Benji came back short of breath, and said "Lesgo Daysee ... Ole Wiell is making a commotion so no one will notice us sneaking off the gangplank hopefully. " He motioned Daisy to put down the mop and get her things. The two crept out of the cabin and around the sides of barrels and crates being readied for offloading. As Benji promised Old Wiell was on the poop deck making a scene of himself. From the gangplank it was hard to hear what he was saying but he was waving a rusty cutlass around in one hand and a jug of rum in the other. Captain Lornsen and the rest of the crew appeared to be completely distracted by this spectacle. Benji grinned and mumbled something.
They snuck down the gangplank taking care not to make noise nor attract attention. In the near dark this more difficult than you’d think. They had about two and a half feet of room and underneath that was the black icy water of the sea splashing against the docks. Daisy clung to Benji’s arm to steady herself and thus unbalanced him. Somehow after what seemed like hours they managed to find the safety of the wooden docks. A man with a tall pike and wearing a cuirass and basinet stood guard at the end of the docks near the entrance to the town. When Daisy and Benji approached he nodded but didn’t challenge them. They probably seemed like average sailor apprentices to him. He stared on ahead, bored and yet alert. Daisy sighed under her breath as they drew away from him and walked up the cobbled streets. The town streets of Haverston were not well lit but there were lamps every one to two hundred paces. This left a shifting shadowy look to the night time town as the wind flickered the flames of the lanterns through the ill-fitted glass panes of the wind guards.
When they reached the town square they stopped and looked about. More watchmen could be seen every so often but very few folk were about. Many of the shops were closed up though lights in the windows indicated the families that ran them were home. A large white building stood out to one corner of the square with a large painting of a Golden Rooster. There of the places on the square people were active. Some people climbing down from coaches were greeted by door men and escorted in. Others awaited coaches and shared conversation. Most of those outside waiting were gentlemen. That is to say they were well-dressed, and looked like gentlemen.
Daisy proceeded in the direction of the obvious tavern thinking they might have rooms. The white house was three stories tall and appeared wide enough to accommodate a large number of guests. Benji grabbed her shirt sleeve and yanked her back towards him.
"Wher’d ya think yer headin? Thas no place fer us. Les we wanna end up in the service of yon gents. Thas a high class brothel. No place fer us. We wan the other side o’ town." Done with his lecture he headed off down the street toward an alley. Daisy looked at the white house one last time and then hurried after Benji, quickly catching up to him.
"So you’ve been here before then? Do you know where we are heading?"
"No. But all these port towns are the same."
"Ok so what are we looking for?"
"You’ll know it when we see it."
They mingled into dark shadows passing people in various states of inebriation, dress and comfort on the way through the alley. Apparently Haverston’s answer to poverty was to hide it and get it drunk, thought the princess as she gingerly made sure not to step on anyone.
Sensing Daisy’s discomfort, Benji sidled next to her and said: "Tis a shame no doubt. You’ve n’er seen this afore? Happens in ev’ry place I been. These ‘folk’ are wretched yeah, but they do nothing to change their lots in life. Do na feel sorrow for them’s slacking hides. They havent earned that. An yer pity is wasted on them no less." With this he callousedly hurried on.