NOTE: This interlude takes place before chapter two of Ice. Enjoy~

The market was bustling with life as people rushed about to make their last purchases of the year. Tonight there would be a celebration; merchants peddled their finest drinks and foods to furnish parties, and several citizens stood in the market square plaza, watching as knights from the local encampment cleared a space from where fireworks would be fired later in the night. Merchant's children gamboled around the square, playing hoop-and-stick while their parents traded their wares for gold and silver.

This was not where she had intended to be this afternoon, but she could not say that she wasn't enjoying herself.

She and her escort had left their horses tied in front of a pub that belonged to one of the soldiers they had fought alongside during the war – the owner had promised to keep an eye on them, after the knight's insistence that his comrade-in-arms be allowed to rest after carrying him from the castle. The horse seemed as pleased as a beast could be at this suggestion.

She held to his arm as he led her along. She had, at first, been hesitant at his suggestion that they went to the market. After all, the purpose of this venture into the city was to contact her informant and set into motion a network that she was sure would aid in the capture of the assassin that sought her sister's life. But as with everything, he was persistent, and she found herself complying when she realized that he would never, nay, in a thousand eras, accept "no" for an answer.

So she found herself with her arm resting on his as he led her down to the market plaza. She offered a small smile to those who glanced their way. She expected the attention, as her face was well known in the city, and she was recognizable as the Queen's sister.
It therefore surprised her when a little group came running towards them, screaming delightedly upon seeing their visitor.

"Look! It's Kieran! Captain Kieran!"

The exuberant knight beside her broke into a smile and gently pulled his arm away from her to receive the small crowd, kneeling to put himself on their eye level. "Come on, then, children!" he said, lifting one easily in his arms and placing her on his shoulder as the others grabbed at him, tugging at his trousers in an attempt to gain his attention. Making sure the girl on his shoulder was steady first, with her fists gathering his hair in locks to keep herself stable, he picked up another and balanced him on his hip. "It is so good to see you all!"

The swordswoman watched as the knight greeted his following, a smile drawing up the corners of her mouth. She would have never guessed he would be so popular with the youthful citizens of the realm, but looking at his personality and quirks, she supposed it should have been a given.

One of the young boys dancing around the knight's feet waved a stick in the air, trying to get his attention. "Captain! Captain!"

Kieran turned to the boy, and, the excited child brandished his stick like a sword, trying to emulate the hero that stood before him. "Tell us the story about the Giant Scorpions of the Marhut Mountain Range again!" he requested. At the suggestion, several more of the children piped up in concurrence, or begged the knight for their favorite story, instead.

"You want that old tale?" the knight jibed lightly, catching the boy's stick and tugging on it gently. Thrilled with the game of tug-of-war, the boy and one of his friends pulled back, trying to prevail over the strong knight's grip. "That one? While I to enjoy the retelling, you've asked for that one every time I've visited!"

He slowly loosened his grip so as to not let the boys' pulling throw them backwards as he released their imaginary sword. The child let the tip rest on the ground as he grinned up at Kieran. Then, suddenly becoming aware of the fact that his hero had not come into town unaccompanied, he turned his gaze to Lucia.

"Who's that?" he asked innocently, pointing his stick at her. Kieran made a soft noise of scolding as he placed the child he'd been holding on the ground and got the other to slide off of his shoulder to rejoin her group, ignoring the few strands of his red hair that she took along with him. "Now, Henry," he said, carefully nudging the tip of the boy's play-sword downwards. "It does not do to point your weapon at a Lady."

"Right, right!" he said, pitching the limb aside so that he might go investigate Lucia. His hands, dirtied from play, grabbed onto the hem of her white cloak. "Hi!"

She could not help but smile, even as Kieran winced at the mud-stain the boy's hands left on his lady's wrap. "Hello there. Henry, was it?" she asked, and he nodded quickly. She knelt next to him, smiling gently. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Lucia," she greeted.

The child's mouth quickly fell agape. "The Queen's sister?" he asked, and she was slightly impressed that he had such knowledge of her position. He couldn't have been more than six or seven, and though all children knew the name of the Queen by this age, she remained a bit more ambiguous. However, his next words speedily enlightened her as to how he had come by this knowledge.

"Kieran's told us all about you! Thunderation, I never expected to see you in town with him! It's… it's an honor!"

The other children rallied around their young leader, swarming Lucia with questions.

