Maris smiled as she looked around. Undertown! With all its grime and grudges, there was one thing she couldn't complain about; the shops! Even though she loved Sanctaphrax, there was no nightlife, nothing for young people to do when they weren't studying.
That was why she was down here with Quint. He had the day off and had offered to take her shopping. Maris felt touched - Quint really didn't enjoy this sort of thing but knew she loved it. At the moment he was in the dockyards organising something and had left her to wander around.
Of course, he had asked her if she would be ok by herself. She had reassured him that she was fine, having lived in Undertown up till recently she could find her way anywhere…
Right about now, she was really, Ireally/I regretting that.
She wasn't lost; not really, she just…had no idea where she was. Or where anything else was. But if she let on for a moment, gave into her panic, she would be swept away with the tide of Undertowners. She was searching desperately for a friendly face, someone that wouldn't shove her over backwards if she dared speak to them.
She was so busy looking around that she didn't see the person right in front of her.
"Oof!"
"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry!"
"Oh no, really, it was my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going."
Maris looked shyly up at the boy. He was a few years older than her, about Quint's age, with dark brown wavy hair and hazel eyes. He smiled at her and she flushed.
"Um, you wouldn't happen to know where the Bloodoak tavern is, would you? Its just I'm…kind of new to Undertown…"
He nodded, "Its just down there," he explained, pointing, "Third on the right. You can't miss it."
"Thanks." She replied. "I'm meeting a friend there. He said it was hard to miss, but…"
He frowned. "Your friend left you by yourself here in Undertown when you don't know your way around?"
"Err," Maris coloured under the youth's intense gaze. It was her who had wanted to go by herself, not Quint's fault at all, "Well…he…it was my idea…"
"What's your name?" he asked curiously, cocking his head to one side. The midday sun glinting on his cheekbones made him look very handsome, Maris thought.
"Maris," she said softly, "Maris Pallitax."
"Well, my name's Martilius. Would you like me to walk you to the Bloodoak tavern, Maris?"
Maris smiled, "Yes, please! That would be great."
And then suddenly Martilius was leaning towards her. Maris blinked in confusion. What was he…?