Two Of The Same Piece || Book 1 (The Beginning)

CHAPTER 17

Rave giggled as Aurilean tickled her neck with his breathe, "Stop it, Aurilean!"

"Why?" He laughed, "I missed you so much, I should be allowed to tease you however much I please."

Rave steadied herself on the horse as Aurilean grabbed her waist. "I did too, but you don't see me teasing you."

"You were teasing me last night, love." He rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Why did I ever leave?" Rave honestly didn't remember. Must have been something about her mother.

"I don't either," He said. "But I hated it. All the time you were missing from my side."

"But I did promise you something, didn't I?" Rave leaned into his chest. "A tour of Bellamin."

"On the back of her royal highness' horse?"

"Yes, on your wife's horse."

They rode through the Takan district. The Takan district was the more relaxed of the two market places. Rave preferred in it there, this was where the locals shopped, the Makan district was mainly for the rich foreigners in Bellayong. Most of the shops were owned by emissaries or merchants.

The shops in Takan were not permanent, they were set up by the owners in the morning and moved by them at night. Some of them were permanent, like taverns or tea houses, but most were mobile. They stopped in front of a seller showing her gold trinkets.

"I've never seen this much gold. How do Bellans find all of it?" He asked her.

"The same way everyone does," Rave replied, "Mines, deposits, you know."

"What about the gemstones and diamonds?"

"Evergrown and Baikaehyohoi have huge mines," Rave said, "That's where some of the gold is from too. Evergrown is the most fertile too, they grow all our corps there."

"Bellayong itself is very fertile," Aurilean said jokingly. "Exactly how many royal families across the world have Bellan members?"

"We haven't counted," Rave chuckled, "Most, I'd say."

"No wonder Bellayong is so rich." He commented. "We only do well because the islands produce such a variety of products."

"But we don't have pretty beaches," Rave pouted. "I like the beaches in Rayner."

"I've never met a person who prefers sand over the soft lush grass." Aurilean leaned closer to her as they ducked under one of the colorful sheets of cloth to shield everyone from the sun.

"You haven't been thrown down on the grass a hundred times." Rave said, "Sand makes for a softer landing than the hard ground. Also, I can't seem to find seashells on the grass."

"Again with the seashells?" Aurilean caressed her. She had a love for seashells.

"Yes, again with the seashells." Rave rolled her eyes. "I know you call it junk, but I really do like them. They have something quite special about them."

"It is just a little junk children collect and play with." He shrugged, "But each to their own I suppose."

"It's wonderful. They are all so different. I've never seen two seashells that are alike." Rave said. "There are similar types of man-made trinkets but not nature."

"If you love it so much, I'll make sure to find all of them and fill the palaces for you."

--

"Ah, Hana, please. Listen to me." Taiskin begged her.

She huffed, turning away from him. Her pure white robes flowing around her. "You like that little girl so much, you are free to chase after her. Just do not expect me to marry you."

"Hana please." Taiskin hugged her, resting his chin on her head. Why wouldn't she just listen to him first? "Do you think they will let her be Queen? Never. I need a true queen, Hanara. And you, my darling are perfect."

"You say that for yourself, I don't want to share you with anyone. Not even a queen consort." She lightly elbowed him.

"You won't have to. I swear it to you." Taiskin said. "Just wait for a little bit, let me plan it all out."