"What are you doing here?"

"Did you come with Kieran?"

"Will you tell us a story, too?"

Before she could answer for herself, Kieran broke into their ranks and gently goaded them into leaving her alone. "Gently now, children! Do not forget she is a Lady! It does not do for you to bother her so!" he said.

"It's quite all right, Kieran," she said, straightening. She slowly began to answer their questions in turn, as she remembered them. "I've come to town to see someone important, and Kieran offered, most graciously, to escort me. I'm here on business, but that doesn't mean I don't have time to—"

"Oh, Lucia!" Kieran appeared struck at his sudden recollection. "I am terribly sorry! I forgot that…" he paused here, and looked to the group of children. "I'm sorry, my little knights, but I'm afraid that I will not have time to tell you of my feats of grandeur today. I must accompany…"

"Quite the contrary, Kieran," Lucia said. "If it seems all right with you, I'd prefer to attend to this business alone. Might I ask you to wait for me here? I will not tarry long."

He seemed to brighten at the suggestion. "Of course. And while you attend to your mission, I will work on imbuing some Crimean pride into these little ones!"

She smiled as he turned back to the small brood, and watched for a moment longer as they inquired about his horse and other mundane things and events at the palace that seemed, to them, extraordinary. But she recalled her mission and set off soon enough, wandering from the market to a little-traversed back street. A stark contrast to the bustling streets she had just come from, she now found herself to be the only pedestrian. She stepped over the form of a man on the ground and smelled alcohol. She had reached her destination. Glancing around once to ensure she was alone (aside from the sleeping drunk), she placed her hand on the knob of the pub's back entrance, turned it, and disappeared inside.

The exchange with her informant was brief. It would not do to have prolonged interaction with anyone that could raise suspicion, so she did not allow herself more than a few minutes to pass on the most pertinent information and her orders. Soon enough, she was retracing her steps back to the market plaza. She paused, however, when she got there, seeing that Kieran's small flock had grown into a sizable audience in her short absence. She smiled to herself and rested against a nearby market stall, listening along with the crowd.

"And so, bereft of my trusty axe, I turned and lifted the sword of one of my slain foes. The weapon was foreign to my hand, but it was steel, all the same. I felt as though it rent the air as I lifted it high above my head, and its steely flash caught the eye of my only remaining opponent!"

The crowd, even its older members, paid rapt attention to the tale of the knight, and she covered her own smile with her hand. This was a story she had never heard before; with Kieran's tendency to repeat himself, she supposed this was miraculous. Either that, or he was only fabricating it as he went along.

"And it was with one mighty swing of the arm, the bear took, too, this weapon from my grasp! I was now unarmed, but I knew that if I fell now, in the heat of this battle, then all the fighting I had put behind me would be for naught, for my foes would rally themselves behind my demise. No, I had to survive! For, if I did not, who would protect the citizens of Crimea in my place? Barehanded but willing to fight to the last, I faced the bear. He…"

Lucia listened to the rest of the tale, trying to suspend her disbelief until he finished. When he ended, on a note of triumph and glory, she managed to catch his eye, and he offered her a jovial wave. A few in the crowd followed his gaze, and smiled at the sight of the Lady. Kieran then wandered over to her, the crowd parting before him. Some, realizing that the show was over, dispersed, back to their shopping.

He took her hands into his, grinning brightly at her. She mimicked his expression. "My, Kieran, that was quite the show."

"Just fulfilling my duties as a knight," he excused, his cheeks taking on a hue similar to his hair color. "You will let them think it was a true story, won't you?"

"You mean it wasn't?" she asked, with mocked incredulity.

"Only the bear part," he said, grinning sheepishly.

She was a bit startled at his admission. "I never thought you'd admit to… how would you call it… stretching the truth?"

"A lady such as yourself deserves no less than the truth from a man she trusts. T'would not do for me to delude you, I think."

She chuckled, but it was a bit forced. "Kieran, I…"

"Yes?"

His bright, happy expression was enough to deter the words that she had planned to say, and come up with something else to voice. "I did not realize that your knightly duties entailed acting as a street performer."

"That?" he asked, laughing. "Nay, that was… how would you call it… public relations and recruitment! Why, I'd wager that at least a half dozen of those boys will grow to come into service as a knight one day!"

"…you know, you're probably right," she said, impressed at his reasoning. "Who was that boy earlier? Henry?"

