It was shortly after midnight when Oren found Vica walking listlessly along one of the market streets. The stalls were empty now. The acrobatic performance had ended already, and all the spectators had disappeared to their respective homes. Yet Vica appeared to be searching for someone, though who would be out at this hour was anyone's guess.
"You're alone," he called out, not quite shouting but raising his voice to ensure that she would recognize it. He stopped walking toward her and remained standing a short distance away.
Vica stopped in her tracks and turned around, her eyes squinting through the weak gleam of the dying torch lights. "Yes," she said, somehow sounding surprised herself. "I am."
"He returned to the room an hour ago without you."
"Did he send you to find me?" Vica's f
