Secrets of the First Moon

Chapter 5: Lover's Eyes

Owen POV

After leaving his father's shop, Owen had made his way through the usually empty street, now crowded with wagons and travelers for the celebration and trading market.

Once a year they had merchants venture to the village when passing through on their way to cities and ports. They used this rare chance to stock up on goods they couldn't easily get in their area.

The merchants were also the village's only source of news from the outside world. They asked about new places being discovered and if there were any new monsters to be aware of, falsely hoping that they had all been but considered extinct.

Entering the tavern, Owen spotted William waving him over to the corner booth, already having a mug of ale waiting. Owen slid in and shook his shaggy sandy-brown hair obnoxiously, causing all the dust he had collected from outside to cloud the booth and send William coughing.

“Why? Every time you get filthy, I'm showered," William stated as he dusted his tunic off, pulling at the neck.

“Well, it's only so often that the streets are busy enough to allow me to be so 'filthy' simply by walking," Owen laughed as he drank from the clay mug.

William grumbled as he swiped more dust from his fair face, only to leave a dark smudge in doing so. Owen glanced and noticed, smirked, and just waited for William to decide he was over the fit. Which was about five seconds later.

“Shall we venture through and see what's out there?" William suggested.

“What or who?" Owen poked.

“Pshh," he exhaled, brushing off the remark as preposterous.

Owen smiled and reassured him they were probably there.

“Did you see them?" Will asked, failing to not sound anxious.

“No, but the prick is here." Owen looked over to see William's reaction. It was what he expected.

William let out an exaggerated long moan to display his agony over the news. A few people looked over from their tables at the slouching young man who looked as if he was going to melt into the floor.

“I hate that guy!" came a muffled yell from below the table where William had slunked.

“I know Will. We both do." Owen was now helping his devasted friend get back into his seat.

Phinn was just a bully, simple as that. He picked on Owen and William every time he had come to town. It was a blessing when he deemed himself too good to even acknowledge the boys.

And he was always there when the girls did come to town.

'He had made it well known that he was, let's call it 'protective', over them. Especially Arion,' Owen thought to himself as they finished their drinks.

“Ok, let's go venture about," Owen said, pulling up a reluctant William.

“Fine, I'll go. But only because you were kind enough to let me finish my ale."

“Oh, I do what I can, just for you." Owen bowed for William while pushing the door open, flooding the dim tavern with hazy light.

“As you should," William remarked. He straightened up and adjusted his collar. “Ok, let us explore." And with that, he finally walked out the door that Owen was still holding.

Owen shook his head and laughed, following his friend. The walk proved short.

As he had looked behind, he ran straight into William's back.

“Wh-? Why did you stop already?"

Owen looked over his friend's shoulder and caught his breath.

The girls had arrived and had definitely grown up in the last year. How else could Owen not have seen how breath-taking Arion was. Or maybe he had never seen her dressed up before.

Most everyone only wore the drab neutral colors unless there was an occasion, and this was one.

Arion's emerald-colored dress heavily accented her copper hair and glowing skin. He noticed her shoulders were bare, only her hair covered them where it fell. He grew flushed when he realized he was staring but he couldn't stop himself from studying her.

His gaze ventured from her shoulders to her neck, jawline…

Owen finally got a hold of himself and hit William. His childhood pal was just as absorbed in admiring Reni.

Owen looked back at her as William didn't respond. He could see what his friend saw. Her loosely braided raven hair seemed to shine in the sun. Her fair skin resembled porcelain, pronounced more so by her violet dress.

William jumped at the wet finger in his ear.

“Why would you do that!?" William screeched as he turned around accusingly.

Shrugging, Owen offered no explanation. As William attempted to clean his ear, Owen looked back over at the girls. The commotion had caught their attention.

Owen smiled watching William frantically wipe at his ear.

Arion was giggling at the show when her and Owen's eyes met. The dress made her eyes pop more than usual, bringing out the deep green. There were also flecks of gold around her pupil. So much actually, it seemed as if the whole ring around the iris was gold. How had he not noticed that before?

The other two girls were still giggling at the one-man show called William. Owen hit him again, hard. William spun, ready to fight until he froze in embarrassment seeing the trio walking towards them.

