For Honour & For Valour

☞ 2. The Night Sky Whispers

☞ image credit/source : pinterest

Friday, February 25th 2022
chapter status ✎ : edited

Chapter warnings : some strong language and depictions of fantasy violence

     pov | third person

The week had been rough for Ollie as she had been rushed off her feet. When news reached town that the King had visited the small bakery, people wanted to see what was so good about it. With the money she was making, she was finally able to afford that new blade replacement for her BattleAxe. But she hesitated.. maybe storing it away for future reference would be best.

A few weeks passed and Ollie found herself back to the normal routine of a quiet shop with the occasional customer and her regulars. Fixing her hair in the reflection of milk bottles, she was brought out of her trance when the bell rang and the sound of hooves against wood made her look up. Maze Raithe stood staring at her with a smile.

"For my own personal use, I'd like to request some poppyseed bread and 2 bottles of milk."

She began to bake the bread and placed milk in the ice bucket that sat next to the cash register.

"So, uh..how's work?"

Gaining composure she avoided eye contact but spoke.

"It's good. The King is a busy man. He's been making plans for redevelopment in the area and that means buildings being rebuilt."

"Oh."

She grabbed a wood chunk and opened her mouth, a spark ignited at the back of her throat and shot out. Throwing the wood into the oven, she placed the uncooked loaf onto a tray and into the clay structure.

"I often forget that Dragons are able to do that."
"I often forget Centaurs are tall as hell."

A couple of hours later the bread was done and wrapped up, the milk removed and dried. Placing it into a bag and handing it over, Ollie held her hand out in a stop gesture.

"Please, your service to the crown is enough payment for me. The protection you provide is great enough as it is!"

Maze halted his movements and looked down for a moment, tapping his hoof-like feet on the wood floor, tail swishing roughly by the thoughts in his head. He had the idea of asking Ollie for a while now. About two weeks he's known about the meeting with everyone, but they never told Ollie, so he wanted to be the one to tell her himself. Ollie took notice of his stiff posture and cleared her throat, getting the attention of the centaur.

"Is there anything you wanna talk about? You seem stressed. I can tell when you're stressed, Maze."

"Oh uh..ye-yeah. I kinda wanted to ask you if you wanted to meet up with me and the others at the tavern across town! The owners are hosting a special event this Friday and Saturday down at the Cádorm Tavern from 12pm-10pm Saturday night. Plus, it has to do with food, drinks, and a prize if you win. You know once Miracle heard about an included prize, he had to drag everyone else down there with him." Maze rolled his eyes sarcastically.

Ollie herself was excited too. Food? A prize? She was practically drooling and ready to drop everything and run there herself if she could.

"That sounds great! I'll make sure to clear my schedule for Friday night and Saturday whenever you guys go, that is haha.."

She smiled at him, a cherry blush across her cheeks as he smiled back at her and laughed, seeing his smile made her go from cherry to tomato. He walked out with a wave and Ollie let out a long breath, after holding it in for a while.

Some time later, Grabbing her bag and coat, she put them on and began to walk outside. Ollie searched for the keys in her pockets and locked up the tiny stand-shop.

The night came and passed quickly, Ollie woke up and did the normal morning routine. Pulling on a nice dress, she walked outside enjoying the sun. After leaving the shrine and praying, she headed for the Southern Beach only to find the stand not there anymore. Huffing, gentle smoke blew from her nostrils, too slow to turn around to see the stand behind her, and left.

The noises of the beautiful ocean called to her and walking back home, she put on her swimsuit under her dress. Running back out she bumped into Charity.

"Oh! Hey Charity-I was just walking back to the beach..I'm sorry for bumping into you. I seem to have a problem with doing that recently"

"O-Oh nono it's okay. I was just heading down there with Miracle and Carina. Wanna tag along?"

"Sure, don't mind talking to some old-time friends. Been a while since we all talked anyway." Ollie smiled and Charity softly smiled back, watching the other two walk up to them.

"I'm telling you, Cari, I WILL win that event! Even if I have to give up one of my siblings! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PRIZE IS."

"Hey! There's only two of us!"

"Exactly! There can only be one of us who wins that prize."

"I don't wanna be in that stupid event anyway! You begged everyone to come with you, dummy!"

Ollie threw water at the both of them, an agitated look etched across everyone's faces.

"What the hell are you two even fighting for! Shut up and let's just go relax! I'M TIRED FROM WALKING ALL DAYYY" She whined, jumping like a child.

"Yeah, what she said! My scales are kinda dry, I want to get in the water. Make up and suck it up you two." she gave her signature angry face, sending shivers down the twins spines. "Yeah yeah, let's just go" Miracle barely spared Charity a glance and walked off.

"I wonder how he's even a powerful wizard, when he still acts this- childish! He shouldn't even be the mad one here."

"It's so hard keeping up with him sometimes."

Miracle pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to suppress his feelings. Ollie tried so hard not to laugh at him, but she already knew what it was like, being that she had a very generous number of family members back at her hometown.

They all walked to the beach and spent the day together. Laughing, and talking. Catching up with each other. 'It feels great to be a part of something' thought Ollie. She smiled, thinking about how great of a day she's had so far.