The Peace Offering

Sindri: Chapter 23

A few days have passed since the second assassination attempt on me. The hours passed by slowly as I was kept in my room. Quickly I grew bored with the same four walls surrounding me.

"Tabul, let's go somewhere!" I whined as I flopped around in bed, "I'm bored!"

"If you promise to stay by my side, I think we can go to the street market." Tabul answered as he tried to put on a stern face.

"Yes! I promise! Let's go!" I shouted in joy. Tabul laughed as he got my cloak from the closet. I had somewhat adjusted to the colder Kou weather, but still prefered to wear a thick cloak.

"You'll get used to the weather in time, soon you'll be running around without the cloak."

"Maybe, but at the moment I just can't wait to go to the market. I've been here for almost two months and I haven't even been outside the palace grounds."

"The scenery is nice, but I prefer the summer colors of the trees."

"Summer sounds nice. Oh how I long to feel the sunshine on my face right now." I said as I fastened the cloak. The cloak felt tighter than it usually did as I finished fastening it.

"I think it may be time for you get new clothes." Tabul commented. My face went a little red as I felt the slight baby bump that was developing. I had no idea that babies could grow so fast. 

"Yeah, maybe." I whispered.

Tabul apologized for making me feel uncomfortable, but I waved him off. It was an inescapable fact that I would grow in size. The sooner I realized it, the sooner I would accept it as my new reality. 

"Will Hana be joining us?" Tabul asked, his voice taking on a strange quality. 

"No, she is visiting family today. It'll just be you and me today."

I quickly put on my shoes and followed Tabul out of the room and down the maze of halls. I'm glad I had Tabul with me, even though I had been in the palace for a while I still got lost sometimes. Once I had been with Hana, but she was just as lost as I was. I was surprised because she had been working in the palace for a few years. 

"Anything specific you hope to find at the market?" Tabul asked.

"I don't know, probably some new earring of something."

As we continued on down the hall I had a weird feeling of being watched. A slight chill went down my spine, but I ignored it as I didn't want anything to spoil the day. 

*********

The first thing I noticed in the market was the smells. There was an eclectic scent in the air, but I could distinguish the smells of certain spices and perfumes. My smile grew as I took in all the new sight and smells. I walked over to a booth selling colorful scarves. I lifted up a sheer cream-colored scarf and wrapped it around my head.

"What do you think?" I asked Tabul.

"It goes well with your hair color. The light scarf contrasts nicely with your purple hair." Tabul answered. 

I handed the lady a gold coin and secured the scarf around my head. I moved on to the next booth, which contained an assortment of jewelry. I picked up a few bracelets and looked over them but put them back down.

"Look at these." Tabul said as he held up a pair of earrings with blue gems. I looked at them for a bit and then scrunched up my nose. Tabul chuckled and put them back. I looked back over the booth and saw a pair of flower shaped earrings with rubies in the middle. As I reached for the earrings the lady manning the booth grabbed them.

"I'm sorry, these have already been sold." 

Tabul tried to reason with the jewelry seller, but she would not accept any offer he gave. I managed to get Tabul to give up, but he insisted on buying me a sweet cake to make up for it. 

"I've never had one of these before." I say as the vendor pours a thick white syrup over the pink cake. Tabul gives the vendor three silver coins and takes the cake. He hands it to me and I take a large bite. 

"This is so good!" I exclaim as I wipe some of the syrup off my lips.

"It is one of my favorite desserts." Tabul says.

"I want to buy some for Kouen. I think he'll like them." I say. The vendor waits for a nod from Tabul to start making a package of the sweet cakes. I dig in my dress pocket for some money, but Tabul beat me to it and pays the vendor.

"Ah-"

"Please, consider it a gift from me to the both of you." Tabul says.

"Thank you." I reply.  

A loud crash sounds out and Tabul instantly places himself in front of me with his hand ready to pull his sword out. I peek from behind Tabul and see a small parade go through the street. The big crash sounds again as a marcher slams two symbols together.

"A parade!" I giggle out and clap my hands. Parades were a common thing in Sindria and it was not until now did I realize how much I missed them.

"Ah, I forgot. Today is Children's Day, it's common for parades to romp through the streets."

We watch the parade as it continues down the street until is disappears from view.  I let out a deep breath. 

"Are you getting tired?"

"A bit. I think I'm ready to go back."

Tabul carries the box of sweet cakes and we start on our way back to the palace. The loud music from the parade is still audible as we leave the market.

"I had a  lot of fun. Thanks for coming out with me." I said to Tabul.

"It's my honor. I'm also grateful for the opportunity to get out your room."

"Yes! I'm so sick of being in that room all day." I groaned. Tabul laughed, his laugh a nice deep booming sound. We reached the palace gates and the guard opened the gate.

"Princess Sindri, Prince Kouen has left me a message to relay to you once you return from your outing." The guard said as he let us in.

"Oh, okay."

"Prince Kouen wishes the two of you dine together at 7 in the western private dining hall."

I thanked the guard and made my way back to my room. 

"Miss Sindri, you have returned!" Hana exclaimed as Tabul and I entered the room.

"Ah, Hana. You've returned as well. How did it go with your family?"

"It went very well. I had the chance to catch up with my brother."

"That's good. I had a fun day with Tabul at the market. He bought some sweet cakes for me and Kouen. Also, we saw a parade."

"Give me the cakes, I'll get them ready for dinner tonight." Hana said as she reached out for the cake box Tabul was holding.

"That is not necessary." Tabul said as he pulled the box away from Hana's reach.

"It's no problem, really." Hana said as she reached for the box again.

"I said no. I will handle it personally." Tabul responded more forcibly. Hana glared at him for a second before smiling and retracting her hands. The tension in the room left a sour taste in my mouth and I quickly tried to distract the two.

"Tabul you can go and relax until dinner. Hana will help me get ready." I said as I placed a calming hand on Tabul's arm. With a nod he gave a salute and excited the room.

"Men." Hana huffed. I gave a small laugh and she walked over to the closet.

I tried to get into the mood of getting ready for dinner, but something about the interaction between Hana and Tabul left me with a bad feeling.