The Oracle's Prophecy

9

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Riley could feel her shirt clinging to the sweat running down her back. She longed for fresh air but everywhere she turned she was pressed in by crowds of hot bodies. The reality of searching through the stalls of the black-market for the supplies they'd need to make it through winter was very different from what she'd imagined.

She'd thought it would be something of an adventure. Where hidden treasures would be discovered at every stall she visited.

Unfortunately, the black-market was a maelstrom of utter chaos that stunk of human sweat and animal filth. Forced to trudge through ankle deep mud, Riley arrived at every stall to find it attacked with the temperament of a frenzied mob, which she'd then have to fight her way through in order to get what she needed.

"I'm done." She said to herself after receiving an elbow to the ribs while trying to procure the last of the salt.

Marching out of the market to catch her breath, she was surprised to find her sister already there. Cooper hadn't noticed her though, she was too focused on the young man in front of her. The man, though her father would describe him more as a 'boy', was propped lazily against a tree and idly shuffled a desk of cards as he chatted to her.

There was something strange about Cooper's mannerisms that Riley couldn't immediately place, then her sister gave a giddy laugh and Riley realized she was trying to be flirtatious.

This will only to lead to trouble, she thought.

"Lee!" Cooper startled when she finally noticed her sister.

"Aren't you supposed to be in the market getting the supplies we need?" A testy Riley asked as she ran a hand across her forehead to wipe the sweat away.

Glancing down at her sister's feet, she noted that Cooper had no goods with her.

"Have you even started?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll get to it." Cooper replied breezily, then pointed to the boy. "I want you to to meet Ellis! He says he can tell us our future!"

"How-dy." The boy said, his voice taking on a lazy drawl. At the same time, his face broke into an easy going grin which he clearly knew had a disarming effect on people. It was working on Cooper, Riley saw, she was having a hard time keeping her eyes off him.

He tipped his hat to her as well and when he did a lock of his straight, jet-black hair spilled out and fell in front of his eyes. When he swept it back under his hat again, Cooper used the distraction to lightly dig her elbow into Riley's side in a what about this guy gesture.

No question he was handsome. Tall, olive skinned with dark black eyes that hinted at an inner mischief. He had a look about him that made you think he enjoyed getting into trouble, a roguish irrepressibility. It was just the sort of thing Cooper would be attracted to, Riley thought.

Riley, on the other hand, got the immediate impression he was also more than a little bit arrogant. He knew he was good-looking, and it made him all the more smug for it.

"Look at me surrounded by the two best looking girls in the market, must be my lucky day." He added and his smile grew even wider from how charming he thought he was.

Cooper tittered as much from the compliment as from his dimples. Riley tried her best not to look like she thought him an idiot.

She turned to whisper in her sister's ear. "You know we're not to be doing this sort of thing."