"Yes, the Fletcher's son. I see him often."

"I do believe he idolizes you."

"Well… what's not to be admired?" he asked, throwing his arms out as if presenting himself, "I am, you have to admit, quite a hero!"

She laughed, though she was unsure whether he was joking or not. She opened her mouth to say more, but he cut across her.

"Is your business all taken care of?" he asked, offering her his arm. She took it with a nod, and he led her back through the market, towards Calill's bar. "That's good, that's good. Hey, listen, we have at least a half mark before we have to be back at the palace…"

"Are you suggesting that we dally in our return to the Queen?" she asked, her eyebrows lifting as she turned to him. He reddened.

"You are right, we should hurry back. Besides, t'would not do to spend too much longer in this cold. Do you suppose it will snow again before spring truly arrives?" he asked, turning to her.

Lucia was a bit astonished that Kieran was, indeed, capable of making normal conversation. He asked this and similar questions as they made their way back to their horses, hanging on every word of her replies. Every so often he'd offer insight of his own on a question, but, for once, he let someone else do most of the talking.

Some small part of her felt guilty, knowing that he cared so much about her, when she…

"Amy! Hello there!"

Calill's daughter stood outside her mother's bar, leaning over the undersized porch's rail to gently stroke the muzzle of Kieran's horse. When she heard the knight's voice, she perked up, turning to him and grinning. "Captain! I was watching your horse!"

"I can see that!" he said, moving to rub a hand down his horse's neck. "Say, would you like to feed him a lump of sugar? Here, I always carry some with me… now just hold out your hand, flat…" he placed a small lump of sugar into her palm, and she giggled as his horse leaned over to eat from her hand.

"It tickles!"

"Hold still, now!" he said. "There, see? He likes you!"

She seemed ecstatic at this suggestion. "Really?" she asked, grinning ever wider as he nodded.

"Now, Amy. I have something important to ask of you. Say you're the most beautiful woman in the world, and you can have anything, any one thing, right now. What would you ask for?" he asked, leaning close for her answer. She pondered the question for a moment, and then smiled as she came up with her answer.

"Maybe a lump of sugar, but for me?" she asked. He laughed and reached for the small pouch again, indulging her wish.

"Only one, now… whoa!" he jumped as Amy lunged for the pouch, burying her hand inside and coming out with a fistful of the sugar. She let out a triumphant yell and ran off, delighted with her plunder. Kieran only laughed and shook his head, turning to Lucia.

"Remind me not to tell the story of the Thieving Princess of Melior," he said, laughing good-naturedly as he examined the remainder of his sugar stores, digging around in the bag as he checked inside. She smiled slightly and turned, when a sudden motion from him caught her attention. He was holding out the bag, and its remaining contents, to her.

"Kieran? What…?"

He only grinned. "Don't you want it? I've just heard from a very reliable source that the most beautiful girl in the world might have something of a sweet tooth. Was she wrong?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

She considered the bag for a moment, and then took it with a light sigh. "I'll never understand your methods, you know that?" she said, putting her hand in the pouch and digging around to pull out one of the sweets. She paused, frowning slightly as she felt something in the bag other than sugar. He stared at her expectantly as she extracted a pendant, holding it at arm's length as her breath caught in her throat. The maroon gem, though small, reflected the sunlight in a dazzling display, and the bright silver it was embedded in flashed brightly. "Kieran, where did you—"

"The merchant cut me a good deal. I know him well. I watch his children often, and he… well…"

"It's very…" she searched to find a word strong enough to emphasize her feelings. "It's gorgeous, Kieran."

"Oh, no, not really, I mean, I'm only a knight, and you're a… anything that I could give you must pale in comparison to the items you already possess. Please, do not flatter me."
She, for a moment, forgot why she had started courting him. "Kieran," she said, allowing some of the incredulity she felt to slip into her tone. "I think it's wonderful. Any gift given out of affection means much more than a dusty gem attained through any other means. May I wear it tonight, to the celebration?"

"Of course!" he said, his whole face lighting up at the proposition. "I would be honored if you did so! My lady, I…"

His words stopped, and she recognized the thought in his eyes. Before it could manifest itself into action, however, she turned away. Placing the pendant in her pocket, along with the bag of sugar, she mounted her horse. She waited until she heard him do the same before she dared to look at him again.

