Along The Prophecy

1

I happily spread the smooth cheese on the crispy and warm bread, taking my time with the task as I created little swirls with my knife. The cheese was from Gilda, a beautiful goat that bleated right beside the breakfast stand. Her coat was a hazy golden and her eyes, the color of the rare amber only the rich got to see. 

"Stop making those swirls Elaine and eat that damn bread." 

I jumped making the little knife slip and nick my finger ever so slightly before I got control of it. I immediately put my pinky in my mouth to somewhat sooth it and looked up apologetically at Bernie, the owner of the breakfast stand. The metal like taste of my blood infiltrating my tastebuds. 

"My apologies, I tend to get distracted." I mumbled sheepishly, shuffling to the side so the customers I did not notice before could get their warm bread and cheese. No one should be held back from such goodness. 

"C'mon young miss, this is the millionth time." Bernie scolded. 

"Won't happen again, I'll try my best!" I put the bread in my mouth and fished out two bronze coins from the little cloth satchel I always kept around my neck. 

"You tell that to me next time." He called out as I closed my satchel and readjusted the basket in my hands. I walked down the stone pathway after I mumbled out a goodbye to the grumpy man from behind. 

Bernie was quite misunderstood I thought, sure he gave off the aura that he was just a mean old man but if you bought his bread and cheese then I am quite sure that people would change their minds about him because surely, a man who makes such wonderful goods cannot be terrible and rotten in the inside. 

I pulled out the little slip of paper from inside my basket and took a look at it. I was doing grocery for the Emerson's. The Emerson's have been my customers for the longest time and the list that Mrs. Emerson gives me has not changed for the past seven years, I knew it by heart but I still peeked at the list to see if today was the day that something new would be put on the list. Today however, was not that day. 

Mrs. Emerson needed a total of three things; milk, eggs, and tea leaves. I always did her groceries first since the list was so short and then tackled the longer lists my other customers gave me like the Stone's for example. One day Mr. Stone gave me a list that was worth three papers! My feet always hurt when I shopped for them. 

I spotted the lime green stand which sold milk. This store was manned by Mrs. Walters, the sweetest woman I have ever encountered. She was as sweet as the sprinkle bread which she also sold, sadly, I only got to taste it once since it was very expensive and all the coins in my satchel could not buy me half of some of that wonderful bread. Bernie should take some lessons from her. 

"Hello, Mrs. Walters. Tis' is a fine Wednesday for some cool milk, do you not think?" I greeted cheerfully once I reached the brightly colored stand.

"Oh, It is a fine Wednesday indeed." She smiled at me, the corners of her eyes wrinkling. "Are you doing the Emerson's?"

"I indeed am, so one bottle of milk please." I slapped down one bronze coin from Mrs. Emerson's satchel. 

Mrs. Walters handed me the milk bottle and I carefully put it in my basket, glass was very fragile after all. After thanking her I headed off to get the other two items in my list. The market square was quite easy to route if you have been living in the village for quite some time. People bustled around me, mumbling out quick greetings to those who passed by. 

I smiled at the people around me because my mother told me it was always polite to smile while passing someone. My mother nor my father are with me anymore, they had me when they were past their young stages resulting in them not being able to watch me grow into a young woman. I did not mind that they were gone, the time we spent together was wonderful and full of laughter and delight. I did feel lonely at times but I was comforted by the fact that they were always watching over me and one day I will join them in the skies.

Once I had checked off everything in the Emerson's list, I began my way out of the market square and into the village which was just a couple of blocks away. I watched as the gravelly ground of the market square change into smooth stone of the village. The Emerson's lived just on the edge of the village so they were close to the markets. 

I approached the quaint looking house which walls were covered with moss and vines and flower bushes which gave off a sweet aroma lined up all the way to the front door. I wish I had the time to grow pretty flowers and plants around my house but I'm afraid I won't have time to care for them since I'm always in the markets. 

I gently knocked on the wooden door and waited till Mrs. Emerson opened the door. She was old woman in her fifties who lived with her husband. Her kids worked for the castle as guards, so I was honored to be helping her. 

The castle housed the mighty King and his men who served the country. We all were respectful around and his men since they were the superior species. They did not abuse their power, but it was suicide to fight one of them. I do not see the point in fights, there is always a way to compromise and avoid it.

 I heard of times when the humans did not know that the Werewolves existed, they lived oblivious to a whole other species, but I did not really blame them since the Werewolves are really good at keeping secrets. They introduced themselves to society about a thousand years ago. A huge war broke out because the humans were scared and tried to kill the Werewolves despite their effort to inform the humans that they meant no harm. After three years of relentless fighting, the humans saw their numbers diminishing and raised up a white flag, thus ending the war. 

That is, at least what the books say. But those who listen to whispers in the wind and look at certain spots in history. They will really know how the war ended. More exactly, which one person ended it. Shivers slithered down my spine just thinking about it. I shook my head as if to get rid of the thoughts and patted my cheeks.

"Hello dear," Mrs. Emerson greeted after she opened the door, "Are you here with my groceries?"

"Yes, here you go." I gave her a kind smile and handed her the basket filled with what she needed. 

"Have a nice day, see you Friday." She slipped five bronze coins in my satchel and closed the door after I said my farewells. 

I made my way back home tiredly; I had been running around the marketplace for too long and my feet hurt. I wish I owned a horse; it would make transportation so much easier but alas, I did not have the money for such luxuries, but a horse is what I was saving for! I only had one hundred gold coins to go and I could have my very own pony. It is exciting just thinking about it, the gentle rocking as I ride and the wind running through my hair as we gallop. 

With the thought of my future horse, I acquired a little energy boost I needed and happily skipped my way across the village and into my cozy cottage where I planned to take a relaxing bath with some sweet smelling oils.

Life was great and I hoped nothing ever changed because what more could I need?