While the girls were slowly making their way through, Owen felt himself get shoved hard into William. Looking through the busy street, he assumed it was from the crowd. Until he saw Phinn had walked past and was looking back laughing.

“Better think twice!" He yelled over the people as he hurried to catch up with the other hunters.

Thankful that William hadn't seen who just passed, Owen ignored the incident and turned back just as the girls had reached them.

Arion was in front of the others and she was the only one still smiling. Owen noticed Reni had quieted and looked red compared to moments before. Stasha was looking at the boys very unimpressed.

Right before Arion could speak, Stasha piped up. “Where's your swords?"

Owen laughed. It had been a long time since they played with those. “Well, I don't know. We haven't had them in a long time." He looked down at the sassy face, now turned sad.

“Oh."

“Were you curious because you wanted to play with them?" Owen asked, feeling the other three watch their exchange.

“I mean, no. You guys never let us play with them." Stasha looked down at her shoes. “I was just curious."

“How about, if you promise to come into town more, I'll make sure we find them. That way you can play with them when you come in with your father."

“Really?" Her eyes were suddenly bright with excitement.

“Really. And you know what else?"

Stasha was vibrating with anticipation. “What?"

“You would be the first and only girl to ever play with them."

“Well, hey now, I didn't agree to that." William had obviously lost sight of the bigger picture.

Owen stood and looked right at him as William also noticed that Reni and Arion's eyes were on him. A confused Stasha looked back and forth at them all.

“Oh, I mean, yes. You would be the only one to play… with Owen's."

Owen spun back around.

“What?" I don't see why she needs both of ours-“

You're missing the point," Owen said quietly through gritted teeth.

William threw his head back in defeat with a deep exhale. “My apologies. You can play with both of them next time we see you."

Owen and the girls' smiles returned to their faces. He hoped he was the only one who heard Will mutter, “Even though you'll look silly playing with two swords."

Satisfied with the answer, Stasha's attention had turned toward the buzzing pop-up market.

“I don't remember you being so kind to us," Arion said raising her eyebrows. The pose made Owen think she was waiting for an answer. He didn't have one. You can't just say, 'Well I've changed, I'm a nice guy now, and if I can make your sister happy then maybe you'll walk with us.'

Wait, yes he could. Just…better.

She was still waiting for his answer, arms now crossed and a smirk pulling at the corner of her mouth. How was she so beautiful looking while also appearing as if she was going to kick his a*s?

He knew William was enjoying this as well. Even enough to butt in.

“Yeah Owen, why are you so nice now?"

He was obviously still upset about having to share his sword. What a poor sport.

“Well, I've realized that I have outgrown the swords as well as my childish behavior." He tried not to look at his impressed friend as he continued. Then he thought of a better way to go. “We were selfish before and frankly…" he looked at William who was agreeing with Owen's plea now. “William thought girls had cooties."

It was so hard to not laugh as he saw William launch himself from his post.

“What?! No, I did not! He's lying." Will frantically was making his case, looking back and forth between the four.

“Is that why you don't what to share your sword with me?" Stasha asked, breaking the frenzy. The three viewers could barely contain their laughter at the show.

William looked at her and simply said, “I said I'd share it. So see, that's proof I don't believe that you have cooties."

“Anymore," Owen piped in.

Arion broke the glaring stare of William by saying the sweet words that Owen had been waiting for.

“Why don't we all catch up and see what is in the market this year?"

She had stepped closer to Owen when suggesting this. His focus was on her lips. A piece of her hair got stuck and as she pulled it away from her face, his attention went to her eyes. Gold. So much gold surrounded by a forest of green. He felt as if he looked away, he'd never see anything as enrapturing again.

“Owen? Did you not hear what I asked?"

“No, no, I did. Sorry, I was just-“

“Just what?" his friend asked, elbowing Owen's rib.

“Just if it would be presumptuous of me to offer my arm as we walked. You know, as an escort in the crazy streets?" He lifted his elbow at Arion.

She smiled at his sarcasm and looped her arm through his.

“As chaperones," she answered back.

Reni took Will's now outstretched arm as Stasha wandered ahead of them.

Owen was looking forward to visiting with this girl that he thought he knew. Now everything was different. Why, he didn't know, but he was eager to find out.