Queen

Chapter Four

The next week was rather boring. I had discussions with my mother's top advisers, talked with Abigail, and walked the castle alone. One of my favorite experiences of the week was when I disguised myself as a commoner and went to the marketplace. It was a bustling crowd of people as different stands sold odd trinkets and different fruits and vegetables that were in season. I wandered through the throng of people until one stand in particular caught my eye. It was selling what looked to be antique bronze and gold jewelry. I walked to the booth wanting to know more about the odd tarnished jewelry. As I approached it the old woman selling the jewelry looked up and a grin spread across her face.
"M'lady you can lower your hood I know it's you," She said with a smile.

"Alright. But others will notice. Won't they?" I asked lowering my hood."More people would notice if you left it up. No one wears their hood up in the middle of the day. It will attract attention if you do," She explained sweetly. I nodded my head and then began to examine the jewelry.

"What are these?" I asked looking to the woman.

"They are from an ancient kingdom that used to rule over most of the countryside before it was destroyed by its own greed for power. These necklaces, bracelets, and rings were all worn by the people of the kingdom. The kingdom was so powerful that most everyone could afford at least the bronze jewelry," The woman said smiling as if it were an old memory.

"What happened to the kingdom? I know you said it was destroyed by it's own greed, but how?" I asked.

"Brother turned on brother," A man said suddenly standing next to me. "They devastated themselves over a rare gem that they wanted. Everyone wanted it for themselves so they killed each other to get it," He said. I turned to him and saw that he was a raven haired man in a long sleeved grimy jacket, a worn out light brown vest with a belt wrapping loosely around his waist. There was dirt on his face and an amused look danced across his features as I looked at him.

"What was this jewel?" I asked cautiously, distinctly aware of his eyes on me.  

"It was a dark red jewel called Infernum. They called it The Hell Stone," He said and I realized who it was.

"Richard!" I hissed and he chuckled.

"That is correct young man!" The woman behind the stand said pleased. "Would either of you like to buy anything from this collection now that you know the story behind it," The woman asked motioning to the display of jewelry.

"Would you like something Rowena?" Richard asked. I nodded, yes. "Which item? I'll buy it for you?" Richard smiled at me.

"I don't need you to buy me anything!" I proclaimed haughtily.

"Yes but I want to. You see it's what people do-" But I didn't let him finish because I had no need to listen to another one of his drawling remarks.

"I know! I know!" I said. "Fine you can buy me one," I said frustrated.

"Which one?"

"That one," I said pointing to a bronze ring with a complex weaving pattern wrapping around it.

"Of course. I've always loved that one!" The woman said happily. She started to wrap it in a piece of cloth for me when Richard stopped her.

"It's fine. We don't need to waste your materials," Richard said reaching out to gently take the ring from her.  

"Of course, of course. Here you go," She placed the ring in Richard's hand gently before she began bustling around rearranging the jewelry. I smiled at her gratefully before turning to leave with Richard. I followed him through the marketplace careful not to draw attention to ourselves.

"Richard, where are we going?" I hissed as we weaved our way through the crowd. "I didn't come down here to get jewelry and follow you around! Where are we going?" I demanded, frustrated.