The Night of No Stars

Chapter 2

The mere sight of her made his heart pound and he wanted to proclaim his love for her from the palace balcony. They had grown up together, their mothers being friends, and slowly fell in love over time. Everything about her made him happy and at ease, made him forget the terrors of their existence. When he was with her he was lost to her, wanting nothing else in his life.

 

She had silky black hair, straight and parted down the side like usual, shining in the light, tangling a little below her shoulders. A strand had fallen over her ear and he was filled with an urge to tuck it away for her. Her skin was a light brown, her eyes were a dark brown, usually bright and alert.

 

Her blue dress fluttered in the wind, billowing just past her knees, as she rested against the wood of her parents' stall. Etim would never dream of stealing from them and he strolled over, dressed in a simple black shirt with the same faded brown breeches he had worn the other day. The shirt from that day, soaked in blood, had to be thrown away.

 

He leaned against the stall beside him, his side aching, casually ignoring her. "I've got a message to deliver to Mistress Nela?" he said roughly.

 

She raised an eyebrow as he turned to her, resting an arm on her waist. "Master Etim wishes to say that he misses you," he breathed in her ear. She laughed softly, pushing him away. He could almost melt in her eyes.

 

"Have you heard the news?" she asked, voice lowered to a murmur. He held her hand and kissed it, meeting her gaze squarely, wishing he could stay with her forever.

 

"This morning our great Prince Henrold has promised to pay whoever finds the key with the finest girl in the land." Guess they figured out threats don't work.

 

"Are you going to turn it in?"

 

"Why?" She looked at him sternly, holding a finger to his lips to stop him from saying what he was going to say next. He continued anyway, a smile forming. "You're already mine."

 

"Flattery will only get you so far in life," she warned, lifting a hand to hit him lightly. Etim caught it in mid-air and held it steady.

 

"I'm happy with how far it's gotten me already," he replied teasingly, kissing her.

 

 

 

 

 

The air was heavy and warm as Nela and Etim wandered around the marketplace. Even now, with Ehris and Henrold looming over the people of Lautice, the marketplace was filled with laughter and people performing. Not to mention delicious treats, although they were more expensive now than previously, too expensive for most commoners.

 

"Look!" Nela cried in delight, tugging Etim's hand. He flinched slightly as his side let out a protest but she didn't notice. "Tightrope walkers!"

 

He craned his neck back, shading his eyes with one hand, peering at the dot in the sky that was a tightrope walker. They could scarcely see the rope beneath him, so thin and faded into the sky as it was.