"We'd best head back, then," he said, and she noted a fading trace of blush on his cheeks. She tried not to think about what had caused it to rise.

"…yes," she agreed. She spurred her horse into a trot, and he followed, uncharacteristically quiet.

Finally, after some deliberate thought, he spoke again. "Might I trouble you with one more question, Lucia?" he asked.

"You may ask, but I can make no promises regarding an answer."

He laughed, but the sound was not as full as it normally was. "It is a trivial matter, really, but it has been bothering me a small amount. It is only… when I picked up that pendant for you, the merchant seemed surprised. When I mentioned who I intended to give it to, his words… he said, "Ah, so Lady Lucia has another suitor?" …do you see what I am… Lucia, he implies that there was another man seeking your affection."

She wondered how word had spread so quickly, but she tried to downplay the implication. "Do not worry, Kieran. It was a onetime engagement, and it has been broken off."

He paused. "May I ask his name?"

She took a moment or two of hesitation before deciding that he deserved an answer – that he deserved a small truth. "Soren."

He fell quiet as he thought, an action that took Kieran longer than most, trying to place the name. Finally, realization dawned. "The swordsman?"

"What?" she blinked at him, turning in her saddle to face him more fully. "No. Who—"

"Not the swordsman? You know, the rugged, skilled fellow we met in the desert? Was he wearing white at any time you saw him? No, wait, that's not the point I'm trying to…"

"No, Kieran. That was Stefan. Soren is a mage," she said.

"A mage?" Kieran seemed incredulous. He could understand Lucia falling for a man of good looks and skill, and Kieran had to offer credit where it was due. He supposed, to a woman's eyes, Stefan might have both. But a mage…? Last time he had checked, magic did not do much for one's muscular tone. Maybe it was brain, and not brawn, that had interested Lucia… and suddenly, he made the connection. "Soren? Is he not the one you… didn't you strike him, at the Yuletide Celebration? Ah," he seemed to realize what had happened, "You had been with him before. And after that, you sought me out. Much to my delight, I might add," he said with a smile. She sighed, and he tilted his head.

"Just… one more question. Why did you break off relations with him? I certainly do not want to make the same mistakes as he did, for I would… speaking frankly, Lucia, I would curse myself if I ever lost your affections."

She cringed inwardly. "There was more than one reason. I suppose the main being that he is not even of the same—" she broke off, wondering if she should share this information. Especially considering the fact she was going to share was not the reason at all.

But the damage was done. She had piqued the knight's interest, and he never took "no" for an answer. "The same… what?" he could not even think of a way to complete the phrase for himself.

"…race," she finished. "He's not beorc. He's Branded."

"…what? What's that mean?"

She sighed. She had come this far already, she may as well finish. "I've read about them before this, but I never made the connection that Soren was a member of their kind… not until recently. Basically, a Branded is the offspring of both races, with both Beorc and Laguz blood."

"Oh. That's kind of interesting! Has he any special power? Wait, more to the point… why would that cause you to—"

"Because it simply… there are those that consider such mixing of bloods cursed. In fact, it was not too long ago that even Crimea would round up groups of Branded and kill them in public executions. I do not know why such abuse was inflicted; perhaps they feared the strange abilities of the Branded that come with Laguz blood? I believe that the people who did that were very, very misguided, but can you imagine, if word got out that one of the Branded was courting a… a Lady? Crimea may be built on tolerance, but prejudices still exist. I'd be a fool to continue on with Soren, when you, a much suitable man, are right here."

The words tasted bitter as they left her mouth. She chanced a look over to him, wondering what his reaction would be.

He spent a considerable amount of time in thought, and then turned to her with a smile. "While I cannot rightfully blame him for his lineage, I am glad that you… would choose me in his stead, whatever he had to offer you."

She smiled hesitantly. "…yes." Clearing her throat once, she decided to change the topic. "Shall we not race back to the castle?"

He laughed at the suggestion, sounding like his usual self. "While I do enjoy a good competition, with you, my Lady, I prefer to ride in tandem."

She saw him lean towards her suddenly, and decided to pick up the pace. Some might call it a "head start."

His startled cry of "Lucia!" was followed by a laugh. "Do not think that my affections will encourage me to go easy on you! My steed shall best yours!"

"It shall not!" she called back, her voice breaking slightly as she yelled.

She knew she was wrong.