The King of Ruin

Market Part 1

27 Rigel, 13005

Darrian hums a joyful song lightly. It gently guides us down the middle town's path. The song is from last night. A wonderful night. Filled with laughter, wine and good company. Many more of those nights to come. Thankfully.

I thank the spirit king for my new life every night before I retire. A quick prayer by the window overlooking the mountain range, right before bed.

Darrian starts another song as we enter the lower town. Earlier, when I asked where we were going Darrian simply said the lower town. That's all the information he divulged. He asked me to accompany him. Stating he had a few errands to run and supposedly craves the company.

He seems to think I've been holed up in the previous Art Curators study for too long. A day isn't that long. He seems to think it's an eternity. Marrying Val that would be an eternity. Being in the Art Curators study for a day is by choice.

I've been trapped in a room for longer. A day us nothing. Never thought I'd get used to being in one room for longer than a day...but here we are. Besides I ate, took a nap and socialized with Beck who stopped by an hour ago.

I told Darrian yes. Besides, I hardly know the male and this is as good a time to ask questions as any. "Where are we going?"

"The market,"

"Why?"

"I thought you might want to go seeing as you've been here for six months,"

Six months? Has it really been six months? Rigel is when it started. Then I was in Amberanian. Months had passed. Rigel, Elara, Cressia, Zenith, Neso and Celeste. Then Bianca and I escaped in the month of Atlas. Then my new life started in the month of Polaris.

The new year. I'd forgotten a new year had begun. 13004 to 13005.

The festival of Olacaryn or the festival of light was missed. A celebration of the Spirit King's birthday. If Val hadn't intruded the festival would have gone on as planned in Polaris. The same with wintertide and lanterns of the night. The celebrations of gift-giving and the spirit king's death respectively.

It's been six months since Val's attack on Kaliste? Holy spirits. Six months. Six months since that male scarred my face. Six short months.

Still, it's hard to believe. From Polaris to Rigel. Six months. It went by so fast. Polaris, Auriga, Kore, Astris, Lepus and now it's Rigel again. Six days ago it was six months to the day. Six months since Bianca and I escaped.

Beck was coronated in Auriga. That feels long ago. He fits the role of King very well so it feels longer. The celebration was less than four months past.

"Mari?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you alright?"

Why would he ask that? What am I...oh. I've been touching the pink scar. It's still healing and not quite flush with the rest of my face. I doubt it ever will be flush again. High Healer Amos has hopes that he can fix or hide it with magic.

We stopped walking.

No.

I stopped walking. Darrian stopped when he realized I wasn't beside him. Darrian takes two steps closer to me. Concern is written across his defined features. 

Ooh. The summer's warm light catches his features perfectly. The way it caresses the tips of his ears and how it shines ever so slightly into his crystal blue eyes. Spirits. I wish I had my charcoal and pad. His curly auburn hair frames his angled face. Stunning.

Perhaps if I ask he'll let me sketch him. Perhaps.

"Yes of course," I motion to the path ahead. "Shall we?"

Darrian smiles. A slight nod.

We allow the middle town's winding road to lead us to our destination. Conversation comes easily with Darrian. Unlike his sister. Who needs a little push if you're to chat. I'm thankful for both siblings. If needed you can tell them to stop talking or to talk. They don't care. Either works for them.

"What do you have on your list?"

Darrian holds the list between us. "Figs, honey, sage, dates, currants, steak, ginger, salt, flax and bread," What on the spirits given Kaladrielion is he making? Some form of steak? What are the currants for? Jam? Jam would make sense. I've heard that dates pair well with jam. Perhaps that's what he's going for.

"I thought the kitchens have everything you need,"

Darrian snorts. What's so funny?

"They do but I like fresh ingredients when I cook," He motions to the bustling street and the path beyond. A happy place to be. Never would I have dreamed about this kind of freedom. Not in Aletheia nor Amberanian. "Plus it's always an adventure,"

I can understand the appeal. Perhaps I'll ask to assist. See what the fuss is about.

"How long have you been doing this?"

"Oh, the past century,"

The past century. Spirits. I forget how old Darrian and Kerri are. How often does he cook?

"Once a week, usually on Faye," Faye. That's today. The day before the week's end.

Wait...How in Kaladrielion did he know what I was going to ask? Can Darrian read minds? I've only heard of one male who could read minds. He was the half-breed King of Altearia. King Lochlan, the close friend of King Vesryn of Seraphina.

No one knows where Altearia's first king went. Many say King Lochlan simply disappeared. Others say he left for exploration purposes. Personally, I think the old king got tired of our backward thinking when it comes to females. It's been said his mate, a werewolf by the name of Jaen made him think progressively. It's a reason why many females idolize the old king. Myself included.

I stare almost horrified at Darrian. If he can read minds then how long has he been listening in on my thoughts? "How did you?"

"Myla asked the same questions when she first arrived,"

Oh.

"She also asked what we're having," Darrian smiles. Thank the spirits he can't read minds. I don't know how I'd feel about that. I rather like keeping my thoughts to myself. "I don't suppose you want to know,"

"I'm indifferent," I shrug.

He nods.

"Ah," Darrian pauses in front of a white and green store. A large sign with gold lettering hangs above. Butcher of Kaladrielion. Nifty. "the best butcher in all of Kaladrielion,"

Darrian motions for me to enter before him. A courtesy he often offers to anyone. Mainly females. Although he slammed the door in Beck's face the other day. To be fair he didn't know Beck was there. "After you."
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