Two Loves of a Gypsy

9. Gypsy Love

I didn’t see Alistair when I returned to the inn, nor the next morning. Gabriel didn’t show up either. It was strange I was beginning to like Gabriel’s company and Alistair… well he was the one who admitted to liking me. Wasn’t I meant to be the one running away and hiding? I returned to the field and diligently picked flowers then returned. I kept waiting for the boys to jump out of the woodwork but they didn’t. It seemed they had vanished off the face of the earth. Ms. Ostler was surprised by my early returned.

I climbed the stairs to our room, I was going to sit at my father’s bedside for the afternoon. To my surprise Alistair was there, leaning against the wall next to the door. When he saw me he pushed himself off the wall and came up to me. He stood so close. His neck moved his face next to mine.

He whispered into my ear; “I need to know what you think of me. I’ll meet you in that ruined garden. Tomorrow.” My heart thumped in my chest. He brushed past me before I could reply. I followed him down the stairs and then out the door. To my dismay he disappeared within the crowd. I recollected the burning girl and decided to return to the town square.

I gazed at the busy square. People moved to and fro. I watched them, as they seemingly danced to their destination. My eyes locked onto the doorway which led to Gabriel that night. I wandered over to it. I pushed the door but it did not budge. I pulled away disappointed. I walked backward now determined to check out what the place was. Was it a shoe shop or a house?

The sound of metal on the cobblestones sounded behind me. I had clumsy bumped into someone. I turned around immediately. Gabriel was there.

“Valerie what are you doing here?” he asked.

“Nothing really just wondering” I replied. He bent down and picked up his ‘stick’ it was flat and long and was wrapped in an old cloth. The cloth did not complete cover the item though. I saw sliver glint in the sunlight and he moved the package.

“What’s in there?” I asked, intrigued.

“Oh this, it’s a sword” he replied without my thought. He unwrapped the shiny thing before me, i watched with uncertainty. It was plain and simple but the sword was a fine one. The sword looked well made. It gleamed sliver in the sun and looked well cared for. Despite this it was the presence of the sword that startled me not its condition.

“Why- Why do you have that?!” I questioned confused about the necessity of a sword, that Gabriel might have. Only soldiers or mercenaries or merchants have swords.

“I was getting it sharpened by the blacksmith, I rarely use it though. It was my grandfather so it’s special.” I felt a wave of relief wash over me, and then I thought about what he said.

“Is this what your grandfather left behind?” I watched him and he looked over the sword with pain, the same pain I felt when I looked at my grandmother’s stone.

“Yeah,” he said with a sad smile.

“I have something too… that is my grandmother gave it to me” I pulled the stone out from under my blouse and handed it to Gabriel. He turned it over in his hands, and smiled gingerly before handing it back.

“It beautiful, just like its owner” he said. I smiled at the compliment.

“And your sword, well, it suits you” I said. He beamed back suddenly very proud of his antique.

“I never thought you would say that”

“Well, I’m allowed to say whatever I like” I said folding my arms in a huff. I was pissed off by our sudden friendless but couldn’t stop myself from thinking myself silly.