A Tale of Crown and Country

Reila / Castin

The quartet found their way, with Castin's excellent navigational skills, to a square lined with stalls and filled with shoppers. It wasn't Ilane's main square, but it was still a popular one. It was market day, and even the surrounding streets were alive with families, lovers, and friends making their way to the centre. More than just the smells and sounds of life and love, the stalls sold everything from knitted blankets to hand-carved jewelry. A performer grabbed the attentions of tired shoppers and excited children as he juggled knives and blew fire into the air. Applause followed everything he performed. A band of musicians settled into a corner and played tuns after tune. Couples flocked to the spot to dance together, pressed up against one another.

    It was a marvellous sight; everyone Reila looked she saw smiles that would compete against Obira's. The only thing the square gave Reila was crushing depression. Every stall reminded her she had lost their money, every smile that she had left her family to seek out someone who may not even want to see her or who could very well be dead. But she resolved not to ruin the others' fun. She plastered a smile on her face when Castin turned to check on her. He must have guessed at her true feelings, because he looked back at her several times before finally leaving her alone. Every time Reila pretended not to notice him, instead picking someone out of the crowd to focus on.

    "So," Obira said excitedly, "what does everyone want to do?"

    Yvid pulled his notebook out and looked over the crowd for a good people-watching spot, but Obira pulled him away from his decided destination and told him of her intentions to buy a present for their aunt and uncle.

    "I just want to have a look around," Castin decided.

    Reila echoed him; not having anything better to do, she just wanted to look over the stalls and maybe watch the performer who was now calling for someone to light his juggling sticks on fire.

    "Why don't we meet back here in two hours, that way we can all do our own thing and not worry about losing one another," Obira decided. The remaining trio agreed it was a good plan, and they parted ways: Obira dragging Yvid behind her, and Reila and Castin starting off in the other direction.

   Reila looked at the wares with indifference. She had no coins to hand the merchants behind the tables. She ran her fingers over silky fabrics and turned over wooden children's toys. She trailed after Castin, who soon realized what she was doing.

    "We can leave if you'd like," he said.

    "No no," she insisted, "this is fine. I'm coming up with a plan."

    "No you're not."

    "No," she admitted sadly. "I'm not."

    "We can leave," he said again. "Find Obira and Yvid, tell them we're heading back to the house."

    "And just sit inside all day? No, I'd much rather be moving around."

    "To stop yourself obsessing over every little detail?"
    "Something like that," Reila mumbled.

    They continued the slow walk past stalls, following in a sort of strange line that ran like haphazard garden pathway around the square. There was no leader and no end to the line, but a serpent eating its own tail, it encircled the inner square, making it a treasured local for only those brave enough to cut through the serpent line.

    "Don't let me ruin your day," she said after another few steps of silence.

    "You're not ruining anything."

    "Yes I am. I can tell. I can feel it."

    "Feel it?" Castin mocked. "Does the great Mereila feel something?" He grinned.