began to turn back to find Morgiana. As he did so, Kassim lightly punched him in the shoulder. It nearly made Alibaba topple to the ground.
"Just don't fucking die." Kassim sneered. "I don't care if you have to swim back to Balbadd, you will come back." Alibaba huffed at the demand as he righted himself. He didn't plan on dying in this excursion. Far from it. There was too much he needed to do. Still, the sentiment was nice to hear. Especially considering their past.
"Okay, Kassim." He promised. "I swear I won't get killed." Kassim nodded jerkily and left without another word. Alibaba hurried to Morgiana, who had found where to launch him from. She was getting into position when Alibaba felt an arm fall onto his shoulders. He oofed as added weight was put on him.
"What's going on?" Lo'lo looked past Alibaba at the incoming ships. Alibaba felt his face pinch. He helped these people to escape only to fail them now. It was infuriating. He gripped his dagger tightly and pulled it out of his sheath.
"Those ships are a group of pirates working for a gang called the Barasi." Alibaba explained. "They originally planned on raiding the ship you were just on. Now they're coming after us." Around him, Tirdad's crew were arming themselves to the teeth in preparation. Cannons were getting stationed and ammo was being loaded.
"Did they mean to free the slaves?" Alibaba blinked in surprise at the speculative tone in Lo'lo's voice. He was smiling with glee, though his gaze was distracted. Every now and then he glanced to Morgiana who was studiously not looking back, eyes focused on her target ship. Alibaba opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before answering, not knowing exactly how to describe it.
"They raid the ships for all the goods they can take, leaving behind only a skim of what was there." Alibaba lifted a hand to the people behind them, all the ex-slaves arming themselves and willing to fight for their freedom.
"They've been hunting merchant ships heading for Balbadd, taking weapons and armor before leaving. We decided to raid one before them; take what the Barasi would and bring it to the city in our own ship and free any slaves we might have found.
"While we have no proof, Tirdad suspected that the pirates were planning on taking you guys and selling those who wouldn't be good for fighting and keeping the rest for themselves. The Barasi have been gaining in numbers too quickly for it to just be people from Balbadd's streets." It made Alibaba angry. Slavery shouldn't exist, and these Barasi, who were from Balbadd, were taking a part of it. They were worse than scum.
"And now they've come to take the cargo back." Lo'lo finished with a growl. Alibaba nodded his head. The Barasi were almost upon them now. He walked in front of Morgiana and put his feet into her laced hands, balancing one hand on her shoulder. She grunted and bunched her muscles, and with a roaring shout, she lifted. Alibaba shot through the air, sailing in the sky towards the closest ship. Alibaba steeled his breath and held out his dagger.
It caught into one of the higher mast sails, helping in his descend. He landed on the main mast and looked down at the small figures of the pirates. They didn't notice him. Good. Alibaba breathed deeply once more and called forth Amon's power. Flames surged around him, liting the mast and sails on fire as he jumped down.
Normally such a fall would kill a man. With Amon's power, however, the flames made him stronger and helped cushion the fall. As he landed Alibaba stabbed his dagger into the ground and surged his powers outwards. A fire erupted in all areas like a bomb, exploding around him and below the decks, carving a giant hole as if the ship had been sliced in half. Alibaba rose up, hand molten black and breathing heavily. In his hands was Amon's Sword. He had done it. A partial equip.
Around him, pirates were closing in with death in their eyes. They weren't happy that he destroyed their ship. Alibaba turned his head to peek over his shoulder. One of the other ships turned to get closer and help. The other two continued on. Alibaba mentally nodded to himself. He then surged forward and fought off the mobs of pirates. Between his swordplay and Amon's powers, he was able to hold them off long enough for the other ship to get close enough to swing across to. Alibaba kicked away a pirate who had got too close and jumped back to a more open area. He lifted his sword and gathered his magoi. Flames surged around him, circling around his body in a vortex and coating his blade. With a roar of power, Alibaba brought the sword down on the wooden deck and pushed. Fire blazed, shooting through the ship and out, effectively cutting the thing in half and setting it all ablaze.
