Despite being told no, Layla was on a mission. If Amro was giving out money for hugs, then she was going to do her part. Everyone in the encampment said she was the cutest and couldn't resist giving her hugs, so surely Amro would pay a premium for hers.

When Auntie Fila put everyone down for a nap and fell asleep as well, Layla made her move.

Lockton was a big place, but she knew the main road went straight through the middle of town, through the market, and to the palace. She could be at the market in minutes, meaning that Amro should still be in the market by the time she got there.

Upon reaching the market, she realized she had a new problem. She didn't know what the Amro looked like. She knew he had red hair. All Amro had red hair, but a lot of Durs had red hair, too, and they were giving her disgusted looks as they passed.

She wiped her muddy hands on her shirt as she thought through her new problem. Her breath frosted in the air. It wasn't currently raining, but it had earlier in the day, and she'd overheard the adults saying that it was probably going to freeze later.

"Hey little girl," a man said.

Layla jumped, then turned to look up. The man was Durrish with dark hair and dark bags under his eyes. The man grinned, reaching for her. "You look lost. Let me help you."

"No!" she shouted, backing away a step. A few Durs looked over, but did nothing.

Darting forward, the man grabbed her by the hair. "You don't have a choice."

Terrified, Layla screamed in pain as he dragged her forward. Layla gripped her hair, trying to free herself from the man's fist.

"Shut up, mudrat!" The man's foot slammed into Layla's stomach.

Breath knocked out, she crumbled to the ground.

He suddenly let go, letting her collapse fully to the ground, gasping. Another pair of boots came into Layla's vision.

"Well, if it ain't my old friend Rimmer," a voice drawled. "Looks like someone redecorated your face."

"You're going to pay for what you did!"

"Am I, now? Better make it worth it then."

The Dur lunged toward Layla.

The dark grey boot between her and the Dur moved fractionally. There was a meaty thwack, and the Dur staggered back, landing against the wall.

An arm went around Layla's waist. She helplessly dangled as this new man in dark grey pants picked her up.

"I'm going to make you pay for this!" the Dur said wetly.

Layla lifted her head to look at the man. He was clean, as most Durs were, but he clearly had money since his clothes were of a finer quality. Blood covered his mouth and chin, staining his front from a split lip.

A brown hand lifted into Layla's view, flashing an easy middle finger at the Dur. "Spin on it."

She would have gasped in shock if she'd had the breath to do so. She was young, but even she knew not to show that gesture to people.

The Dur pushed off the wall and flung himself forward. That middle finger switched to a fist, but she didn't see what happened as her rescuer stepped back. Another meaty smack resounded, and the man crumbled to the ground.

"Dipshit," her savior grumbled. "Can't even give me a good fight."

"Damn it, Reed. You're gonna get in trouble for fighting in the street!" a Dur said as he strode over.

Layla had finally caught her breath, but fear kept her voice locked in her throat. The approaching Dur was huge. Around them, the other Durs were quietly laughing or just looking the other way. No one looked upset.

"Hmm... I don't think anyone cared in this case."

"Is she alright?" the big brown-haired Dur asked. Her feet were gently set on the ground. The big man crouched. "You should be careful, little girl," the Dur said slowly.

Before Layla could answer, another Dur with a sword was trotting over. "Ah, Saintess Tears, this bastard again?" the man said, going to check on Layla's fallen attacker.

The whole situation was too much. Layla hiccupped, then burst into tears.

"Shit!" The Dur crouching in front of her reeled back in shock. "Reed!"

"You must've scared her with your ugly mug," the man behind her said. A gentle hand palmed her head. "You should get her something to make up for it."

"You're just out to steal all my money today."

"Yea? So?" the man behind her teased. He crouched next to her. "Hey now, don't cry. He might be ugly, but he's a nice guy."

Wiping her eyes with her filthy fists, Layla squinted through her tears at the man who had saved her.

Fear quickly turned to joy.

She'd found him!

Amro had saved her!

"Oof--" Amro grunted as she threw her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder.

Amro steadied himself and gently patted her back. "There, now, it's alright. That guy's goin back to jail."

"Looks like you've got a new girlfriend," the other Dur teased with a chuckle.

"Gross. Don't even joke about that," Amro retorted, scooping Layla up as he stood. "He kicked her pretty hard. We should probably take her to the hospital."

