The Prince's Meal

Chapter the Third

The bright yellow bells announced in melody the arrival of the opening time for establishments, public spaces and more importantly the market that was only open on the last Wednesday of each month giving plenty of time for merchants to restock their stands with what they could gather, anything that could sell in order to make at least twelve golden coins by the end of the month. Either by planting, trading, mining and even scavenging for anything that was worth one small copper coin.

Farmers that didn't work for the dukes and duchess of the king have to work twice as hard with the only comfort of knowing that the money they brought from the day that the market was open was meant to be the payment for the rent.

"It isn't anyone who can be helped and protected by our walls and military force. The king must earn something in return, as a sort of acknowledgment to the majesty." It's how the paymaster explained to Iseudya some days ago by mid-day.

After some chat with the old man with smoke covered clothes about something neither Lilyth nor Myzie could clearly understand the man bowed and walked away from the closing door.

"Who was it Iseudya? Did anyone need anything?" – Lilyth asked curiously while stroking the black thick hair of Myzie who was curled on his lap looking at the older woman with doubtful eyes.

"Oh. No one sweetie." – she raised her hand waving it – "It was nothing that wasn't already taken care of."

There was a brief moment of silence in which Lilyth looked down at the cat in his lap, both with the same doubtful face.

Some more time passed while Lilyth read another, untitled, recipe book and Iseudya mindlessly sweep the floor with an old broom.

"When can we go outside Lilyth? I'm tired of just being inside doing nothing..." – Myzie stretched and yawned.

"I still don't know Myzie, just a little longer..." – Lilyth tried to persuade the cat with a calm and kind voice never letting his eyes out of the book in his hands.

"What is Myzie disturbing you with now...?" – The old woman now standing in the other side of the counter was already organizing some of the beverages Lilyth already bought and prepared.

"She wants to know when we can leave... I guess she is tired of being inside most of the time." – Lilyth answered with a semi tired tone and defeatedly closed the thick leather covered book and settled it down in a small shelf on top of the fire place among other recipe books, some with and other without a title, and fairy tale books.

"As I already told both of you before, as soon as those bells announce that it's midday, then you can go out and it must be like that until Lilyth turns eighteen, before that, it's too dangerous..." – Iseudya was looking with a stern look at both of them from the kitchen door, her eyes would be a lot scarier if they weren't so fogy by the blinding of time.

Myzie hissed at her with defiant narrowed eyes.

"You can go out if you want... Just because I need to be inside doesn't mean you have to be." – Lilyth looked at the black cat with compassion and understanding eyes, making impossible for Myzie to actually leave his side.

He didn't realize but much of the things that happened, did so due to those eyes; even if he really didn't mind if Myzie actually left to go outside and do whatever she wanted to do, his eyes made her feel guilty for even thinking about leaving him. They had a pact, and ever since they made it he never even thought about going somewhere or doing something without her, most of the time she was the one who wanted some "alone time".

With that in mind she laid her head again on the young mans legs being shortly petted by Lilyth who was back to reading this time a fairy tale book. After Iseudya finished organizing the shelves she joined Lilyth and his cat doing some white lace in a large bed sheet.