Hiraeth

Chapter Ten

The market square pulsed with a vibrant energy as the last of the masked men disappeared into the night. People were gathering in small clusters, some helping each other up from the ground, others exchanging wide-eyed glances of disbelief. Laughter erupted, mingling with relieved sighs, as the reality of their victory began to sink in.

Sage stood in the middle of the square, panting slightly as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She felt a mix of exhilaration and disbelief at what they had just accomplished. Beside her, Kade was wiping sweat from his brow, his green eyes sparkling with an adrenaline-fueled light. Fleck leaned against a nearby stall, smirking, as he casually wiped his hands on a cloth.

"You both did well," Fleck said, a teasing tone in his voice. "I'd say we have ourselves quite the little militia here."

Kade rolled his eyes, clearly more concerned about the aftermath. "What if they come back? We can't just let our guard down."

Sage shook her head, still buzzing from the excitement. "We can't let fear control us. We showed them that we won't be easy targets. We fought back."

"True," Kade replied, though his brow was still furrowed. "But we need to regroup and strategize. We can't assume they won't return with reinforcements."

Fleck nodded, his expression shifting to seriousness. "Kade's right. This was a warning. They'll come back, and next time, they might not be so easily dispatched."

As the crowd began to disperse, people expressing their gratitude to Kade, Sage felt a surge of pride. She had stepped into the chaos and fought alongside her friends, and that sense of camaraderie was intoxicating.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through her thoughts. "Sage! There you are!"

She turned to see a cluster of her fellow nobles approaching, led by Lady Miranda, who looked both relieved and frantic. "We were worried about you!"

"I'm fine," Sage assured them, her heart still racing. "Just a little excitement in the market."

"Excitement? That's one way to put it," Miranda said, her eyes darting to the remnants of the scuffle. "We heard shouting and came to see what was happening."

"Lady Sage here was the one who initiated the distraction," Kade said, his tone teasing but proud. "If it weren't for her, the situation might have been much worse."

Miranda's eyes widened in disbelief. "You threw fruit at them?"

"It worked, didn't it?" Sage replied, a smirk creeping onto her lips.

"And then she fought like a warrior!" Fleck added, stepping closer, his tone more serious now. "She and Kade held their own against multiple attackers. It was quite the spectacle."

The nobles exchanged incredulous looks, clearly impressed but still bewildered.

"Next time, perhaps you could refrain from so much... excitement?" Lady Miranda suggested, a hint of reproach in her voice.

Sage shrugged, the thrill of the night still igniting her spirit. "Maybe I'll give them a show to remember next time."

Miranda sighed but couldn't hide her smile. "Just promise us you'll be careful."

As they continued to chat, Sage felt a warmth spread through her. Despite the chaos, despite the danger, she felt more connected to her friends than ever. It was as if the night had forged new bonds of trust and loyalty among them.

Once the crowd had settled, Fleck turned to Sage. "We need to discuss our next steps. We can't let this incident go unaddressed."

Sage nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders. "Agreed. But first, I think we should check on the vendors. They need to know we're on their side."