The Art of Altercation

Chapter 2

  As soon as she stepped out onto the street Celeste was greeted with the wafting scent of freshly baked bread coming from the villages small bakery. She had half a mind to snag a loaf for the ride into the Capitol, but the other half was telling her to save her coin. The town had little in the way of interesting stores, a few produce stands, the butchery, the bakery, and of course her father's tailor shop. None had ever garnered her interest, the only place in Marmand she really enjoyed was the bookshop. When you're stuck in one place your whole life, reading is the best way to travel somewhere new. She could venture to far off lands or live a life full of magic and mystery, really the possibilities were endless. The thought put a smile on her face as she walked with Elliot through the village. A few people were out and about selling their wares, and the village children were playing with a tattered ball in the street. Suddenly she heard a voice calling out to her from the butchery.

  "Celeste, strange to see you out and about, are you heading into the capitol again?" Grell always made a point to talk to her whenever he saw her, Celeste had essentially chalked it up to the fact that the other village girls wouldn't give him the time of day.

  "You're quite the perceptive one Grell, Elliot and I are off to get some supplies for our father. A tailor needs his tools," at that he gave her a hearty grin, his messy blond hair falling across his freckled face.

  "Where's your old man Grell, didn't think he liked leaving you in charge of the shop?" Elliot wasn't particularly fond of Grell, thought he spent too much time in his head.

  "He doesn't, but he felt it was time I started getting serious about making a living, so here I am," Grell proceeded with a wink. Elliot couldn't help but roll his eyes. "My father says the same of you Celeste, perhaps it's time you settled down with a nice man. I know the perfect one for you," now Celeste couldn't help but roll her eyes.

  "As nice as that sounds I'm afraid I'll have to pass for now, the Capitol's calling," Celeste gave a quick wave before pulling Elliot along.

  "That guy never changes huh? I pity the poor woman that becomes his wife," Elliot stated with a shake of his head.

  "Bold of you to assume he'll find a wife dear brother," at that they both let out a chuckle and continued down the street. As much as Elliot liked to joke about Grell, Celeste knew a bit of what he said resonated with him. Elliot had been more adamant than usual lately about her settling down and starting a family of her own. Celeste knew he wanted the best for her, but finding some simpleton from the village and playing house simply had little appeal to her, and she doubted they would want to settle down with an altercator. The thought didn't sit right with her and she was grateful when they finally arrived at Silvia's house.
  Silvia was around the same age as Celeste, but that's essentially where their similarities stopped. While the family life had never been much for Celeste, Silvia couldn't be more ready to settle down and find her own prince charming. Celeste had met Silvia when she was ten years old, it had been after one of her first magical outbursts, she'd thrown a tantrum and in her fit had hurt Elliot. She was horrified at what she'd done and ran out of the house to hide. She'd decided to run to the daisy fields on the outskirts of the village, that's where she found Silvia. There sitting in the fields was the most beautiful girl Celeste had ever seen. Her skin was a golden brown and her coils of dark hair were intertwined with the very flowers surrounding her. She noticed Celeste almost immediately and called out to her.

  "I haven't seen you around before, you look upset. If you like I can braid flowers in your hair too, it always makes me feel better." She beckoned Celeste over with a wave of her dainty hand.

  "I guess," Celeste rubbed her arm across her runny nose and plopped down in front of Silvia. "I'm Celeste by the way."

  "I'm Silvia, and your hairs really pretty, perfect for daisies," she said cheerfully. For whatever reason Celeste couldn't help but blush. Ever since that day Silvia and Celeste had been the best of friends, and Silvia doubled as her and Elliot's ride into the Capitol.

  "Haven't seen Silvia in a while, I wonder if she's missed me," there was genuine curiosity in Elliot's voice. Celeste didn't know how her best friend and brother had fallen for each other right under her nose, but she was certain it had happened. Whenever her and Silvia would talk lately it was all 'Elliot's eyes are the most beautiful brown I've ever seen' and 'doesn't his hair fall perfectly across his face?' Frankly it bothered her more than she'd like to admit.

  "They'll be plenty of time for you two to catch up on the journey over, now let's get on with it it," with that Celeste gave a hard knock on Silvia's front door. It took only a moment for the door to swing open and for Silvia to jump into Celeste's arms.

  "It's so good to see you Celeste," she quickly untangled herself from Celeste and gave a quick wave to Elliot. "It's nice to see you too Elliot," Silvia mumbled blushing at the cheeks.

  "It's good to see you too Silvia, you're looking lovely- er...not to say you don't always look lovely, it's just...," Elliot proceeded to clear his throat. "You look good." Celeste couldn't believe she was stuck with these fumbling romantics.

"Alright you two, save it for the ride, is everything ready Silvia?"

  "Of course, the wagons ready to go. The only question is are you?" Celeste gave her a mischievous grin.

  "Born ready Silvia, onward to the Capitol!"