Wolfe's Blind Moon

4 ~ Heart of a Luna

"What did the other one look like? The one who didn't say anything?" Tala asks.

Lucy shrugs. "Like Scout, I guess. I couldn't really stare because he was kind of intimidating. Scout is so much more accommodating. Both of them are really tall, like huge. I've never seen such tall men, they make Ares look normal-sized."

That's saying a lot. Ares is the head hunter and woodcutter of the village. He's about six foot five, with a very muscular body and a swagger that screams testosterone.

Lucy drones on and on about Scout and Tala sighs inwardly. She won't be getting any more information about the other guy from her.

"I wonder if they're brothers," Lucy says thoughtfully.

Tala frowns. "Why do you say that?"

"I don't know...they just give off this vibe. They move like they know each other's thoughts as if they know what to do before the other even asks."

"Maybe it's just marketing strategy. They probably have been doing it for years and have a sequence of keywords that signals what to do and when to do it." Tala says, trying to be rational about it.

"Hmm... probably," Lucy replies but she sounds doubtful. "There's just so much familiarity in the way they move, you'd think they're family or something."

"Maybe they are. Cousins or long-time friends, like us."

"Maybe. Oh, I am so coming back tomorrow! I'll have to play Aria again for the time at the store but if I do lose this time, I can just threaten her that I will tell father about the time she sneaked out of the house to meet Daniel at the barn."

Tala chuckles. "You shouldn't do that. You'll end up being in trouble too...for not telling him sooner that you knew about it."

Lucy curses under her breath, knowing Tala is right. "Oh bugger it. What am I gonna do? I really really really have to see Scout again... I think he's the one!" she sighs dreamily, completely infatuated.

Tala smiles. "I can mind the store for a little bit while you go talk to Scout, we can pretend I asked you to buy something for me at the fair. But don't stay away too long or your father will find out about it and you'll never hear the end of it."

Lucy turns to her and screams with undiluted joy. "YOU'RE THE BESTEST FRIEND EVER! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!"

Tala chuckles. "Don't feel too bad though if your new friend doesn't give you as much attention tomorrow. When the word spreads about how attractive they are, the women of the village are going to flock around that stall like bees to a hive dripping with honey."

Lucy sighs, dejected. "Drat, you're probably right. Oh, I'm heartbroken already and our love story has not even started!" she declares dramatically.

Tala grins, already used to Lucy's ways. "You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think if you want him to notice you, you should not be like all the other girls fawning all over him."

Lucy laughs. "Oh dearest, drama aside, I know I don't stand a chance. One look at Agathe and he won't even remember ever meeting me today. Not to mention when he sees my sister."

Tala stops and takes her friend's hands firmly. "Don't say that, you have as much of a chance as anybody else. And you're lovely, inside and out."

"So is Agathe that's why I can't even be mad at her, it would be petty and mean. It should be forbidden to be that beautiful and nice at the same time. There's no excuse to hate her."

Tala chuckles. Her friend isn't wrong.

"Still, it doesn't mean you have no chance. Maybe you made an impression today."

Lucy snorts. "As someone willing to spend her entire year's allowance on apple pie and cider? Yeah, he'd remember me alright. I'm such an i***t. I don't know what overcame me. I swear I had to secretly hold on to my undergarments, it feels like they were going to drop when he smiled at me..."

Tala can't help but laugh. "That good, huh?"

"Ooh, yes..." Lucy suddenly gasps and pulls Tala towards the bakery. "Oh look, they have gingerbreads, the ones you like so much!"

And just like that, her friend has moved on, she thinks fondly, as they enter the bakery and the delicious smell of freshly-baked cookies makes them both sigh in contentment.

That night, there are more people in the tavern, probably because of the fair.

Tala is used to performing but for some reason, she feels nervous this particular night. She can feel all eyes on her when she sat on her chair beside the fiddler.

She takes a deep breath to calm herself and after a few seconds, nods to Tom, the fiddler, who began to play his violin.

They decided to start with a beautiful ballad about a mermaid who fell in love with a human prince. It began with a lively, eager tune that slowly turns sad and tragic as the mermaid realizes there is no hope for a happily ever after between two different kinds of beings.

Her voice soars as the last words of the song describe the ascension of the mermaid into the sky as she turned into foam and mist when the prince finally marries another girl.

There was a beat or two of silence before the whole tavern erupted into a round of applause and whistles of appreciation, as well as the usual requests for more...

She nods gracefully to the crowd and begins another song, this time a cheerful folk song to lift the spirits up after the tragic song.

It's already almost midnight when she finally finishes the last number and the tavern keeper pulled her aside to give her the night's pay and the extra tips.

Her smile widens at the night's earnings. The tips alone are even more than her usual pay and make up for when the nights are slow. She can even put aside more coins for emergencies and still be able to buy a new dress or sturdy boots.

Cal, the tavern keeper, smiles at her fondly. "Tonight was great. If it's like this for the whole week, I can finally have the proper repairs on the roofs done in time for winter. Great performance as always, Tala. But it's very late, why don't you just sleep upstairs with Freida?"

Tala smiles but shakes her head. "Oh, it's alright, I prefer to go home, I have a lot of things to do early tomorrow morning. You don't have to send anyone to accompany me, I will be quite alright."

Cal snorts. "As if I will let you go home by yourself this late. Your late papa will haunt me in my sleep! Go get your cloak, I'll tell Alexander to accompany you home in five minutes."

"Really, Cal, there's no need to bother----"

"I won't let you sing tomorrow night if you don't let me do this for you, even if it means losing profit. Seriously, girl, if you would just consider living closer to the tavern, we wouldn't be having this conversation every night. I worry about you living all alone in that house so far away from other neighbours who can look out for you."

Tala chuckles. "Alright, alright, Alex can accompany me home. See you tomorrow night."

Cal grins. "Good girl."

"Only because you threatened me with my livelihood." she teases him.

"And here I am thinking you agreed just to stop me from pestering you about living elsewhere but that far-flung house in the middle of nowhere."

She laughs. "Well, of course, that too. Goes without saying."

Alex comes rushing to find her not even three minutes later, with a big smile on his face. He's a stable lad, young and very eager to work. He likes accompanying Tala home because she secretly gives him extra coins for the bother even though he did try to refuse gallantly the first few times. But the coins she gives him will go directly to support his mother's medicines and in the end, he accepts and agrees not to tell Cal, although she suspects the tavern keeper knows anyway and pretends he doesn't as everyone is trying to help Alex one way or the other. He is such a good son and very hard-working.

They talk about his mother on the way to Tala's house. He is worried but trying to stay positive so as not to worry her.

"Mum tries to hide it but I know her cough has worsened," he says solemnly. "I am trying to find more work so I can bring her to a good doctor in the city, but I'm not even sure that will be enough."

Tala's hands tightened around the small bag of coins in her hands, and she frowns pensively. A few more of these will go a long way to helping Alex's mother.

As they reach Tala's house, she makes her decision.

"Here, take these, I will give you the rest that I will earn this week as well."