They searched several streets of the market, visiting countless vendors with unique offerings for sale. The merchants sold everything from rice to unusual fruits, vegetables, and cured meat. The colorful spices and herbs filled the air with potent scents of cloves, turmeric, cumin, rosemary, and sage.
The following streets each contained various wares, from furniture, scribes, furriers, goods from overseas to clothing. There must be hundreds of other streets than they could explore in one day. She had a feeling the Druid would be in none of them.
Even though her search was fruitless, Dyna secretly enjoyed spending the day wandering aimlessly with Cassiel. He was quiet, but he never left her side as she continued inquiring about the old fae. She often caught him watching her with a soft smile that made her stomach flutter.
They passed through the square where people mingled within the surrounding shops. Cassiel let her pick out a new black coat to enchant with stardust. Music filled the boisterous streets as a procession of dancers in shimmering red and orange garments pranced by, waiving decorative ribbons to celebrate fall’s harvest. They passed by a large fountain where people gathered around to listen to a hob dance and play his lute, singing a jaunty tune.
The wealthy king gave his queen three castles and a throne.Sadly, from her barren womb, no male heirs were born.Thus, the king begat a son on a naughty night.Now the prince seeks to put his head on a spike.
Laughter responded to the scandalous song. A pair of Azure Guards pushed through the gathered crowd, and the hob scampered away, slipping out of view. The people tittered amongst themselves, gossiping about who the song referred to.
“As if these kings have nothing better to do than to father bastards,” Cassiel said. “Then they want nothing to do with the result.”
His bitter anger fell over Dyna as he stalked away. She watched his retreating form pass through the crowd. Cassiel’s family broke his ability to trust when they cast him aside. Beneath the crown and arrogant facade was someone who hid behind a wall of stone, so no one would have the chance of hurting him again. He had already turned his back on the world, and she worried one day he would do the same to her.
Cassiel stopped when he noticed she had stayed behind and hurried back to her. “What are you doing?”
Dyna shrugged, rocking on her heels. “Dawdling.”
Grousing under his breath, Cassiel’s frown softened as he took her wrist. “Keep close, stupid human.”
They continued searching, and by the time evening arrived, her stomach rumbled in protest. Cassiel chuckled and steered her towards the stalls, selling cooked food without waiting for an answer. They chose a stall where a woman was selling a variety of broth and stews in copper cups.The smell of baking bread led to a bakery next door.
“I’ll buy some rolls. You stay in line.”
Cassiel’s brow tightened, and his apprehension brushed against her. She realized this reminded him of Corron. He didn’t want her to go alone, but she didn’t want to live her life afraid of her own shadow anymore.
“It’s all right.” Dyna gave him a reassuring smile. “You’ll be steps away. I’ll stay by the windows where you can see me.”
To her surprise, Cassiel didn’t argue.
“Be careful,” was all he said. His gaze followed her to the bakery. The little bell above the front door of the bakery jingled as she went inside. Large baskets along the windows were full to the brim with a variety of bread. She waved to Cassiel from the window.
“Hello,” a plump woman said as she came out of the rear door.
Dyna glimpsed of the baker putting fresh mounds of dough in the stone oven before the door closed behind the woman. She had a soft face, with a few gray strands peeking out from beneath her bonnet.
The woman wiped her flour-coated hands on her apron as she approached. “What can I get for you, dear?”
“I’ll take two rolls, please.”
She went to a table and lifted the lid off a basket. Inside were perfectly round rolls of bread. She placed two on a piece of parchment paper before handing it to Dyna. It smelled delicious, and her mouth watered.
“That will be four russets, dear.”
The price was unexpectedly high. A bag of a dozen rolls in Corron had only cost her one russet. Flustered under the woman’s waiting gaze, Dyna rummaged in her satchel for the money she knew she didn’t have.
A hand reached past her to give the woman a silver coin. “I’ll pay for whatever the lady wants and half a dozen of your rye loaves.”
The plump woman blushed and smiled, patting down her disheveled hair. “Of course, milord.”
She took his money and hurried off to package the order.
Dyna glanced at the man standing beside her. At first, she thought she recognized him, but he wasn’t anyone she’d met before. He sported a short beard that hid his true age, though he shone with youth and mirth. A long, dark blue frock coat fit his tall frame, laden with leather armor and weapons. Embellishing his baldric was the metal emblem of a bird’s skull. Tousled blond hair fell in soft waves around his jaw. He had a rugged attractiveness with a jagged edge—one that surely broke a few hearts.
“Your pardon, lass. I hope I have not offended you,” the man said. His northern Azure accent was thick, the brogue timbre more apparent, but he spoke formally and gave her a polite tilt of his head.
“Not at all, sir, thank you,” Dyna replied.
