Wolfe's Blind Moon

3 ~ Goods of the gods at the summer fair

The next day, she wakes up early feeling quite restless so she starts all her chores and her daily training immediately.

They are not enough though and something still keeps bothering her, she just doesn't know what.

The ringing of the little chapel's bell at the centre of the village announces the time as almost lunchtime, but she doesn't feel hungry despite all the physical work.

Irritated by the inexplicable feeling tormenting her all morning, she decides to go find her friend Lucy who lives right next to the tavern.

Perhaps they can chat for a bit and she can help her friend mind the family's little grocery store to pass the time. She can just go to the tavern from there.

Locking the door before leaving, she wonders briefly if the man from last night is staying in the village for a while. Maybe he's a hunter from a nearby town or a travelling bard from a faraway kingdom?

He has such a lovely voice.

Tala sighs. "This is madness. Why am I still thinking about him? He probably thought that talking to a blind girl is a waste of time." She mutters out loud as she takes the long path to the village.

There is a shortcut through the fields but it rained a bit last night and she doesn't want to get too much mud on her boots since she will be going to the tavern tonight to perform.

She stops in her tracks when she feels a presence nearby, the hair on the back of her neck prickling.

Turning her head in that direction signals that she knows she is being watched and is not completely oblivious just because she cannot see. She tightens her hold on her walking stick and twirls it around like an expert martial artist.

Her father had the stick made especially for her. It appears very light and feminine but the material will not break easily under pressure.

There are also two hidden spearheads at both ends of the stick that will come out when she twists it and they are deadly sharp.

Yet nobody came forward to speak, merely staying in its place to watch her, unmoving and silent.

She frowns and starts to walk again, keeping her ears tuned on whether that someone will follow her or not, but she hears nothing and is finally able to breathe easier when she comes closer to the main plaza and the cacophony of an ongoing fair reaches her ears.

"Oh, I forgot…today is the beginning of the summer fair…" she sighs, quickly thinking of another route to avoid the main square that she will surely have difficulty navigating, what with all the new stalls and everything.

She's about to turn left when she hears her name being called.

"Tala! Hey Tee! I'm here! Were you going to our store?"

A smile lights up her face when she recognizes Lucy's voice and she turns in the direction where the voice comes from.

"Hi, Luce! Yes, I was going to go find you... I didn't realize you'd be here."

Lucy embraces her and links her arm with her own, pulling her to a walk towards the fair. "It's a good thing I spotted you then! My sister is minding the store right now, we played for it and I won!" she laughs.

Tala laughs as well, amused. "I can already imagine Aria's face. Did she throw a fit?"

"That's the best part. She couldn't! Father was there and growled at her when she wailed as it was her idea to play for it. She badly wanted to go because we heard there is a new stall with really gorgeous vendors. I'm about to go there now and you're coming with me!"

Tala chuckles again. "Shame I won't be able to appreciate these...goods of the gods."

Lucy pokes her on the side. "Oh, don't worry, I'm going to drool for the both of us. Oh! There they are... Oh, Tee... Oh, if I could only lend you one of my eyes so you can see them...goods of the gods, indeed."

A smooth baritone voice greeted them as they walk towards a stall. "Ladies, may we offer you a taste of our homeland?"

Lucy gripped Tala's arm so tightly it would probably bruise tomorrow.

"Yes, please." Lucy squeaks.

Tala stifles a giggle. Her usually sassy friend almost chokes on two words.

This man must really be something.

Someone hands them some glasses and Lucy whispers to her that they look like apple ciders.

Tala tentatively drinks from her glass and almost moans from the explosion of flavours in her mouth.

Lucy has no such control and utters. "Oh gosh, I'd love to come home with you..."

The man laughs good-naturedly and explains how they prepare these drinks and that they are all-natural and such while Lucy makes impressed oohs and ahh sounds.

You'd think the man is discussing the secrets of the king instead of apple juice.

Tala suspects her friend would still drink it even if it contains rat poison, as long as it is offered to her by this man.

But she feels someone staring at her and she frowns, trying to locate the creep with her instinct.

"Did you hear that, Tee?"

"Huh?" she replies distractedly.

"Scout says they're going to be here for the whole duration of the fair! Isn't that wonderful!?" Lucy tells her excitedly, further distracting Tala from her thoughts. "Oh, these are delicious..."

"Ah yes, certainly," she replies automatically.

She feels the eyes of Lucy's new friend Scout (what kind of a name is that?) on her and she looks right back in his direction, even though she can't see him.

If he's going to make her feel uncomfortable, the least she can do is return the favour.

"Huh? Oh, she can't see you. Here let me get that." Lucy says, taking whatever it is he was handing Tala. "Here, Tee... It's pie. His mother made them from the apples in their backyard."

Lucy takes her hand and puts a piece of the pie in it.

Tala takes a small bite and smiles politely. "It tastes wonderful, thank you."

"I apologize for staring, Miss. I didn't realize... I was simply admiring your beauty. There must be something in the waters here because all the ladies I've met today are gorgeous."

Smooth talker.

He must have winked at Lucy too because her friend is about to swoon, judging from her squeal and her sudden tight grip on Tala's arm.

She waits patiently for her friend to calm down and after a few more minutes, Lucy finally bids her new friend goodbye, promising to come back tomorrow with her allowance to buy a bulk of their products.

"Oh, Tee! I think I'm in love!" she gushes and grips Tala's arm even tighter.

Yep, bruises tomorrow.

"Golly, I wish you can see them... absolutely divine, so handsome, so muscular...so very big and tall..."

Tala frowns. "Them? There was more than one? I thought your friend Scout was the only one in the stall. I didn't realise there was another one there."

"No, no, there was another guy. But he didn't say anything...maybe he's one of those quiet types, he looks so intense. Ohh, but I think he likes you because he was staring at you the whole time!"