"Alright, let's go," the Dur said.

They started walking, and Layla found her composure enough to stop crying. She'd succeeded in her mission of finding Armo, but how was she going to ask him for money? She was already giving him a hug for free!

"Hey, sweetheart, you calmed down now?" Amro asked.

Slowly, Layla leaned back to look at his face. He was brown, but it wasn't because of mud. More shocking was that he wasn't wearing a tabba. Now that she was looking at him, she realized that if he'd been wearing one, she never would have known which Hannish man was Amro.

"We're going to take you to the doctor. They'll make sure you're not hurt," Amro said in a gentle voice. "After, I'll take you back to your family. Do you understand?"

Layla slowly nodded. "Yes, Amro," she wiped her face with her fist again and sniffled, realizing that she'd gotten his coat filthy. How could she ask him for money when she'd made a mess of him?

She lowered her eyes in shame.

"Here," the Dur beside them said.

Amro bounced her slightly. "Hey, don't leave Timmons hanging. He got you something."

Layla lifted her eyes and turned to look at the large, muscular man. He was holding a paper cone filled with roasted nuts.

Meat biscuits last night, fruit just an hour ago, and now roasted nuts? Layla's heart soared as she took the cone. She carefully balanced herself in Amro's arms, greedily eating the nuts. She didn't notice how far they'd gone until they passed into shade.

Looking up, she realized she had no idea where they were as they entered a building. Layla froze. She'd let complete strangers take her somewhere mysterious.

Amro bounced her gently. "Hey, what's your name?"

She looked up at him. His red curls were so pretty. His eyes were pretty. He couldn't possibly be a bad person. Unlike the guy who had grabbed her. "Layla," she said.

"I'm Reed," he said. "That's Timmons." He turned so she could see the large Dur talking to a woman behind a desk. They were in a room with rows of benches. People were seated on them. They looked sick or hurt, but no one looked scared.

Timmons returned. "She said it'll be a while." He sounded annoyed.

Amro cut a look at the woman too. "Yeah. I bet," he grumbled. "Fuck it. Let's take her to Raccoon. He's got a medic, probably."

"Wait." A girl's voice called.

Layla turned to look, shocked as a girl who looked like sunshine had taken a human form came out of a back room. The fact that she looked only a little older than Layla was just as shocking. But then again, Durrish girls could do whatever they wanted.

"I'll look at her," the girl said.

Amro and Timmons reacted immediately with formal bows. Timmons put his hand to his chest. "Lady Lorraine, if you have no objections," Timmons answered for them. "She got kicked pretty hard."

"Come," the girl said, gesturing for the men to follow.

Entering the back room, Amro bent down and set Layla's feet on the floor. "This is a noble lady," he said seriously. "Be very polite."

Layla nodded cautiously as she stood on her own.

Amro and Timmons stepped back.

"Where were you kicked?" the sunshine girl asked.

"Here," Layla said, rubbing her stomach.

"May I take a look?"

Layla hesitated, then nodded.

The girl carefully lifted Layla's filthy shirt to look at the forming bruise. She gently pressed with her fingers, then got an odd metal trumpet to put between her ear and Layla's stomach. "I think it's just bruising, no internal injuries," the girl said. She then began to feel down Layla's arms and legs, looked in her eyes, up her nose, and at her mouth.

"She's malnourished, but fairly healthy despite," the sunshine girl said finally. Standing, she turned to face Amro and Timmons.

"Thank you, Lady Lorraine," Timmons said. They both bowed with fists to their chests.

"I wish something could be done for them," the girl said with a sigh.

Layla stared at Amro, noticing the slight twitch at the corner of his eye. He was angry, but his expression stayed blank. He gestured for Layla to come back to him and picked her up.

They left the building, walking down roads Layla didn't recognize.

"The nerve to say that," Amro grumbled. "Like she don't got the money to do something about it. Funds the Goddamn hospital, but puts on tears when she sees real people in real need." He said a word Layla didn't understand, but it was laced with venom.

"You could do something?" Timmons suggested.

"With what money?" Amro asked.

Timmons shook his head. "Get an idea. I'll try to find some people willing to fund it."

"It's gotta..." he said words Layla didn't understand. "Shit. Regrow? What's the damn word?"

