Hunting the runaways

Vic 6

   "Ah, well he's come back and there's a party tonight, it'll be big, you coming?" Audrey asks me. "A party? hmm I don't know," I say. "You need to have fun once in a while, I never see you at any parties or gatherings or anything," He says. I chuckle, "Well, I don't know," I say. "Well if you don't come today, the party is going to go on for a few days," He says handing me a pastry to eat. "OK, I'll keep that in mind," I smile. "Oh, can you excuse me for a second, I have to run to my fathers shop and tell him something," I say. "Yeah, okay," I say. "And watch Sapphire for me will you?" I smile already walking out and past Sapphire. I walk past a bunch of crowded stands, some with sweets, others of quilts, others with savory meats. "Ribs of beef and many a pie!" a young lad calls a few feet away from me, he bears a tray laden with bowls of cooked meats. all around me people are talking, laughing, buying and selling.

  So many people have come from the neighboring villages to this town, some to buy, others to sell. Men in their knee-length brown tunics drive their cattle before them, their wives next to them in their long kirtles with wimples around their heads and necks. Across the marketplace more peasants lead in their flocks of sheep, or packhorses and carts loaded with crates of chickens. poor animals about to be sold, cooked, and if no one needs them by the end of the day, back to the farm. Everyone is talking, communicating, laughing, it seems like they are only there to just chat. I smile, It smells so good, looks so good, I like it here. I bump into a lad carrying a bowl of raw vegetables. "Watch it will ye!" He cries as he balances his bowl. 

  "Sorry," I say. "Fool," He mumbles as he walks away. "Well!" I scoff. A lady sings beautifully with a bowl full of coins by her side, You can only faintly hear her because of all the noise, but her graceful dancing can be seen very well. I run to my father's shop, all types of crops; fruits and vegetables. "My sweet daughter!" My father smiles when he see's me. My dad has almost round gray eyes, brown curly hair with some gray streaks and isn't as tall, just average. If you saw Henry and father together, you wouldn't tell if they were father and son, everyone says Henry gets his height from his mother.  "That's no lass!" A young boy scoffs as he walks by. I roll my eyes.

 "Papa! How are you!" I say hugging him. "Good now that I've seen you!" He smiles. That's good I say sinking my teeth in a juicy apple. "Hey, you should wash that," He says. "Didn't you wash them?" I shrugg. "Yeah, but have you seen the hands who've been touching those?" He says. "Right..." I say, "Oh well, can't waste it," I say. "My dad shakes his head. "Shouldn't you be working?" Dad asks while putting some greens in a bag for a woman. "Yeah, I came to tell you that the weeds on the farm are almost all gone, Henry has EVERYTHING under control," I say. "Okay, that's good, fall is coming, goodness this year has been so short," Dad says. "Really has," I say finishing off the apple. "Where is Richard and Blakely?" I ask. 

  "Oh, Richard is out back and Blakely? who knows?" He sighs. "I'm going to kill them," I say. "Oh it's okay, they helped load everything here and yeah, go to work," He says. "I'll kill them with the new swords I'm making, I'll give you a sneak peak of them when I get home tonight," I say as I walk away. I run back to the blacksmith's forge. "I'm back!" I say when I enter. "Okay, get to working," He says handing me iron tongs. The other guys snicker when I grab them. It's everyday, I roll my eyes. "This is no place for a lass," One of the newer guys smirk. "Have you seen her swords and daggers?" Audrey says. "No, I haven't," He says. I pick up one of my best swords, a long sword with a steel blade, a black handle with golden snakes running down it, a golden circle at the end of it. "Hmm, not bad looking, but does it work--" Before he can finish, I slice a log meant for the furnace with my sword.

  He looks impressed for a split second but it gets replaced with a smirk. "Hmm," He says. "Hmm indeed," I say. I work on finishing with my swords and then my daggers. "Hey, Vic can I talk to you for a second," Audrey asks me, his rugged and slightly dirty face serious. "Yeah, sure, what is it?" I say putting down my Punches. He looks around, all eyes on us. "Outside," He smiles nervously. "Um..okay," I stand up and follow him. "Yeah?" I ask. "Well, I didn't want to say anything earlier because well..." His blue eyes look at me hesitantly. "Yeah?.." I ask. "Okay, um I have to let you go," He says. "Let me go where?" I ask. "I mean to fire you," he says. 

  I chuckle, "Oh, is this a joke?" I say. "No, I'm being for real," He says. "Is it the money? I will accept deduction in..." I trail off as Audrey shakes his head. "No, it's not that," He says. "Then what is?" I say putting my hands on my hips. "Well because i'm loosing customers and that's because I have a woman working in my forge," He says. I scoff, "You can't be serious," I say getting mad. "I'm sorry I really don't want to do this," He says. "You don't have to," I say. "I'm sorry, I'll still pay you for today and you can take some of your swords," He says. I can tell that he really is sorry but I'm just so mad. "Unbelievable!" I yell. I stomp inside, put some of my swords and two daggers in my leather bag with their covers and stomp back outside. 

  "I'll be getting my days pay now," I stick my hand out. tears burn my eyes but i don't let them run down my face. Audrey puts a couple of coins in my hand and I stuff them in my bag. "Sorry," I hear him whisper as I tare Sapphires leash off, throw it to Audrey, climb Sapphire and makes her go. Almost everyone in the market has went home so it's easier to get around. I let the tears stream down my face.   

 *Kirtles- loose garments without a waist seam that peasant women wore.

*Wimples- female headdress around the neck and neck

*packhorse- refers to horses, donkeys, mules, or ponies used to carry goods on their back.

*Punches- Tools for making (usually circular) holes.