Nadine - The Beginning

11. Market

I wake up the next morning thinking about Dipaks chest. I wonder if all men look like that.

Mary walks in with some yarn and another servant. "Good morning princess. We're going to retake some measurements for the new dresses they are making you. These fit a bit different so we want to make sure the sizing is right."

"I hope they are like the dresses the servants up there were wearing. So much less fabric than my normal ones."

"Yes miss. They will weigh less. They are also going to make a few veils and new gloves. You're mother doesn't want the good fabric getting messed up."

I just sit on my stool smiling. I am so happy.

"Mary."

"Yes little miss."

"Why did you fix my veil at dinner yesterday? I don't think it was really loose. And then momma called for the food and Tre stepped out with his mother."

"I'm sorry child but he put your hand in his lap. That was not appropriate."

"But I wasn't.."

"I know miss. But it's just not appropriate for anyone your age. Like you've been told before, men have urges. I know Tre is still young but he is growing up fast too. I do not know when the urges will start for him. But we don't want him getting any ideas about having your hand in his lap little miss."

I sigh and look down.

"He is still young like you are miss. He probably didn't know what he was doing or see how it could be wrong. I'm sure his mother let him know in the hall. Tre seems like a good boy. I'm sure he wasn't trying anything miss but I couldn't take that chance."

"I understand Mary. Thank you for looking out for me."

"Really? That's all?"

I look at Mary. "What do you mean?"

"I expected more complaining."

"Oh. Well I guess I was just thinking. Maybe he won't be my mate. And I would hate to do something that would hurt my mates feelings."

"I have the sizing done ma'am. I will go start the dresses now."

I nod at the servant leaving.

"That's a very grown up way of looking at it princess. What changed your mind?"

"Dipak said I will be mated with a strong and powerful man."

"Yes this is true princess." She starts pinning my hair down. "He will be the Vampire King. He must be strong."

"I seen Dipak in with the doctor yesterday. He didn't have a shirt on. He is so strong. Muscles everywhere."

Mary tries to hide a laugh. "Well I wish I would have seen too."

Then we both start laughing. "Next time I'll bring you with me."

"Oh thank you miss. Advisor Dipak without a shirt. That does sound nice."

"Do you want to go with me to study medicine Mary? And can I pick a dress with less fabric please? I just want to ride and fish today. No reason to be all fancy."

"Oh miss thank you. But I'm not that smart. They treat so many things there. I would mess something up. It would be bad princess. And how is this tan one?"

I nod. "I don't think so Mary and the doctor says they always need assistants. You should come."

"Oh princess I just don't know."

"Please? You only have to help with what your comfortable with and we can study together."

"I believe the invitation was only for you to study little miss."

"I'll go tomorrow and ask if you can join me."

She laughs a bit as she pins the last part of the veil down. "Ok little Miss and I am done. Go get some food before you take off for the morning."

I hope down and run to the kitchen.

"Good morning Clay."

"Good morning sister."

I grab some bread. "What are you going to do today?"

"I'm going fishing and swimming in the river. Going to use Tre's new style of fishing."

We both laugh. "If you grab me a pole, I will join you for the regular style fishing."

Mom and dad walk in with their arms around each other smiling.

Dad looks at us. "So what are you two going to be doing today?"

Clay jumps up. "Fishing. With no guards chasing after me."

"I'm going to go for a ride on Star with no guards chasing me. Then I'm going to join Clay for some fishing also with no guards."

My mom laughs.

Dad chuckles and pours himself some blood. "I guess you both didn't like all the company you were getting?"

"Dad I stopped fast on Cjao yesterday and a guard ran right into the back of my horse." Tre finishes up his drink and starts picking up his stuff.

My dad starts laughing. "Well maybe next time you won't stop so fast."

"Or he could stop faster and the guard could run his head into the horses butt."

Everyone looks at me and starts laughing.

Mom puts her hand on her chest laughing. "Oh that would be a site to witness Nadine."

"I'll try that next time. Thanks sister." He leaves the kitchen. "Tre's here."

"We're in the kitchen Tre." My mom yells over my dads laughing.

"Good morning sir, ma'am, princess."

"Good morning Tre. Have you eaten yet?"

"Yes ma'am thank you."

"Good morning Tre. Would you like to go for a horse ride?" I pick up my area.

"I would love that princess."

Tre and I walk out to the barn. I hop on Star and he grabs one of his horses.

"Nice relaxing walk today princess?"

"Yes please. I'll just be enjoying the view without the guards for a change."

He smiles at me and we start our walk.

We walk all over the castle grounds. Through the pastures. Through the vampire village right by the castle. By the gardens. Then to the river.

"Hello Clay. Have you caught much brother?"

"Yes I got a whole bucket. You want some fish?"

"A fish lunch does sound nice. I'll get some stuff for us to make a fire." I walk into the tree line and start picking up dried leaves and twigs.

