“That is precisely what I mean.”
“So the third: thieves, prettyworkers and assassins.” To my slight thrill, Villiam doesn’t bother to argue that there are no assassins in Gomorrah.
“These criminals, as you call them, are as vital to Gomorrah as any of the others. The nature of the Downhill is our arsenal, Sorina. Sin is our arsenal. It is through the very depravity of Gomorrah that we fight wars of righteousness.” He speaks with a hint of excitement in his voice. I don’t know if it’s over the subject matter or the fact that he’s sharing this information with me at last. “Thieves can be hired to steal documents outside of Gomorrah. Prettyworkers overhear valuable information from clients. Assassins, trained from birth, are always at our disposal. The people of Gomorrah first and foremost work for themselves, but they also work for us.”
The mention of prettyworkers and information sends my mind to Luca. This afternoon, shortly after waking, the guard stationed outside our caravan handed me a note from him. All it said was “Ten o’clock. Wear something festive.” I don’t know what to expect, so I wore all black clothes but brought my most colorful mask, stowed away inside my robes for after I finish with Villiam. We’re supposed to be interviewing another suspect, but I’m no longer certain we’re following the right leads. If the Alliance of Cyrille is responsible for orchestrating the murders, then we should be seeking out a spy within Gomorrah, not established—albeit suspicious—residents. Then again, even if the Alliance is a real threat to my father, there’s no proof they’re the ones responsible for Gill and Blister.
I’m anxious to hear Luca’s thoughts. I think he avoided seeking me out yesterday because he wanted to give me time with my father, but, truly, I wish he’d paid a visit. I like when he thinks out loud, so that I don’t need to. Lately, too much thinking has led my mind into dark corners.
Villiam and I slowly approach the fence of the Downhill. I’ve never crossed this border with my father. He passes it with confidence and ease, as he probably has hundreds of times before.
“I don’t believe you and I have ever discussed the guard,” he says. “The guard has its soldiers, those who protect Gomorrah. Shadow-workers, mainly. But it also recruits a number of thieves and assassins, those who are bred in families who make crime their expertise. It has one rule, and one rule only. Can you guess it?”
“No.”
“All members of the guard have lived their entire lives in Gomorrah. Anyone from outside cannot be trusted.”
I try not to show any outward reaction to his statement. This goes against the Gomorrah philosophy, that any misfit or outcast can find a home within its smoke. It reminds me of what Nicoleta told me a few days ago, that Luca was not to be trusted. I suppose I thought this at first...but not anymore. Gomorrah has found a way of interweaving itself in Luca’s character. He passes no judgment on the prettyworkers he befriends, as many Up-Mountainers have done. He dresses like any performer in the Festival—though with terrible taste.
“Chimal will be excited to meet you,” Villiam says. “He’s been hearing about you for years.”
Villiam’s voice momentarily pulls me out of my reverie, but I realize with mild mortification that no matter how much I try to focus, my mind keeps returning to Luca. I’m growing uncomfortably aware of how much I think about him. Kahina always says that no one can choose whom they fall for, and even though I consider myself a romantic, I don’t want to cause myself unnecessary heartache. I’d rather squash the feelings before they begin—after all, how could Luca possibly be interested in someone like me?
“Chimal began his life as a thief,” Villiam continues. “As he will probably tell you, there are a number of established families in this section of the Festival. Although the Uphill is associated with wealth, the oldest families reside in the Downhill. Families as old as Gomorrah itself.”
To our left, we pass a house of prettywomen. The two-story caravan has its shutters closed so its residents can sleep during the day. A garland of brightly colored glass bottles clunks against the wood as it moves, a sound like long nails clicking against a hard surface. One woman tends to the elephants by washing them as they walk.
I’m immediately embarrassed to be walking beside a brothel with my father, no matter how common a staple of Gomorrah they might be. Despite everything I know about Villiam, he’s never told me if he’s had a lover. I’ve never seen him with either a woman or a man, but I don’t think it’s because they don’t interest him. Venera once said it was probably because he puts his duties as proprietor far above any bodily needs. It hardly seems fair that his job has stripped him of the opportunity for romance, since proprietors in the past have had spouses and proper families.
I know there are sacrifices I must make when I become proprietor, but I’ve spent years daydreaming of the princes and princesses from Kahina’s fairy tales. I won’t give up on my own romantic happily-ever-after, not even for the Festival.
As we leave the brothel behind, my thoughts drift to Luca’s beautiful prettywoman friend, Yelema. Nicoleta mentioned that Luca was not interested in the services prettyworkers had to offer, but she’s never actually met Luca. Probably never even seen him. He’s handsome, and, regardless of the rumors, I would be surprised if Luca had never pushed his “friendships” with prettyworkers beyond the realm of simply friends.
Luca and I, we are friends.
But lately, I’m finding that I want us to be more.
“You seem rather distant. Is something troubling you?” Villiam asks.
“No,” I say quickly.
“Certainly you’ve been in the Downhill before. I don’t need to know every detail of my daughter’s life, but I imagine—”
“I have. I guess I’m just tired from all the packing earlier. Not so much sleep.”
“Yes, unfortunately, leaving Cartona so early has given us less time to prepare for the wedding in Sapris.”
“Is that what this is about?” I ask. “The wedding?”
“Yes. But I don’t want to discuss it now. Let’s wait until we meet with Chimal.”