“Anything I could help you with, lady?” the woman behind the stall asked.
“Thank you, I’m just looking.”
“Of course. I’ll be here if you change your mind. I’ve read almost all of what you can see with your eyes…well, at least for the romances. Those, I have read them all.”
“They’re my favourite, too,” I said, smiling at her.
“Then you’ll surely love this one—Love Prevails—it was some years ago nominated as—”
“The best book of the year. Yes, I’ve heard. I’ve actually just finished it. I loved it.”
“Frodrick got what he deserved in the end, didn’t he?”
I giggled, nodding in agreement.
“Then I’m certain you’ll love this one. It’s calledAgainst the Tide. It’s about a young, spirited lady, promised to a nobleman to be his wife, but the love she has for poetry and writing leads her to a thrilling adventure.”
“Sounds well within the area of my liking. How much?”
“It’s two silvers.”
“Would you go for one silver?”
“It’s supposed to go for three but I offered it to you, a fellow romance reader, for two. I’m afraid I cannot go any lower than that.”
The little voice in my head whispered to me,You shouldn’t have spent all of your coin for nothing. I ignored it and decided I’d rather buy something small for the others.
“Thank you, then, I’ll think about it,” I told her, handing over the book. “Have a nice day.”
“Suit yourself.”
A fruity smell drew my attention, and I found myself following the sweet whiff. My eyes widened when I beheld the dunes of sweets and candies—all shapes and sizes, all flavours and colours. A particular candy, one that I had never seen or imagined before, caught my eye. They were the size of my palm and shaped like bones.
“What are those?” I asked.
“Thoseare calledbones of surprise,” the merchant replied, moving closer. “You have to bite one end, drink the surprise fruity liquid, and then chew on the rest. The young ones call themfun.”
“How much?”
“One silver for four.”
“Mmm, would you do five for one silver?”
“Well, I cannot say no to a pretty lady such as yourself, can I?”
I gave him a small smile as we swapped the silver and bag.
I thought I’d give my luck a try, so I returned to the bookstall.
“Hi, me again. Do you have any romances that cost one silver?” I asked, with hopeful eyes.
“I’m sorry, lady, they all start at two.”
“Oh, all right. Good day.” I turned on my heel and almost slammed into Aegir’s chest. “Gods,” I muttered, with a slight flinch.
“We’re going near the monument to get some refreshments while we wait for our weapons. Join us.”
His men were already gulping down what looked and smelled like a pomegranate drink. Aegir looked my way and gestured with his head, an unspokencome here.
