Outcast

7. Village

The sun was completely behind the now thinning grey clouds by the time Prince Henry had made it out of the woods and to the small village.

The entrance was barren of people and the paths were almost completely empty of the usual busy marketplaces and roaming citizens. They all were, Henry assumed, in their run down old cabins huddled in a circle with their families around a dwindling fire. It was one of the colder nights, the morning bloom fading and the cold winds returning. Henry didn't blame them for wanting to stay inside.

'Oh! I see someone.'

Henry observed inwardly as he spotted a familiar face and directed Hazelnut towards the villager that Henry had known for a very long time. When he had made it close enough to the woman he whistled to get her attention due to her back being turned as she labored over a old stone well collecting the freezing water inside.

" Maya! Good afternoon. Still working the day away and ruining your back I see?" Henry commented with a slight grin as he slid off his horse's back and onto the snowy ground. He let Hazelnut wander off a bit as he put out a hand for the familiar woman to take as she kneeled in the freezing ice.

Maya pulled herself up without his help with a sassy smirk and a raised dark brow. She brushed the silvery snow off her billowing navy blue dress that fit around her curved features perfectly and lengthened to her feet covering her lower half. Her long midnight colored hair fell in messy waves down her back framing intense hazel-gold eyes. Maya was a beautiful woman of about 18, frequently sought after by the other village boys. Despite that she liked being an independent woman without a man which others found strange.

She scoffed and put a hand on her hip her eyes set on the prince she had known since childhood.

" Not that you would know anythin' about hard work. Get your royal butt over here Ry." The sharp tongued 18 year old commanded using the old nickname she liked to call him.

Henry chuckled at her tone and rolled his eyes as he strode over and let her embrace him in a playfully tight hug.
He pulled away and kissed her hand in mock politeness.

" Your wish is my command."

She swatted him away with a laugh before tugging at his ear like she did with he was much smaller and she was significantly older. Henry yelped and joined in on her laughing.

After they had finished playing around Maya tied up his horse and led Henry inside her home like she had done so many times before. He hesitated at the doorway.

" Come on in. You waiting for an invitation?" Maya questioned with a click of her tongue scoldingly as he shook his head and stepped in.

" Thank you."

Henry walked inside and sat himself down on one of the dining room chairs.

" So what are ya' doing down in this wreck of a town? Royal business I assume?" Maya asked as she busied herself in the kitchen making a kettle of tea. Her hands were skillfully pouring herbs and sweet smelling essences into the boiling water as she stirred.

" I guess you could say that. My father ordered I check out the territory on the west side of the border." Henry said.

Maya nodded and thought about his answer to her question as she poured some of the pleasantly sweet tea into two cups for both of them.
She walked over, her tattered old heels clomping on the creaky hard wood floor, and set a steaming cup in front of him.

" I heard that there was some dangerous monster causing disturbances up there. It could be just rumors. The people here love to make up campfire stories."