The pirates all gaped in horror or were diving for cover. Alibaba used the opportunity to snag a low hanging rope and swung across to the other ship that came to aide its friend. Alibaba had to hurry. He only had so much magoi, and there wasn't a lot of fire around to replenish it. In the distance he saw one of the two ships that had continued on slowing down with their sails on fire. The work of Kassim no doubt.
The second ship wasn't as easy to fight in. Alibaba was running low on stamina and power, and it wouldn't be long before he would need to call back Amon. He couldn't use his full potential in the partial equip because he needed to focus half of his energy on his numerous injuries. A full equip was out of the question, Alibaba nowhere near the place he needed to be to have enough control over such a thing. Alibaba was starting to think the worst when he was knocked back to the ground by a scarred pirate.
The man grinned and raised his saber up to strike Alibaba down. Alibaba grunted in pain and raised Amon defensively. There was no need, however. Suddenly a looming figure landed in between them, crunching the wood planks with the amount of force from their entrance. Alibaba looked up in awe as Lo'lo faced down the man with a scornful glare. He had grabbed the sword mid-swing, not even flinching as the blade cut into his palm.
Lo'lo yanked the man forward by the sword and jerked his knee up to hit this man in the stomach. The pirate gasped in pain, eyes rolling back and falling to the ground in a dead faint. Lo'lo looked around at the suddenly petrified pirates and scoffed.
"Weak." He turned to Alibaba and yanked up. Alibaba yelped in surprise, the shock making him lose control of his equip and causing Amon to turn back into a dagger. Lo'lo didn't blink at the commotion and hauled Alibaba over his shoulder like a sack of flour. He glanced around once more before lifting his right leg.
With a powerful show of strength, Lo'lo struck at the main mast. The wood creaked, cracking at the impact of the kick. Lo'lo scoffed and kicked it again. The mast fell, falling onto the other sails and taking them down with it.
"You were taking too long." Lo'lo grumbled, batting irate pirates out of his way to the railing of the ship. Alibaba couldn't speak, still in shock, not that he had much time to do so. Lo'lo quickly bunched his knees and soon they were flying through the sky, Alibaba screaming in complete terror all the while. As they sailed through the air, Alibaba saw that one of the other ships was dead in the water, sails burnt to a crisp and a hole busted in the side. The other ship looked completely wrecked as if tangling with a sea monster. The top deck was littered with cracks and damages, masts torn down, and several pirates swimming for life in the waters around the ship. Alibaba couldn't help but think it had to do with Lo'lo.
Suddenly they were back on the swiftly retreating Freeway. Lo'lo set Alibaba down with a wild grin, eyes dancing with amusement. At least someone had fun in all this. Morgiana and Kassim rushed to catch Alibaba's wavering form, the other crew members all formed a circle around him. At the helm, Tirdad watched Alibaba with a speculative eye.
"We did it?" Alibaba questioned. Kassim glanced to Lo'lo and the watching Tirdad warily before nodding. Alibaba felt his mouth turn into a wobbly smile. "Okay. Good." Alibaba promptly fell into a dead faint.
Alibaba did not die.
He took time to take that thought in. He did not die. Somehow they lived through a naval battle with the Freeway's less than favorable odds. Alibaba found himself waking the next day when they were halfway to the other side of the Islands. He was bandaged up to hell and had not only his friends in his room but Lo'lo as well. The only place he wasn't wrapped up was his face, the covering he used to disguise himself gone.
They were all spread across the small room. Kassim was sitting across from Zainab and Hassan playing a game of cards with a crate being used as a table. In the center was a pile of golden jewelry and some coins. Morgiana was sitting on the floor with her back to his bed. Across from her, leaning against the door to the room, Lo'lo watched her in some sort of staring contest. Upon seeing Alibaba wake, Lo'lo transferred his attention to the blonde with a grin.
"Look who decided to join the living." Kassim folded his cards and took a drag from the cigar he was smoking with a bored air. Across from him Zainab and Hassan stared each other down, daring the other to fold as well. Morgiana stayed silent but smiled in relief at him.
"What are you doing here?" Kassim and the others, Alibaba understood. He expected that Lo'lo would be with the other ex-slaves. He though the other would be up there planning his future as a free person. Maybe it was because of Morgiana?
