The Emperor's Heir

FIVE

They slept, Vin on the mat since Jem had yet to get the bed he'd mentioned. Jem had told him that he could sleep on his bed for the meantime, but Vin didn't have to think twice before he quickly refused the offer. As Jem slept, Vin produced a box from his sack. He had bought the box earlier that day. Vin took out the money he had gotten from selling fish all day, and he put them in the box. He was careful to not let the coins make a sound as he put the box inside Jem's wardrobe. He hid it in a way that Jem wouldn't notice. Vin knew Jem would not accept his money so he planned on helping Jem without him knowing.

The next day, while Vin held his bucket and fishing pole, walking his way to the river, he passed by a brothel. He watched a young woman being thrown out of the establishment. She landed right at his feet, but stood up as if it had only been a light fall. She dusted herself off, and turned to see Vin watching her. Vin tilted his head and blinked, then asked, "Are you okay?"

The woman smiled, Vin thought her very pretty. When she spoke, it was with nonchalance, "I'm fine. This is a normal thing to happen to me" Confused, Vin tilted his head to the side again. He wanted to ask why it was normal, but she spoke again, "You are quite handsome. Are you here to see any of the girls?"

Vin blushed, shaking his head, "I'm going fishing", he indicated the fish pole and the bucket.

The young woman nodded, she found the man very pleasing. Vin had gotten some used clothes that Jem had bought cheap from the market, so, he did not need to wear the same ones everyday anymore. He looked neat, and fresh in the pale gray robes he wore. She introduced herself, offering up a palm for a shake "I'm Nesine." Vin shook her offered hand, and said his name. She nodded, folding her hands, then saying, "Can I come with you? I have nothing else planned for today."

Although he thought it strange, Vin didn't object. They walked to the river in silence. A bridge cut across the river, it was there Vin stood, and threw his hook in. He asked the woman beside him, "why exactly were you thrown out?"

She sighed, shaking her head slightly, "It is something the manager does to create drama," she paused, then tucked behind her ear, a stray strand of hair that blew in front of her eyes. She continued after a while, "The manager thinks the customers like to see us thrown around, so she does it" this time she smiled, "I get paid extra for getting thrown out on my bum, so I'm very fine with it."

Vin, "..."

The man had furrowed brows as he listened. He thought, what a job. He fished while they talked. Nesine had moved to the village a few years before, but her job in the brothel was something she had started a year earlier. She lured in customers, and created fake conflict, thus branding herself as a troublemaker to everyone. The customers all thought she was so disobedient to the manager, and that was the reason she never got work. Only the girls in the brothel, and her manager knew she was just eye candy meant to stir the hot-blooded males.

As Nesine told Vin some strange stories, he looked at her as if she was something alien. Shock and awe were written on his face. Vin subconsciously rubbed his butt when he thought of how often she probably needed to be thrown out every week. Even with other abuse she got too. Nesine found Vin funny, and she had no idea why she told him this particular secret. The manager at the brothel had warned her not to speak of it to anyone; Vin could be a potential customer. Nesine quickly stopped this train of thought. She looked at Vin carefully, he did not seem like the brothel type at all. She remembered his blush earlier that morning. This man was definitely not into such things.

Vin caught more fish than the previous day. Himself, and Nesine both walked to the market. Vin found it weird at first that she wanted to come with him, because it would be very uncomfortable for a woman to be under the sun so much, but he enjoyed her company, and didn't know how to refuse.

Nesine didn't seem to even bother about the hot sun at all. She talked without hesitation, and she even helped him sell the fish. Nesine was a good talker, she brought customers with only a few spoken words. Her acting was even great as she advertised Vin's fish for him. Vin smiled watching her play about. He sold the fish much faster, and by early evening, they were on their way back. They weren't returning together, Nesine had to go back to the brothel, and Vin had to return home. He had saved some more fish this time, giving Nesine three. He kept four for Jem.

Vin, thinking about Jem, quickened his steps. The day before had left him concerned for the other man's safety. He made his way home, and found Jem sitting on a stool outside, and cutting potatoes. Jem, seeing Vin return, smiled. Vin returned the smile, putting the bucket in his hand down. He felt quite happy just seeing Jem. And the man, after seeing the fish in the bucket, smiled wider.

