But it did little to ease the guilt.
Taking a deep breath, I refocused on why I was here in the first place. We needed a supply refill.
Since I was already in the air, I decided to make a small circle of the area. It was as I was doing so that I heard it. Carried on the breeze, the hustle and bustle of a market met my ears.
The sound of people bartering, grumbling, and yelling out advertisements.
Perfect, I thought.
Following the sounds of the people, I descended, landing at the edge of the market. A market that was so close to the edge of thecity,it might as well have been outside of the settlement.
Itwasn’ta terribly large gathering, but there would be more than enough supplies there for myself, Matea, and Rayven.
Loosely tying the hood of my cloak into place, I double checked that the shadow I had taken from the cave was still in place over my eye. Satisfied with how I could only assume Iappeared,I reached into the shadows near me until I felt Matea and Rayven—who were sticking as closely as they could.
Heading down the dirt road with my head down, dozens of makeshift booths made of scrap woodlinedeither side of me, each with their own vendor, shouting about their latest deal. The itemsthemselves being sold reminded me of other markets I had been to—baked goods, fabrics and clothes, weapons, dried meats, and gems.
It was as I was heading over to the dried meats, following their smell, that I nearly tripped over the leg of a smallfaefemale.
At first, I thought shemight’vebeen a child. Itwasn’tuntil I righted myself and went to apologize to her that I noticed shewasn’t—she was simply malnourished. She was likely a few years younger than me,maybe fifteen. Her clothes were in tatters, her skin was ashen, and even the brown feathers of her wings looked dull.
When her eyes searched my face, I couldn’t stop the way my heart cracked a bit for her.
Kneeling next to her, I reached into the inside of my cloak and pulled out as many silver coins as I could grab in one go. Taking her hands into mine, I passed them from my hands to hers.
“Take care of yourself,” I said softly.
Her sunken, gray eyes widened, and she began to tear up as she looked at the coins in her hands. There was a mixture of disbelief and hope that danced in her eyes at the sight.
“Who… who are you?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
“Somebody who will come back to help someday. I promise,” I vowed, forcing my own emotions down so as not to get choked up.
“Hey!Youthere!” a gruff voice called out over the sounds of those around us. The market seemed to still and go silent at the sound of this male’s voice.
Before turning to face the male, I locked eyes with the female before me. “Run,” I whispered.
Her eyes widenedas she clutched the loose coins close to her body.
Slowly standing and turning on my heels, I did my best to keep my head down. “I-I don’t want any trouble,” I said to the male.
Itwasn’tthe various weapons strapped to his body that made him scary, or even the menacing scars that littered his arms and face. It was his expressionthat hadmy stomachdropping. His eyes, so full of jealousy and hate, had my heart racing.
What had I just gotten myself into?
“Is that right?”the male asked, his shoulder-length blondehairswaying as he took a step forward. “You go aroundmymarket flashing coins like that, and you don’t expect a little trouble?”
The chuckle he let out sent a chill down my spine.
At that sound, I felt the female behind me turn tail and flee.
“Hey!” The male turned to anotherfaea few feet away and motioned towards the fleeing female. “Get her!”
The second male nodded, but when he made to follow her, I stepped into his path, giving the malnourished female more time to escape.
Even though I knew it might cost me.
“You seem to think you’re so tough. I think it’s about time we teach you a lesson,” the second male said, while the first grinned wickedly.
