#grimmdark

Thecitywasinthemiddleofthefielditwaslargesheknewthat.

Her name was Ashanty, a slave from the Fifth deep, a place of muck, iron beams, darkness.

"The city lies in the middle of the field. The city is large, a single tower, a ruin of an amphitheater built on top of an amphitheater built on top another amphitheater."

These were the words of her father, whose name was Thorvald, but whose nickname was "Muckle." He died almost a year ago,. From the Tar.

She berried him. Like this: (Thorvald). The Laps had helped. The Laps always helped. They were - curious.

"A death is a death," - one of them said, licking his eye with his tongue.

They had gathered near the Stream, five of them, a female she knew worked for Oulip, and a couple of others. One of them had a spear. He was probably a family guard, come out of one of the nearby huts or hovels to stop his boredom.

"A death is a death," - replied the female. Ashanty couldn't remember her name. She was holding her hand on Meckle, Thorvald's youngest boys shoulder. Anik and Marie were a few paces in front. Anik was closest to the casket/boat.

There was no priest - she couldn't afford the coin. And anyway, the only priest was a Masked One, and he would ask for "wages," which she wasn't going to give. He lived just above the first Up, where the beams thicken, and the plateaus and pillars start getting really high.

As the boatcasket just lay there she muttered a few prayers, and hesitated. She looked at the Laps: they were quiet, contemplative. She felt it was good they were there. It was around the beginning of Worktime, six hours after Waketime. She couldn't see anyone on the mounds around the Stream. The only noise was a distant clattering of a hammer or some other tool.

Ashanty went past Anike, touching her/his shoulder, and pushed the boat down the Stream. The heaviness surprised her. She had to use both hands.

Then she looked, in anticipation, at one of the Laps. He paused, took out a small horn from his hauberk, and blew.

After a few moments Marie said: "Let's get food," and they all started to disperse, the Laps taking the cue from the children.

Only the one with the spear remained, yawning inside himself, leaning on his spear.

But what would she do now? There was so much. So much to do. She needed time. She needed a couple of nights to think. She needed a break.