"I think this place gets busier every year," my large companion commented off handedly eyeing the villagers swarming stands for goods and the next best deal.

I lifted a brow as I regarded the crowd as it surged toward Pacha and myself. "Looks like my reputation precedes me."

"You know, I would tell you to stop being arrogant, but I think you may be right." The crowd advanced, reaching hands out for me to shake or raising their voices to extend welcome.

"Well, this may take a bit longer than usual," I muttered, somewhat put out. Truly, I liked that people liked post-llama me, but it made it a little harder, well, a lot harder to move among my subjects. But I knew they would calm down after the initial frenzy, which this crowd seemed to be doing, while promising me home-cooked meals and beautiful daughters for me to meet.

As they thinned slightly, that's when I caught a glimpse of her. She was bent over a well-worn ledger, her fingers supporting her head at her temple. I found my view obstructed again and raised myself onto my toes. I clicked my tongue in annoyance, but knew I could worm my way over there. The next time I saw her, she was scurrying about her stall, making to close at what could be described as illogical speed. I huffed out a cropped laugh, watching her attempted to close all of her papers into one book only to have them fly away. The look of annoyance of her face was adorable. I had to go talk to her.

She was stooping to pick up her papers as I walked towards her and as luck would have it, a gust of wind kicked up. I was close enough to watch her hair fly with the unseen energy, sparkling chestnut in the midday sunlight. A slap across my skin stung as one of her papers connected with my shin. I smiled. 'Perfect.'

I extended the paper out to her, and she finally took notice of me. She stilled like a started deer, gaze fixated on the document in my hand. Her doe-like eyes rose to meet mine. I watched her peruse my face, and I took the opportunity to take hers in as well. A square face, perfectly symmetrical and smooth. Her mouth was the color of Incan lilies, her bottom lip fuller than the top, pouting naturally. 'Alright, Cuzco. Moment of truth.'

"Yikes," I started. What I had expected as a reaction was quite different than what I received. Instead of a confused, but breathy, "What?" or a grin, maybe even a giggle in agreement, the woman in front of me started and her eyes found mine again. I took them in, framed by sooty, long lashes and her pupils seemed impossibly tiny, as if she were incensed. I would have liked the blush that reached up to her ears, but it was ruined by the look of loathing she shot me as she snatched the paper out of my hand before I could react.

"Excuse me?" she hissed, voice wavering in rage.

"Uh, yikes. The wind" I started dumbly, gesturing with by twirling a finger in the air, "is really bad today." She seemed to relax, her shoulders sagging as she sighed. Her eyes, fell from my face, as if she were purposely avoiding my gaze, or at least that's what I suspected when she ignored the hand I hand outstretched to help her rise. She ran a hand along her bedraggled hair and dusted herself off.

"I'm-"

"I know who you are," she snapped, cutting me off rudely. I raised my eyebrows imploringly, trying to understand what her beef was.

My eyebrows drew together as she began to turn from me, dismissing me in another poor show of manners. "Did I do something wrong?" I asked, wanting to demand an answer. She stopped, sighed again, and turned, eyeing me critically.

"Let me ask you this: do you know who I am?" The question caught me off-guard. It was hard to know, I had met so many people in the years following my change. I looked her over again with my hand on my mouth, staring hard, hoping for a spark of recognition, but I would have remembered someone so lovely, so lively if I had ever met them before.

She blinked slowly. "I thought so. Good day, your highness." I jogged after her.

I made a request as I caught up to her side. "How about you help me remember then?" She sent a humorless smile in my direction, looked as if she could laugh and cry.

"Not today your highness. I have work to do." She looked up at me and this time I could see the glassiness of her eyes. She looked humiliated. Her voice cracked as she continued, since I was too struck at the look on her face to bring myself to reply. "Please."

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "Yeah, sure. Later then." I stopped walking and let her continue then. Her eyes looked at me, hard and cold, and she walked away, blending with the crowd until I couldn't discern which was she actually went. I stared after her until Pacha's deep voice drew me from my thoughts.

"Who was that?" he asked. I shook my head, "I can't remember." But I wanted to. I strode purposefully to the stall next to hers and inquired to who she was and where I could find her.

I knew I probably looked smug by the expectant tone in Pacha's voice, "So, what's the plan?" I turned to him, and my smile matched his.

"Pacha, we should get a boat."

Okay! I hope you guys liked it! I tried to update quickly because I, for one, think that waiting for a chapter that's another perspective on the same event is kind of a gip. I've been able to plan out a bit more, so next one should come rather soon. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated!

Take care!