My fingers reached once more for the wooden dagger hidden within folds of fabric. No, I did not wish to use this gift granted by my captors, not unless necessary. But as I wordlessly passed through decrepit streets which must have recently faced some great and terrible tragedy, I nevertheless grew well-acquainted with the shape of its handle.
Yet any means of protecting myself should prove futile if I cannot find where I am to sleep.
V-2. I listened for snippets of conversation, hungrily pulling oft-repeated words into my possession for future examination. “Sector,” “district” -- those are areas of the city, it seemed. And the Sectors were described by numbers, so I likely needed to find my way to the second Sector. Traversing from one to the other, however, eluded me still; I could not say which Sector I stood in as I pondered this conundrum.
The sudden opening of a shop door near where I had paused startled me from my puzzling. A woman with a confident aura turned to find my eyes upon her, and I felt more acutely still the weight of the wooden weapon against my hip. It does not do to fall prey to paranoia, and yet I must confess that i felt very on-edge throughout this ordeal.
“My apologies! I’m afraid you happened upon me as I was lost in thought.” I dared not reveal that I knew nothing of this city, not when I also did not know whether this stranger might use my ignorance to her advantage. She had the bearing of one with some knowledge of the city, and perhaps she could be of use to me, but I would be sure to use caution in obtaining information. Fortunately, I had been well-trained.