"Everyone up there is boring." Lo'lo shrugged at the deadpanned statement. Alibaba felt his mouth drop at the answer. It was so childish. This guy had to be at least twenty-one! Lo'lo tilted his head to the side and eyed Alibaba with a gleam.
"You're interesting." He continued. "I want to know more about those bara people you talked about." Alibaba looked to Kassim for a possible answer. Zainab and Hassan paused in their game to listen in the conversation, eyes on the other boy as well. Kassim glanced at Lo'lo, to Alibaba, and then to the ceiling. He shrugged, leaving it up to Alibaba. Great help, that one.
"The Barasi are people who are trying to hurt Balbadd by controlling the trade routes," Morgiana spoke up, blank voice carrying out in the small room. Alibaba startled, not expecting her to speak. She stared down Lo'lo, unafraid despite her very small stature against him.
"Trade routes that include slavery." Lo'lo pointed out, poking a finger in her direction. This rallied Alibaba to speak up.
"Slavery is banned from Balbadd and her territories." Alibaba looked down at his clenched hands. "Whoever is allowing this to happen here will be brought to justice." Alibaba would make sure of it. There was a reason why slavery wasn't allowed in the country. To do so went against all the morals and honor of Balbadd's first Kings.
Lo'lo eyed Alibaba for a moment like a cat watching's its prey. "You feel pretty strongly about that huh? How are you going to accomplish that?" Kassim and the others bristled, only Morgiana and Alibaba staying relatively calm. Alibaba held up a hand to keep them from speaking, knowing it would only cause an unneeded argument.
"I have contacts. And my standing in the country is...high." Alibaba couldn't reveal much more. Lo'lo didn't say anything at first, but after a beat, he gave another shrug. Alibaba felt a pressure move from his shoulders as if he had passed some test.
"Tell me when we get to Balbadd. I want to fight those Barasi." Lo'lo walked to a corner and plopped himself down with a yawn. Alibaba floundered, not knowing exactly was going on. Lo'lo wanted to fight the Barasi? Why?
"Why?" Alibaba repeated out loud, confused. Lo'lo sent him an annoyed look.
"Because if I'm going to live in that city, I have to make sure it really is free of slavery. And it sounds like a good fight." Lo'lo fisted his right hand and cracked its knuckles. A fiery aura took over his body as he began to laugh darkly. Alibaba scratched his head nervously, unsure as to what to do. He didn't expect this. It wasn't like he could just bring him home.
"Don't even think about it." Alibaba looked to Kassim, who scowled at him. "I don't even have a place, and you know Papak won't take him." Kassim pointed at Alibaba with arched brows. Alibaba sighed, knowing that was the truth. Papak and his brothers were selective in who they took in, and Lo'lo would probably scare off customers and frighten the workers. Tirdad might have a place for him, but Kassim was already using the man's generosity on Alibaba's behalf.
Alibaba looked to Zainab and Hassan, who studiously ignored him. "Sorry Ali," Hassan apologized, his single eye crinkling at the corner. "We have to ship out with our Captain soon and well, you know." The first rule of the slums. Don't let anyone you don't trust know about your home.
"What are you guys talking about?" Lo'lo looked between them curiously. Alibaba sighed again, wanting nothing more than to sleep for a thousand and one nights.
"Well, if you're going to stay in Balbadd you'll need a place. The Barasi have most of the available slums conquered, and any other district would be too expensive. Mirno hasn't been welcoming to newcomers ever since the Barasi started hanging around his halls..." Alibaba trailed off mind blanking on where else Lo'lo could stay. The Fanalis gave him an odd look as if Alibaba had spoken gibberish.
"That's stupid. I'll just stay with you." Alibaba froze. Below, Morgiana huffed out what sounded a lot like a laugh. Alibaba sent her a betrayed look. This was not funny. Lo'lo wanted to stay with Alibaba? That couldn't happen! No way! Alibaba despaired at the thought. All the reactions of the nobles, having to reveal his true identity to Lo'lo, and having to ask such a large favor of his father once more?
Not happening.