The Orphan's Catch
The morning sun cast a pale glow over Greyshore’s bustling market square, gilding the worn cobblestones with a faint, golden shimmer. Stalls brimmed with the day’s fresh catch and fragrant herbs, their colors vivid beneath the awakening sky. But to Liam, the lively chatter and clinking of coins were little more than a backdrop to a desperate gamble. His stomach gnawed with a relentless hunger, a hollow ache that had become a constant companion since he’d lost count of the nights he’d spent with empty pockets and colder dreams.
His eyes darted across the crowded marketplace, seeking an opportunity amid the chaos. Merchants shouted their wares, their voices weaving a tapestry of sound that blurred into one another. Children chased each other around wooden crates, shrieking with laughter, oblivious to the shadows lurking nearby. Liam’s gaze settled on a stout woman with a basket of crusty bread stacked high, the golden loaves steaming softly in the cool morning air. The scent teased his senses, promising warmth and sustenance.
He edged closer, heart drumming a fierce rhythm against his ribs. Every step was deliberate, measured, as if the very ground beneath him might betray his…
