Sal found herself face-to-face with the long breadth of the bridge and the vast river between its two sides. Her stomach turned at the prospect of coming so far from the Hospicio unassisted yet it also jumped from the fact that she is alone in a place no one seemed to frequent. 

“Hey! We’ve been looking for you.” It was the constable. 

Sal turned around quickly to apologize. She kept her head bowed, ashamed at the reckless mindlessness that overtook her for a moment that day, walking out of the gate into the entrance of the island. An untended, open gate did entice her, but the poor metal structure has nothing to do with Sal’s faults and own recklessness. 

“But hey! The breeze is nice in here. Must be good to take a walk. You could have just called me, we’ll take a nice stroll. You shouldn’t be out here on your own. “ The man squatted on the ground. “Or perhaps, you want to see the Signor Ren?”

Sal nodded. Ever since she came back, everyone who interacted with her knows that she is the Signor Ren’s ward. There are more people to watch over her on Ren’s behalf. All she has to do is follow his orders. Signor. Ren It rolled strange on the tongue. 

“Hey! Mom.” The constable turned to Lea who has just arrived by then. “Sneaking out in daylight? My! My. What a bold child is she. This brave constable will see that you be away from seeking trouble and-” 

Lea threw a small pouch at the man. “ No sneaking out when you are in the know, right?” 

The constable balked. “I’m a constable, you always want to forget that do you?” 

“Not my mom, not my dad., you don’t order me around. Yeah. Anyway,” Lea cast a quick look on Sal. “I’ve stated before that I am a Lehmann, but Nay Rosa wouldn’t believe me, so I will look for another relative here in Alimpio. Perhaps someone else from the branch family who have married and moved here might still know of me.”

 The woman stood tall. In this way, Sal almost always forgets that she is older than this woman and so is the constable. 

When they headed back to the hospicio, Sal waited for Lea to bring up the matter of her running out into the bridge but neither spoke a word. Sal better get the manner out of her chest.

 “Read. I will read the letter.” 

Lea broke off into a wide smile. She almost squished Sal’s cheeks but she was blocked off in time by a well-prepared blanket. 

Sal huffed. “I am weak. You are strong. “ 

“Oh, sure I am strong.”

“As such, I will only accompany you to read the letter. “

 Lea nodded, “ Of course.” 

“But if it becomes too scary. I will stop.”

 Lea stared. Surprise? Bewilderment? Disappointment? Nonetheless, she leaned on the windowsill, smiling to the air. 

“Alright, you will.”

Carriage rides have always been queasy for Sal, a swirling feeling in her stomach and a certain heaviness in her head at every turn of the wheel. But there were no wild bumps this time in the ride. She sat on the carriage window and occupied herself with watching the buildings whiz past her set to the rhythm of the horses’ hooves. Lea sat across her while the constable accompanied the driver.

Ro had proposed, insisted, that they should do things in a proper manner. Hence, he brought the matter with ‘Nay Rosa and also allowed them to procure a carriage.

The trip had taken them almost a few hours. It seemed that they were deep in the heart of the city as Ro insisted that they come to the state office for confirmation and a list of names to look into. Lea had insisted that they stop by a hostel. Apparently, She knew the place. 

When the carriage stopped, Ro stepped off and approached the address Lea specified. A man dressed in a gaudy, yellow- checkered suit stepped off the door, nearly swaying to his side. 

The constable and the man conversed but it does not seem to have been going well so Lea stepped out of the carriage and dragged Sal with her. Slowly, it became clear that the man does not seem intent on entertaining the constable until the two girls appeared.

he man straightened his gait. He was not a tall man. His hair was like a square propped on a circular head. He was also reeking of wine and a slight odor of old fish. His grin looked so much like a dog’s mouth.

The man beamed at the two women. “Heavens! I am not under arrest. Good mercy! Young man right here gave me a good scare.” The man pointed a swaying, crooked postured hand at the constable. “Guests!” He bowed as he held a bottle in one hand. The man opened the door to the hostel and invited them in. 

It was a small, quaint room looking a lot like if Sal managed a Mercantile’s office for a day. A leaning tower of papers sat atop a messy desk facing a sofa with overturned sheets. And for some reason, the coat hanger was rolling on the floor. 

The man sat on the a desk, overturning a name plate. He brushed it off and flung his arms wide holding a bottle in one hand. “ “Anyway, mi name y Sgr. Luca Allesandro Comaco. Make yourselves comfortable.”