Royalty at Sea

A Gypsy's Lore

A multitude scrambled to purchase their goods, people of all ages and social statues, from young single ladies and working men to starving paupers. Babies wailed near their mothers' breasts, merchants yelled their special offers, and the click-clack of noble women's fine shoes echoed against the stone floors. It reeked of mud, sweat, and piss.

Adella dashed past a woman holding a basket of oranges, the citrusy smell a breath of fresh air. The wind rushed against her skin, though Adella believed it ran with her. As she ran with the speed and agility of a gazelle, her face plummeted straight into a man's enormous belly. She stumbled back, gasping for breath and wiping the man's sweat off her.

"Watch it, kid!" a man growled, puffing up his chest and tightening his hands into fists.

Adella was about to speak when Simon pulled her behind him and blocked the man from view. "I apologize for my brother, sir. He meant no harm," Simon said.

"Better be careful with that one," the noble man said. "There are far too many rats in this city, no one would miss if one disappeared..."

Simon bowed in a rush and led Adella away from the man with a gentle push on her back. "Please, be more careful..." he muttered, his whisper drowned out by the crowd around them.

"But, look at all this, Simon! I adore being out here!" Adella pointed around her, at everything she saw. "Meat, pies, and puddings! Fruit and vegetables! Horses, people, bracelets, books! Do you see?"

"There's fancier things in your castle though," Simon said.

"That's not the point! All these people are content with what they have, why do I need fancier things? They're all living their lives!" Adella said with a grin. She waved to a little girl a few steps away, clinging to her mother's skirts for dear life. "Hello!" Without letting Simon reply, her face fastened, and she began saluting everyone she saw.

"Adella–"

"Beautiful!" Adella said, stopping to admire two large Shire horses, a carriage tied to them. The old coachman gave her a nod and flung the reins down. The horse trotted forward without delay.

"Adella, wait." Simon grabbed Adella's arm. "You're attracting too much attention to yourself, what if you get recognized?"

"How is this any different from any other time I have gone out?"

"Well, if I may say so, you're being a bit too loud and..."

Adella failed to hear the rest. Her gaze settled on a woman dancing in the streets, she wore long thick dress, filled with floral patterns. A bulky leather belt tied to her waist, jewels dangled from her neck, making a beautiful wind-chime noise as she moved. Bracelets reached to her elbow, she clapped and danced,though not extravagantly. Her moves were subtle, subtle enough to not cause an outrage, yet obvious enough to attract attention to those curious souls. Adella watched as the woman danced to a nearby merchant, she grabbed an apple and moved forward with coins in hand.

The merchant, tall and scrawny, yanked the apple from her. "Leave! We don't serve your kind here."

The gypsy stopped dancing, the smile fell from her face ever so slightly. She merely nodded and walked to a nearby band-wagon, the same thick cloth decorated the door. It was small, and from the noise inside, it seemed to have been full with people.

"We should help her," Adella said, eyeing the merchant and the stall filled with fruits.

Simon paled. "No, that's a witch. We oughta stay away from those."

"You speak like the common folk."

"What?"

"Witches are lore, all myths and stories created out of ignorance. I read a traveler's notebook a few months ago, that woman is a gypsy," Adella whispered as she walked to the stall, her eyes on the merchant. "Gypsies are famous for their travel and trade, that's all."

"Where are you–"

Adella snatched an apple from the cart and slipped it into her pants. She firmly placed her hands on her waist to hide the bulky object. Simon's aggressive whispers followed her like bees around honey. Without a moment to spare, she handed the gypsy the apple.

Closer, Adella noticed the gypsy's exotic features: brown voluminous curls fell to her neck, her long thin eyes, her button nose, and tinted lips. The gypsy nodded her thanks, while Adella elbowed Simon in the gut for a bit of silence.

"Fortune?" the gypsy said, grabbing Adella's palm and tugging her to the travelling home.

Simon's face grew red, and he puffed out his chest. His eyebrows furrowed as he gripped Adella's other hand tightly. He shook his head.

"Perhaps another time," Adella said, taking her hand away from the gypsy. Simon was perhaps her only friend, and he merely wanted her safe. She didn't agree with his thoughts, but if she were to have her fortune read, she would rather do it without Simon's terrified presence.

The gypsy's eyes trailed from Simon to her. With a nod, she disappeared behind the curtains.

Simon pulled Adella away from the home, and they dashed past the market, grabbing two wooden swords hidden behind some foliage in town square. Their feet pitter-pattered through the square, diving into alleyways and questionable shortcuts, until they reached the "usual place". Boys clashed sword against sword, yelling and teasing, as they all learned how to become better fighters. Adella joined them without a second thought.

An hour or two later, the boys sat, covered in sweat, struggling to catch their breath. The oldest boy, about eighteen, encouraged them to grab a bite. They all nodded, but no one moved.

A raven-haired boy with buck teeth stood up, his fists clenched at his sides. "We should sneak into the ball!" he said. "I wanna see the princess. She'll marry me as soon as she sees me."

Laughter filled the room. Other boys stood up with him, imitating his pose as they argued over who the princess would marry.

Adella rolled her eyes, while Simon shot her a smile. "Which one?" Simon asked.

"They say the youngest's the prettiest," one of the boys said.

Adella scoffed. "The youngest the prettiest, the middle one is the most polite, and the eldest is the worst one."

The boys laughed at this, all of them with a grin on their faces, except for Simon. Simon stared at her, his expression unreadable.

"I 'eard the oldest has a witch's nose."

"And hair so matted she 'ad to cut it all!"

"Has a man's chest too!"

"The oldest's the best one though," Simon said. His words cutting through the boys' laughs. Adella's stomach dropped as she heard this. "She keeps everyone on their toes."

Adella stared at the ground, smiling from cheek to cheek. A silence fell on them, as powerful as an anvil dropping from the castle's roof.

"What?"

"Are you daft?" the raven-haired boy asked. "You sound like you've met her!"

"More like 'e's been dreamin' about 'er!"

****
A/N: Hey, everyone! Thanks for reading this chapter! Please comment and like or DM me any questions at any time.

Hope you're enjoying the story!