The Lost Fables

Chapter 1

Crowds of people walked through the market streets, one another bumping into each other but not caring, only trying to find what they need and to be on their way. The people chattered and bargained with the different salesmen as the city ticked away with time. Stares of the people focused on a particular young woman who stopped at a jewelry vendor. She had deep garnet hair that covered her right eye, which left her other hazel eye all for the beauty, and the look she had given to everyone was natural, but something left an unsettling feeling to her. Possibly it was her fashion, after all, she did wear a leather tailed overcoat that fits nicely, the design had two straps in the middle that lead to a golden cuff on each shoulder. A brown and gold corset on her torso with a belt and some patched ripped shorts. The thing that stuck out the most was her red tophat, it had cloth all around the body of the hat a few stands were left hanging on the edge and a small skull stuck on the cloth. The young woman gazed at the different options of garments continuously when something had caught her eye, pointing to a gem cut rose pendant, she asked the price.

"Twenty-six and thirty-five crisables." The merchant answered the woman as he picked it up giving her a better view of it. Her expression changed to disappointment realizing the high price for such a small item. "This is made from a very rare and unique material, others say it has healing properties, hence the high price."

"Oh, I see, very interesting indeed. Unfortunately, I do not have enough for that but how about that one over there." Again she pointed to the next garment that was a few tables down. The man set the pendant down to get up and grab the next item, very slickly the young woman grabbed the pendant sliding it into her satchel. The man came back with an earring that looked similar to the last one just with a different colored gem and shape, the gem carving was of a blue jay. He explained to her the material it was made out of as well as the price because it was smaller it was much cheaper. For a while, they both bargained for a reasonable price the outcome was on the customer's side. With a cheaply bought garment and stolen one, she gave a smile thanked the merchant.

Although she shouldn't have let her pride overfill her. A few moments after she had left and been on her way the merchant raced out of his vendor shouting 'thief' to her. The people around stared and gasped but didn't do anything to stop her, that was until two Raidiants began pushing through the crowd after the women. She groaned out of annoyment knowing that she would start running. Which she did and the Raidiants chased after her screaming for her to stop or else they would use lethal force. She ran into the main city where the streets were bigger and many more people occupied them. For the Raidiants, it was easy to spot her with a bright red tophat among all the others. Pushing through the crowds of people she led the men to narrow abandoned streets. She looked back to see the distance of the soldiers but was caught by surprise as she bumped into someone, her and a boy were sent tumbled and fell onto each other.

"Agh that hurt like bloody hell," The women said rubbing her forehead looking to who she bumped into. "Lordis?! What are you doing here?"

"Oh jeez, Bell are you okay?" Lordis said helping her up, he looked about her age just a year or two younger. She had nodded to signify that she was okay. Not many moments later the Raidiants had shown up ready to take Bell into custody. The two men had explained what the thief had done and that needed to take her. "How about this? You two name your price and we'll never speak of this again, I will even make sure this idiot won't get into any more trouble." The two Raidiants looked at each other then named their price in mind, luckily for both of them it wasn't high at all, only a hundred crisables each. Lordis let out a sigh after the two had left, he looked over to Bell and hit her arm. "You really are an idiot. I've been looking for you all morning!"

"Ouch!" She winced at the small pain rubbing her arm, "Not my fault the guy charged an extraordinarily high amount for such a small gem. I gave him the money I thought it was worth by buying an earring."