Tre follows me and grabs some bigger sticks.

I imagine him with Dipaks chest carrying the big sticks. I smile.

"Are you ok princess? You seem quiet today."

"I'm fine Tre. I'm just sad your leaving tomorrow. I wish it wasn't so soon and for so long."

"I'll be back princess and I won't forget about you. Go study medicine and keep riding your horses. Keep yourself busy and the time will go faster."

I look at him and smile. Not that he can see my smile. But it's there.

"I'll go start the fire princess."

I nod. "I'm going to go get some berries for us. I seen a bush over there. Clay loves the big red ones. I'll be right there."

I finally find the bush. It took me a few extra minutes. It didn't seem to be where I left it. I start pulling off the berries and I suddenly feel like I'm being watched. I look around and don't see anything. I keep pulling the berries off but the feeling just keeps getting stronger. I pull a berry off and I hear a twig snap behind me.

I drop everything and take off running. I run all the way back to Clay and Tre. Dipak's sitting there now too.

Dipak looks at me and drawls his sword. "What happened princess?"

"I felt like something was watching me. I heard a twig snap. I ran as fast as I could."

Dipak runs into the trees right where I came out. A few seconds later we hear a scream.

I jump toward Tre and he puts an arm around me.

Then Dipak walks out of the trees carrying this big dead cat looking thing. "Not to worry. You were simply being tracked by an animal." He smiles at me. "It won't be following you anymore princess."

"Thank you sir."

"Did you want to cook this on that fire?"

Clay shows him the bucket of fish. "We have to many fish already."

"Ok I will see if anyone in the village would like it. You all enjoy your fish."

"Do you want some fish Advisor Dipak? You can stay and eat with us if you like."

"Thank you princess but I must return to my job now."

I nod and he walks away. He looked a little confused though.

Once he gets far enough away Clay looks at me. "Why did you invite him to stay? I've seen enough castle staff and guards."

"He ran into the trees to save me Clay. He didn't have to. He didn't know what was out there. I was trying to be kind. You should remember that. It's always good to be kind to someone. You never know what they are going through."

"Fine Fine."

Tre starts handing out fish meat and sticks. We all sit around the fire and eat as much fish meat as we can.

Clay looks back at the bucket. "Still half a bucket left. What should we do with them?"

Tre throws his last bite of fish into the fire. "You should take them to the vampire village right there and try to sell them."

"Really?" My brother looks super excited.

"Yea, you won't get much but you could start saving little by little. Maybe save up for something later."

"That's such a good idea Tre."

"I've heard that they sell or trade for a higher price in villages away from here. I mean we're lucky here. Anyone can go to the river and fish. But it makes the prices for them lower."

Clay looks at him and smiles. "Maybe when we get older we can be traders! We can travel far away and trade stuff for lots of money."

"That is a good idea. You should start trading here in our village now. Maybe as you get a bit older your parents will let you trade at the villages close to here. Then when you get even older we can travel around a bit further and see what we come across."

Clay sits there with a big smile. "I wonder what's all out there."

"Probably everything we could ever dream of Clay. The world is a huge place and this is just one tiny spot of it."

"I can't wait to see it someday."

Tre looks at him. "Someday I'm sure we will."

I look at the fire and smile. "I think this is the best tiny spot."

Tre smiles at me and holds my hand again. "Me too princess."

"I'm going to go trade these guys. Will you take my pole back please?" He doesn't even wait on an answer. He just grabs the bucket and runs away toward the village.

"Of course Clay." I say standing up. "You ready to go back Tre?"

"Sure princess. You want to walk around the village a bit first and see how your brother does?"

"Yea I haven't been through the market side in a long time." I look at the horses. "And I'm sure the horses are enjoying all this fresh air."

Tre hooks the fishing poles onto his horses blanket and helps me up on Star. "There you go princess. I'm going to fill up the jugs with water before we leave here."

He leaves for a minute and returns with my jug full of water again. "Thank you Tre." I put it in the bucket part of the horse cover.

"My pleasure princess."

We walk towards the village at a nice slow pace. Talking about flowers and cloud shapes.

We decide to tie up the horses outside the town and just walk in.

It's the same as always. People will lay fabric on the ground and lay the items they have for trade on it. Other people have shade fabric set up between 4 sticks. People are yelling and pointing in every direction. It's so confusing.

I get close to Tre. "I like seeing what everyone is trading. Some of them come with interesting items. Look there's a vase of some kind."

He pulls me out of the way of a man riding a horse.

"What? He didn't stop for me?"

Tre smiles and pulls me in close. He whispers in my ear. "They don't know who you are princess. Look at your dress from riding and fishing all day. And the girls here are ALL wearing veils and gloves."

I look around and sure enough it's true. I give Tre the biggest hug. "They don't know who I am. This is amazing."

I can't wait to show Mary this.