"Self-sustained?" Timmons offered.

"That, I guess. And it won't work if they don't trust me."

"I think you might be working on that part," Timmons mused, resting his linked hands on his head. "You got that one woman to hug you earlier, now you've rescued one of their kids."

"If they don't think I just kidnapped her."

Timmons snorted and leaned over. "You make sure to tell them the truth, yeah?" he winked at Layla.

Layla nodded. "I'll tell them," she promised.

They came out of the unfamiliar street onto the road that led to the bridge. At the low retaining wall, Aunt Fila was getting yelled at by Fatima.

Crossing to the other side of the bridge, Amro stopped and knelt to set Layla's feet on the ground. "You weren't supposed to be in the market, were you?"

Layla twisted her hands together and shook her head.

"You run on back to them now," he said sternly. "Don't do that again. I ain't always around to help, and most Durs won't pay any attention."

Layla's eyes stung. She nodded. "Yes, Amro."

"And really stay away from that guy. You see him, just run away."

"Yes, Amro," she repeated, picking her nails.

He nodded and stood.

"Layla!" Fatima shouted as she ran toward them. "You naughty child!" she admonished in Hannish.

Layla bit her lips together, shoulders hunching as Fatima got to them.

Fatima's hand snatched out, yanking Layla back a step. "Where did you find her?" Fatima asked in Hannish.

"Market," Amro said, responding in Durrish. He closed his hand into a fist, and Layla realized for the first time that his knuckles were bleeding. He slid his hands behind his back.

Fueled by sudden fear that Amro was going to get in trouble for what Layla had chosen to do herself, she grabbed Fatima's arm. "Gramma! I went there myself! Auntie Jamila said Amro was paying for hugs!" She shook Fatima's arm to get her attention.

Fatima looked at her, then at Amro as he made a strange noise.

Layla looked up at Amro guiltily. He bit his lips, his face turning red as he tried not to laugh. He failed, covering his mouth with his hurt hand as he turned away slightly to snort.

"Layla!" Fatima gasped belatedly.

"I was!" Amro objected, holding his hand out to forestall Fatima's annoyance. "She's right, I was." He couldn't stop laughing, though. He was still speaking Durrish, despite Fatima speaking only Hannish.

"Why would you do that?" Fatima demanded.

"It--it was a joke with my friend." He pointed a thumb at the Dur, who was standing a few steps away. "I didn't mean nothin by it."

Layla shifted nervously. The explanation seemed to be making things worse. Fatima was angry, Amro was laughing, and Timmons looked confused.

"It was a joke, ma'am," Timmons put in, confirming the situation. "I was ah... I was implying he couldn't..." He looked down at Layla, pale cheeks turning pink.

"Get ladies to hug me," Amro finished.

Layla knew then that they were trying to talk around something. "Oh!" she gasped. "Those hugs!" she realized.

That statement made Timmons cover his face entirely and turn away.

Amro bent over laughing harder. His hair fell forward over his shoulder and dragged on the ground.

"Layla..." Fatima said in a very disapproving tone.

Looking down, Layla picked the dirt under her nails.

Amro gasped for air and forced himself upright. "She's back and relatively unharmed. We'll get going now, ma'am."

Fatima growled. "You miscreant. Making this situation, then leaving."

Amro lifted his hands as he backed away. "Sorry. Ain't my child. What do you want me to do about it?"

Layla shook Fatima's arm again. "Amro saved me from a bad man. Don't be mad at him. Please."

"A what?" Fatima demanded, infuriated all over again.

Why did it seem like this situation kept getting worse? Layla knew she was in serious trouble, but Amro deserved to have his name cleared. His coat was filthy, and he hadn't even acted like it bothered him in the slightest. Layla had touched his hair, and he'd not gotten upset. He couldn't be a bad man.

Amro backed away another step. "He's in jail again. This time with a broken jaw. Had someone at the hospital look at Layla. She's alright."

"Aie," Fatima groaned, pressing her hand to her forehead. She looked down at Layla. "You. Go!" She pointed back at the encampment.

Layla knew better than to argue and ran. Others had approached but stopped some meters back to listen to the exchange.

Fila caught her. "You!" She twisted Layla's ear, escorting her to the tents. "Making trouble for everyone! Do you know how worried I was?"