Labyrinth: A Darker Season

Chapter 9

Jiles said, “So what happened, Alyanna?”

Alyanna talked real excited and fast and said, “You'll never believe it until you see it! She won! The king congratulated her and presented her with the first prize! Prince Alwin of the Elven Kingdom was her last opponent. She split his arrow down the middle and dropped it off, taking its place. It was the most amazing shot ever seen. The Prince escorted us here to the door, so Ash would be safe! He invited her to a personal tour of the Elven castle and to the ball in three days here as his escort! It was so great when everyone went silent when she did that shot, but the prince pulled down her hood and everyone found out she was the first woman ever to win the contest and had dark hair! It was the best time ever!” She was practically jumping up and down.

Jiles said, “You really won that gigantic purse of 1000 gold?”

Sarah smiled and nodded. She said, “I have to go to my room. I'll be right back.”

Sarah went to her room and locked the door, putting a chair in front, blocking the keyhole. She took the gold and dumped it out on the bed. She counted out the three hundred and dumped the rest in her ring. Sarah thought about, later when she leaves, of giving Alyanna and Jiles each one hundred and fifty gold to help them.

Sarah started undressing and put on her girl clothes all in black, her belt she hung a small bag with fifty gold in her corset between her breasts. She put on a little makeup and smokey eyes with eyeliner. She braided her hair on both sides in the front, and pulled them back and tied the braids with a black leather thong. Sarah had her gun holstered as always on her lower back under her clothes. She put on all her knives and wore her opal owl pendant and emerald earrings. She filled the kitten's milk bottle up and had their quart on her belt in a drawstring bag. Sarah had them go to the bathroom in the litter box as she put them both in there. They did like good boys. She put them back in the pouch and around her neck. She took her black cloak and the gloves. Her hair was loose and down outside her cloak. Sarah locked up and came downstairs. Jiles and Alyanna gasped.

Sarah stopped on the bottom step and froze, saying, “What?”

Jiles looked stunned and said, “You're so beautiful and that color.”

Sarah said, waving her hand and wrist at them, “Oh Pooh, that's because I have great hair.” They both laughed at her.

Jiles laughed and said, “Alyanna take the night off and show Ash the city. She's never been here before, so have fun tonight.”

Alyanna asked, “Ash, have you ever been in a fairy ring?” Sarah said no.

Alyanna said, “It's fun, and you get to dance and drink and have fun. You'll love it. Come on.” Sarah followed her back to the festival.

Alyanna and Sarah looked at all the vendors' goods, and Sarah got a set of silver hair combs that were delicate and dainty. She got Alyanna a beautiful necklace she saw but couldn't afford. It was all silver but made like all vines with flowers on it. Very feminine. Alyanna wore it and kissed Sarah on the cheek and hugged her. It cost five gold.

Sarah said, “It's so you won't ever forget me when I'm gone.”

Alyanna got teary-eyed and said, “I'll never forget you, Ash. You're the nicest person I know. Come on, let's find a fairy ring, the sun's going down.” Alyanna led Sarah around town in the main area and bonfires were burning in various spots. People we're dancing and tables to the side we're serving alcoholic drinks. Alyanna danced and swayed to the music, and she took Sarah to the table.

The old man behind it was pouring mugs of some kind of punch or fruit juice. Sarah bought them a couple each and sat down on a hay bale. They drank the drinks. Sarah was enjoying the taste of the fruity drink. It was good and when she was in the middle of her second one she felt it, a huge buzz hit her. She and Alyanna danced and swayed to the music, joining in the pagan Celtic rhythm as the drums and lights were all around. Sarah's last lucid thought was, 'It must be like LSD or dropping acid.'