While Jem cut potatoes, Vin cooked the fish. He made it even better than the one from the previous day, and this time, there was no neighbourly interruption.

As they sat down to eat, Jem asked Vin about his day. Vin thought about his quick sales that day, and replied Jem happily. Jem beheld Vin's happiness, and he felt pleased. He knew Vin had been unhappy with not making enough money, so it was nice to see Vin in such a mood.

That night, Vin kept the money from his sales in the box. Jem was fast asleep, and Vin thought of how exhausted he must be. Jem woke up early each morning, cooking herbs to sell that day, and he did it with such passion. Vin had never asked about Jem's background. He felt that if he did, Jem would definitely ask about his own, and Vin didn't want to lie but couldn't tell him that he was the Emperor's nephew.

Thinking about the emperor, Vin frowned. He had never even got to meet the man. Maybe if he had talked with the Emperor about Jardius, the Emperor would have helped. But, then thinking of the kind of life he would have lived in the palace, Vin frowned deeper. He had never been ambitious in his previous life, and even now he had little he aspired for. But suddenly, when Vin thought of Jem, he felt that if only he had more, he would do more for Jem. The man had helped him very much. Vin slept with his thoughts in a bundle.

Everyday after, Vin didn't forget to put the money away in the box. He brought fish home, only a few times a week; they couldn't eat fish all the time. Vin would buy food for Jem before the man could buy any, and this was how life went. Jem couldn't refuse when Vin bought food, and that was exactly how Vin wanted it.

Sitting in a stool outside, Vin sharpened a knife between two stones in his palm. He muttered a spell under his breath. Stopping his movements, Vin took a proud look at the glistening sword. He'd made it incredibly sharp with a spell he learned from his new manual. Vin still hated the lack of technology here, but magic was a great consolation.

Several unique rocks lay in a pouch at his feet. Vin had been in the market the other day, and after seeing the basic jewelry that they sold, he thought he could make better. He'd bought the rocks from a merchant, and purchased the tools for the craft.

Few hours later, Jem returned to find several bracelets, and necklaces on the table, and Vin sleeping with his head also on the table, and his mouth slightly open. Jem looked at the jewelry, his own mouth falling open. These looked very expensive, he could hardly believe that Vin made them, but the tools on the table said otherwise. He inspected them quietly, careful not to wake the other man up. He marvelled at the craftsmanship, the attention to detail was outstanding. Jem suddenly looked at Vin in a new light.

With a grunt, Vin's eyes flew open. He sat up, and stretched. When his eyes found Jem, he smiled wide, "You're back. How was your day?" Vin had seen Jem make a bluish-purple liquid that morning, and when he asked about it, Jem said it was medicine, a sort of pain relief type. Vin thought Jem could make just about any sort of potion. He didn't use spell magic, just potions. Jem was very proficient in the art of potion-making. Jem believed potions were much stronger than spells, and incantations. Of course, all were useful, but in terms of quick effects, Jem felt potions never came second.

Jem now looked at Vin with smiling eyes, "I just got back" he gestured to the jewelry, "You've been very busy. They look beautiful."

Vin, feeling suddenly bashful, quickly shoved his embarrassment down, and produced a bracelet from his pocket. It wasn't glittery like the ones on the table, it looked simple. But, in it's simplicity, there was a sort of mature sophistication that this one had. It made the others look like wasteful extravagance. Jem frowned as he saw it, and when Vin suddenly held his hand, sliding the bracelet onto his wrist, Jem was speechless. The bracelet had two ropes that Vin drew on, and it became fitted to Jem's wrist. Jem thought it looked perfect.

Vin said, "I made this one for you. Do you like it?" He had taken into account, Jem's character, and making something that suited him well hadn't been hard. Vin took extra care with the carvings on this particular bracelet. He took some symbols, and images from his previous life, and he etched them into Jem's bracelet. He had learned the craft during his school days, and before he had come to this world, Vin had made jewelry anytime the thought struck. He now wanted to make some money from it to help Jem some more.

Nodding his head, Jem replied with a happy grin, "It looks really good. Where did you learn how to make such pretty things."

Vin chuckled, "It was a very long time ago" he ended it there. He didn't like that he couldn't explain where he had learned it from, but it was how it had to be.