Unsung

Chapter 2

Myrella

"M-maybe we should head back. I hear the Wolves of Wyrewood in the slums take your teeth out after they kill you and wear it around their neck like a trophy." Eddy's eyes darted left and right as if he expected a bandit to jump from the shadows at any moment. The road to the market was full of people and even though the hooded robes they wore concealed their identity, Eddy was still on alert.

Mira rolled her eyes. "Calm down. Those stories Lorelai tells us are just that; stories. Not a fraction of truth in them at all." She made a mental note to bring someone with a little backbone on her next trip. Maybe Jayden.

Eddy let out a small gasp besides her, shocked. "Jayden!? Of all the people in Meridian, Jayden?"

"Yes, Jayden. He's the bravest person I know," Mira said.

"Well of course he's brave, all idiots are. It's hard not to be when you're a mindless oaf who can't think of anything except your swords and armour."

Mira giggled, expecting this reaction. "Man up and he won't be necessary. I prefer you anyway, much funner to tease."

"Nice to know my discomfort amuses you, my lady," Eddy mumbled.

"Don't call me that," Mira snapped. A lifetime of "your grace" and the ever so galling "my lady" had given Mira a loathing for titles. She preferred people, especially her friends, to call her by her name.

"Based on how you treat your 'friends', may the goddess have mercy on your enemies, my lady," Eddy said. He was sulking, still a bit hurt from the Jayden joke.

"Oh, stop being so dramatic, Edward. And stay out of my head."

Just as she expected, Eddy cringed at the sound of his full name. He always said it made him sound like a snob. "You know I don't have a choice," Eddy grumbled. He was right and she knew it. The Tugg and the Lupin families were bound since ancient times by a powerful mind magic. The eldest son of the Tugg family and The Crown Daughter of the Lupin family had a sort of mind link. Eddy could read her emotions and thoughts, to a certain extent, and knew when she was in danger. The perfect bodyguard to the future Empress.

Mira wasn't too pleased about it, but at the same time she found comfort in it. Growing up in the palace, devoid of real friends or people her age, was hard and it would've been harder without Eddy by her side. Plus, she knew that Edward Tugg wasn't the worst partner to link with.

"At least you understand," Eddy said with a hint of a smile.

Mira rolled her eyes again, regretting her choice of companion once more. Her coming of age was tomorrow and she knew it would be even harder for her to leave the palace without an escort of guards, so she wanted to have some fun today. She had heard stories about the Meridian markets which sold everything from Vigne whiskey to dragon eggs and was excited to finally see it with her own eyes.

She smelled it before she saw it. The smell of fish, meat, spices, fruits and other scents she couldn't quite identify assaulted her nose.  With excitement bubbling in her stomach, she started running towards the smell. "Eddy, hurry up or I'll leave you here!"

Knowing he'd never hear the end of it from his father if he lost The Crown Daughter in the busiest place in Meridia, he ran as well, trying to keep pace. "Wait up, Mira! Slow down a bit!"

She didn't listen to him at all, speeding up if anything. They turned the corner to the market square and stopped in place, shocked.

Eddy was at a loss for words. "It's..."

"Huge," Mira finished, a smile creeping on her face. She had never seen this many people in one place. The market seemed to hum with a life of its own. The sounds of store owners yelling over the ceaseless chatter was all that she heard.